Using inferred drivers of discarding behaviour to evaluate discard mitigation measures

Type Article
Date 2014-07
Language English
Author(s) Catchpole T. L.1, Feekings J. P.2, Madsen N.2, Palialexis A.3, 7, Vassilopoulou V.3, Valeiras J.4, Garcia T.5, Nikolic Natacha6, Rochet Marie-Joelle6
Affiliation(s) 1 : Fisheries & Aquaculture Sci Cefas, Ctr Environm, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England.
2 : Tech Univ Denmark, Natl Inst Aquat Resources, DK-9850 Hirtshals, Denmark.
3 : HCMR, Anavyssos 19013, Greece.
4 : IEO, Vigo 36200, Spain.
5 : IEO, Fuengirola Malaga 29640, Spain.
6 : French Res Inst Explorat Sea Ifremer, Nantes, France.
7 : Commiss European Communities, JRC, IES, Water Resources Unit, Ispra, VA, Italy.
Source Ices Journal Of Marine Science (1054-3139) (Oxford Univ Press), 2014-07 , Vol. 71 , N. 5 , P. 1277-1285
DOI 10.1093/icesjms/fst170
WOS© Times Cited 36
Note Contribution to the Themed Section: ‘Bycatch and discards: from improved knowledge to mitigation programmes Données OBSMER
Keyword(s) CFP, discards, fishers market, quota
Abstract Discards refer to the part of the catch not retained on board during commercial fishing operations, but returned to the sea. The proposed
European Union Common Fisheries Policy reform, to be implemented in 2014, sets out a gradual elimination of discards by reducing unwanted
catches and ensuring that all catches are landed. To develop successful discard mitigation measures, it is necessary to identify the
reasons for discarding. Here, we have developed a simple model that can be applied to data from observer programmes (ObsPs) to establish
the contribution of different drivers of discarding behaviour. The analysis makes inferences on the causes of discarding by partitioning discards
into four categories based on the length of the fish and the associated regulatory restrictions. The drivers are defined as: fish discarded
below the legalminimum landing size; fish forwhich there is no market and that do not have aminimum landing size; fish for which there are
inconsistencies in market and sorting practices; and discards that can be attributed to fishers’ responses to quota restrictions. The approach
is applied to data generated from ObsPs from five EuropeanMember States. All the inferred drivers contribute to the total discard quantity.
Their relative contributions vary widely across countries, areas, gears, and species.
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How to cite 

Catchpole T. L., Feekings J. P., Madsen N., Palialexis A., Vassilopoulou V., Valeiras J., Garcia T., Nikolic Natacha, Rochet Marie-Joelle (2014). Using inferred drivers of discarding behaviour to evaluate discard mitigation measures. Ices Journal Of Marine Science, 71(5), 1277-1285. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fst170 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00159/27030/