The Working
Group on Bycatch of Protected Species (WGBYC) collates and assesses information
on bycatch monitoring and assessment for protected species, including mammals,
birds, turtles, and rare fish.
WGBYC describes
science needs, evaluates all bycatch data/information from multiple sources, and
determines the primary sources (i.e. highest quality; best available science)
to be utilized for advisory purposes. WGBYC plays a central role within the
roadmap for ICES bycatch advice on protected, threatened and endangered
species.
There are several monitoring obligations and measures required to reduce protected species
bycatch within the EU Common Fisheries Policy and other national and
international legislation. The WG reviews data submitted annually by ICES member
countries and other EU countries on fishing effort, bycatch monitoring effort
and PETS bycatch incidents. Based on the data submitted, WGBYC provides the
basis for ICES advice on the impact of bycatch in protected species’
populations and on how the monitoring of protected species bycatch can be
improved.
The WG also
looks at relevant bycatch mitigation measures and helps coordinate relevant
experimental work. More recently the group has also focused on how protected
species monitoring might be addressed under the Data Collection Framework (DCF).
