Collaboration for fisheries management

Managing fisheries and the marine environment involves many different players, from fishermen to scientists to policymakers. Reaching harmony on issues relating to sustainable management, ecosystem conservation and marine biodiversity requires better communication and engagement between these vastly different groups.

The EU-funded GAP2 (Bridging the gap between science, stakeholders and policy makers phase 2: Integration of evidence-based knowledge and its application to science and management of fisheries and the marine environment) initiative aims to bring scientists, fishermen and policymakers together.

An interdisciplinary team across Europe is building on a previous project that established 15 fisheries-science partnerships across 11 European countries. This is to ensure that science, industry and government can work together to implement effective research programmes that benefit the marine environment and sustainable fisheries.

GAP2 is funding exchange trips between research and management organisations, engaging the public in fisheries research, and coordinating 13 case studies involving scientists and other players. These will provide a way for scientists, fisheries and policymakers to learn from one another, thereby bridging the gap between research and management policy.

Through the participatory case studies, GAP2 hopes to ensure that marine and fisheries research is collaborative across all levels of fisheries management. Opening dialogue between scientists, fisheries and policymakers will also lead to scientifically informed governance with wider benefits across Europe.

This project is ensuring that science and industry work together to design and implement effective, responsible research that positively impacts fisheries and the marine environment.