MareFrame is a four-year research project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission on removing the barriers that prevent a more widespread use of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EAFM). The project held a workshop at ICES Secretariat on Tuesday to explore advice based on the ecosystem approach.
The meeting aimed at working with high level stakeholders, explored ways to improve the advice that is based on the ecosystem approach. ICES is a project partner as well as one of the major advice providers, and MareFrame wants to engage with the organization to discover how its advisory process works, and how this can be improved.
Stakeholder modelling
Mark Dickey-Collas, Ecosystem Approach Coordinator at ICES elaborated on MareFrame's goal: "Removing the barriers is about discovering each other's positions. MareFrame is investing seriously in stakeholder engagement, and the barriers mentioned above are differences in language, expectations, and objectives. The project is trying to create a process where people feel at ease talking to each other, and working together to develop these tools. The crucial work undertaken here is designing and creating models with the stakeholders."
Regarding MareFrame's methodology, Dickey-Collas continued: "The project is heavily case study-driven: some case studies are still making the tools in isolation, some are consulting stakeholders, while others are designing with them. These case studies range from the Mediterranean, to Iceland and from the Baltic to the Atlantic."
The workshop was attended by public service staff, industry and NGO stakeholders, and scientists involved in the direct implementation of EAFM. Participants came also from the European Commission, STECF and EU fisheries Advisory Councils.
