|
During the 1st meeting of the MedSudMed
Coordination Committee, a general outline of research and the activities to be
implemented by the Project were discussed by the participants. A
preliminary plan was presented for research activities aimed at improving
information resources for fisheries management, biodiversity protection, and
ecosystem preservation in the area covered by the Project. It was focused on three
main proposals: (i) Spatial distribution of demersal resources according to
environment and fishery characteristics; (ii) Stock identification of small
pelagic fish and oceanographic processes influencing their abundance and distribution;
(iii) Marine Protected Areas and Fisheries Management; (iv) Implementation of a regional
Database and Information System.
The MedSudMed Project, for each one of these research topics, decided to
organize an Expert Consultation (EC) in order to provide an overview of
available
knowledge on fishery ecology in the region. The ECs consist of regional and
extra-regional experts and will provide an overview of available knowledge on
the addressed issues. The aims of the ECs are the definition of a work program
for the activities to be implemented on the basis of common methodology and the
proposition of pilot study cases. Furthermore the ECs should also identify needs
in national and regional expertise and are the opportunity to define criteria
for the data collection and identify a task leader who will coordinate this
program of work.
Research activities deal with fisheries
ecology and concentrate on issues regarding different components of the
ecosystems.
-
Spatial distribution of demersal resources is studied in relation with
environmental parameters and fishery characteristics. Several life stages of the
main target species are considered, according to biotic and abiotic descriptors
of the area. The EC related to this issue was held in Malta on 10-
12 December 2002.
-
Use
of marine protected areas as a tool for fisheries management is discussed and
evaluated, with particular attention to Mediterranean areas where this
experience is being implemented. Comparative studies will be conducted to assess effects of
fishing closure. The EC related to this issue was recently held in Salammbô, Tunisia on 14-16 April 2003
-
Oceanographic processes influencing abundance and distribution of small pelagics
will be studied in order to improve knowledge on reproduction and concentration
zones, transport of eggs and larvae, and ultimately presence and abundance of
fish stocks. The EC took place in
Salammbô,
Tunisia on 1-3 October 2003.
-
The implementation of the research activities are supported by a Regional
Database and Information System for the storage, analysis and representation of
data related to fish stocks, fisheries and environmental parameters. An EC will
also be organized on this issue in Mazara del Vallo (date still to be defined).
This issue will synthesize issues related to data use and management that
have been addressed during all the previous Expert Consultations.
|
