The document discusses the role of the science-policy interface in implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries management. It provides examples of how the knowledge base is being transformed, including setting regional priorities using risk assessments, accounting for fisheries as part of social-ecological systems, increasing participatory development of spatial tools, providing science in the absence of clear objectives, and maintaining trust in the scientific advice system. Progress includes incorporating ecosystem variability in stock advice, estimating sustainable yields, mixed fisheries scenarios, and responding to changes in productivity.

1. Role of the science-policy interface in
implementation of an ecosystem approach to
fisheries management
Mark Dickey-Collas,
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
@DickeyCollas
@ICES_ASC

2. 4,000 active scientists
20 Member Countries
150+ expert groups
www.ices.dk
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
260+ stocks
8 million tonnes catch annually
90% of fisheries catches
in Northeast Atlantic, Arctic,
& Baltic Sea
NEAFC, NASCO, EU, Norway, UK, Iceland & OSPAR
Intergovernmental organisation that provides scientific advice for fisheries management

3. Role of science-policy interface in implementation of an ecosystem
approach to fisheries management
As the knowledge base develops, you must also transform the system
that creates, shares & uses that knowledge base.
5 elements illustrated
through examples…
Image: J. Schmidt

4. Local & regional
priorities for
management
Use of regional
overviews, & evaluation
of risk to prioritise &
frame key findings

5. Local & regional priorities for management
Ecosystem overviews set context, prioritise ecological & management challenges in
each ecoregion, informed by assessments of risk
Norwegian Sea
Ecosystem Overview
ICES ecoregions
ecological & politically defined
Images: @DickeyCollas & ICES

6. Fish & fisheries
don’t operate in
isolation
Where necessary
account for dynamics
& challenges of
fisheries in social-
ecological system

7. Fish & fisheries don’t operate in isolation
Incremental implementation of new approaches to science & fisheries advice
• 73% of data rich stocks incorporate an element of ecosystem variability
• Estimates of pretty good yields are provided for fisheries management plans
• Mixed fisheries scenarios are provided for trawl fisheries in 3 ecoregions
• Using fish to track trends in marine biodiversity, food webs, & climate change
• Advice for Irish Sea fisheries responds to changes in ecosystem
productivity
Image: J. Bentley

8. Working with people & accounting for space
Wider participation in processes & interactive tools for spatial advice

9. Working with people & accounting for space
Increase in participatory development of mapping tools & format of advice,
e.g. impact of bottom trawling on seafloor
Conservation solutions through
spatial optimisation
2013 to 2018
yellow = all trawling
orange = 90% trawling
Images: @DickeyCollas & ICES

10. Reconciling vague
management objectives
Providing science in the
absence of agreed or
comparable management
objectives, while coping
with paucity of data

11. Reconciling vague management objectives
Bycatch of protected species – often plurality of management objectives
In absence of definitive guidance & with need to improve knowledge base; interpret
legislation to obtain operational management objectives
ICES will provide advice in accordance with the generic &
precautionary objective to “minimize and, where possible,
eliminate bycatch of PETS to prevent any serious
harm to the species concerned”

12. Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reuse
Maintaining trust, credibility & legitimacy of scientific advice
ICES framework for
scientific advice
Findable, Accessible,
Interoperable, Reusable

13. Role of science-policy interface in implementation of an
ecosystem approach to fisheries management
As the knowledge base develops, you must also transform the system that
creates, shares & uses that knowledge base
• Overviews & assessment of risk, provide context to specific challenges
• Account for dynamic fisheries in social-ecological system
• Wider participation in developing tools, e.g. maps for spatial advice
• Progress science under plurality of management objectives
• Create framework to maintain trust & credibility of science system

14. Resources
• Advisory plan https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5468
• Ecoregions https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.6014
• Ecosystem overviews
https://www.ices.dk/advice/ESD/Pages/Ecosystem-overviews.aspx
• Fisheries advice framework https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.7720
• Mixed fisheries advice
https://www.ices.dk/advice/Fisheries-overviews/Pages/fisheries-overviews.aspx
• Trawling & seafloor impact advice https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.8191
• Bycatch roadmap https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.19657167
• Advice framework https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.7648
• Overall approach to science for EBM http://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5466