- Lead Scientist: Kathryn Hughes, Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, United Kingdom
- Co-scientist: Ricardo Amaroso, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Washington University, USA
Project Objectives:
We aim to map the distribution of fishing effort from countries that do not have the required resources to process and analyse raw fishing effort data.
Our objectives are to analyse Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and vessel logbook data from southern America, southern Africa and Southeast Asia to map a statistical distribution of fishing effort on shelf sea areas.
We will develop models using VMStools in R and write a protocol (for publication) for cleaning and analysing VMS data which can be used as a template for other nations. We will combine the fishing effort of these countries with other national data sets that have already been analysed to produce a global map of fishing effort.
The project is a unique opportunity to share knowledge between scientific communities; the results may increase shelf sea protection and improve governance in marine science and policy; the research confronts an identified knowledge gap which is of importance to stakeholders and we will make use of available important data that has yet to be analysed.
The aims of ICES Strategic Plan will be fulfilled through advancing scientific understanding of marine ecosystems, particularly fishing/habitat interactions, and providing the basis for sound scientific advice founded on evidence based science.
