EIFAC/XXII/2002/Inf.3

The European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission will hold a Symposium on Inland Fisheries Management and the Aquatic Environment: The effects of fisheries management on freshwater ecosystems in connection with its Twenty-second Session in June 2002.

Rationale

Symposium objectives

• To bring together inland fisheries experts to exchange knowledge among countries and to present, in reviews, an appraisal of fisheries management activities and their impact on the environment, constraints on their application, issues and options regarding their utilization, and the benefits and problems associated with these activities.
  
• To identify constraints and gaps in our knowledge that affect the application of fisheries management activities in inland fisheries.
  
• To recommend and promote action to improve the management of inland fisheries to the benefit of the aquatic environment.
  
• To provide guidelines for the policy formulation, planning methodology and evaluation of future fisheries management activities.

Themes

• Positive or negative impacts of management of fish communities (e.g. biomanipulation, introduction and stocking practices).
  
• Threats to the ecosystem integrity and natural resources caused by fisheries management activities.
  
• Fishing activities (e.g. capture methods, selection of fishing gear, side effects of fishing activities on benthic and riparian communities).
  
• Fish habitat requirements (including rehabilitation measures, mitigation measures, water quality and quantity requirements).
  
• Role of conservation management in maintaining biodiversity.

The case studies are likely to include topics such as:

• impacts on biodiversity;
  
• impacts on sustainability;
  
• successful and unsuccessful management approaches;
  
• development of management programmes/plans;
  
• development of codes of practice;
  
• effects on legislation, and
  
• raising public awareness.

The Symposium is addressed to stakeholders in several levels of the decision making process, user groups and scientists. Participation and contributions are expected from persons in various institutions like:

• government;
  
• universities;
  
• fisheries agencies;
  
• fisheries organizations;
  
• environmental groups, and
  
• other interested parties.

The Symposium should contribute to a better awareness of the role and effect of good fisheries management practices on the aquatic environment and show how fisheries management measures can be applied to maximize the positive effects and to minimize the negative impact on the environment. The Symposium should identify and guide actions to be taken both within the fisheries sector and by agencies and persons involved in environmental management issues. The output should lead to an integrated management of fish stocks in which fisheries and environmental objectives are met.

Call for Papers