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NWWAC Calls for Review of ICES VMEs 2023 Advice Implementation
The North Western Advisory Council (NWWAC) has written to the European Commission with concerns over the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) advice on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) 2023.
The NWWAC highlighted critical concerns and discrepancies in the implementation of the ICES VME Advice, urging the Commission to address these issues for a more transparent and robust assessment process. The advisory council referred to the Implementing Regulation ((EU) 2022/1614) published on September 15, 2022, which closed 87 areas in EU waters to bottom fishing based on the 2021 ICES VME Advice and the 2022 Technical Service.
One major concern raised by the NWWAC is the lack of STECF’s review of the data, approach, or basis for defining VME polygons in the original ICES 2021 VME Advice/2022 Technical Service. The council emphasised changes in the extent of VME polygons in the 2023 advice, highlighting discrepancies between the modelled 400-800m zone and the current EU closed polygons.
Additionally, the NWWAC pointed out errors in the ICES VME Database and VME Map Portal, emphasising a lack of support for the current delineation of closed polygons. Concerns were also raised about inconsistencies between the VME Index layers in the 2021 and 2023 VME advice and the inappropriate definition and delineation of VME habitats.
The advisory council underscored the need for a transparent assessment process, questioning the exclusion of the VME Confidence Index and potential biases in the VME Index due to the exclusion of absence data. The NWWAC requested the Commission to analyse these technical deficiencies, review differences between the 2021 and 2023 advice, and clarify the legal basis for implementing such measures without the required socio-economic assessment.
While supporting the protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems, the NWWAC emphasised the importance of closures based on robust scientific evidence and urged a review of the current scientific evidence to increase its robustness. The council called for an equitable delineation of closures to minimise socioeconomic impacts and ensure fair treatment for all European fishermen affected by these measures.
In conclusion, the NWWAC urged the Commission to initiate a thorough review of the ICES VME Advice implementation, taking into account the technical deficiencies and potential socioeconomic impacts. The council remains open for further elaboration on its request and awaits the Commission’s response.
Källa: The Fishing Daily