Working Group on Spatial Fisheries Data (WGSFD; outputs from 2024 meeting)

<p dir="ltr"><b>Correction (5/11/2025): Update to the list of Authors and to the list of Participants</b></p><p dir="ltr">The ICES Working Group on Spatial Fisheries Data (WGSFD) develops standardised methods for collecting, processing, and analysing vessel monitoring system (VMS) and logbook data to support fisheries management and marine spatial planning across European waters. The group maintains the annual ICES VMS data call workflow and produces spatial fishing activity datasets that inform ICES advice on fishing pressure, benthic impacts, and marine ecosystem protection.</p><p dir="ltr">Under its current terms of reference, the group has considered:</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Habitat Integration</b>: the group successfully incorporated habitat and bathymetry data into the VMS and logbooks data call. Using the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Broad Benthic Habitat Types (MSFD-BBHT) layer, WGSFD can now identify fishing effort by specific habitat types or depth strata within each c-square grid cell, enabling more refined fishing pressure analysis.</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Enhanced Data Processing</b>: WGSFD proposed implementing a benchmark process for the VMS data call workflow and updated critical functions for assigning logbook information to VMS records, particularly improving handling of multi-gear trips. Swept area calculations were moved to national-level preparation, enhancing quality control and transparency.</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Small-Scale Fisheries Protocols</b>: Comprehensive protocols were developed for analysing high-resolution spatial data from vessels under 12 metres. Through case studies across eight countries, the group established that vessel position data must be acquired at least every 30 seconds for adequate representation, with machine learning approaches showing significant improvements over traditional methods.</p><p dir="ltr">· <b>Improved Temporal Resolution</b>: Analysis of VMS polling frequency demonstrated that current two-hourly intervals still limit advice precision. Most member states now report data at frequencies between one and two hours, with some achieving 10-minute intervals.</p><p dir="ltr">WGSFD established pathways for continued development including standardised workflows for high-resolution data processing, explored potential web-based API development, and continued refinement of habitat-specific fishing impact assessments. The group emphasised increased collaboration between scientists and industry to validate analytical methods.</p><p dir="ltr">These achievements position ICES to provide more precise, habitat-aware, and scientifically robust advice on fishing activities' spatial distribution and environmental impacts across European waters.</p>