New Zealand is pioneering novel codend technology, called the Modular Harvesting System (MHS), aiming to improve catch quality, selectivity, and survivability (discard & cryptic).
The MHS is approved for commercial use in New Zealand.
The approval process required the team to show that the novel codend technology performs “no worse than” traditional codends across a number of metrics (species composition, size composition, protected species impact, and benthic impact). This was achieved by designing a modular harvesting system (MHS) codend that basically mimicked the performance of traditional mesh codends. More information on the MHS and the approval process in New Zealand is provided below:
In addition to maximizing both catch quality and survival rates, the novel codend technology represents a unique opportunity to design species-selective fishing gear by exploring the natural escape behaviour in the reduced water flow environment within the MHS codend.
This blog post was started with the intention to:
Share information & trial experiences.
Provide a forum for discussions (comments, questions, feedback).
Identify potential use cases outside of New Zealand.
Identify & connect with potential partners for international trials.
We are inviting you to share your thoughts and ideas.
One of the objectives of our ICES/FAO working group is to provide ICES with expertise on fishing gear. Therefore, ICES contacts our working group on a regular basis to contribute this expertise for specific technical input that ACOM requires to draft advice upon request from various management organizations. This time, ICES is searching YOUR/our technical input on the following topic related to a review on the current and potential commercial deep sea (>1000m) fishing practices worldwide:
Terms of reference for WGFTFB (and WGSFD)
Working with WGFTFB/WGSFD, provide a commentary based on expert judgement as well as NEAFC VMS and catch report data analysis on maximum depth on the use of mobile bottom contacting gear (trawls) and bottom contacting static gear in the NEAFC regulatory area.
Scientific justifications
In the context of setting up OECMs, NEAFC will require information on areas that may be fished in the future. As such, an analysis of current NEAFC fishing practices in terms of maximum depth and in terms of general bathymetric features is required to inform the likely future extent by the depth of fishing. This commentary by WGFTFB/WGSFD will serve as input to an ICES workshop on 7-11 August that will also look at the long-term biodiversity/ ecosystem benefits of 1) areas restricted to bottom fishing, and 2) closed areas according to the VME Recommendation (19:2014).
Note: WGSFD are analysing NEAFC VMS and catch report data and will also input towards the general commentary.
Background/deliverable
NEAFC (Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission) will require information on areas that are at suitable depths for fishing and on areas that could in the future also be suitable. This information is required by NEAFC in the process of designating areas as OECMs (“Other effective area-based conservation measures”) that have strict criteria. The criteria state that the management measures (i.e. restrict bottom fishing activity) are realistic and that by putting this in place it will have a long-term to biodiversity.
As such, an analysis of current NEAFC fishing practices in terms of maximum depth and in terms of general bathymetric features is required to inform the likely future extent by depth of fishing. This commentary by WGFTFB/WGSFD will serve as input to an ICES workshop, 7-11 August 2023, that will also look at the long-term biodiversity/ ecosystem benefits of 1) areas restricted to bottom fishing, and 2) closed areas according to the VME Recommendation (19:2014). The workshop will 1) evaluation of the biodiversity attributes of the areas concerned, 2) list potential threats resulting from pressures, and specifically evaluate the pressures and likely threats from fishing activities affecting or expected to affect the areas and the biodiversity attributes, and 3) evaluation of the NEAFC management measures as to whether they achieve, or are expected to achieve, positive and sustained outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity. This should also include the likely or potential effectiveness in mitigating the threats to the biodiversity attributes.
Additional ToR for WGFTFB/ WGSFD
Working with WGFTFB/WGSFD, provide a commentary based on expert judgement (WGFTFB) as well as NEAFC VMS and catch report data analysis (WGSFD) on current and potential maximum depth on the use of mobile bottom contacting gear (trawls) and bottom contacting static gear (e.g. longlines) in the NEAFC regulatory area.
=====
Task of WGFTFB
As the focus of this advice is “what might be future depth limits of deep sea fishing” in the North East Atlantic region (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_East_Atlantic_Fisheries_Commission ), the question is directed to all WGFTFB members to provide expertise / knowledge on deep sea fishing (>1000m) worldwide to include expertise and current and past practise from around the globe.
Please provide your technical input (in a review type of format) on the below questions:
Current and past deep-sea fishing: Do you have any knowledge about deep sea fishing (>1000) in any area of the world. Please, provide details if possible (areas, depth range, type of fishery, target species, countries involved, when this fishery was conducted).
Future deep-sea fishing: Do you see a further expansion of deep-sea fishing in the future (e.g. do you see any technical reason not to fish there)? What is your expectation?
Do you know/have literature about deep sea fishing (>1000m)?
We require your input no later than by Friday the 21 July, so that it can be compiled into a coherent commentary.
A critical element in the ICES advisory service quality programme is the review of analysis provided by the expert groups. The review is required to assure a sound scientific basis for the advice. ICES depends on the willingness of experts that have not been involved with the work in the expert groups to provide such reviews. The task is absolute vital to assure that ICES advice remains based on best science.
Look forward to hearing back from you.
Best regards
The ICES/FAO WGFTFB chairs
https://wgftfb.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/deep-sea.jpg12241632Antonello Salahttp://wgftfb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/top1.jpgAntonello Sala2023-07-03 16:48:482023-07-03 16:49:07Maximum likely fishing depth in the NEAFC area
I would like to know about any conferences for 2023/2024 that are about fisheries or one of the themes is fisheries that are legitimate as there are more and more conferences that are predatory.
I want to make sure that what I am signing up for isn’t essentially a scam or a conference made up simply to make money.
I would also appreciate any websites that usually post legitimate conferences/workshops.
The cartoon graphically and effectively illustrates and promotes the recently completed Themed Set in the ICES Journal of Marine Science on Challenges to incentivizing avoidance of unwanted catch. The cartoon, alongside a pretty good summary of the findings, also appears at the ICES website.
The 18 open-access articles in the Set (plus an Introduction) cover three major topics including a range of human behavioural models to understand motivations and incentives in use of selective gears by fishers and others, challenges to cooperative spatio-temporal avoidance of bycatch, and other relevant technical or other measures to reduce bycatch.
The set includes possibly the last publication by Sarah Kraak. Credit is due to her for initiating the Themed Set and acting as its major driving force before her tragic death in early 2022. To those of you who knew her, I hope you find that she is appropriately acknowledged and recognized in the Set.
My involvement in these questions of uptake of proven fishing gears grew out of a Topic Group at WGFTFB, Steve Eayrs having overcome my resistance to participating. That’s a pretty strong example of the relevance and impact of WGFTFB’s activities and of the value of our collective experience and wisdom.
I hope you find the Set useful. There is still a lot to be learned on the subject!
International Fishing Industry Safety & Health Conference (IFISH)
/in blog, News/by Antonello SalaNovel codend technology promises improved quality, selectivity, and survivability
/in blog, News/by Antonello SalaBackground
New Zealand is pioneering novel codend technology, called the Modular Harvesting System (MHS), aiming to improve catch quality, selectivity, and survivability (discard & cryptic).
See here for a 3 min video overview: Introduction to Precision Seafood Harvesting
The MHS is approved for commercial use in New Zealand.
The approval process required the team to show that the novel codend technology performs “no worse than” traditional codends across a number of metrics (species composition, size composition, protected species impact, and benthic impact). This was achieved by designing a modular harvesting system (MHS) codend that basically mimicked the performance of traditional mesh codends. More information on the MHS and the approval process in New Zealand is provided below:
The first overseas trials of the MHS have been conducted successfully in the Netherlands flatfish beam trawl fishery
Opportunity
In addition to maximizing both catch quality and survival rates, the novel codend technology represents a unique opportunity to design species-selective fishing gear by exploring the natural escape behaviour in the reduced water flow environment within the MHS codend.
This blog post was started with the intention to:
We are inviting you to share your thoughts and ideas.
The Precision Seafood Harvesting Team
Maximum likely fishing depth in the NEAFC area
/in blog, News/by Antonello SalaDear ICES/FAO WGFTFB members
One of the objectives of our ICES/FAO working group is to provide ICES with expertise on fishing gear. Therefore, ICES contacts our working group on a regular basis to contribute this expertise for specific technical input that ACOM requires to draft advice upon request from various management organizations. This time, ICES is searching YOUR/our technical input on the following topic related to a review on the current and potential commercial deep sea (>1000m) fishing practices worldwide:
Terms of reference for WGFTFB (and WGSFD)
Working with WGFTFB/WGSFD, provide a commentary based on expert judgement as well as NEAFC VMS and catch report data analysis on maximum depth on the use of mobile bottom contacting gear (trawls) and bottom contacting static gear in the NEAFC regulatory area.
Scientific justifications
In the context of setting up OECMs, NEAFC will require information on areas that may be fished in the future. As such, an analysis of current NEAFC fishing practices in terms of maximum depth and in terms of general bathymetric features is required to inform the likely future extent by the depth of fishing. This commentary by WGFTFB/WGSFD will serve as input to an ICES workshop on 7-11 August that will also look at the long-term biodiversity/ ecosystem benefits of 1) areas restricted to bottom fishing, and 2) closed areas according to the VME Recommendation (19:2014).
Note: WGSFD are analysing NEAFC VMS and catch report data and will also input towards the general commentary.
Background/deliverable
NEAFC (Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission) will require information on areas that are at suitable depths for fishing and on areas that could in the future also be suitable. This information is required by NEAFC in the process of designating areas as OECMs (“Other effective area-based conservation measures”) that have strict criteria. The criteria state that the management measures (i.e. restrict bottom fishing activity) are realistic and that by putting this in place it will have a long-term to biodiversity.
As such, an analysis of current NEAFC fishing practices in terms of maximum depth and in terms of general bathymetric features is required to inform the likely future extent by depth of fishing. This commentary by WGFTFB/WGSFD will serve as input to an ICES workshop, 7-11 August 2023, that will also look at the long-term biodiversity/ ecosystem benefits of 1) areas restricted to bottom fishing, and 2) closed areas according to the VME Recommendation (19:2014). The workshop will 1) evaluation of the biodiversity attributes of the areas concerned, 2) list potential threats resulting from pressures, and specifically evaluate the pressures and likely threats from fishing activities affecting or expected to affect the areas and the biodiversity attributes, and 3) evaluation of the NEAFC management measures as to whether they achieve, or are expected to achieve, positive and sustained outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity. This should also include the likely or potential effectiveness in mitigating the threats to the biodiversity attributes.
Additional ToR for WGFTFB/ WGSFD
Working with WGFTFB/WGSFD, provide a commentary based on expert judgement (WGFTFB) as well as NEAFC VMS and catch report data analysis (WGSFD) on current and potential maximum depth on the use of mobile bottom contacting gear (trawls) and bottom contacting static gear (e.g. longlines) in the NEAFC regulatory area.
=====
Task of WGFTFB
As the focus of this advice is “what might be future depth limits of deep sea fishing” in the North East Atlantic region (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_East_Atlantic_Fisheries_Commission ), the question is directed to all WGFTFB members to provide expertise / knowledge on deep sea fishing (>1000m) worldwide to include expertise and current and past practise from around the globe.
Please provide your technical input (in a review type of format) on the below questions:
We require your input no later than by Friday the 21 July, so that it can be compiled into a coherent commentary.
A critical element in the ICES advisory service quality programme is the review of analysis provided by the expert groups. The review is required to assure a sound scientific basis for the advice. ICES depends on the willingness of experts that have not been involved with the work in the expert groups to provide such reviews. The task is absolute vital to assure that ICES advice remains based on best science.
Look forward to hearing back from you.
Best regards
The ICES/FAO WGFTFB chairs
Legitimate Conferences for Fisheries
/in blog/by Antonello SalaHello everyone!
I would like to know about any conferences for 2023/2024 that are about fisheries or one of the themes is fisheries that are legitimate as there are more and more conferences that are predatory.
I want to make sure that what I am signing up for isn’t essentially a scam or a conference made up simply to make money.
I would also appreciate any websites that usually post legitimate conferences/workshops.
Thank you all!
Monika J. Szynaka
Challenges to incentivizing avoidance of unwanted catch
/in blog, News/by Antonello SalaThe cartoon graphically and effectively illustrates and promotes the recently completed Themed Set in the ICES Journal of Marine Science on Challenges to incentivizing avoidance of unwanted catch. The cartoon, alongside a pretty good summary of the findings, also appears at the ICES website.
The 18 open-access articles in the Set (plus an Introduction) cover three major topics including a range of human behavioural models to understand motivations and incentives in use of selective gears by fishers and others, challenges to cooperative spatio-temporal avoidance of bycatch, and other relevant technical or other measures to reduce bycatch.
The set includes possibly the last publication by Sarah Kraak. Credit is due to her for initiating the Themed Set and acting as its major driving force before her tragic death in early 2022. To those of you who knew her, I hope you find that she is appropriately acknowledged and recognized in the Set.
My involvement in these questions of uptake of proven fishing gears grew out of a Topic Group at WGFTFB, Steve Eayrs having overcome my resistance to participating. That’s a pretty strong example of the relevance and impact of WGFTFB’s activities and of the value of our collective experience and wisdom.
I hope you find the Set useful. There is still a lot to be learned on the subject!
Mike Pol, Ph.D
DEMaT 2022 proceedings
/in blog, News/by Antonello SalaProceedings of the 15th international DEMaT workshop (12-15 September 2022) hosted by the University of Rostock in Germany (Download)