H2020 SEAWISE (cofin) (KB-34-002-015)

Fishing is an important source of healthy food and employment throughout Europe, especially for specific communities on and near the coast. The food transition is expected to result in more food coming from the sea. One of the major challenges is how this can be achieved within the limits of the marine ecosystem's capacity. Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) is seen as the solution for sustainable exploitation of the marine ecosystem.

 

The EU H2020 project SEAwise was set up to translate the EBFM concept into a fully operational approach that can be applied by policymakers. In Europe, the introduction of EBFM faces four major challenges:

1. Identification of key priorities for the ecosystem. There are countless ways in which the ecosystem can influence fisheries and vice versa; it is unlikely that correctly predicting and managing all these factors is compatible with practical management. SEAwise will set priorities by applying a social and ecological risk assessment method in collaboration with stakeholders.

2. Making EBFM operational is necessary to address gaps in available knowledge. The knowledge available for EBFM includes both scientific knowledge and traditional, experience-based knowledge from citizens, NGOs and fishermen. This knowledge must be integrated for an operational and pragmatic EBFM implementation for Europe. SEAwise will address this knowledge gap by using co-design approaches for the development of management schemes to involve and integrate knowledge from all parties. Where information cannot be directly used for EBFM, SEAwise will develop new approaches.

3. Addressing the lack of tailored, accurate and adaptive prediction models. The members of the SEAwise consortium have a rich source of modelling tools, data, quantitative and qualitative analysis tools and experience in the field of advisory services. The project will make use of what is available, further develop it to fill gaps and link complementary models, and take uncertainty into account.

4. Develop advice in collaboration with policy makers to align with their needs in practical decision-making. Since the real experts on the usefulness of advice are its recipients, SEAwise will set up a network of scientists, stakeholders and decision-makers to identify the diversity of end-users' needs, both in terms of content and accessibility.