Study on mitigation measures to minimise seabird bycatch in gillnet fisheries

The objective of this study is to identify technical solutions, both economically and biologically sustainable, to mitigate the incidental bycatch of seabirds in static net fisheries in EU waters (excluding the Mediterranean), with a particular emphasis on the Baltic Sea, eastern North Sea and western waters.
This study is divided into four main tasks:
1) Desktop study including the assessment of the present knowledge of incidental seabird bycatch in static net fisheries and of the current status of mitigation measures available for reducing seabird bycatch in static net fisheries and applicability to fisheries in Baltic, North Sea and western waters
2) Technical study to identify and then test at least two mitigation measures (devices or changes to fishing tactics) during key periods of high bycatch risk in two different sea basins (including the Baltic Sea)
3) Impact study to assess the short term economic impacts of the suggested technical solutions to the fishing industry; a long-term analysis on the likely impacts on threatened seabird populations on the basis of widespread usage of the technical solutions development.
4) Dissemination of results to stakeholders and the European Commission through a dedicated conference in European Commission DG-MARE premises on 28th September 2017.