Our report for Defra identifies how ecosystem approaches are being used in global fisheries management, and provides best practice recommendations for transitioning to an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM)

In 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted by 196 countries at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP15). The framework sets a global mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, to be delivered through four long-term goals (by 2050) and 23 targets (by 2030). Targets 5, 9 and 10 all commit the adopted Parties to using and managing their biodiversity sustainably, and Target 5, in particular, requires the use of the ecosystem approach to management.

Traditional species-specific fisheries management is gradually shifting towards a more holistic approach that considers the wider impacts of fishing and interactions with other species, habitats and ecosystems. These aspects all fall within the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM).

The EAFM study

ABPmer was commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to provide a high-level review of the current understanding and implementation of EAFM and determine what best practice could look like through the review of ten global case studies.

The objectives of the study were to:

• Increase understanding of where and how ecosystem approaches are being utilised in fisheries management globally
• Explore what has and has not worked, to produce best practice recommendations that could help to guide effective implementation of the three GBF sustainable biodiversity management targets

Our report provides a review of the current understanding of EAFM and the extent to which it is being implemented globally, in line with Target 5 of the GBF. A range of case studies were identified that demonstrate how the common principles of EAFM are being delivered using best practice methods.

Methodology

A literature review on the application of ecosystem approaches to fisheries management identified the definition and principles for what classifies as an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, how it is being measured/assessed, and whether there is sufficient information available to determine the extent of global progress towards EAFM, with specific consideration to achieving Target 5.

A survey on the use of EAFM in fisheries globally was distributed to CBD National Focal Points for Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, members of the Global Ocean Alliance (GOA) and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMO). This was designed to explore current definitions of EAFM, which aspects of EAFM are addressed through fisheries management in each country or region, any barriers to implementation, and to identify examples of fisheries where EAFM is well developed. The literature review and survey contributed to the identification of ten case studies that reviewed how EAFM has been implemented internationally.

Findings

Progress towards implementation of EAFM was reviewed against the following key EAFM components established in the literature review:

• Target species sustainability
• Non target species interactions
• Habitat interactions
• Ecosystem structure and function
• Cross cutting components

Aspects of EAFM have been incorporated into international agreements and treaties since 1982 but implementation of management measures has been slower. The 2022 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) questionnaire on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries found that 82% of respondents had started implementing EAFM, although the extent of implementation varied.

Examples are given throughout the report to demonstrate how aspects of EAFM are being addressed. Literature indicates that implementation tends to take a staged approach, starting with single species management, moving to management of interactions with other fish species, bycatch and endangered, threatened and protected species (ETPs), and progressing to management of fisheries habitat and ecosystems and the social and-economic impacts of fisheries. All of this includes the overarching contributions of stakeholder participation and a precautionary approach to management. However, the case studies demonstrate that in practice, progress towards implementation depends on the priorities of each country and the type of fishery and gear that requires management.

Where there are already fishery management measures in place, these may be adapted to address wider ecosystem impacts. For example, the contribution of fishery-related closed areas may also contribute to habitat conservation, and the use of bycatch reduction measures may also reduce discards or interactions with ETP species. There is less data available than needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the level of implementation of EAFM globally, and the data that are available are skewed to more developed countries.

There are already training and capacity building materials available that could be more widely circulated to support fishery managers and other stakeholders to understand the requirements of EAFM. The FAO’s EAF implementation monitoring tool provides a framework for monitoring the progress of implementation of EAFM, and has been used in fisheries in Africa, South America, the Mediterranean as well as Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

EAFM offers significant potential to support the delivery of the GBF targets, particularly Target 5. The progress made so far in implementing EAFM demonstrates a wide range of management approaches that can be designed to contribute to the health of target species and the wider ecosystem. In fisheries that are early on in their journey towards EAFM, considering the examples already in place internationally along with frameworks and tools developed to guide implementation will provide a strong starting point.

Report documents

• Final report: Applying the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management
• Summary report: Applying the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management

ABPmer supports policy-makers, regulators and the fisheries and aquaculture industry on marine environmental policy matters, assessment and management, including interactions between fisheries, marine protected areas (MPAs) and other marine developments.

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