Research project A seabed quality barometer for fishing grounds

General introduction

Which indicators can we use to determine the impact of professional bottom trawling fisheries on the seabed? How can bottom impact assessments be integrated into fisheries management? EU policy is placing increasing emphasis on seabed protection measures, to which fisheries just like other marine activities and functions must contribute. Through the Sustainable Fisheries process, the Belgian fishing sector chooses to tackle seabed disturbance in a SMART manner. The Benthis Nationaal-2 project therefore wants to develop and add a tool to this process, so that skippers and shipowners can take the seabed disturbance problem into account in their business operations in a realistic manner and in real time.

Research approach

Relevant, existing indicators are calculated, evaluated, and, where necessary, further expanded and finally integrated to achieve a balanced approach to seabed disturbance. The output is made available to the shipowner as a simple tool via the VisTools application. Since the development and application of indicators is an international event, we remain in close contact with the relevant EU, ICES and OSPAR working groups.

Relevance/Valorization

Evaluating the status of benthic habitats is crucial to estimate the health and ecological integrity of the marine benthic ecosystem. Currently, this evaluation is performed by scientists and environmental managers by means of quantitative and qualitative indicators. Better insights and more detailed data on the impact of seabed disturbance, integrated via indicators in a simple tool, will help to sensitize and support our fisheries policy and the fishers themselves in how they deal with the seabed disturbance problem.

Financing

EFMZVA
FIVA