Ecosystem Approach and Assessment of Small Pelagic Fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea MariFish 7 th Work Package Meeting Athens, February 7-8 2008 Designs

Ecosystem Approach and Assessment of Small Pelagic

Fisheriesin the Mediterranean Sea

MariFish 7th Work Package MeetingAthens, February 7-8 2008

DesignsNélida Naida

Regional case study in the Mediterranean Regional case study in the Mediterranean SeaSea

“Ecosystem Approach and Assessment of Small Pelagic Fisheries

in the Mediterranean Sea”


Geographical AreasGeographical AreasMain Mediterranean fishing grounds for anchovy and/or sardine with “highly contrasted environmental conditions”.

Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) Sardine (Sardina pilchardus)

Western MediterraneanWestern MediterraneanIberian Coast

Gulf of Lions

Eastern MediterraneanEastern MediterraneanIonian Sea

Aegean Sea

Central Mediterranean Central Mediterranean **Adriatic Sea

Sicilian Channel

* Depending on Italian participation

Expected Participants Expected Participants




MMEDITERRANEAN EDITERRANEAN MMARIARIFFISH ISH PPARTNERSARTNERS with SP Fisheries with SP Fisheries::

GREECE

FRANCE

SPAIN

OOTHER THER IINTERESTED NTERESTED PPARTICIPANTSARTICIPANTS ::

CYPRUS as Mediterranean MariFish Partner.

MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES with SP Fisheries: ITA, CRO, SLO …

NON-MEDITERRANEAN MARIFISH PARTNERS with SP Fisheries: POR

Aim and Objectives:Aim and Objectives:




Improve and Standardize the available Assessment Methods Improve and Standardize the available Assessment Methods andandrelated methodologies in the Mediterranean.related methodologies in the Mediterranean.

Indirect Assessment MethodIndirect Assessment Method from fishery data: Analytical Models.

Direct Assessment MethodsDirect Assessment Methods from survey data: Acoustic and DEPM.

Related Methodologies:Related Methodologies: Otolith Age Reading, Parameter Estimation…

OBJECTIVE 1 :

AAIMIM:: Contribute to a Contribute to a More Reliable EvaluationMore Reliable Evaluation of the state of small of the state of small pelagic populations in the Mediterranean, thus pelagic populations in the Mediterranean, thus improving theimproving the Scientific Scientific AdviceAdvice provided provided for thefor the Management Management of these resources.of these resources.

Contribute to the knowledge of Environmental Factors which Contribute to the knowledge of Environmental Factors which drive/affect drive/affect the Population Dynamics of SPS in the Mediterranean.the Population Dynamics of SPS in the Mediterranean.

OBJECTIVE 2 :

Arguments for selection of this Topic:Arguments for selection of this Topic:

From the Socio-Economic point of view:From the Socio-Economic point of view:

Anchovy and Sardine form the basis of important fisheries which are extremely valuable, both monetarily and culturally, throughout the Mediterranean.




From the Ecosystem point of view:From the Ecosystem point of view:

SPS occupy low trophic levels (feed on phyto & zooplankton).

Their population condition is transported higher up in the food chain thus affecting important components of the Ecosystem.

Most fisheries resources have similar early life stages that inhabit the upper sea layer.

Several aspects proposed here may be relevant to a wide variety of important

components of the Ecosystem.

From the Assessment and Management point of view:From the Assessment and Management point of view:

Some SP stocks undergo decline and even collapse risk despite management measures.

Understanding why management practices may not appear to be working well in particular situations is essential.

State of the Art:State of the Art: The stock assessment of SPS in the Mediterranean lacks standardized The stock assessment of SPS in the Mediterranean lacks standardized

methodologymethodology.

Biological uncertainties affect the quality of analytical assessment, and Biological uncertainties affect the quality of analytical assessment, and hinder the provision of reliable management advicehinder the provision of reliable management advice for SPS resources.

High variability in Abundance of SP populations.High variability in Abundance of SP populations. The actual belief is thatfluctuation isfluctuation is controlled to a large extent by environmental conditions:controlled to a large extent by environmental conditions:

Fluctuation in abundance is due to interyear variations in recruitment succes. Recruitment succes is mainly governed by the survival of early life stages. Early life stages (mainly larvae) survive when biotic and abiotic environmental

factors combine within an optimal environmental window.

The lack of adequate knowledge ofThe lack of adequate knowledge of these mechanismsthese mechanisms make the Recruitment and Abundance of SPS to be UnpredictableRecruitment and Abundance of SPS to be Unpredictable, thus hindering analytical assessment and scientific advice to management.

Interdisciplinary information and data concerning “fishery-environment” information and data concerning “fishery-environment” question in the Mediterranean existquestion in the Mediterranean exist, but it is highly fragmented highly fragmented and often not easily accessiblenot easily accessible.




Tools to achieve the Objectives:Tools to achieve the Objectives:




Share recent and historical Data/Information on Data/Information on Biological and Environmental IndicatorsBiological and Environmental IndicatorsPopulation structure and dynamics, Recruitment strength, Spawning habitats, Population structure and dynamics, Recruitment strength, Spawning habitats, Nursery areas, Reproductive potential, Hydro-climatic conditions, …Nursery areas, Reproductive potential, Hydro-climatic conditions, …

Share MethodologyMethodologyAssessment methods; Characterization and Spatial Modelling of spawning Assessment methods; Characterization and Spatial Modelling of spawning habitats, nursery areas, population distribution; Age and Biological habitats, nursery areas, population distribution; Age and Biological Parameters Estimation, …Parameters Estimation, …

Share FacilietesFacilietesBoats, equipment, experimental installations, …Boats, equipment, experimental installations, …

Exchange of ScientistsExchange of Scientists

Expected Achievements within the Marifish Framework:Expected Achievements within the Marifish Framework: Improve Assessment and Management of SPS in the Mediterranean.

Create Critical Mass of Research to address the issues of Ecosystem Approach of SP fisheries in the Mediterranean.

Develop Practical Cooperation between the partners, sharing information, methodologies, knowledge, facilities, objectives, plans…

Enhance links between Fisheries Research and Other Disciplines (physical oceanography, chemical oceanography, ichthyoplankton, climatology, meteorology, ecology, …)

Identify Knowledge Gaps and Research Needs regarding the Ecosystem Approach of SP fisheries in the Mediterranean.




Demonstrate to the DG Research that MariFish is able todevelop Regional Cooperation between its members.

Documents

Ecosystem Approach and Assessment of Small Pelagic Fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea MariFish 7 th Work Package Meeting Athens, February 7-8 2008 Designs