Five new EU funded projects will advance scientific knowledge for fisheries – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

Advancing Sustainable Fisheries Management Through Scientific Research: An Overview of New EMFAF-Funded Projects

Introduction: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 14

In a significant initiative to bolster the scientific foundation for sustainable fisheries, five new research projects have been launched with a combined budget of nearly €2.5 million from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). This investment directly supports the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), by promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

The projects stem from a call for proposals aimed at strengthening the scientific knowledge required for the effective implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The core priorities align with key SDG targets:

• Reinforcing policy-oriented fisheries science: Directly contributing to SDG 14.4, which calls for implementing science-based management plans to end overfishing.
• Optimizing the use of collected scientific data: Enhancing the capacity for evidence-based decision-making, a cornerstone of SDG 14.a (Increase scientific knowledge).
• Improving cooperation between scientists and the fisheries sector: Fostering partnerships essential for sustainable development, as outlined in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Developing and maintaining relevant scientific expertise: Building the human and technical capacity needed to address complex marine challenges, in line with SDG 14.a.

Project Summaries and Contributions to the SDGs

1. IMBUS: Implementing More and Better Use of ICES Survey data

   The IMBUS project is designed to develop standardized, accessible tools for improved utilization of bottom trawl survey data. This initiative is critical for advancing several SDG targets.

   • Contribution to SDG 14.4: By improving the quality control and accessibility of survey data, IMBUS provides a more robust evidence base for stock assessments and science-based catch advice.
   • Contribution to SDG 14.2: The project expands the use of survey data to address climate change impacts and support an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, thereby helping to protect and manage marine ecosystems sustainably.

   Duration: 24 months
   EU Contribution: €478,985.06

2. REMINDER: Revealing Mysid abundances to better understand changes in herring condition in the Baltic Sea

   REMINDER addresses an ecological crisis in the Baltic Sea where the decline of key plankton species has impacted herring stocks. The project’s focus on ecosystem dynamics is central to sustainable management.

   • Contribution to SDG 14.2 and 14.4: By investigating the predator-prey relationship between herring and crustacean plankton, the project aims to understand the drivers of stock health, enabling more effective, ecosystem-based management plans to prevent stock collapse and restore fish stocks.
   • Contribution to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Ensuring the health of a key commercial stock like herring contributes to regional food security.

   Duration: 29 months
   EU Contribution: €567,243.74

3. Smart4SAM: SmartDots for Monitoring, Accuracy and Reliable Training of essential biological data

   The Smart4SAM project enhances the SmartDots online platform to improve the accuracy of essential biological data (age and maturity) used in fish stock assessments.

   • Contribution to SDG 14.4: Accurate data on fish growth, mortality, and spawning stock size are fundamental for reliable stock assessments. This project directly improves the scientific basis for setting sustainable fishing limits.
   • Contribution to SDG 14.a: By expanding the software with new functionalities, including the use of artificial intelligence, Smart4SAM advances research capacity and marine technology for sustainable fisheries.

   Duration: 29 months
   EU Contribution: €371,108.88

4. EM4SSF: Enhancing Monitoring for Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries

   EM4SSF focuses on closing critical data gaps in small-scale fisheries (SSF) across Europe, a sector vital for coastal communities but often under-represented in data collection.

   • Contribution to SDG 14.4 and 14.b: By establishing a common framework for data reporting, the project enables the inclusion of SSF in science-based management, helping to regulate harvesting effectively and provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.
   • Contribution to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Sustainable management of SSF supports the livelihoods and economic resilience of coastal communities.

   Duration: 29 months
   EU Contribution: €430,812.81

5. PAMBAS: Provide Advice for a sustainable fisheries Management Based on suitable stock Assessment modelS

   The PAMBAS project aims to fill knowledge gaps for deep-sea shrimp fisheries exploited by the EU fleet in West Africa under Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs).

   • Contribution to SDG 14.4 and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The project ensures that fishing activities are based on sound scientific advice, promoting sustainable resource management and preventing overexploitation in non-EU waters.
   • Contribution to SDG 17: PAMBAS exemplifies international cooperation by providing the scientific basis for SFPAs, ensuring that partnerships for fisheries are mutually beneficial and environmentally sustainable.

   Duration: 29 months
   EU Contribution: €599,980.13

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The entire article focuses on improving scientific knowledge for fisheries conservation and management. All five projects (IMBUS, REMINDER, Smart4SAM, EM4SSF, PAMBAS) are designed to support sustainable fishing practices, protect marine ecosystems, and ensure the health of fish stocks, which is the core objective of SDG 14.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article highlights collaboration as a key element. The projects are funded by the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), involve the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and aim to improve cooperation between “scientists and the fisheries sector.” The PAMBAS project specifically mentions “Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements” between the EU and West African nations, demonstrating international cooperation.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• By aiming to ensure the sustainability of commercial fish stocks like herring and deep-sea shrimps, the projects contribute to long-term food security. The REMINDER project, for instance, addresses a decline in herring spawning stock biomass, which directly impacts a significant food source. Sustainable fisheries management is crucial for maintaining stable and healthy food supplies from the ocean.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing… and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks…” The article’s central theme is the strengthening of “policy-oriented fisheries science” to support the Common Fisheries Policy. Projects like Smart4SAM, which improves data for “stock assessments,” and PAMBAS, which develops “stock assessment models,” directly contribute to creating the science-based management plans required by this target.
• Target 14.a: “Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology…” The call for proposals explicitly aimed to “promote the development and the strengthening of the scientific knowledge needed for fisheries conservation.” The PAMBAS project, focusing on West African coasts, directly supports this target by filling “critical knowledge gaps” to support sustainable fisheries in the region.
• Target 14.2: “By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems…” The IMBUS project aims to expand data collection to cover an “ecosystem approach to fisheries.” The REMINDER project investigates the relationship between shrimp plankton scarcity and herring health, which is an ecosystem-level concern, contributing to the broader management of marine ecosystems.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources…” The article describes a partnership framework involving the EU (providing financial resources), the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES, sharing knowledge and data frameworks like SmartDots), and various scientific bodies and fisheries stakeholders.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Explicit Indicators

• Indicator 14.a.1: Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology. The article explicitly states the financial contributions from the EU for each project, such as €478,985.06 for IMBUS and €599,980.13 for PAMBAS, with an overall budget of “almost €2.5 million.” This funding is a direct measure of investment in marine scientific research.

Implied Indicators

• Indicator 14.4.1: Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels. While no specific value is given, the goal of the projects is to improve the data needed to measure this. The Smart4SAM project aims to improve data for estimating “spawning stock size,” and the REMINDER project was initiated due to a “drop in the spawning stock biomass” of herring. These are direct inputs for assessing the sustainability of fish stocks.
• Development of standardized data collection tools and frameworks. The article mentions the creation of measurable outputs that serve as progress indicators. For example, IMBUS will develop “standardised and easily accessible tools,” Smart4SAM will expand the “SmartDots software,” and REMINDER will “define an operational framework for monitoring the abundance of mysids.” The successful development and implementation of these tools are indicators of increased scientific capacity.
• Improved data quality and availability. The EM4SSF project aims to “fill the main data gaps” for small-scale fisheries and provide a “quality control system for the reporting of data.” The IMBUS project aims to “improve quality control of data collection process.” Progress can be measured by the reduction of data gaps and the establishment of these quality control systems.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cinea.ec.europa.eu