Citation : Dave Reid, Laurence Fauconet (2017). Decision support tool for fishers incorporating
information from tasks 4.1, 4.2 and information
on unwanted catches derived from scientific
data.
Main results
- The main highlight is the series of analysis making use of survey, observer and official landings
data to provide maps that can be used to allow fishermen to choose where and when to fish
to best avoid unwanted catches
- Guidance is offered on avoidance of choke species, fish below Minimum Conservation
Reference Size, immature vs. mature individuals as well as where these are in low abundance while desired catch may be in
high abundance
- Maps of where discarding occurs the most, and how species are discarded together or not can
help provide further guidance on the avoidance of discards
- The economic implications of some of these strategies are also presented allowing fishermen
to potentially maximise revenue while avoiding unwanted catch
- In some cases, the information has been packaged in flexible and interactive web based apps
that allow fishermen to use the information in their own way.
The methods/approaches followed:
- The main methods used were a range of modelling and mapping tools.
- The models were principally statistical to allow us to see how species distributed in space and
time, and where different species could be found (and discarded) together or not.
- The main output results were a series of maps for all the key elements; where particular catch
proportions could be found, where discarding of a given species was generally low, where two
or more species were discarded together etc.
- The outputs in some cases were packaged in web based apps, this approach can be used for
all the output map information for the fishermen to choose how to use, combine and present
the information
How these results can be used and by who?:
- The principle target of the outputs are the fishermen in their routine activities
- The availability of maps showing where different species, size classes (above and below
MCRS), and discards can be found represent the key results.
- Our concept is that the maps can help fishermen find desired catches, and avoid unwanted
ones. The web based apps then allow them to do this in their own way and approach.