Priority

The current activities of this Group will lead ICES into issues related to the ecosystem affects of fisheries, especially with regard to the application of the Precautionary Approach. Consequently, these activities are considered to have a very high priority.

Scientific justifiction

Term of Reference a)

Fisheries management bodies are often dependant on catch per unit of effort for stock assessment purposes and fishery/fleet based advice. Identification and use of gear parameters that effect fishing efficiency will most likely improve the use of commercial catches for stock assessment purposes. WGFTFB has the expertise to identify such parameters and will work intersessionally, reviewing existing initiatives e.g. EC data collection regulation and provide a list for consideration during the 2010 WGFTFB meeting. The information collated by the WGFTFB has been well received by ICES assessment and other Expert Groups. It is intended to continue with the collation of this information but further developments are needed. WGFTFB has recommended a number of changes to improve the utility and simplicity of this work. The next questionnaire will be based on the emergent issues identified in this report, and focused on 2011/2012. Feedback on the content and value of this years report will be sought from the Assessment working groups and through WGCHAIRS and will be used to improve the survey in 2012. If possible, the EC should be asked to provide up to date information on recent TCM regulations. These will be included in the survey with a request to detail likely outcomes from these measures.

Term of Reference b)

Redfish are primarily harvested by trawls – either pelagic or bottom trawls. Due to their relative small sizes and their distribution in vertical columns, they offer a both opportunity and challenge to sustainable harvesting. In light of a NAFO request for more information on redfish harvesting, trawl codend selectivity, as well as challenges in under-harvesting of redfish resources in Northeast US.

Term of Reference c)

WGFTFB is a joint ICES/FAO WG with a wide range of gear technology expertise and terms of reference which include consideration of technical issues related to fisheries around the world. Recent WGFTFB reviews of different fisheries have shown that technological advance is becoming a major issue. There are also indications that technological advance is accelerating and that it is often leading to an increase in catching efficiency.

A current EU goal is to develop a common fishery management policy for the EU nations. Collection of updated information on the characteristics of trawlnets used in different European fisheries, with a view to establish limitation in the maximum dimensions of the trawl fishing gears, will contribute to limit the fishing effort and to minimize the environmental impact of these fishing gears.

In this context, the establishment of an ad-hoc topic group on the technical issues concerning all European fisheries will increase also cooperation and transferring technical knowledge among all the countries. The technical issues will cover only those within the remit of WGFTFB.

The study must be carried out on the basis of the information collected in relevant fishing fleets with the collaboration both of the fishing sectors. Information must also be independently collected through the netmakers. Results from research projects and studies, funded either with national or/and EU support, must be used in view of establishing synergies among different scientific domains while avoiding duplications

Term of Reference d)

Innovations are needed in the industry to cope with rising energy costs, the emerging demand for lower greenhouse gas emissions, and requirements deriving from the move to the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (such as reducing bycatch and seabed impact). More responsibility is being placed on industry to ensure they remain ahead of technology to cope with the changing world, and there are many examples of many initiatives being taken by fishers and equipment manufacturers. The trend is more and more to directly finance the industry in such endeavors, e.g. from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), with the risk of a limited input from the scientific community. Tools are being developed to forecast ecosystem effects from introducing gear modifications and/or gear replacements in fishing fleets, e.g. the MAFCONS model on the effect on benthic communities in the North Sea (EU Project DEGREE). There is a role for a practical approach, but also a need for scientific input in the process in order to avoid that these developments lead to increasing fishing effort (technology creep) and pressure on already overexploited stocks and other possible adverse ecosystem effects. This will be limited to modifications to otter and beam trawls, gear replacement (e.g. alternative gears) aimed at reducing energy consumption, bycatch and/or seabed impact.

Term of Reference e)

Light has been used in fishing for more than one hundred years. Difference fish/shellfish species respond to light differently, and some do not respond at all. Commercial applications of light in purse-seines, lift nets, and squid jigging are widely practiced, especially in Asian-Pacific countries. Fishing lamps such as incandescent lamps, metal halide lamps or fluorescent lamps are commonly used in these fisheries. Different light intensities are used on different fishing grounds targeting a variety of marine fish and invertebrate species. Studies on different light outputs have been conducted including analysis of fishing efforts and catch, underwater light intensity, and monitoring of capture processes. Impacts from light fishing may include lighting power competition, cost impact due to high fuel consumption, environmental impact due to CO2 emission, and biodiversity.

Various light sources are utilized to attract or repel target or non-target fish in the capture process. As new energy efficient light sources are invented and developed rapidly, new applications of light sources might be used to develop energy efficient and environmentally friendly fishing methods. Attractions of plankton, which are prey for fish, that are caught in passive gears are one possible application. Repelling of fish by light of certain strength or color in a trawl might improve herding efficiency as well as decreasing weight of the gear and thus drag forces, leading to less energy consumption in trawling.

A synthesis of the knowledge will provide up-to-date information on the field, and stimulate researchers for innovative application in modern day fishing gear designs in managing bycatch, reducing discards and fostering sustainable fisheries. The topic will also stimulate east-west information exchange in fishing technology.

Resource requirements

The research programmes which provide the main input to this group are already underway, and resources are already committed. The additional resource required to undertake additional activities in the framework of this group is negligible.

Participants

The Group is normally attended by some 40–60 members and guests.

Secretariat facilities

None.

Financial

No financial implications.

Linkages to advisory committees

The questions of bycatch reduction, gear selectivity, gear monitoring, fisheries information and survey trawl standardization are of direct interest to ACOM

Linkages to other committees or groups

This work is of direct relevance to the Working Group on Ecosystem Effects of Fisheries, WG on Fishery Systems, WG on International Bottom Trawl Surveys, Baltic Committee, Marine Habitat Committee, Resource Management Committee and Living Resources Committee and the Assessment Working Groups.

Linkages to other organizations

The work of this group is closely aligned with similar work in FAO, GFCM, NAFO and also the EU Regional Advisory Councils.