Evaluation Of Discards In Eu Fisheries
Region: Europe
Country: Europe - General
Date: 1998 - 1999
Funded By: EU Parliament STOA Unit (Scientific and Technological Options Assessment)
MEP assisted in a multi-disciplinary policy options study that defined the extent and the nature of the problem of discards in commercial fisheries, identified and analysed the key issues involved, defined and evaluated the existing policy approaches and presented the most significant policy options available for adoption by the European Parliament. This study generated a concise and analytical review of the problem of non-target species discards within the European Union fishing fleets. Its main findings were that discarding is mainly a problem in the North Sea & Atlantic fisheries, most commonly involving demersal trawl fishing, especially for flatfish and crustacea. That most discards are caused by economic and legal constraints on fish landings and that the main impact of discarding is direct and future losses of fish of commercial value although indirect impacts are on the ecology of non commercial species, the marine food web and loss of fisheries mortality data. A review of legislation and third country approaches to the problem also allowed the study team to present possible policy options to the European Parliament.