Discarding of cod in the Danish Fully Documented Fisheries trials

Clara Ulrich,Marie Storr-Paulsen,Lotte Kindt-Larsen,Jørgen Dalskov,Hans Jakob Olesen,Heiðrikur Bergsson,Kirsten Birch Håkansson,Josefine Egekvist

doi:10.1093/icesjms/fsv028

Abstract

Abstract Denmark was the first nation in Europe to promote the use of Fully Documented Fisheries (FDF) through Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) and CCTV camera systems, with pilot schemes in place since 2008. In theory, such a scheme could supplement and even potentially replace expensive control and monitoring programmes; and when associated with a catch quota management (CQM) system, incentivize positive changes in fishing patterns in a results-based management approach. New data flows are, however, required to ensure the practical implementation of such a scheme. This paper reviews the quality of the FDF data collected during 2008–2014 and their potential in strengthening information on cod discards. The analyses demonstrate the improved reporting of discards in logbooks and overall discard reductions, but they also show that some uncertainties around the absolute estimates of discard quantities have remained. Regular validation of weight estimation methods and close collaboration between scientific monitoring and control are important to support the use of reported discards as a reliable source of information. We discuss the potential of electronic monitoring in the context of the EU landing obligation.

Highlights

Around the end of the 20th century, European fisheries were trapped in a vicious circle where low Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for cod led to over quota catches being discarded or landed on the black market
The results obtained provide new insights into what the Danish Fully Documented Fisheries (FDF) trials have meant for catch monitoring programmes and for the participating vessels
The Danish FDF trials aimed to test the feasibility of implementing results-based management through catch quota management (CQM), with Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) being only the chosen monitoring tool, and not the ultimate purpose of the trials

Summary

Introduction

Around the end of the 20th century, European fisheries were trapped in a vicious circle where low Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for cod led to over quota catches being discarded or landed on the black market. As a result of these catches being poorly monitored and quantified, they undermined the quality and reliability of the stock assessment, leading in turn to even lower TAC advice the following year (Ulrich et al, 2011; Kraak et al, 2013). This situation of poor control and monitoring of cod catches has raised political awareness, and from 2006, a variety of initiatives were launched to overcome this, including changes in control, management, and scientific advice.

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Conclusion