Context
The MENDES project (Reducing discards in bottom trawl fisheries) addresses the challenges posed by Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which introduces the Landing Obligation for European fisheries with the aim of eliminating discards and reducing unwanted catches.
This regulation entails significant operational changes for the bottom trawl fleet operating in the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian North-West, and raises technical, operational and socio-economic challenges in order to maintain a sustainable and competitive fishing activity. The project focuses on generating scientific and technical knowledge, as well as practical solutions, to facilitate adaptation to this regulatory framework within the context of commercial fisheries.
Objectives
The MENDES project seeks to support a comprehensive adaptation of the Spanish bottom trawl fleet to the Landing Obligation regulation, addressing technical, operational and socio-economic aspects. Its main objectives are to:
- Analyse and diagnose the issues associated with unwanted catches, prioritising their relevance for fleets operating in the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian North-West.
- Design, build and assess selective devices aimed at reducing unwanted catches of target species.
- Evaluate the operational and logistical implications of retaining unwanted catches on board, including aspects related to safety, occupational health and catch handling.
- Carry out a socio-economic and financial assessment of operational and technical measures, in order to propose alternatives that minimise the economic impact on fishing companies.
- Promote the transfer of results and stakeholder engagement through workshops, technological committees and targeted dissemination activities.
Results and Expected Impact
The MENDES project delivers technical, operational and socio-economic impacts for the sustainable management of trawl fisheries in Spanish waters. Expected results include:
- Consolidated technical information on the nature and scale of unwanted catches, facilitating the assessment of management scenarios under the Landing Obligation.
- Evaluated selective devices that make it possible to quantify reductions in unwanted catches without compromising commercial fishing efficiency, providing practical technical solutions for the fleet.
- A socio-economic assessment that clarifies the effects of operational and technical alternatives on the economic viability of fishing companies, offering criteria for a more sustainable transition.
- Strengthened sectoral collaboration between fishers, technologists and scientists through technological committees and workshops, enhancing the transfer of scientific knowledge to the fishing sector.
These results contribute to more effective and sustainable fisheries management, aligned with European requirements and best practices in fishing gear selectivity, while also guiding future strategies for adapting the Spanish bottom trawl fleet to increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
Participants
AZTI (lidera), la Organización de Productores de Pesca de Altura de Ondarroa (OPPAO) y la Organización de Productores de Pesca Fresca del Puerto y Ría de Marín (OPROMAR)
Colaboradores del proyecto:
OPECA (Organización de Productores de Pesca de Altura de Cantabria)
Funding
Fundación Biodiversidad, del Ministerio para la Transición Ecológica, a través del Programa Pleamar del Fondo Europeo Marítimo y de Pesca
