Selecting ecosystem indicators for fisheries targeting highly migratory species

Summary:

The purpose of this study is to provide the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) with: A list of ecosystem indicators (and guidance for associated reference points) to monitor impacts of fisheries targeting Highly Migratory Species (HMS). These indicators cover all ecological components of an EAFM, including target species, bycatch and threatened species, trophic relationships and habitats ; candidate ecological regions with meaningful ecological boundaries for HMS and its fisheries in order to facilitate the operationalisation of EAFM in marine pelagic ecosystems in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) and Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) ; an ecosystem plan using two ecoregions as case studies, one within the ICCAT convention area and one within the IOTC convention area. This ecosystem or EAFM plan has the main purpose of facilitating the linkage between ecosystem science and fisheries management ; recommendations to better link ecosystem indicators and management to foster the implementation of an EAFM.