FIS013 – Scoping the background information for an ecosystem approach to fisheries in Scottish waters: review of predator-prey interactions with fisheries, and balanced harvesting

•The generic process of putting into practice an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries has been set out in a series of FAO, IUCN and EU Working Group reports. Of foremost importance is the identification of key predator-prey relationships that are affected by fisheries. The first objective of this project was therefore to scope the background information on predator-prey interactions with fisheries to inform the implementation of an Ecosystem Approach in Scottish waters, and to identify key areas requiring further research. •Related to the principle of taking a more eco-friendly approach to fisheries is the concept of ‘balanced harvesting’. This requires setting harvesting rate (fishing mortalities) to be proportional to production rates of size classes or species (or both), to keep the impact on the ecosystems small while allowing sustainable exploitation of the living resources they contain. The majority of highly managed fisheries are thought to be far from balanced. Hence the second objective of this project was to review the social, economic and technical practicalities of implementing a balanced harvesting scheme in Scottish fisheries. •The project achieved these goals by hosting two workshops attended by scientific experts and representative FIS Board members. The main deliverables were a) increased understanding of the issues that would be faced in implementing an Ecosystem Approach to fisheries in Scotland, and b) a prioritised catalogue of knowledge gaps and researchable constraints that can be used by FIS and other funding bodies as the basis for directing future research-spend.