Decision support tool for fishers incorporating information from tasks 4.1, 4.2 and information on unwanted catches derived from scientific data [article]

Dave Reid, Laurence Fauconet
2018 Zenodo  
The main aim of this deliverable was to provide fishermen with the detailed knowledge that can come from using scientific data to illustrate the spatial and temporal distributions of the fish, the catches, and the discards. We set out to use the many data and models now available to scientists to potentially assist fishers in making their strategic choices, including fine-scale real-time mapping of catches and activity data, discards hotspots, juveniles surveys etc. The aim was for Decision
more » ... ort Tools (DST) to be provided to e.g. assess the role of "choke" species at the local scale. The role of the scientist here is as an advisor to the fishers, on where and when they might fish to reduce "choke" problems, and avoid unwanted catches. No single approach was possible across all the case studies, and indeed was probably not desirable, as each case study had its own specific challenges. These arose from a combination of how the fish were distributed i.e. in discreet areas, or widely spread, and on the nature of the LO challenge, e.g. avoidance of particular species or size classes, and the limitations in fishing imposed by geography and other legislation drivers. Many of the analyses presented here have also been developed into bespoke Decision Support Tools, mainly involving web based apps to help fishermen understand and use the results and particularly maps of catch and discard distributions. DST can take many forms. At their simplest, these can represent maps of where fish are found (from surveys), and caught and discarded (from observers). However, more detailed analyses can be used to analyse spatial patterns and their variation, how discards and catches of numbers of species co-occur in space or time, or not. The information can also be represented in an interactive form using web based apps. But the DST process can also be simply the provision of important understandings about discarding and its drivers, e.g. quota management rules, or about the interaction of economic profitability with discarding – is i [...]
doi:10.5281/zenodo.3256142 fatcat:xwl7uqw66rgpvdpvpl7sgtjx44