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FAO and EU Partnership

Enhancing Capacity for Fisheries Planning and Management in the Strait of Sicily - GCP/INT/320/EC

Project's full title Enhancing Capacity for Fisheries Planning and Management in the Strait of Sicily - GCP/INT/320/EC
Countries European Union Italy Libya Malta Tunisia
Start date 01/02/2018
End date 31/12/2019
Status Closed
Donor European Union
Recipient / Target Areas Italy, Libya, Malta, Tunisia
Budget USD 580 600
Project Code GCP/INT/320/EC
Objective / Goal The project reinforced the basis for cooperative management of the shared multispecies fisheries in the Strait of Sicily, by supporting the organization and successful implementation of subregional research programmes, the establishment of scientific networks and the improvement of national capacities. Fisheries scientists and staff in fisheries research institutions/administration in the four participating countries acquired new technical skills in data collection, data processing and management, and fisheries assessment methods and management. In addition, the research institutions of the participating countries were provided with updated tools for data compilation and management, subregional communication networks, and the dissemination of the results of scientific programmes. Technical meetings, working groups and study groups were held to enhance knowledge on the dynamic and state of fisheries and fish population, and their interactions with the environment. As a result, new insights into the biology, ecology and stock status of fish and fisheries were acquired. In addition, new data and knowledge were used to inform fisheries policies, thus supporting the widening of the management framework to fully incorporate the EAF and the Blue Growth initiatives in the subregion.
Partners Istituto per le Risorse Biologiche e le Biotecnologie Marine - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology – National Research Council), Italy; Marine Biology Research Centre, Libya; Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Malta; Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (National Institute of Marine Science and Technologies), Tunisia
Beneficiaries Fisheries scientists and staff in fisheries research institutions/administration from the participating countries (Italy, Libya, Malta and Tunisia); General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) members.
Activities
  • Ad hoc activities implemented to initiate standardized data collection programme, including on fisheries socio-economic related aspects.
  • Appraisal of state of demersal fisheries resources and fisheries in MedSudMed project area carried out by national experts in the framework of the MedSudMed Working Group on Demersal Fisheries Resources.  Planning and implementation of standardized experimental bottom trawl survey in Tunisia supported, to gather standardized data on spatial distribution and abundance of demersal fisheries resources and biocoenoses.
  • Geo-referenced data for spatial mapping of natural resources gathered, and coordination with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) and the FAO Subregional Office for North Africa (SNE) enhanced, and resources optimized in supporting Tunisia.  Case studies supported in the participating countries in compiling information on Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF), and in particular to map spatial distribution and overall activities of selected SSF in southcentral Mediterranean.
  • Ad hoc training workshop held on SSF and non-indigenous species at GFCM headquarters, Rome, Italy, July 2018.
  • Joint data processing supported for production of thematic maps on areas of concentration of eggs, larvae and recruits of Sardina pilchardus, Sardinella aurita and Engraulis encrasicolus.
  • Pilot action for collection of fishery dependent data in Tunisia launched in 2018 (biological sampling), focusing on selected species in north Tunisia; the data gathered were used to support joint stock assessment for Merluccius merluccius and Parapenaeus longirostris in central Mediterranean.
  • Preparation of monography focused on MedSudMed area in scientific peer-reviewed journal Hydrobiologia coordinated and supported.
  • Second session of Summer School in Quantitative Fisheries Stock Assessment held in Italy, July 2018; entire training programme successfully completed by 49 trainees.
Impact The project reinforced the basis for cooperative management of the shared multispecies fisheries in the Strait of Sicily, by supporting the organization and successful implementation of subregional research programmes, the establishment of scientific networks and the improvement of national capacities. Fisheries scientists and staff in fisheries research institutions/administration in the four participating countries acquired new technical skills in data collection, data processing and management, and fisheries assessment methods and management. In addition, the research institutions of the participating countries were provided with updated tools for data compilation and management, subregional communication networks, and the dissemination of the results of scientific programmes. Technical meetings, working groups and study groups were held to enhance knowledge on the dynamic and state of fisheries and fish population, and their interactions with the environment. As a result, new insights into the biology, ecology and stock status of fish and fisheries were acquired. In addition, new data and knowledge were used to inform fisheries policies, thus supporting the widening of the management framework to fully incorporate the EAF and the Blue Growth initiatives in the subregion.
Contact Marcelo Vasconcellos (Lead Technical Officer) - [email protected]
SDG(S)