|
a) Improve
the robustness and minimize the
uncertainty in the scientific
assessment on stocks;
The
importance of fisheries data for
scientific analysis is crucial,
as well as the collaboration of
industry and Administrators,
with the scientists. Moreover,
the implementation of a
management system based directly
on fishing effort should be
proposed, given the biased
statistics generated with the
TACs and quotas system.
b) Improve
the exploitation patterns of
fisheries
It has been
shown (Ricker, 1954; Beverton &
Holt, 1957), that the more
rational is the pattern of
exploitation, the more
significant can be the fishing
mortality, fishing effort and
sustainable catch. Hence. there
is a need to implement all
possible measures, to avoid the
capture of juveniles, such as
(for example): increasing the
mesh size; establishing
temporary bans in recruitment
areas; and introducing escape
route systems in cod-end mesh.
This would even lead to an
increase in MSY points,
according to the well-known rule
that the smaller the number of
juveniles which are caught, the
larger the fishing effort can be
(and higher sustainable catches
could be made). On the other
hand, the objective of the
European Commission to minimize
discards is shared. Thus,
technological progress should be
achieved for avoiding unwanted
catches and for the utilization
of species whose capture is
actually impossible to avoid.
c) Make
fishing more profitable and
ecology friendly
It is
necessary to make progress on
saving fuel for fishing vessels.
Likewise, in the use of
renewable energy alternatives,
to improve the profitability of
the activity and to contribute
to the lowering of CO2
emissions. In this way the
European Union sets an example
to the world fleet The
‘greenhouse effect’ causes
changes in oceanographic
conditions in the seas and
oceans and, therefore, in
fishing resources.
d) Make
progress in the application of
the ecosystem approach to
fisheries management.
Applying
the ecosystem approach to
fisheries management is, at the
moment, an unattainable goal.
There are some tentative steps
taken to identify and protect
some vulnerable marine
ecosystems, or to prevent
by-catch of
environmentally-sensitive
species (mammals, turtles,
seabirds).
However, to
manage an ecosystem considering
the fishermen as an element
already forming part of the
ecosystem, is another matter.
Therefore, it is necessary to
quantify the food chains of
ecosystems in which the
fisheries are operating, e.g.
what would it mean for the
Atlantic North-East ecosystem to
go from a hake spawning stock
(main demersal predator) of
150,000 t, to another with
300,000 t? How does this affect
hake juveniles and other species
in the ecosystem? To actually
reach this position is extremely
complex, but a fascinating goal
in the medium- and long-term: It
requires a major effort to
develop fisheries and
oceanographic research within
and outside the EU (R & D
Framework Programmes, National
Research Plans, Research
Institutes in Member States,
etc.)
e) Create
a collaborative link between the
European fishing industry and
society and project a positive
image of the sector.
Finally, the
platform will help to create a
collaborative link between the
European fishing industry and
society, to project an image of
overcoming present unsustainable
practices and emphasising on the
strong willingness of the sector
to achieve an efficient and
sustainable management of
resources and their ecosystems.
This new image must be the key
to distinguishing and providing
value to the products of
European fishing fleets,
compared to fisheries from other
countries supplying our markets. |
News