Suchergebnisse

One of the objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to increase the contribution of fisheries to fish food availability and self-sufficiency. Still, the use of catch is often a secondary concern in fisheries governance and management – or not a concern at all – while the focus is on harvesting. This paper examines how the use of forage fish for human consumption can be increased within the limits of sustainability, using Baltic herring as a case study. Baltic herringcontains high levels ofdioxins and the humanconsumption is very low: the catches are mostly used for industrial purposes. The paper uses a participatory backcasting exercise to define a desirable future vision for the use of Baltic herring catch and to develop pathways of actor-specific governance actions to increase the use of the fish as a safe-to-eat food. The results reveal that increasing the contribution of forage fish, such as Baltic herring, to food security entails a paradigm shift in fisheries governance that involves 1) inclusion of well-defined objectives for catch use in the EU CFP and the related regional multiannual plans, 2) broadening thescope of theMSY-driven governance and management to one that addresses catch use, and 3) proactivecatch use governance.

Abstract One of the objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to increase the contribution of fisheries to fish food availability and self-sufficiency. Still, the use of catch is often a secondary concern in fisheries governance and management — or not a concern at all — while the focus is on harvesting. This paper examines how the use of forage fish for human consumption can be increased within the limits of sustainability, using Baltic herring as a case study. Baltic herring contains high levels of dioxins and the human consumption is very low: the catches are mostly used for industrial purposes. The paper uses a participatory backcasting exercise to define a desirable future vision for the use of Baltic herring catch and to develop pathways of actor-specific governance actions to increase the use of the fish as a safe-to-eat food. The results reveal that increasing the contribution of forage fish, such as Baltic herring, to food security entails a paradigm shift in fisheries governance that involves 1) inclusion of well-defined objectives for catch use in the EU CFP and the related regional multiannual plans, 2) broadening the scope of the MSY-driven governance and management to one that addresses catch use, and 3) proactive catch use governance.

One of the objectives of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to increase the contribution of fisheries to fish food availability and self-sufficiency. Still, the use of catch is often a secondary concern in fisheries governance and management – or not a concern at all – while the focus is on harvesting. This paper examines how the use of forage fish for human consumption can be increased within the limits of sustainability, using Baltic herring as a case study. Baltic herring contains high levels of dioxins and the human consumption is very low: the catches are mostly used for industrial purposes. The paper uses a participatory backcasting exercise to define a desirable future vision for the use of Baltic herring catch and to develop pathways of actor-specific governance actions to increase the use of the fish as a safe-to-eat food. The results reveal that increasing the contribution of forage fish, such as Baltic herring, to food security entails a paradigm shift in fisheries governance that involves 1) inclusion of well-defined objectives for catch use in the EU CFP and the related regional multiannual plans, 2) broadening the scope of the MSY-driven governance and management to one that addresses catch use, and 3) proactive catch use governance. ; Peer reviewed

The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has adopted an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EBFM), to minimize the negative impacts of fishing activities on the marine ecosystem. The approach entails a shift from single-species management to a holistic one that considers the interaction between ecosystem components and between the ecosystem and society, and strives for integrated and adaptive management, involving stakeholders. The implementation of EBFM is, however, challenging due to e.g. mismatch between governance and ecosystem boundaries, and the resulting poor understanding of the social-ecological systems (SES). This paper aims to explore what requirements EBFM poses for governance at different levels and to assess how reorganizing governance could, in turn, improve SES understanding. We apply the theoretical framework of governability (Kooiman et al.) to qualitative empirical material and literature concerning Baltic salmon and herring fisheries to 1) analyze the complexity, diversity and dynamics of the fisheries systems to be governed, 2) identify elements, modes and orders of governance needed for the EBFM of the SES, and 3) characterize patterns of interactions for the governing system to match the scale and scope of the system to be governed. Baltic salmon and herring have a predator-prey relationship, and a problem of high dioxin levels in common. However, the relationship of the fisheries with society differs in terms of socio-cultural values and use. Finally, we assess the governability of these fisheries in the framework of the EBFM, given the CFP aims of ensuring social-ecological wellbeing and food security and safety.

This article focuses on the dioxin problem of Baltic herring and salmon fisheries and its governance that is based on natural scientific knowledge. The dioxin problem weakens the perceived quality of Baltic salmon and herring as food and affects the way the catches can be used. This influences negatively the fishing livelihood, the coastal culture, and the availability of the fish for consumers. We explored how the governance of the dioxin problem could be improved, to better address its socio-economic and cultural implications. We identified four main actions: (1) adopt environmental, economic and social sustainability, and food security and safety as shared principles between the environmental, food safety/public health, and fisheries policies, (2) establish collaboration between the environmental, public health, and fisheries sectors at the regional level, (3) enhance interaction around the dioxin problem within the fisheries sector, and (4) support the participation of the Baltic fisheries stakeholders in the EU-level food safety governance. Viewing dioxins in fish not only as a natural scientific problem but as a multidimensional one would enable a wider toolbox of governing instruments to be developed to better address the different dimensions. This would support steps towards collaborative governance and a food system approach. ; Peer reviewed

The interaction between grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and the Baltic gillnet fishery for herring (Clupea harengus) during the period 2000-2005 was investigated, by comparing and contrasting 3 sources of information: data from the European Union (EU) official logbook system, data from a voluntary logbook system and data from field studies. While the EU official logbooks suggest that seal disturbance occurred in 30% of all herring gillnet fishing events, data from the voluntary logbook gavea figure of 60%. There was a pronounced seasonal variation in the frequency of seal-disturbed fishing efforts, with least interference in the early summer, and greatest at the end of the year. This variation is likely dependent on the life cycle of the seals and their main prey, the herring. Analysis of the EU logbook information also showed that catches were significantly higher on fishing days when there was no seal interference recorded, compared to days when there was such interference. Field experiments demonstrated that herring catches were reduced by 240 kg per fleet of net and fishing occasion when seals were present, which is much more than the observed seals in the area could possibly have consumed, and a very small number of fish remains were found in the nets after seals had been present. These observations suggest that the mere presence of seals does affect catch levels negatively. Nets baited with marked fish were used to estimate hidden losses, i.e. fish removed from the nets, leaving no trace. Seals were assumed to have visited the experimental nets in 14 of the 19 trials. In 11 of these, more than 95% of the marked fish went missing. The 3 different data sources altogether show that the herring gillnet fishery in the northern Baltic is severely disturbed by interaction with grey seals.