Small-scale fisheries (SSF) have a significant ecological impact, contributing substantially to coastal species landings and playing a crucial socio-economic role within coastal communities. Yet they remain underrepresented in scientific assessments due to persistent data gaps and coordination challenges. The new EU Fisheries Control Regulation (EU 2023/2842) introduces transformative measures (e.g., mandatory digital catch reporting, vessel geolocation, and removal of the <50kg catch data reporting exemption) that offer opportunities to improve SSF data quality and coverage. However, concerns remain around implementation timelines, data resolution, and the adequacy of self-reported declarative catch data. In parallel, methodological and technological innovations offer promising avenues to strengthen SSF data quality and completeness.
This session will explore how regulatory shifts intersect with broader SSF challenges, including regional coordination, methodological gaps, and cross-sectoral conflicts (e.g., overlapping ecosystem services). Coastal fisheries often span jurisdictions, requiring harmonized monitoring and participatory management across commercial and recreational fisheries, and conservation sectors. We will also address the complementary role of SSF data collection methods (e.g., sampling strategies and historical reconstructions), the importance of capacity building and training for implementing new technologies, the use of geospatial data (e.g., GPS, AIS) to enhance spatial resolution and effort estimation –especially amid shifting species distributions and overlapping ecosystem services– and socio-economic assessments supporting consistent regional governance and ecosystem-based management.
To identify actionable pathways to improve SSF data and governance through interdisciplinary collaboration, we invite contributions on:
