Selecting ecosystem indicators for fisheries targeting highly migratory species

Several international instruments have set the minimum standards and key principles to guide the implementation of an ecosystem approach for the management and conservation of marine living resources. While the IOTC Convention Agreement does not make reference to the principles of the precautionary or ecosystem approach, since its creation it has had the ability to assimilate these principles in the form of adoption of formal management measures. Yet these management measures have not provided practical guidance on how to make operational an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) within IOTC. The Specific Contract N0 2 under the Framework Contract EASME/EMFF/2016/008 provisions of Scientific Advice for Fisheries Beyond EU Waters addresses the current impediments and provides solutions that shall support the implementation of an EAFM through collaboration and consultation with the key tuna RFMOs. This Specific Contract has three main objectives: (1) Provide a list of ecosystem indicators (and guidance for associated reference points) to monitor impacts of fisheries targeting Highly Migratory Species (HMS); (2) Provide criteria and guidelines to choose ecological regions with meaningful ecological boundaries for HMS and its fisheries in order to facilitate the operationalization an EAFM in marine pelagic ecosystems; and (3) Provide guidelines for an EAFM plan using two ecoregions as case studies, one within ICCAT and one within the IOTC convention areas. The results of this contract will be imbedded in the EAFM process that IOTC is carrying out through a close collaboration and communication with the Scientific Committee. Ultimately, the products created throughout this contract will aim to facilitate the linkage between ecosystem science and fisheries management to foster the operationalization of an EAFM.