Six projects to improve scientific knowledge on fisheries are ready to kick off

Six projects to improve scientific knowledge for fisheries conservation and management are kicking off their activities today. The projects are funded under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and received an overall budget of EUR 2.9 million from the call for proposals for Scientific Advice for Fisheries, launched in March 2023.

The call for proposals was a first of a kind, and aimed to promote the development and the strengthening of the scientific knowledge needed for fisheries conservation and management measures in support of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The priorities related to this call were the reinforcement of policy-oriented fisheries science, a better use of the collected scientific data, as well as improved cooperation between scientists and the fisheries sector.

The six funded projects are below.

DIASPARA - DIAdromous Species: moving towards new PARadigms to achieve holistic scientific Advice

The project will provide tools to improve the coherence of the scientific assessment process, from data collection to analysis. The overall goal is to provide more comprehensive scientific advice and to better advise on regional management of diadromous species, such as the Atlantic salmon and the European eel. It will cover the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, Atlantic Western waters with the possibility to expand to the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea as well as the Pacific Ocean.

Duration: 24 months

EU contribution: 599,752.12 €

GenDC - Improving stock assessment and sustainable management of marine fisheries through integrated genetic data collection

The project will develop new standardised sampling procedures to integrate genetic data with stock assessment and exiting databases. This will strengthen the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The focus areas are the North and Baltic Sea.

Duration: 24 months

EU contribution: 478,345.64 €

ImproFish - Improving the science basis of the fisheries management of the Gulf of Bothnia herring

The project will focus on strengthening the scientific knowledge of the ecology and dynamics of the Gulf of Bothnia (Baltic Sea) herring under the pressures from climate change and human activities. This will reinforce the scientific basis of the fisheries management of this species.

Duration: 24 months

EU contribution: 540,954.34 €

SECWEB 2.0 - Evolving the on-line working environment, tools and services of the RCGs Secretariat for the RCGs’ community

The project will improve the online working environment, tools, and services of the Regional Coordination Groups (RCGs) Secretariat for the RCGs' community. It will implement innovative tools and service for the cooperation and communication among the 6 RCGs.

Duration: 24 months

EU contribution: 277,643.60 €

iTunnes - Improving tropical TuNa biological knowledge for eNd-usErS

The project will contribute to the development of the best scientific advice on tropical tuna biology (yellowfin, skipjack and bigeye tunas). The aim is to reduce uncertainties about single species and ecosystem models, and foster the implementation of effective management measures for tropical tunas in tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (t-RFMOs). It focuses on the Indian and Atlantic Ocean.

Duration: 24 months

EU contribution: 479,511.51 €

SciCAO - Strengthening the scientific knowledge base of the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement

The project will conduct analysis of samples and data collected during the funded RV Polarstern expedition PS144 “ArcWatch II” (08/09/2024 – 10/16/2024) on the diversity, distribution, migration and ecological role of finfish in the Central Arctic Ocean. The results of the project will be shared with international advisory bodies, and made publicly accessible.

Duration: 24 months (officially starting in August 2024)

EU contribution: 605,100.00 €