European Fisheries Inventory in the Central Artic Ocean (EFICA) (39651)

Promoting the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources, applying the precautionary principle and progressively implementing an ecosystem approach are some of the key elements in fisheries management. In addition, fisheries management is based on the principle of the “best available scientific advice”, which requires important input from scientific research based on harmonized, reliable and accurate information.

The Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) is a remote area of which scientific knowledge is very limited. Data and information on exploitable fish stocks is practically non-existent. Collecting relevant scientific data and information is, therefore, the foundation of the precautionary approach that is required under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Taking into account the geostrategic, political and economic pressures, the European Commission therefore allocated funds to strengthen the scientific research in the CAO, mainly by focusing on the collection, storing and analysis of data from this area.

The data collection performed by the EFICA Consortium is a contribution from the European Commission (EC) to the Mapping Program of the Agreement to prevent unregulated high seas fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean.

Partners
National Institute of Aquatic Resources, DTU Aqua
Stockholm University, Sweden (coordinator)
Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany
Wageningen Marine Research, The Netherlands
Catholic University Leuven, Belgium
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Sweden
The European Polar Board, The Netherlands

Funding
This project is funded by Framework Contract EASME/EMFF/2018/003: Provision of Scientific Support to the High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean (CAO).

Research area: Oceanography
Research area: Marine Populations and Ecosystem Dynamics
Research area: Ecosystem based Marine Management