Fishing for euros: how mapping applications can assist in maintaining revenues under the Landing Obligation

Abstract

With the introduction of the Landing Obligation (LO) in EU fisheries, there is an increasing need for fishers to avoid unwanted catches while maximizing revenues. Improving understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of unwanted catches could assist the fishing industry optimize catches by altering where they fish. How following such advice relates to revenues and fishery dynamics requires more consideration. We take an existing hotspot mapping methodology and examine how it could be used to identify fishing opportunities under the LO in Irish (Celtic Sea) and Danish (North Sea and Skagerrak) demersal fisheries. We consider if fishing effort can be relocated to avoid unwanted catches while maintaining revenues. The value per unit effort of fishing activity in both areas was often linked to high catch rates of key demersal species (cod, haddock, hake, and whiting). Our analyses indicated, however, that there are options to fish in areas that could provide higher revenues while avoiding below minimum conservation reference size catches and choke species. This was evident across both case study areas demonstrating that hotspot mapping tools could have wide applicability. There does, however, remain a need to explore how the displacement of vessels may further alter species distributions and fleet economics.

Value of coastal habitats to commercial fisheries in Jersey, English Channel, and the role of marine protected areas

“…This is a standard approach in economic and ecological valuation studies for which ecological evidence on the availability and suitability of habitats is insufficient (Jackson et al, 2015; Seitz et al, 2014). We also did not wish to highlight the economic value of fishing grounds (adult life history stages) over other areas important for the availability of species to the commercial market, as has been demonstrated previously (Calderwood et al, 2020; Kafas et al, 2017). The economic importance of habitats has been identified as a data‐deficient area for the Government of Jersey Marine Resources team (Pers.…”