NWWAC calls for balanced, ecosystem-based fisheries management to tackle sustainability, socio-economic challenges, and climate impacts
North Western Waters Advisory Council Urges New Approaches to Fisheries Management
The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) has issued a formal letter to Ms Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Commission, advocating for fresh approaches to fisheries management to address the pressing challenges facing the industry.
The letter, a result of discussions at the NWWAC Executive Committee meeting in October 2024, outlines recommendations aimed at ensuring ecological sustainability, economic viability, and social equity within fisheries. The Council emphasised the urgent need for holistic and adaptive management strategies, highlighting key areas for improvement.
Addressing Socio-Economic and Environmental Challenges
NWWAC members stressed the profound effects of Brexit, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) installations on the fishing industry. In particular, they called for comprehensive socio-economic assessments to inform policy decisions, noting the displacement caused by MPAs and its potential impacts on other fisheries.
“The balance between biodiversity conservation and fisheries’ role in food security, especially in coastal communities, must be addressed in policies, such as the upcoming review of the Marine Spatial Planning Directive,” the letter stated.
Holistic and Ecosystem-Based Management
The Council reiterated its support for a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, focusing on:
- Ecosystem dynamics: Avoiding unintended consequences when rebuilding certain stocks by considering inter-species and intra-species interactions.
- Climate change impacts: Integrating rapid environmental changes into stock assessments and management measures to adapt to shifting marine ecosystems.
Strengthening Data Collection and Collaboration
To enhance trust in fisheries management, NWWAC called for improved data collection mechanisms and stronger science-industry collaborations. It highlighted the spurdog fishery reopening as a case study, showcasing the importance of adaptive management measures tailored to specific species and gear types. For instance, concerns regarding survival rates of spurdog returned to the sea underscored the need for gear-specific regulations.
Building on Collaboration and Practical Solutions
The letter also underlined the success of collaborative efforts between organisations like Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Cefas within the Specialised Committee on Fisheries. Expanding such initiatives to other fisheries is essential, the Council argued, to ensure management measures are both effective and grounded in industry realities.
In its closing, the NWWAC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the European Commission in refining fisheries management principles and expressed willingness to engage further in discussions.