Thumbnail Image

A third assessment of global marine fisheries discards

Copyright licence

Year of publication 2019

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 79

Author Pérez Roda, M.A. (ed.), Gilman, E., Huntington, T., Kennelly, S.J., Suuronen, P., Chaloupka, M. and Medley, P.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (series)

Category Technical study

ISBN 978-92-5-131226-1

Series title FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Papers

Series number T633

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) This third update of FAO’s global discard estimate adopted the ‘fishery-by-fishery’ approach employed in the second discards assessment published in 2005. The update included publicly available discard data in the last 20 years to establish a baseline of a time series of global marine fisheries discards. This is essential for monitoring the status and trends of discard management, which is the first step of the ecosystem approach to fisheries management cycle. In addition, the study developed a new fisheries data table incorporating landings data from the FAO Global Capture Production dataset (FishStat J) from 2010 to 2014, which allocated the landings to over 2 000 fisheries worldwide. The current study estimated that the annual discards from global marine capture fisheries between 2010 and 2014 was 9.1 million tonnes (95% CI: 6.7 – 16.1 million tonnes). About 46 percent (4.2 million tonnes) of total annual discards were from bottom trawls that included otter trawls, shrimp trawls, pair bottom trawls, twin otter trawls and beam trawls. The study included a synthesis of estimates of bycatch and discards of endangered, threatened and protected (ETP) species. Substantial advances have been made in quantifying fisheries interactions with such species so as to make informed decisions on their protection. However, many challenges remain, especially for small-scale fisheries. The development of standardized data collection techniques, risk-based sampling and sharing of data across agencies and regions will help to identify management priorities and allow implementation and enforcement of mitigation measures. A review of previous research showed that discard practices were often related to a wide range of factors, so it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of fishery management actions on the amount and practice of discards. Many regulations are inconsistently enforced, and their implementation is often less strict than intended. Piecemeal approaches in many bycatch and discards management measures can result in unintended cross-taxa conflicts, where regulations designed to reduce bycatch and/or discards of one species or species group may increase bycatch and/or discards of another. Examination of approaches to accounting for and mitigating against pre-catch, post-capture and ghost fishing mortalities demonstrates that an understanding of the relative importance of factors affecting indirect fishing mortality is necessary for estimating total fishing-induced mortality and for designing and implementing mitigation measures.

Read on Google Books and buy online

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    A third assessment of global marine fisheries discards. Advanced executive summary 2018
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The new FAO global study on discards and bycatch is being peer-reviewed at this moment (June 2018) and it will be published as a Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper by October 2018. This leaflet will be an advanced copy of the Executive Summary of such Technical Paper to inform COFI on the results of the new FAO global study on discards and bycatch in marine fisheries. This study will contribute to Strategic Objective number 2: Increase and Improve Provision of Goods and Services from Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in a Sustainable Manner.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Meeting
    Meeting document
    A third assessment of global marine fisheries discards
    COFI/2020/SBD.16
    2020
    Also available in:
    No results found.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Book (series)
    Technical study
    A global assessment of fisheries bycatch and discards 1994
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The authors estimate that between 17.9 and 39.5 million tons (average 27.0 million) of fish are discarded each year in commercial fisheries. These estimates are based on a review of over 800 papers. The highest quantities of discards are from the Northwest Pacific while tropical shrimp trawl fisheries generate a higher proportion of discards than any other fishery type, accounting for one third of the global total. Of four major gear groups, shrimp trawls stand alone at the top of the list; b ottom trawls, long-lines and pot fisheries come next. The third group consists of Japanese high-seas drift net fisheries, Danish seines and purse seines for capelin. Relatively low levels result from pelagic trawls, small pelagic purse seines and some of high seas drift nets. The authors point to inadequate data to determine the biological, ecological, economic and cultural impacts of discards although economic losses run to billions of dollars. However, it appears most likely that socio-cultura l attitudes towards marine resources will guide international discard policies. Techniques to reduce bycatch levels including traditional net selectivity, fishing gear development and time/area restrictions, are discussed. Effort reduction, incentive programmes and individual transferable quotas (that make the vessel responsible for bycatch reduction) are seen as promising avenues for the future. However, quick solutions to the problem are unlikely and much more information is required. Th e publication includes a diskette with the complete Bycatch Database, which was compiled for the study, and a summary of it.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    The future of food and agriculture - Trends and challenges 2017
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    What will be needed to realize the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition? After shedding light on the nature of the challenges that agriculture and food systems are facing now and throughout the 21st century, the study provides insights into what is at stake and what needs to be done. “Business as usual” is not an option. Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies, and natural resources management are necessary. The present study was undertaken for the quadrennial review of FAO’s strategic framework and for the preparation of the Organization Medium-Term plan 2018-2021.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 (SOFIA)
    Meeting the sustainable development goals
    2018
    Also available in:
    The 2018 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture emphasizes the sector’s role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, and measurement of progress towards these goals. It notes the particular contributions of inland and small-scale fisheries, and highlights the importance of rights-based governance for equitable and inclusive development. As in past editions, the publication begins with a global analysis of trends in fisheries and aquaculture production, stocks, processing and use, trade and consumption, based on the latest official statistics, along with a review of the status of the world’s fishing fleets and human engagement and governance in the sector. Topics explored in Parts 2 to 4 include aquatic biodiversity; the ecosystem approach to fisheries and to aquaculture; climate change impacts and responses; the sector’s contribution to food security and human nutrition; and issues related to international trade, consumer protection and sustainable value chains. Global developments in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, selected ocean pollution concerns and FAO’s efforts to improve capture fishery data are also discussed. The issue concludes with the outlook for the sector, including projections to 2030. As always, The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date information to a wide audience, including policy-makers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed all those interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Other document
    Global seaweeds and microalgae production 2021
    Also available in:
    No results found.
Show more