Fisheries sustainability necessarily involves improving the selectivity of fishing gears and reducing the impact of fishing on both target and non-target species, as well as on communities, habitats, ecosystems, and even the climate. To achieve these objectives, a wide range of management measures are available, including technological modifications to fishing gears, innovative changes in fishing procedures, and spatial management of fisheries.

These were some of the conclusions drawn from the advanced course “Technical Measures and Innovative Strategies for the Mitigation of Fishing Impacts”, organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza with the collaboration of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), and the technical support of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The course, held from 16 to 20 September 2024 at CIHEAM Zaragoza, Spain and on-line, was delivered by experts from the Balearic Islands Oceanographic Centre (IEO-CSIC); the Marine and Food Research Centre (AZTI, Sukarrieta) of the Basque Country; the Italian National Research Council (CNR-IRBIM, Ancona); a fishing net manufacturer from La Ràpita (Tarragona); and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (FAO GFCM). Enric Massutí (IEO-CSIC) was the scientific coordinator.

ADDRESSING FISHING IMPACTS

Fisheries provide an excellent source of high-quality nutrients and make an important contribution to job creation in coastal areas; however, they have significant direct and indirect impacts on marine ecosystems and even on the climate. These fishing impacts vary significantly: from the transformation of the seafloor landscape and its benthic habitats due to direct contact of fishing gear with the bottom, to the resuspension of sediments and subsequent physical and chemical disturbance, as well as the loss of structuring benthic species.

The fishing activity can also cause indirect impacts through changes in marine biodiversity, structure and functioning of the biological communities and food webs. The low species and size selectivity of some fishing gears and fisheries generates discards of target and non-target catches, a biomass that is wasted, with the consequent impact on ecosystems, and moreover can produce incidental catches of vulnerable species. This low size-selectivity also affects the state of stocks and fishing yields. The carbon footprint of fisheries must also be considered.

For all these reasons, minimising the impact of fishing has become an objective of international agreements, regional directives, and national regulations.

PROFESSIONALS FROM 14 COUNTRIES

Twenty-nine fisheries professionals from 14 countries (Algeria, Argentina, Barbados, Costa Rica, Croatia, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Türkiye) participated in the training.

Throughout the course, these professionals had the opportunity to discuss different factors affecting the effectiveness of measures aimed at enhancing gear selectivity and minimising fishing impacts, such as the fleet, the type of gear used, environmental, ecological, and biological characteristics of the fishing area, as well as the practices of fishermen and the demands of the market, all of which are further shaped by cultural traditions and other social influences.

“All of these aspects can greatly vary the effectiveness of the measures and are essential during the planning and development of experimental activities, in the analysis of data, and in reporting the results for effective fisheries management advice”, said Massutí.

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT FISHERIES

The implementation of more selective fishing gears and innovative fishing strategies can improve exploitation patterns of target stocks, reduce discards and incidental catches of vulnerable species, and mitigate the environmental impact of fisheries, with a special emphasis on protected, endangered, and threatened (PET) species, sensitive habitats, essential fish habitats and vulnerable marine ecosystems.

All these aspects were presented and reviewed during the course, addressing key knowledge gaps, exploring tools for data analysis, and examining case studies. Face-to-face participants also took part in three sessions of practical work.