Paradigm for novel dynamic oceanic resource assessments (39540/107142)

The Blue Growth of European fisheries is at risk due to over-exploitation, unforeseen changes in stock productivity, loss of markets for capture fisheries due to aquaculture, future trade agreements opening European markets to external fleets, and fluctuations in the price of oil and other business costs. All of these risks need to be considered when providing advice needed to sustainably maximize profits for the diverse array of fisheries operating in European waters and to help safeguard the benefits this sector provides to the social coherence of local, coastal communities.

PANDORA aims to:
1. Create more realistic assessments and projections of changes in fisheries resources (30 stocks) by utilizing new biological knowledge (spatial patterns, environmental drivers, food-web interactions and density-dependence) including, for the first time, proprietary data sampled by pelagic fishers.
2. Advice on how to secure long-term sustainability of EU fish stocks (maximum sustainable/”pretty good” and economic yields) and elucidate tradeoffs between profitability and number of jobs in their (mixed demersal, mixed pelagic and single species) fisheries fleets. Provide recommendations on how to stabilize the long-term profitability of European fisheries.
3. Develop a public, internet-based resource tool box (PANDORAs Box of Tools), including assessment modelling and stock projections code, economic models, and region- and species-specific decision support tools; increase ownership and contribution opportunities of the industry to the fish stock assessment process through involvement in data sampling andtraining in data collection, processing and ecosystem-based fisheries management.

The project will create new knowledge (via industry-led collection, laboratory and field work, and theoretical simulations), new collaborative networks (industry, scientists and advisory bodies) and new mechanisms (training courses and management tools) to ensure relevance, utility and impact.

Partners
National Institute of Aquatic Resources, DTU Aqua (coordinator)
Bangor University, United Kingdom
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy
Universität Hamburg, Germany
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom
Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia, Spain
Universitetet i Bergen, Norway
Institut Francais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer, France
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany
Samfunns- og næringslivsforskning As, Norway
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Greece
University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation, United Kingdom
Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior Deinvestigaciones Cientificas, Spain
Johann Heinrich von Thuenen-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für Laendliche Raeume, Wald und Fischerei, Germany
Universiteit van Amsterdam, Netherlands
Stichting Wageningen Research, Netherlands
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Denmark
Consorcio para el Diseno, Construccion, Equipamiento y Explotaciondel Sistema de Observacion Costero de las Illes Balears, Spain
University of the Highlands and Islands Lbg, United Kingdom
Marine Scotland, United Kingdom
JRC, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Belgium

Funding
The project is funded by EU Horizon 2020.

Research area: Marine Populations and Ecosystem Dynamics
Research area: Population Genetics
Research area: Fish Biology
Research area: Marine Living Resources