Temporal and spatial dynamics of fisheries discards from Irish waters

Abstract

There is worldwide recognition that fisheries discards (i.e. the portion of the catch returned to sea) are not only a waste of resources but are also responsible for numerous adverse ecological impacts in the marine environment. Indeed, the discards mortality rate can be as high as 100% and fisheries such as Nephrops trawls discard approximately 60% of their total catch. Therefore, with the evolution of fisheries management strategies from being concerned with single stocks to ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM), discards is becoming an increasingly important topic. EBFM recognises that fisheries should be managed taking into account their effects on, and interactions with, the ecosystems to which the target species belong. As such, to sustain healthy marine ecosystems and preserve the services that depend on them, it is crucial to fully understand the impacts of discards and to find ways to mitigate and incorporate them in any fisheries or marine ecosystem assessment.