GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Proposals should work in one or more European regional seas and/or in other marine areas where EU fleet operates and should:

• Evaluate bycatch risk on a sea basin and/or local level (in particular for marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, and sensitive or endangered fish species such as e.g., elasmobranchs and sturgeons) by identifying the fishing activity of high-risk gear and comparing it with the spatial distribution/abundance of affected species, producing bycatch risk maps for all relevant species/gear interactions. Gather data and improve knowledge on the conservation status of bycaught species.
• Develop or improve tools for monitoring of bycatch, including long-term observation and surveying programmes, e.g. through extending the use of remote electronic monitoring and artificial intelligence-based image recognition, enabling Member States to identify and implement adequate conservation measures as required by EU legislation.
• Close the knowledge gaps on the locations, precise extent (number of individuals, season and locations) and reasons for bycatch (relevant metiers and fisheries), focusing on species threatened by extinction or in a bad conservation status.
• Assess the effectiveness of existing bycatch mitigation methods (such as spatio-temporal closures or gear modifications) as well as of bycatch handling and safe release guidelines, and address their shortcomings, including through the development and testing of new approaches, focusing on high risk fisheries and most threatened species and areas.
• Engage relevant stakeholders and environmental and fishing authorities and operators in the research projects promoting co-design in the development and testing of new approaches.

This topic is expected to contribute to the conservation of whales, whose role in carbon sequestration in the ocean is now thought to be important, therefore this topic will indirectly contribute to carbon sequestration.