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The WGFTFB 2025 annual meeting was held 15-20 May 2025, in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, Italy.

The ICES/FAO Working Group on Fishing Technology and Fish Behaviour (WGFTFB) studies measurements and observations relating to scientific and commercial fishing gears, design and statistical methods and operations, and fish behaviour in relation to fishing. The annual meeting provides a platform to deliberate, discuss and synthesize recent innovative research on topics related to fishing technology and fish behaviour.

During this year’s meeting, 50 plenary presentations and 20 posters provided details on recent research activities covering the following themes: fish behavior, ALDFG, indicators, fish and sea mammal selectivity, energy efficiency, catch welfare, catchability, innovative tools and human dimensions.

Additionally, two focus sessions provided opportunities for discussions on uncertainties around bottom contact of trawl fisheries, and research failures to provide opportunities to share and learn from such failures.

In addition to plenary presentations, dedicated Topic Groups met for detailed discussions on:

1. The use of indicators to describe and compare the performance of fishing gears (Indicators);
2. Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG); and
3. Operational and technical constraints of fishing gears to support coexistence with offshore wind and open-ocean aquaculture (Multi-use)

During the course of the meeting proposals for new and ongoing Topic Groups and Focus Sessions were presented. The following proposals were selected;

Approval of future Topic Groups

The following 4 Topic groups were approved for the terms indicated:

1. Means and methods for the implementation of FAO Voluntary Guidelines on the Marking of Fishing Gear (Marking of Fishing Gear). Term 2026-2028;
2. Building resilience and future-proofing commercial fisheries (Future-proof Fisheries). Term 2026-2028;
3. Vessel and gear characterization: towards a Global framework for Impact estimation and eFficiency for Trawl fisheries (GIFT). Term 2026-2028; and
4. Operational and technical constraints of fishing gears to support coexistence with offshore wind and open-ocean aquaculture (Multi-use) – continues for one more year.

Approval of 2026 Focus Sessions

The following 2 focus sessions were approved:

1. Research failures, no effect and lessons learned.
2. Improve fish quality, survival and selectivity (working title to be confirmed)

Date and venue for next meeting

Every three years in additional to the annual meeting an FAO led symposium is organized. The next FAO led year is 2026.

Meeting Title: WGFTB26 and FAO-ICES Symposium on Fishing technology to future proof fisheries: Progress, challenges, and needs

Dates: 11-15 May 2026

Location: Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

Hosts: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)

A 2025 meeting report, and full details for the 2026 meeting, will be provided on the ICES/FAO website https://wgftfb.org/

Further information: Jon Lansley ([email protected]) NFI, FAO Headquarters