www.fast-track.dk Technical / tactical solutions to reduce discards: where do we stand? Pr. Clara Ulrich, DTU Aqua, Denmark, coordinator on behalf of the DiscardLess Consortium www.discardless.eu
Decision tree for reducing choke effects Zimmermann et al., 2015 2 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
I. Rethinking gear selectivity Selectivity catalogue, >60 factsheets, Factors influencing fish vertical distribution Ongoing analyses of the effects of light http://www.discardless.eu/selectivity_manual 3 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
But no silver bullet! Effect of various selective devices for various species, Frandsen et al., 2015 4 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
II. Encouraging uptake through individual approaches Generic protocols are being established to 1. Encourage fishers to formulate their own problems and think about their own solutions 2. Make a rapid appraisal of the ideas to filter the promising ones 3. Run a self-sampling trial where the fisher can experiment freely under some documentation 4. Establish criteria for when better selectivity is achieved 5. Validate the gear through scientific testing 6. Have the gear accepted at national/eu level www.fast-track.dk 5 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
But difficult to avoid micro-management and technical details! www.fast-track.dk Baltic cod trial: Good consistency between fisher s self-sampling (red) and scientific (black) But huge sensitivity to gear parameters here mesh material PT vs. PE! Without proper incentives, it will always be possible to modify selectivity Krag et al., 2016 6 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
III: When and where to fish: some patterns exist Spatio [Letters]-temporal [colour] correlations between sole and plaice in the North Sea, Rijnsdorp et al., 2006 7 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
. But at which scale? Discard length distribution map from the Danish FDF trials x-axis: shows length intervals of 5 cm, ranging from 20 to 80 cm. y-axis distribution of discard across each species at a given length. Bergsson et al., 2017 8 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
. But at which scale? Plet-Hansen et al., in prep 9 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
IV. Moving forward: Results-based management under full documentation The industry is accountable of its full impact, regardless of how it is produced. Each fisher follows its own best strategy The impact must then be fully documented Remote Electronic Monitoring in the spirit of trucks black boxes, NOT Big Brother!: - full coverage - risk-based control - unintrusive - cheap - cost-efficient Possibility for tiered approach 10 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
Evidences that REM can change behaviour Danish trial, Ulrich et al., 2013 Dutch trial, v. Helmond et al., 2016 11 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark
EU s Horizon 2020 programme Grant Agreement 633680 www.discardless.eu 40 kg box of discards 12 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark Lisa Borges, 2002
References Bergsson, H., K. S. Plet-Hansen, L. N. Jessen, and S. Ø. Bahlke. 2017. Final Report on Development and Usage of REM Systems along with Electronic Data Transfer as a Measure to Monitor Compliance with the Landing Obligation 2016. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.23628.00645 Frandsen, R.P., Krag, L.A., Karlsen, J.D., Feekings, J.P., 2015. Katalog over selektive redskaber afprøvet i dansk fiskeri. En guide til bedre at undgå uønsket fangst. Helmond, A.T.M. va., Chen, C., Trapman, B.K., Kraan, M., Poos, J.J., 2016. Changes in fishing behaviour of two fleets under fully documented catch quota management: Same rules, different outcomes. Mar. Policy 67, 118 129. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2016.01.029 Krag, L.A., Herrmann, B., Feekings, J., Karlsen, J.D., 2016. Escape panels in trawlsa consistent management tool? Aquat. Living Resour. 29, 306. doi:10.1051/alr/2016028 Rijnsdorp, A.D., Daan, N., Dekker, W., 2006. Partial fishing mortality per fishing trip: A useful indicator of effective fishing effort in mixed demersal fisheries. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 63, 556 566. doi:10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.10.003 Ulrich, C., Olesen, H. J., Bergsson, H., Egekvist, J., Håkansson, K. B., Dalskov, J., & Storr-Paulsen, M. (2015). Discarding of cod in the Danish Fully Documented Fisheries trials. ICES Journal of Marine Science: Journal du Conseil, fsv028. Zimmermann et al. 2015. Research for Pech Committee - Options of handling choke species in the view of the EU landing obligation the Baltic plaice example 13 DTU Aqua, Technical University of Denmark