Report of the Workshop on the Integration of Environmental Information into Fisheries Management Strategies and Advice (WKEFA)

Following a preparatory meeting in February which developed a strategy and identified a number of relevant case studies, the main workshop co-sponsored by ICES, EUR-OCEANS, and GLOBEC met from 18–22 June 2007. Fourteen cases studies involving a wide range of demersal and pelagic stocks, as well as some generic stock simulations were presented over the first two days. The main results from the case studies and the demonstrated influence of environmental change on the stocks are summarised in the report. Over the remaining 2½ days these cases were then used to discuss and formulate generic concepts for improving fisheries management strategies and advice considering interactions under four main aspects,

a) Entries and exits from populations (recruitment, natural mortality and migration)

b) Internal population processes, encompassing a range of aspects associated with growth maturation and reproduction.

c) Location and habitat (including such aspects as vertical and horizontal movement)

d) Multispecies interactions