Over the past 18 months, collaboration between scientists, fishers and all case study partners has deepened as we have jointly worked towards our aims through a combination of field work and stakeholder meetings.
Field Work
Scientists and fishers have been jointly collecting date on fishing effort, catches and habitat definition in order to quantitatively describe fishing effort and stock distribution, to provide the basis for co-developed management schemes.
On collection, data is analysed by ISPRA scientists and thereafter discussed with fishermen.
Field work to date:
- Collection of fishery-independent data across the Adriatic Sea, within the SoleMON trawl survey (November 2011). 10 fishing days.
- Collection of oceanographic data and fishery dependent data (catches and discard composition) through the presence of ISPRA observers on board commercial fishing vessels. 15 day trips.
- Collection of fishery dependent data by self-sampling, through the use of electronic logbooks installed on eight fishing vessels belonging to different metiers. Since July 2012.
- Collection of fishery independent data through case study’s first fishery independent trawl survey in the coastal waters of the Veneto region. 20-22nd August 2012. 3 fishing days.
Stakeholder Meetings
Stakeholder meetings are an important part of this case study too. We use them to maintain momentum and engage our fishermen, to pursue further collaboration with other scientists and stakeholders, and to promote the approach and aims of the GAP2 project so that we can jointly incorporate the study’s outcomes into sustainable management proposals.
Accordingly, we have held several meetings over the past 18 months. They are listed below:
- 16 monthly meetings with GAP2 fishermen. Mainly held at the Chioggia fish market meeting room or at ISPRA branch in Chioggia, meetings were used to plan activities and discuss results.
- 8 meetings with UNIMAR to plan activities and discuss our progress.
- 5 meetings with RACMED to discuss our progress and work towards collaboration.
- 4 meetings with National Resource Council (ISMAR Ancona, Italy) to explore the use of electronic logbooks on board GAP2 fishing vessels
- 4 meetings with regional fishery management bodies and local administration to introduce the GAP2 project and work towards collaboration.
- 6 interviews with fishermen to collate ecological knowledge.
Over the next six months, we will focus on continuing our field work, analysing our early results and furthering collaboration between all those involved.
