The working group WGBYC of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) discusses the latest data on bycatch of protected species in fisheries, including marine mammals, birds, sea turtles, and rare fish species. This year, 36 experts from different countries are on board. The aim of their meeting in Rostock is to obtain the most accurate picture possible of bycatch levels, identify knowledge gaps, and develop recommendations on how bycatch can be reduced and monitoring improved.
The international working group also reviews how EU member states and other countries fulfill their obligations for bycatch monitoring. It evaluates bycatch mitigation measures, such as the “pearl net” developed in Rostock to protect, for example, harbor porpoises, as well as innovative approaches to facilitate data collection under the European Data Collection Framework (DCF). In this way, the WGBYC paves the way for sustainable fisheries.
