Interim Report of the Working Group to Demonstrate a Celtic Seas wide approach to the application of fisheries related science to the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (WGMSFDemo)

The Working Group to Demonstrate a Celtic Seas1 wide approach to the application of fisheries related science to the implementation of the MSFD (WGMSFDemo) co-chaired by Jean-Paul Lecomte (France), Eugene Nixon (Ireland) and Carl O’Brien (UK) met for its second meeting on 28–30 April 2015 in Dublin, Ireland, to develop and initiate a 3-year work programme. The ToR of the Working Group (WG) are set out in the Intro-duction section of this report.The WG considered how data collected under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) could be used to carry out a Celtic Seas wide assessment for Descriptor 1, 3, and 6 using selected OSPAR Indicators (both common and candidate). This will support the OSPAR 2017 Intermediate Assessment. Data on demersal fish community and the in-cidentally-caught benthic flora and fauna were identified as have significant potential for the assessment. It is anticipated that an assessment could be carried out on up to 20 indicators.