Project

Socio-economic effects of the main management principles of the future Common Fishery Policy (CFP): impact of new policy framework and opportunities for the fishing sector to develop self- and co-management.

The Common Fisheries Policy is in a major reform process at the moment. The European Commission draws the conclusion in its analysis of the previous reform in 2002 (COM (2009) 163 final) that despite making some progress there are still many problems unresolved. On the positive side, the Commission lists better stakeholder involvement, phasing out direct capacity-enhancing subsidies and the introduction of long-term management plans. On the negative side the Commission identifies a deep-rooted problem of overcapacity, imprecise policy objectives, a framework that does not give sufficient responsibility to the industry, lack of compliance and a decision making system that encourages a focus on short-term management. We will analyze a range of available, emerging and possible new management measures to overcome these shortcomings of fisheries management, and will consider their implementation on a regional level.

The vision of MareFrame is to significantly increase the use of ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EAFM) when providing advice relating to European fish stocks. A more widespread use of EAFM is encouraged through development of new tools and technologies, development and extension of ecosystem models and assessment methods, and development of a decision support framework that can highlight alternatives and consequences. I addition, a widespread use of EAFM depends not only on collaboration with stakeholders in general, but on close integration and co-creation with stakeholders in all development phases, to ensure that ownership lies with them, and to increase the chance of acceptance and uptake of the project outcomes.

The Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) coordinates the European funded COST Action OceanGov (Ocean Governance for Sustainability – Challenges, Options and the Role of Science), chaired by Anna-Katharina Hornidge.

During the 4-year term of the project, ZMT brings together scientists, policy-makers and civil society representatives from 29 COST Member States to create and coordinate a research network for inter- and transdisciplinary research on ocean governance in the EU.

Thematically the network concentrates on the following six governance challenges:
Land-Sea Interactions
Area-Based Management
Seabed Resource Management
Nutrition Security and Food Systems
Ocean, Climate Change, and Acidification
Fisheries Governance

Within these six fields existing scientific research on different scale levels, regions and sustainability challenges is systematical being brought together and prepared in the form of integrated advice on governance tools and mechanisms to improve ocean related decision-making.