SAFMAMS

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SAFMAMS
Scientific Advice for Fisheries Management at
Multiple Scales
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About SAFMAMS

• SAFMAMS aims to draw insights on the most useful
  forms of scientific advice for marine
  environmental management
• Part of the project focuses on identifying the
  most useful forms of advice for the RACs
• SAFMAMS partners are working with The Pelagic
  RAC, the North Sea RAC and the Baltic RAC

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Todays Agenda

• Report preliminary SAFMAMS findings on advice to
  RACs
• Discuss what the perfect advice system might
  look like from the perspective of the RACs
• Identify any obstacles
• What can be done to overcome these obstacles?
• Exchange ideas on best practices for the
  provision of advice to RACs

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The context of the RACs
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Fishing Fleet
Scientific Working Groups
Management Decisions
ACFM
Council of Ministers
EU/Norway Talks
STECF
European Parliament
Commission
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Fishing Fleet
Scientific Working Groups
Management Decisions
ACFA
ACFM
Council of Ministers
EU/Norway Talks
STECF
European Parliament
Commission
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Fishing Fleet
Scientific Working Groups
North Sea Partnership
Management Decisions
ACFA
ACFM
Council of Ministers
EU/Norway Talks
STECF
European Parliament
Commission
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Fishing Fleet
Scientific Working Groups
North Sea Partnership
Management Decisions
ACFA
ACFM
Council of Ministers
EU/Norway Talks
STECF
European Parliament
Commission
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National Laboratories
Data Assembly
Fishing Fleet
Scientific Working Group
RAC
Review Group
STECF
ACFM
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The Emerging System
ICES
Economic Advice
National Laboratory
Integrated Management Advice
Working Group
Review Group
National Laboratory
ACFM
National Laboratory
Social Advice
Fishers in Member States
Main RAC input
RAC data
RAC discussion
RAC observers
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There are many advantages to involving fishers
and other stakeholders in fisheries management,
through the RACs, especially where the management
objectives are long term, and involve economic
and social as well as biological
targets. However The RACs need sound and
objective advice from scientists, economists and
others.
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The RACs are here! Are they getting the advice
they need?
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The RACs require
Regular dialogue with scientists, economists and
other technical experts at their meetings
working groups Assistance with questions on the
assessments including assurances that the
assessments take account of all the available
information Reality checking on proposals coming
from the RAC or being considered by the
RAC Expert advice on the social, economic
environmental consequences of management proposals
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There are also concerns over the stock
assessments
There is often a lack of basic data on landings
and discards the spatial distribution of the
fishery the species being targeted in the
fishery the impact of management measures The
assessments primarily deal with single
stocks Data on which the assessments are based
may be out of date The ecosystem approach is not
fully integrated into the stock assessments There
is a lack of peer review by independent scientists
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Experience so far There have been problems in
arranging for scientists and other experts to
assist the RACs with advice Scientists are
already heavily committed to work for Member
States, ICES and STECF Scientists time must be
paid for One or two member States have supplied
scientists for RAC meetings, but perhaps to suit
their own interests Greater participation by
scientists is needed to promote wider dialogue
and ensure that advice is evidence-based. The
main obstacle is lack of funding
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With respect to RACs, ICES
Accepts that participation of stakeholders is
part of the ecosystem approach Emphasises that
stakeholder participation must not be at the
expense of the quality and independence of the
advice Is willing to present the results of
assessments to the RACs Would like the RACs to
help it to improve the quality of data Welcomes
the RACs to take part in its Annual Science
Conference
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The Current Position
ICES will interact with the RACs over stock
assessments RACs can forward requests to ICES via
the Commission The Commission has revised the MOU
with ICES RACs can refer proposals to ICES for
comment under the MOU (via the Commission) The
Data Collection Regulation is being reviewed and
the RACs are invited to comment on the data
required, for example fishers information If RAC
questions cannot be answered by ICES scientists
then the Commission is willing to discuss new
research needs
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However
The current system is overloading the scientists
carrying out the assessments providing advice.
STECF, ICES the RACs are all sharing the same
scientists The fact that they are the same, and
that they represent their particular countries
within ICES and STECF raises the question whether
they are really independent RACs do not
currently have resources to pay for independent
scientists to attend their meetings
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Remember The provision of scientific advice can
go badly wrong
We now have many examples of society failing to
take appropriate action because of flaws in the
way scientific advice has been sought and
applied BSE in the UK The collapse of
Canadian cod stocks The safety of GM
crops Climate change
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Inquiries into science have recommended that

• Advice must be obtained from a wide range of
  sources,
• Peer review of the science is important
• Scientists can be too embedded in the
  management/political structure
• Data must be freely exchanged and open to all
• Uncertainties and risks must be identified and
  made known to the public
• The knowledge of scientists and managers may be
  limited information must also be sought from
  stakeholders
• Advice given decisions taken must be reviewed
  later

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How should expert advice for the RACs be obtained?