Improving scientific knowledge to strengthen the science-basis of management decisions under the CFP

Applicants will describe in their proposals the concrete and measurable results within the duration of the project and their expected impact, including indicators for the monitoring and measurement of progress.

The project activities should result in the following expected impacts:

• Improved available knowledge to the EU (and global) fisheries scientific community, thus directly improving the science-base for the fisheries management measures designed in the context of the CFP.
• Better integration of the results of the project into the scientific advice for fisheries management process and, when relevant, the possibility to use/transfer the outcomes to other countries/regions.

Applicants must describe the main target groups or forums in which their results should be considered to feed scientific advice processes for fisheries management (e.g. existing working groups of scientific bodies).

Where relevant, applicants must explain the added value of their proposals in relation to similar actions implemented under national EMFAF Operational Programmes (shared management), e.g. Data Collection Framework (DCF) or monitoring programmes, under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the EU Birds Directive and Habitats Directive. This will be evaluated under Relevance.

For more information about scientific advice under CFP, see the EC website on scientific advice and data collection.

The main objective of this Call for Proposals is to develop and strengthen the scientific knowledge needed to support the science-basis for fisheries management measures. The priorities related to this call are the reinforcement of policy-oriented fisheries science, the better use of the collected scientific data, the improved cooperation between scientists and the fisheries sector, and the support of the EU scientific community in developing and maintaining the relevant expertise to provide high quality scientific advice.

Themes and priorities:

The applicants must clearly identify in their proposals which of the following theme(s) they will contribute to. Projects should focus on at least one of the themes listed below (not in any priority order):

• Improve or update the available scientific knowledge to advise the European Commission on proposing new fisheries management measures or reviewing the existing ones within the CFP context, including its external dimension.
• Adapt the scientific advice needed for the CFP to the upcoming challenges affecting fisheries management, such as climate change and related changes in ecosystems or increasing diversity of human activities at sea.
• Increase understanding of fisheries stock structures, populations, life histories, food webs and multi-species interactions.
• Further strengthen scientific knowledge to assess and monitor the impact of fisheries on the structure, function and dynamics of marine ecosystems, and their associated services.
• Increase understanding and operationalisation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) to further develop capacity to provide advice using environmental, social and economic information, including through qualitative, semi-qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Strengthen scientific and operational knowledge to monitor and assess the impact of fisheries on vulnerable and sensitive species with a view to identify biologically sensitive areas, hot-spots by-catch areas and mitigation measures to monitor and control mortalities and the most suitable management measures for specific cases.
• Increase understanding and monitoring of the impact of other human activities and their threats on fisheries stocks or their linked ecosystems and on fishing activities.
• Optimise the collection and use of scientific data and samples collected under the Data Collection Framework or under any other data collection or monitoring initiatives at national/regional or EU level.
• Improve methodological aspects such as sampling, design, data collection and/or data management that will benefit the scientific fishery advisory process.

In addition, proposals may contribute to at least one of the following complementary theme(s).

• Support the EU scientific community, in developing and maintaining the relevant expertise to provide high-quality scientific advice to inform fisheries management.
• Support the involvement of policy stakeholders and citizens in the provision of fisheries data, the process of the inter- and trans-disciplinary production of scientific advice, and the communication and dissemination of scientific results.

Activities that can be funded:

Selected projects can include the activities listed (non-exhaustive list) below:

• developing methodologies for stock identification/definition and/or evaluation including refining of stock geographical distribution and assessment parameters, including data-limited methods and those suitable providing advice on very rare sensitive species,
• modelling: development, improvement, operationalising, testing and/or validation of models (e.g. adding age error matrices, incorporating environmental, social and/or economic drivers, considering multispecies interactions, adjusting models to geographical areas, etc.),
• collection and processing of samples and/or data in the field which are outside (or go beyond) the scope of national data collection programmes (e.g. environmental samples, biological samples, social and economic data, etc.),
• harmonise and/or improve protocols of data collection, handling and management to serve the scientific advisory process,
• trials (e.g. exploring methods for improving surveys, collection of data, monitoring methods, risk assessments, etc.),
• meta-analysis, data validation and/or data preparation to feed into models,
• expanding current databases or creating new databases and link with existing initiatives with the aim of improving data quality and serving scientific advice,
• developing new advice formats or frequencies.

Activities can contribute to more than one theme. In addition, applicants may propose other activities such as develop cooperation/networking activities between EU scientists and/or with EU fishing industry and/or managers (e.g. multidisciplinary analysis, workshops, benchmark meetings, stakeholders’ consultations, networking of existing samples, etc.).