Report of the Expert workshop on indicators for ecosystem surveys.

Report of the Expert workshop on indicators for ecosystem surveys.

Descripción

The Expert Workshop on indicators for ecosystem surveys was held in Rome from 29 to 31 August 2011 under the EAF-Nansen project (Strengthening the Knowledge Base for and Implementing an Ecosystem Approach to Marine Fisheries in Developing Countries). It was attended by 16 participants from Africa, Asia and Europe. The principal objective of the workshop was to identify indicators for ecosystem surveys which could lead to the establishment of a list of ecosystem features and associated survey dat a for an ecosystem approach to fisheries. The participants were expected to identify key management objectives and priorities, and produce a list of ecosystem indicators to address them. Discussions centered on the following main questions: How should research vessels (RVs) be used to assess the ecosystem status (survey design, etc.)? What should be the survey priority of the RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen? What RV data are needed to feed into an EAF? How can we gather and analyze existing survey data t o produce an appropriate and workable baseline for monitoring the oceans? A paper (Using research vessels to build a knowledge base for the ecosystem approach to fisheries) prepared as background was discussed. The paper focussed on the practical aspects of running an ecosystem survey using a RV, and taking into account the constraints arising when small vessels, possibly being temporarily adapted for survey work, were used. Some findings of the Institute of Marine Research of Bergen’s Barents S ea survey programme, which focused effectively on the ecosystem from 2004 to 2008, were presented and discussed.