Dear MARMAM
Myself and my co-authors wanted to bring this recently published paper to your attention.
S Dolman, S Baulch, P G.H. Evans, F Read, F Ritter. 2016. Towards an EU Action Plan on Cetacean Bycatch.
Marine Policy, 72, 67-75.
Abstract
For decades, cetacean bycatch has been a major conservation and welfare concern in Europe, with high numbers of harbour porpoises, dolphins and whales continuing to die each year. Despite binding
legal requirements to reduce bycatch, there has been limited effective monitoring or mitigation. Bycatch is also an important welfare issue. At this critical juncture, with discussion of incorporating monitoring and mitigation of bycatch of protected species
in Europe into the Data Collection Framework and Technical Measures Framework taking place to help deliver the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), a clear, effective strategy could identify the steps that are required by all EU Member States to reduce
bycatch towards zero. Here, implementation of current monitoring and mitigation obligations are reviewed. Recommendations are made for the provision of clear EU guidance in order to improve and unify population surveillance and bycatch monitoring, with enhanced
implementation and enforcement from Member States. A more regionalised evidence-based approach to monitoring and mitigation is in line with the move to more regionalised management under the CFP, with Member States robustly showing that bycatch levels are
decreasing over a set period of time (e.g. 5years) by a specified amount. To this end, an EU Action Plan on Cetacean Bycatch, comparable to the existing
2012 Action Plan for reducing incidental catches of seabirds in fishing gear, might be beneficial
and could ultimately form a model for an international Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Cetacean Bycatch Reduction Action Plan.
This paper can be obtained free at the following link until August 20th:
http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1TIqb,714MROuI
Alternatively you can get in touch with me directly at
sarah.dolman@whales.org
either to get hold of a PDF copy, or to offer any comments or insights.
Many thanks,
Sarah Dolman
Senior policy manager
Whale and Dolphin Conservation
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Sarah Dolman |
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