Principal funding codes: 3899 - Other EU initiatives out of framework
Acronym: FISH-INTEL
Period: February 2021 till June 2023
Status: Completed
Thesaurus terms Animal ecology; Behavioural ecology; Fish habitats; Fisheries management; Marine ecology
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| Institutes (12) |
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- University of Plymouth (UOP), more, co-ordinator
- Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER), more, partner
- University of Exeter, more, partner
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), more, partner
- France Energies Marines (FEM), more, partner
- Marine Conservation Society (MCS), more, partner
- Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), more, partner
- Comité départemental des Pêches et des élevages marins du Finistère, more, partner
- Council of the Isles of Scilly (SIFCA), more, partner
- WetlandWacht Vogelbescherming, more, partner
- Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux, more, partner
- Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ), more, organiser
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| Abstract |
| FISH INTEL aims to increase the proportion of transitional sites with Good or High Ecological Status (GES) (Specific Objective 3.2) across the FCE region, by identifying the most important seabed habitats for a selection of fish species and facilitating Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) to enhance the condition of these habitats. Our target species (seabass, pollack, crawfish, bluefin tuna) are selected because they are; 1) important components of coastal ecosystems within FCE region and associated GES assessments via the Transitional Fish Classification Index, &, 2) commercially important for the region. Improving the status of these essential habitats and associated filter-feeding animals, will also have knock on benefits for water quality through nutrient cycling. Commercial fishing is historically managed by limiting the quantity or size of fish caught. EBFM however also manages human activities to protect habitats required by fish for breeding, feeding or providing a nursery (Valavanis, 2008; MSFCMA, 2018). While EBFM is incentivised by several EU and member state national polices (See section C3.1), knowledge gaps exist on which habitats are important for many fish species, inhibits wide scale implementation. Fish INTEL will implement EBFM in 7 coastal pilot sites (3*FR, 3*UK, 1*BE, total area 12,694km2), which represent locations where specific developments (e.g. renewable energy) or damaging activities (e.g. bottom trawling) occur. Using innovative technology, target species will be tracked to highlight habitats of critical importance. PP will work directly with relevant authorities in France and England who manage our shared fish stocks and ecosystem, to provide vital evidence and advice, implementing complementary and consistent EBFM across the FCE. High quality communication strategies and project participation by Non-Governmental Organisations will champion future implementation and use of outputs. Open access data, and a custom software package developed by the project will ensure stakeholders are able to use the results of FISH INTEL post project. The number of institutes committed to delivering EBFM will increase as a result of direct training and capacity building within six fisheries enforcement bodies who regulate fishing across 42% of the FCE coastline. With our novel holistic approach to implement EBFM, habitat restoration will increase biodiversity and ecosystem services . The value of those restored habitats 5 years post project is €20,048/km2/yr, increasing the commercial and recreational value of the target species by 15% (Willis et al., 2003) across sites up to €20.million/yr. A total value of up to €274 million per year by 2028. |
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- Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) (2024). Multipurpose seabed moorings: Developed for coastal dynamic seas. Oceanography Suppl. : In prep., more
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