OSPAR request on mapping of bottom fishing intensity using VMS data

ICES advises that the spatial analysis of bottom fishing (towed gears) in the OSPAR area should use VMS and logbook data to map  activity  at  the  resolution  of 0.05 ×  0.05  degree  grid  cells,  and that  this  should  occur  annually.  Maps  of  bottom fishing effort and intensity are provided as examples. The maps of bottom fishing intensity should represent the number of times each unit of seabed has been trawled per year. Further work is required before fishing impact can be mapped. The choice of indicators to be used for seabed integrity could also influence the type of maps produced.