A Technical Review Document on the Ecological, Social and Economic Features of the North Sea Region
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Work Package 1 EC FP7 project # 212881 A technical review document on the ecological, social and economic features of the North Sea region van Hal, R.1, Paramor, O.A.L2, Le Quesne, W.J.F.3, Aanesen, M.4, Hegland, T.5, Armstrong, C. 4, Raakær, J.5, van Hoof, L.J.W.1, van Overzee, H.M.J.1, Frid, C.L.J.2, Valesco, F.6 & Piet, G.J.1 1. Wageningen IMARES, PO Box 68, 1970 AB Ijmuiden, The Netherlands 2. School of Biological Sciences, Biosciences Building, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK 3. CEFAS, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK 4. Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway 5. Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 5, P.O. Box 159, DK – 9100, Aalborg, Denmark 6. Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia, Centro Oceanografico de Santander, PO Box 240, 39080 Santander, Spain Acknowledgements Much of the material used in this report is sourced from published material from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and the Oslo Paris Commission (OSPAR). We acknowledge this input as the work of an extensive scientific community. TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY 1 1 OVERVIEW OF THE NORTH SEA 3 1.1 Ecological environment 4 1.1.1 Physical and Chemical Features 4 1.1.2 Spatial and temporal distribution of salinity 9 1.1.3 Spatial and temporal distribution of nutrients 12 1.1.4 pH, pCO2 profiles 14 1.1.5 Habitats 16 1.1.6 Biological Features 22 1.1.7 What constitutes Good Ecological Status? 28 1.2 Human Activities 38 1.2.1 Shipping 38 1.2.2 Shipping Marine Aggregate Extraction 39 1.2.3 Offshore wind farms 40 1.2.4 Tourism 42 1.2.5 Aquaculture 43 1.2.6 Dumping 44 1.2.7 Oil and Gas 44 1.2.8 How human activities are likely to develop 46 1.3 Socio-economic ‘environment’ 53 1.3.1 Institutional Governance Setup of Fisheries Management in the North Sea 53 1.3.2 Selected Reforms of the Current EU Fisheries Governance System 71 1.3.3 Management tools 81 1.3.4 Socio-Economic considerations 83 2 INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ECOSYSTEM AND FISHERIES CASE STUDIES 89 2.1 Description of fisheries case studies 89 2.1.1 Mixed flatfish Beam trawl 89 2.1.2 Sandeel industrial fisheries 93 2.1.3 Herring pelagic fisheries 95 2.1.4 Mixed demersal whitefish trawl fishery 96 2.2 Description of the ‘Social and Ecological Component by Pressure matrix ’ 98 2.2.1 Socio Economic variables in the Matrix 98 2.2.2 Biological variables in the Matrix 101 2.2.3 Reading the SECPM 102 2.3 Social and Ecological Component by Pressure matrix 103 2.4 Ecological Matrix elements supporting evidence 107 i 2.4.1 Mixed flatfish Beam trawl 107 2.4.2 Sandeel industrial fisheries 124 2.4.3 Herring pelagic fisheries 131 2.4.4 Mixed demersal whitefish trawl fishery 137 2.5 Synergistic effects of the case study fisheries with other human activities 148 2.5.1 Mixed flatfish Beam trawl 148 2.5.2 Sandeel industrial fisheries 149 2.5.3 Pelagic herring fisheries 149 2.5.4 Demersal mixed whitefish fisheries 149 2.6 Models of fishing effects 150 2.6.1 Modelling the mortality of fish 150 2.6.2 Modelling the mortality of benthos 152 3 WHAT PEOPLE THINK 153 4 CONCLUSIONS 154 5 REFERENCES 155 APPENDIX 1: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF EUTROPHICATION 168 APPENDIX 2: FURTHER READING SECTION 1.2.8 169 APPENDIX 3: SOCIO-ECONOMIC VARIABLES 170 ii SUMMARY It is recognised that much of the information and knowledge currently available to develop an ecosystem approach to fisheries management in Europe is not being used effectively as it is so widely dispersed (Connolly and Rice, 2005). The aim of this Work Package was to integrate the existing knowledge on ecological and socio-economical issues in the North Sea region. Chapter one gives an overview of this knowledge, starting with a description of the physical and chemical features of the North Sea that form the conditions within which the biological features have evolved and now depend. The biological features are described, from benthic and algal communities to the fish communities, marine mammals and sea birds. The first section of this chapter also provides a description of Good Environmental Status (GES) and the process of determining and managing GES. The second section considers the human activities occurring and impacting on the North Sea environment, including an overview of existing activities and potential future activities. The final section of chapter one provides a description of the socio-economic environment. This section focuses on fisheries management at an European scale, but with specific attention for North Sea issues. It provides an overview of the institutional setup underlying the governance system of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) of the European Union. The position and jurisdiction of the Commission, Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), Regional Advisory Councils (RACS) and the European parliament are also described. Reform of the current CFP framework is also discussed in the light of on-going criticism that it is not able to ensure efficient and uniform control and enforcement of its legislation. In response to this criticism, the Commission is currently taking action to overhaul the control and enforcement system of the CFP as a core priority. The reformed framework is projected to enter into force from 2010. Existing and potential fisheries management tools are also described. These tools can be divided into three overarching groups; input (e.g. area and time restrictions) and output (e.g. TACs and discard regulations) management, as well as economic incentive mechanisms (e.g. Individual Tradable Quotas and subsidies). Finally, there is an overview of the socio- economic considerations of European fisheries and fishing dependent communities. Chapter two focuses on four fisheries cases studies in the North Sea, chosen based on their importance in the area, their likely impact on the environment and data availability. The first case study is the mixed flatfish beam trawl, a Dutch dominated fishery in the southern North Sea mainly targeting valuable flatfish species as sole (Solea vulgaris) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). This fishery is heavily debated due to the high impact of the heavy beams used on habitat structure. The second case study is the sandeel industrial fishery, which is controlled by the Danish and Norwegians and it is the largest single species fishery in the North Sea. This fishery is under pressure due to the low standing stock of the North Sea sandeel. The third case study is the herring pelagic fisheries, which is possibly one of the best managed fisheries in which a number of the actors active in this fishery have received the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label. The final case study is the mixed demersal whitefish trawl fishery predominantly active in the Northern North Sea which targets demersal roundfish species including cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Following the description of these fisheries case studies, this chapter attempts to combine the impacts of the case study fisheries, with the effect of socio-economic component, on an extended list of ecological components (e.g. habitats, the food web, all individual components of the food web etc.) in a pressure matrix, termed the Social and Ecological Component by Pressure Matrix (SECPM). The SECPM provides an overview of the interactions between the fishery and various component of the fishery system, ecological and socio-economic. The matrices by case study were followed by and extensive description of the impact on the specific Ecological components, which is supporting evidence for the inclusion of the interaction in the SECPM. 1 Chapter two also identifies the problem of synergistic effects of the fisheries cases studies with other human activities and drivers (e.g. climate) and demonstrates that studies which consider the impact of specific activities in isolation may underestimate their system-level effects. Even though climate control is beyond the scope of North Sea management, it effects need to be considered in assessment and management of human activities and impacts within the region. Finally, this chapter describes two models for calculating the effect of the fisheries cases on the mortality of benthic and fish communities. These models are available for further use within the MEFEPO project. The aim of Chapter 3 was to identify and collate data from national and international marine consultative initiatives. However, it became clear that previous stakeholder consultations and responses have revealed very little information that could be used in a forward-looking manner to support the MEFEPO project in the development of operational objectives and identification of operational challenges to introducing an ecosystem approach. This is because the present governance framework at both national and international level is very dynamic, and consultative processes are undergoing rapid changes, and the introduction of the Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) has set a new standard for stakeholder consultation. There is limited information on the performance of this type of stakeholder consultation, therefore details of this important vehicle for stakeholder consultation in the EU cannot be incorporated at this stage. However, this work is planned for the next work packages of the MEFEPO project. 2 1 Overview of the North Sea The boundaries of the North Sea have been delineated by a number of organisations (including OSPAR and ICES) for management purposes. MEFEPO will use the North Sea boundaries as delineated by the North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NS RAC) (Figure 1.1) as this spatial unit is used to present socio-economic information on the fishing industry to the European Union.