Data Portals

Bycatch database

ICES advice on bycatch of protected, endangered and threatened species relies on the Bycatch database, developed in collaboration with the Working Group on bycatch of protected species.

Data needs to estimate bycatch conservation threats

As highlighted in the Roadmap for ICES bycatch advice on protected, endangered and threatened species, three types of information are required to assess the conservation threat posed by fishery bycatch:

the susceptibility of a given population to bycatch in particular fisheries (based on observer effort data and number of bycatch incidents recorded by fishing gear);
the scale of the fisheries concerned (based on total fishing effort by fishing gear for all relevant fleet segments);
the resilience of that population to bycatch.

Database content

The bycatch database holds information to estimate 1) and 2) above. Data to assess 3) would be obtained from national and international scientific surveys to estimate population abundances, together with life history and demographic parameters.

The database contributes to harmonized reporting and includes information from ICES Member Countries and Mediterranean EU countries. It also includes information on the use of relevant bycatch mitigation measures (e.g. acoustic deterrent devices). Data have been collected through dedicated annual ICES data calls since 2018. Prior to 2018, the data comprised mostly information on cetacean bycatch as reported under member states' obligations from the EU Regulation 812/2004.

ICES advice

The bycatch database is used for advice purposes. ICES uses it when providing scientifically robust advice on bycatch of protected, endangered, and/or threatened species to the European Commission. The data is being used also to feed into the ICES Fisheries overviews and into advisory products for the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC).

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