LIFE ELIFE (Elasmobranchs Low-Impact Fishing Experience)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Since the mid-1980s, chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fish) have been under growing pressure from fishing in the Mediterranean Sea; due to their continuing presence as by-catch, mainly in commercial coastal fisheries. In 2018, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn carried out 62 interviews with fishermen in the major Italian fishing harbours: more than 88% of fishermen usually catch sharks, 75% of which are still alive. The Mediterranean Sea is one of the three hotspots with seriously threatened sharks and rays, frequently captured by bottom trawling, gillnets and longline, with a very large impact on the Mediterranean populations. Despite some recent efforts to reduce shark by-catch and mortality (i.e. adoption of the European Commission's Action plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks), the EUs goals are far from being achieved. All this, from a conservation point of view, makes the Central Tyrrhenian Sea an area of great interest for diversity, recently been recognised as a Special Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance according to the Protocol on Areas of Special Protection and Biological Diversity within the Barcelona Convention (UNEP, 2010).

OBJECTIVES

The project LIFE ELIFE aims at improving the conservation of elasmobranch species (sharks and rays) by promoting best conservation practices in EU professional fishing in the Mediterranean Sea, including both bottom trawl and longline fishing. It will carry out pilot and demonstrative actions in the Italian harbours of Chioggia, Gallipoli, Lampedusa, Cir Marina/Porto Cesareo, North Sardinia, Marsala, Mazara del Vallo and Pelagie Islands.

Specific objectives of the project are:

Reduction of the by-catch and mortality of many threatened elasmobranchs, critically-endangered, endangered and vulnerable species, during professional fishing activities;

Elimination of by-catches for the endangered sandbar shark, Carcharhinus plumbeus, caused by bottom trawling in the waters of Lampione Island;

Reduction of the incidental catches and collisions and the anthropic disturbance on the endangered basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus, in Northern Sardinian Sea; and

Implementation of suitable conservation measures with an eco-systemic approach to fisheries through the preparation and adoption of specific local management plans.

The project will support marine management authorities in Italy and Cyprus, by providing the latest data for assessing the status of shark species. The project aims at obtaining a substantialshift toward low-impact fishing devices that lower shark by-catch in Italy, Cyprus and Greece by professional fishermen, and to support them in fund raising activities (e.g. grant applications) to obtain these devices. Mediterranean fishermen will therefore be helped to enhance their role in marine biodiversity conservation., The project also aims to transfer good practices for shark by-catch mitigation and lowering mortality to other EU Mediterranean countries, and to increase the awareness of people and stakeholders about the value and vulnerability of the elasmobranchs, to promote more sustainable fishing and responsible fish consumption.

LIFE ELIFE will contribute to achieving European Commission goals through conservation actions on shark species listed in the European Red List of marine fishes (IUCN, 2015), in accordance with the EU Action Plan for the Conservation and Management of Sharks; the aims of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (in particular, Descriptor 1 biodiversity and Descriptor 3 fishery); the European Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (targets 1, 4, 6); and of the Regulations 1380/2013 and 72/2016. The project is also consistent with the 7th EU Environment Action Programme, the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, and several international conventions on marine conservation, biodiversity and migratory species.

RESULTS

Expected results:

Reduction of 30% in all the targeted areas of the incidental catches of targeted cartilaginous fish species in professional fisheries, such as bottom trawl and longline fisheries, by the use of low-impact fishing gear (e.g. circle hooks) and mitigation systems (e.g. sorting grids in bottom trawling);

Active involvement of 100 fishermen in a participatary process to test new low-impact fishing devices. Approximately 50% of fishermen involved in the project will use the shark grid and the low-impact longlines;

Reduction in targeted areas of 50% of the mortality of targeted elasmobranchs in professional fishing through the promotion of good practices on release of the individuals incidentally caught, which are brought on board still alive;

Reduction of 100% of the by-catches and mortality of Carcharhinus plumbeus at the Lampione Island (Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Isole Pelagie);

Reduction of 50% of dangerous interactions with anthropic activities for basking sharks in the North Sardinian waters;

Adoption ofthe management tool by two MPAs for an eco-systemic approach to fisheries focused on by-catch reduction and mitigation actions to protect endangered sharks;

Adoption by the Ministries in charge of elasmobranch conservation of a dataset delivered by the project, promoting the dialogue of stakeholders towards a conservation plan and actions in Italy and Cyprus:

Creation of seven permanent desks to provide information for professional fishermen on the replacement of standard fishing gear with low-impact devices, and the submitting of at least 50 applications for such replacements;

1 500 professional fishermen in 20 fishing harbours in Italy, and 5 in Cyprus and Greece, made aware of the ecological value of elasmobranchs and of the importance of low-impact fishing gear for maintaining the marine good environmental status; and

Networking with at least 10 other EU funded projects involved in marine biodiversity conservation and/or fisheries, and involvement of fishermen and stakeholders in 2 other EU countries in communication activities.