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EU Blue Economy Observatory
Call for proposalsClosed

Understanding and reducing bycatch of protected species HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-5

Details

Status
Closed
Publication date
22 December 2022
Opening date
Deadline model
Single-stage
Deadline date
28 March 2023, 17:00 (CEST)

Description

Biodiversity and ecosystem services (HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01)

Selected proposals are expected to contribute to all following expected outcomes:

  • Elimination or significant reduction of bycatch is achieved for marine mammals (e.g., up to 8500 dolphins killed each year in the Bay of Biscay), sea turtles (currently ~70 000 killed each year in EU waters) and seabirds (currently ~200 000 killed each year in EU waters) and sensitive or endangered fish species (e.g. elasmobranchs and sturgeons).
  • Bycatch risks and reasons are well understood, including the spatial and temporal distribution of sensitive species.
  • Information needed to improve Member States’ monitoring programmes and implementation of management actions is acquired.
  • Impacts of bycatches (rate of interactions, fate of individuals post-release, by gear and by fishery, impact on population abundance and sustainability) on the conservation status of species are assessed and understood.
  • Interactions of bycaught species with fishing gears are minimised and where possible eliminated, and mortality following interaction is reduced.
  • Member States are enabled to reach the target of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 to eliminate or reduce bycatch of sensitive species and to step up bycatch monitoring, as well as to fully and coherently implement the EU environmental and fisheries legislation and the Action plan to conserve fisheries resources and protect marine ecosystems and to protect marine ecosystems as required by the EU climate adaptation strategy.
  • Member States are enabled to set criteria for Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in relation to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring that all elements of marine food webs occur at normal abundance and diversity.

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