Research and analysis
Summary of relevant research on defining core fishing grounds
Updated 16 May 2016
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| Research paper | Relevance to spatial policies for fisheries | Definition of core grounds | Data used (inc. resolution) | Involvement of fishing industry | Future-proofing | Key considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fock (2008) | Research to define principal areas for fisheries in the German EEZ using VMS data. | Principal areas for fisheries defined as areas in which 75% of the effort of either year is carried out. | VMS data from 2005 to 2006 to determine vessel-based fishing effort. German vessels only. 5 fisheries with highest effort levels analysed (gill netting, pelagic trawling, demersal otter board trawling, beam trawling >300hp and <300hp). | n/a | Comparison with historical effort for demersal otter board trawling shows relative stability of spatial utilisation patterns. | · Research demonstrated that definition of core grounds is possible with VMS, yet the German MSP did not adopt the approach, stating that it was not possible to spatially delineate fishing grounds. |
| Jennings & Lee (2011) | Research on methods for defining fishing grounds using VMS. Investigated individual vessels, fleet at regional (South-west) level, and national level. | Fishing grounds had extensive margins where fishing activity was low. Excluding the most lightly fished 10%, 20% or 30% of area results in a marked decrease in area. | Gridded VMS data at 0.05o grid resolution. 2006–2009 data used. Vessels classified into fleet segments based on gear type. Activity of vessels <15m and non-UK vessels were not included (data not available). VMS data limitations – records may be misclassified as ‘fishing’; use of point data in lieu of fishing tracks under-estimates the area fished. | n/a | n/a | · For all gear and scales of time and space considered, the full extent of areas fished consisted of relatively small, intensively fished core areas, and relatively large, infrequently fished margins. · 90% of activity tends to take place in <50% of the total area fished. · Year-to-year variation was limited. |
| Jennings et al. (2012) | Assessment of fishing activity of UK and non-UK vessels in the southern and central North Sea where MPAs are proposed, in order to inform spatial planning. Quantified habitats interactions and seabed impacts of fishing activity. | Identified most intensively-trawled grounds by both UK and non-UK trawlers as areas accounting for 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% of fishing effort. Defined boundaries for trawled areas and the proportion of total fishing effort/value by calculating cumulative effort/value. Done by summing effort/value by grid cell in rank order from high to low (3x3km grid cell resolution). Calculated total fishing effort and interannual variation in fishing effort. | VMS vessel identity, position and speed data from 2006-2010 obtained from MFA/MMO. Speed rule used to identify fishing activity. Each period of fishing activity assigned to a vessel and gear type by linking VMS data to national logbook data. Landings weight and landings value data obtained from MMO. Estimated by using allocated vessels to ICES rectangles. | n/a | n/a | · Spatial differences identified between fishing grounds used by UK and non-UK beam trawlers. · Total footprint of fishing varied between years. · Total fishing footprint included core areas that accounted for the majority of effort and extensive margins that accounted for much less. · Large and lightly fished grounds contribute more to habitat impacts. Restricting fishing to core areas would reduce environmental impacts. |
| Kafas et al. (2012) | Methodology for analysing VMS data to assess fishing activity, landings weight and value. | n/a | Anonymised VMS for >15m UK vessels landing into UK ports, 2007–2011, combined with landings information. Speed rule used to identify fishing activity. Weights and values allocated to VMS pings using ICES rectangles divisions and weights on points according to time. Non-parametric density analysis used, contour maps produced showing activity, and weighted by landings and value. | n/a | n/a | · Representation of marine fisheries in Scottish waters using this method was better than using gridded data. |
| Campbell et al. (2014) | Investigation into gear-specific spatial patterns of fishing using VMS data, south-west England. | Distinct areas of intense fishing could be identified for all gear types. Intensely-fished areas vary between gear types. Static gears focussed in fewer areas; mobile gears more widely distributed. Year-to-year patterns were consistent for mobile and static gears, but longlining showed a slight shift in spatial distribution between years. | VMS data at 0.05o grid resolution, ICES divisions VIIe–h. 2005–2008 data used. >15m UK vessels only. Vessels classified by gear type. | n/a | n/a | · Linking VMS records to gear type is important; this is difficult for non-UK vessels. · Gear-specific analysis is important to avoid patterns being dominated by the most common fishing method. · Distinct areas of intense fishing could be identified for all gear types. · Fishing areas for mobile gears were most widely distributed. · Year-to-year variation differs between gears. |
| Toonen & Mol (2013) | Use of spatial approaches to fisheries management in the Dutch North Sea plaice fishery (no-take zones) enabled the fishery to obtain MSC certification. | n/a | Not set | Not set | Not set | · Spatial approaches can be used effectively in fisheries management. |
| Jentoft & Knol (2014) | Discussion paper on marine spatial planning and fisheries in the North Sea. | MSP can help protect against intrusion of other user groups, but core grounds are not defined. | n/a | Fishers find themselves in situations where they need to negotiate spatial claims with other user groups. Often lack power compared to other powerful industries (e.g. oil and gas, renewables). Fishers are increasingly engaging with MSP. | Fishers fear that their much-needed mobility will be reduced as they might become bound by their own maps in the future. | · Less powerful groups risk being marginalised through MSP if they are poorly represented or unable to back up their claims. · Need for improved coordination of MSP efforts at all scales and across sectors in the North Sea. |
| des Clers et al. (2008) | FisherMap used a participatory approach to map the nature and extent of fishing activities and fishermen’s knowledge of marine ecosystems in connection with the ‘Finding Sanctuary’ project to identify Marine Conservation Zones around the coasts and seas of Devon and Dorset in 2007 and 2008. | Spatial representation of the areas used by different fishermen, by gear type and vessel length. Density maps showing the number of vessels by area represent important grounds for different fleet segments. | Maps (high resolution but resolution not specified – as precise as the interviewees can indicate on the chart provided, and for the previous 5 years) showing footprints of areas used, and relative density of vessels, based on information from fishermen. No economic or value data were used. | Involvement of fishermen fundamental to the participatory approach. Fishermen were interviewed and drew the areas that they use on maps. This was digitised in GIS and linked to fishing methods and gear type, species targeted, and the months when activity takes place. Aggregated data by home port were validated through meetings. | FisherMap provides a snapshot. Updating it could require significant time and resources. | · Participatory mapping approach was a valuable way to obtain information on fishing activities and gear types, seasonal use and local ecological knowledge. · The approach requires significant commitment of time and resources and requires trust to be built up with the fishermen. |
| Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set |
| des Clers (no date) | Revision of FisherMap methodology in des Clers et al. (2008) (peer review initiated by Seafish) to incorporate percentage contribution to livelihood (percentage gross earnings), and bring gear categories in line with those used by the then Marine and Fisheries Agency (now MMO). | Not set | Protocol enables individual fishing grounds to be linked to data from the Seafish annual fisheries economic survey by fleet segment to provide a spatial representation of economic value. | Participation of fishermen is fundamental to the approach, as in des Clers et al. (2008). | A revised FisherMap would provide a snapshot. Updating it could require significant time and resources. | · Fishermap provides data that are not available elsewhere – on spatial fishing grounds for vessels under 15m fishing beyond 6nm. |