Projects - Ongoing Projects

In 2012 this project was initiated to develop, process and provide guidelines to support Members in addressing the threat and reality of aquatic invasive species using best international processes and practice. These guidelines are made in the form of published conference proceedings, best practice guidelines and other relevant aids.
In 2021/2022 a collaboration was initiated with the EC project on “Invasive alien species: improvement of understanding and communication (ENV.D.2/SER/2019/0006); aquatic recreation (angling) cluster. The aim was to gather the knowledge of the different sectors (i.e. freshwater angling) related to invasive alien species (IAS), to improve cooperation and communication and allow an open discussion for joint future actions.

Project goals

• Development of a coordinated European policy to tackle the threats to fisheries and to native biodiversity posed by IAS.
• Compilation of a Europe-wide expert network to provide assistance regarding identification, control and management, economic aspects associated with IAS.
• Development of a Europe-wide inventory of existing IAS and a coordinated strategy to provide timely alerts in respect of imminent threats to Members.
• Development of best practices in relation to rapid reaction protocols.
• Sharing of results (control and eradication).
• Development of international best practices for biosecurity.
• Consideration of tools to quantify the impact of IAS on fisheries ecosystems.

Expected outputs/results: Convene conferences on IAS, inform the development of the EU invasive species strategy, develop a coordinated approach to forecasting aquatic invasive species invasions, produce an effective deterrent to the advancement of aquatic invasive species invasions and to develop and coordinate international biosecurity protocols and approaches.

Countries participating: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom, Ukraine and FAO.

Caffrey, J.M., Gallagher, C., Dick, J.T.A. & Lucy, F. 2015. Aquatic invasive alien species – top issues for their management. Outcomes from the IFI/EIFAAC conference "Freshwater Invasives – Networking for Strategy" (FINS), Galway, Ireland, 9–11 April 2013. EIFAAC Occasional Paper No. 50. Rome, FAO. 63 pp. https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/i4663e

The FINS 2 Conference outcome can be found here: https://www.reabic.net/journals/mbi/2017/3/MBI_2017_Piria_etal.pdf

The 3rd Workshop on "Freshwater Invasives – Networking for Strategy" (FINS3) of EIFAAC was held on 8 October 2024 within the EIFAAC international symposium on "Building a sustainable future for inland fisheries and aquaculture in a time of multiple stressors", 7-9 October 2024, Pula, Croatia.

EIFAAC is concerned about the impact of cormorants on the status of fish stocks and eco-systems. EIFAAC recognizes the transboundary nature of this issue and also acknowledges the need for international co-ordination and species management.

This project aims to:

• Work to develop pan-European cormorant management actions.
• Collect information on the abundance and distribution of the cormorants in the member countries from different sources.
• Assess the interaction between cormorants and different stakeholders.
• Assess cormorant's influence on socio-economic conditions of fisheries and aquaculture.
• Gather information of the new developments and experiences in controlling the number of   cormorants and their influence on fish stocks, fisheries and aquaculture.
• Identify possible knowledge deficits for different geographical regions. 
• Disseminate information through national focal points, project participants, project website and publications.

Expected outputs/results: Updates on the national situation via questionnaires, reports and workshop/symposium, seek funding, develop elements for management actions and relevant suggestions and advice the EIFAAC Technical and Scientific Committee (TSC) and Management Committee (MC) on a draft Pan-European Cormorant Action Plan.

Funding for specific projects has been raised from: EU EMFAF, EU HORIZON, and the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Protectfish: The "Protecting threatened river fish against predation" (ProtectFish) project is funded by the EU Horizon programme and aims to improve conservation status of threatened European river fish species. More information can be found here: https://www.aqua.dtu.dk/english/news/focus-on-cormorant-in-new-eu-project-to-save-freshwater-fish?id=b9d83a75-e727-4d77-b4bd-601b6d9d4bce

EU-FAO Trust fund project on "Developing Europe-wide management advice to protect vulnerable and endangered fish species from unsustainable predation by cormorants" (GCP/RER/069/EC).

Some provisional outputs include:

EIFAAC advisory notes 1/2022 and 1/2023.

For many years, the public have shared ecological observations with scientists. A growing awareness of the need for nature conservation coupled with advancements in technology, has led to a surge in citizen science projects. Fishery scientists face the challenge of monitoring a multitude of waterbodies. However, through collaboration with citizen scientists, they can greatly increase the range and rate of data collection. Citizen science programs serve as valuable tools for fishery managers, allowing them to supplement routine data collection. This facilitates extrapolation from the data rich areas to the data poor regions, thereby improving the management of fish stocks.
EIFAAC symposia showed that Citizen Science is increasingly used in inland fisheries management. Policymakers in the European region recognize the potential of citizen science as a valuable source of information for development and implementation of environment and fisheries related policies and management plans. As aquatic ecosystems are under threat in many countries, identifying changes in biodiversity has become more important than ever. The role of citizen science in fisheries data and information collection is therefore increasing.

Project goals

• Convene a panel of experts to aid in achieving deliverables
• Hold a citizen science workshop
• Publish a paper comparing data collected by classical survey methods with data collected by citizen science, within a fishery.

Expected outputs/results: Hold a webinar style workshop, compile a report on the Workshop via FAO publication series and publish a peer reviewed scientific publication.

Countries participating: Denmark, Finland, Ireland, United Kingdom, and the USA.

FAO. 2024. Proceedings of the EIFAAC workshop on citizen science in fisheries – Rome, Italy, 29 February 2024. EIFAAC Occasional Paper, No. 53. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cd1559en

Workshop page:https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/meeting/41447

This project is linked to the EIFAAC project on “Developing Advice on Sustainable Management Actions on Cormorant Populations”. The project is expected to compile and analyse information on the status of cormorant predation in Europe, and on the measures applied to reduce its impact. It will also produce management advice for reducing the impact of cormorant predation on fish, fisheries and aquaculture. Project goal: to contribute to the adoption of effective management measures by EU Member States and relevant actors, while ensuring the implementation of relevant environmental EU legislation.

Expected results:

• Summary report on the use of Article 9 derogations (Birds Directive), regulations and management measures to reduce the impact of cormorants on fish population, fisheries and aquaculture that are in place in the EIFAAC member countries;
• Overview report on the status of cormorant predation of fish, conflicts, and experiences with management of cormorant populations in EIFAAC member countries;
• A European conference organized to produce management advice for reducing the impact of cormorant predation on fish, fisheries and aquaculture;
• Draft European-wide cormorant management plan;
• Strengthened network of researchers, managers and other stakeholders on cormorant issues.

Countries participating: all EIFAAC Members.

EU DG MARE – EMFAF Work Programme 2024-2025 (Euro 140 000) FAO in-kind contribution (Euro 20 000)

The Danish Technical University (Denmark) and the Angling Trust (United Kingdom) were contracted by FAO to support the project implementation.

Workshop on management advice for reducing the impact of cormorant predation on fish and fisheries, 8 October 2024, Pula, Croatia. More information can be found here: https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/meeting/41469

More outputs are expected in 2025.

In recent years numerous scientific studies and projects have been undertaken on the impact of climate change on inland aquatic resources, synthesizing this work would benefit managers and policymakers ensuring the best advice is readily available to deal with the many challenges facing wild fish and aquaculture species in the future.

Project goals:

• To develop guidelines to support Member States in addressing the problems and challenges of climate change, and its impact on inland aquatic resources and fisheries of Europe using best international processes and practice.
• To develop a coordinated European expert network to address the problems and challenges of climate change, and its impact on inland aquatic resources and fisheries.
• Reduce uncertainty in climate change responses of inland aquatic resources by developing interactive tools (e.g. vulnerability maps).
• Share research results relating to the development of best practice adaptation strategies for inland aquatic resources and fisheries.
• Consider developing tools and guidance tables to address specific climate effects and adaptation strategies.

Expected outputs/results: a summary report to be published in the EIFAAC Occasional Paper series, advice for policy makers and research gaps/needs for inland fisheries in Europe.

Countries participating: Croatia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Finland, France, Germany and FAO.

The first outputs are expected in 2025.

Numerous scientific studies and projects have been undertaken on the application of stocking as a management measure for fish populations and to increase production of inland aquatic resources. Distilling this work into the preparation of best practice Fish stocking guidelines for freshwater species would benefit managers and policymakers in conducting fish stocking programmes with greater success. At EIFAAC 31 the Commission welcomed collaboration with the Central Asian and Caucasus Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CACFish) in the development of fish stocking guidelines and included the project within its work programme 2022-2024.

Project goals:

• To prepare a short information note on the existing guidelines and best practices on fish stocking for sharing with the project members.
• To prepare and publish literature review of fish stocking practices and management.
• To develop general guidelines for fish stocking, which should result in “General fish stocking guidelines (for Europe and Central Asia)” for review and endorsement by EIFAAC and CACFish.

Expected outputs/results: 1) a literature review to be published as EIFAAC Occasional paper No 54 on Fish stocking in inland waters in Europe and Central Asia: issues and solutions, 2) endorsed EIFAAC/CACFish Fish Stocking Guidelines.

Countries participating: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Romania, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

FAO – EIFAAC Secretariat Central Asian and Caucasus Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission (CACFish)

The Angling Trust (United Kingdom) was contracted by FAO/CACFish to support project implementation.

The project organized an EIFAAC/CACFish Fish Stocking Guidelines Consultation on 17 May 2024 on the first draft EIFAAC/CACFish Fish Stocking Guidelines, as prepared by Dr. Ian Cowx. Information on the well-attended consultation (23 participants), is provided here: https://www.fao.org/fishery/en/meeting/41461 .

The following outputs are expected in 2025 - 2026:

• EIFAAC Occasional paper No 54 on Fish stocking in inland waters in Europe and Central Asia: issues and solutions.
• EIFAAC/CACFish Fish Stocking Guidelines endorsed by the CACFish Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), EIFAAC Technical and Scientific Committee (TSC) and CACFish Commission (2025)
• EIFAAC/CACFish Fish Stocking Guidelines endorsed by EIFAAC (2026)

The EIFAAC Working Group on Eel (WGEEL) has been active since the 1970's. Its focus was on the collation of eel data and biology through symposia in the 1980s and 1990s – a task it continues to achieve today through its annual reports. A widespread severe decline in eel recruitment was observed in the early 1980s along with a longer-term decline in landings. By 1993, this decline in recruitment, along with the stock-wide reduction in landings, was leading to serious concern and since 1998, the EIFAAC Working Group has operated on a joint basis with ICES, providing scientific advice on stock data and eel management, particularly in relation to the EU Action Plan for the Recovery of Eel (EU, 2007). From 2014, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) is operating on a joint basis with EIFAAC and ICES on European Eel.

Working Group goals:

• Conduct the annual stock assessment for the European eel and report on new science, including emerging threats and opportunities.
• Develop tools and methods to compile and analyse comprehensive data on the widespread single stock of the European eel.
• Review the impacts of both anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic factors on the stock.

Expected outputs/results: annual stock assessments, contribute to implementation of Eel Management Plans (EMPs),

Countries participating: EIFAAC, ICES and GFCM Member countries.

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)

EIFAAC

General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)

Jan-Dag Pohlmann, Chair

Caroline Durif, Chair

Ciara O’Leary (EIFAAC representative)

The WGEEL reports can be found here: https://www.ices.dk/community/groups/pages/wgeel.aspx