Problems and Solutions in European Cephalopod Fisheries

Abstract

[Abstract] European cephalopod fisheries represent an arguably underexploited opportunity to supply sustainable seafood to consumers, if properly managed. We present thirteen challenges in fishery development, stock assessment, and fisheries management; identifying data gaps, implementation issues, policy implications, future research needs, and suggesting solutions for each challenge. Optimal approaches to assessment include forecasting (based on understanding the environmental effects on population dynamics and recruitment success), appropriately timed survey of pre-recruits/recruits and/or real-time assessment, although the latter is not useful in bycatch fisheries and may be prohibitively expensive for all but the most valuable directed fisheries. Retrospective assessment tends to be of limited value in annual species. Improved engagement by policymakers and management authorities would improve the problem of poor data arising from the current lack of dedicated monitoring and management under the Common Fisheries Policy. Management solutions could include effort monitoring and control, closed seasons/areas, underpinned by good knowledge of the stocks. Co-management, where appropriate, together with improved tools for species identification in commercial catches, better biological sampling and traceability of products, will address many of the challenges that we have identified.