2 research outputs found
Workshop on accounting for fishers and other stakeholders’ perceptions of the dynamics of fish stocks in ICES advice (WKAFPA)
The objective of the Workshop on accounting for fishers and other stakeholders’ perceptions of
the dynamics of fish stocks in ICES advice (WKAFPA) was to identify where and how stake-
holder information could be incorporated in the ICES fisheries advice process. It adopted an
operational definition of the concept of perception, where perceptions result from observations,
interpreted in light of experience, that can be supported by data, information and knowledge to
generate evidence about them. Stakeholder information can be either structured (e.g. routinely
collected information in a standardized format) or unstructured (e.g. experiential information)
and either of those can inform decisions made during the production of ICES advice.
Most notably, the group identified there was a need to engage with stakeholders earlier in the
process, i.e. before benchmarks meetings take place and before preliminary assessment results
are used as the basis to predict total allowable catches for upcoming advice (Figure 4.2). It was
therefore recommended to include in the ICES process the organisation of pre-bench-
mark/roadmap workshops where science and data needs of upcoming benchmarks can be iden-
tified, followed by making arrangements how scientists and stakeholders can collaborate to ac-
cess, prepare for use (where relevant) and document the structured and unstructured infor-
mation well ahead of the benchmark meetings.
It was also recommended to organise ‘sense-checking’ sessions with stakeholders when prelim-
inary assessments are available but not yet used as the basis for advisory production. This would
allow stakeholders and assessment scientists to verify available knowledge and data against
stock perceptions and provide additional considerations relevant for the production of TAC ad-
vice. Next to these two additional activities, it is recommended that communication on differ-
ences in stakeholder perception or data derived perceptions are communicated within the ICES
assessment reports as well as in the ICES advice in a transparent manner. Not only should dif-
ferences or similarities be documented and communicated, in those cases where there are differ-
ences in perception between ICES stock assessments and stakeholders, a working group, external
to the assessment working groups, should evaluate these differences and describe whether these
differences can be logically explained or require further investigation. This outcome of this pro-
cess may potentially lead to new data collection or additional analyses suitable for input to
benchmarks.
Essential in this entire process is making sure the same language is spoken between scientists
and stakeholders, that there are clear and transparent processes in place on how to deal with
stakeholder information and communicate clearly how this information is used in the prepara-
tion of ICES advice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Workshop to scope and preselect indicators for criterion D3C3 under MSFD decision (EU) 2017/848 (WKD3C3SCOPE)
The workshop to scope and preselect indicators for Descriptor 3 criterion 3 under MSFD
Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 (WKD3C3SCOPE) provided a platform for experts from the
EU member states and relevant regional bodies to meet and support development and progress
the assessment methodology, based on a request by the EC (DGENV). WKD3C3SCOPE is the
first of a series of three workshops (WKD3C3THRESHOLDS and WKSIMULD3) to provide
guidance in relation to operational indicators for MSFD D3C3.
The workshop was organized as a series of presentations with intermittent group discussions.
On the first day of the workshop the participants discussed what defines a ‘healthy population
structure’ for species with different life history traits (ToR a). During the following days, the
group discussed and identified relevant D3C3 indicators (ToR b) and developed criteria to select
among the identified D3C3 indicators to allow further testing and setting of thresholds at
WKD3C3THRESHOLDS (ToR c).
The participants found that overall, healthy fish stocks are characterized by high productivity,
wide age and size structuring in the population, and the ability to quickly recover from
disturbances. The groups noted that environmental factors, along with stock biomass and
fishing pressure, influence the productivity and health of a stock, with environment playing a
particularly large role in the recruitment of short-lived stocks. It was suggested that the age
structure of a stock might be more relevant for evaluating the health of long-lived stocks.
However, it was acknowledged that not all stocks have sufficient data to evaluate all proposed
indicators, and a single indicator is unlikely to suffice for all stocks. Data availability, species-
specific factors and regional or sub-regional variation are thus also important considerations.
In relation to ToR b, the participants presented their work on potential indicators including:
recruitment time-series, proportion of fish larger than the mean size of first sexual maturation,
F rec/Fbar, length distribution L 90, relative proportion of old fish above A 90, indicators of spawner
quality, and SSB/R. A discussion on pros/cons, benefits to the population of high or low indicator
values, benefits supported by empirical evidence, applicability to data-poor stocks and benefits
supported by simulation/theoretical considerations followed the presentations.
Finally, in relation to ToR c, the difficulty emerged in ranking the indicators alone without
considering the data used to estimate them and a new set of evaluation criteria for use in
WKD3C3THRESHOLDS were defined.
Based on the outputs of the meeting a list of indicators to be further evaluated has been drafted,
which also emphasizes the stocks for which studies have empirically demonstrated effects on
productivity. In addition to the listed indicators, indicators of genetic diversity and proportion
of fish with parasite infestation were mentioned but to the knowledge of the participants,
widespread data for these are currently not publicly available.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio