Impact case study database

The research by the Shaw group has resulted in changes to international organisation guidelines and influence on policy regarding collection of data and its use in the management of global commercial fisheries. As an example, the study on yellowfin tuna [3.1] was used to inform changes to guidelines [5.1] on fisheries data gathering and analysis by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), and transfer to the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). As an invited External Expert, Shaw put to the IOTC Working Parties that their international boundaries, and so landing statistics and management models, should be changed to reflect the biogeographic rather than geopolitical boundary between the two areas and their yellowfin tuna stocks. These recommendations were accepted by IOTC [5.1]. This also resulted in knowledge transfer to, and changed awareness and practices of, these bodies and linked organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) [5.2], to use fisheries genetic methods to underpin science-based policy: “In light of these results from South Africa, the WPDCS REQUESTED that similar projects are implemented for fleets that operate in the South-eastern waters of the Atlantic ocean..” [5.1]. International (WIOMSA) and national (DSFA, Tanzanian Government) organisations in the western Indian Ocean region have also changed awareness and practices of the use of fisheries genetic methodologies, issuing calls for stock structuring studies on further tuna fishery species [5.2; 5.3].

Changes to the IOTC and ICCAT boundaries from November 2019 will have significant impact on how tuna should be managed, particularly in the Indian Ocean. At present yellowfin tuna are listed globally as “Near Threatened”, with the Indian Ocean stock recognised to be experiencing overfishing, whilst Atlantic stock is not. If landings fished from the SE Atlantic area, currently listed with ICCAT, are recorded as Indian Ocean stock (IOTC) landings, then the position of the IOTC stock will be recognised as even more threatened with collapse. The yellowfin tuna industry is a vital artisanal fishery, and foreign currency earning, commercial enterprise for a number of developing countries around the Indian Ocean, so sustainable management based on accurate stock definition is essential to future food and commercial security of the area.

Research by the Shaw group has also had impact on practice and policy regarding management of regional commercial fisheries. On the basis of previous published studies conducted for Defra and Cefas, the Welsh Government commissioned Shaw to conduct studies of fisheries genetics of whelk, seabass, brown crab and razor clam populations in Welsh waters to inform their sustainable management of these resources [5.4- 5.7]. The data and advice from these studies have been used in preparation for post-Brexit negotiations on reopening of the seabass fishery, and in whelk fishery management through changes to policy and regulations on minimum landing sizes [5.5; 5.6].

A second example of impact on government institution management of regional fisheries is a series of research projects commissioned by the Falkland Islands Government [3.9; 3.10]. The resulting knowledge transfer [3.2; 3.3] and input to management of commercial fisheries resources were vital to the Falklands economy, as this constitutes 50% of their annual GDP. Based on earlier studies of toothfish (Shaw et al. 2004) that resulted in Marine Stewardship Council sustainable fishery accreditation of the South Georgia fishery, the aim since 2011 has been to apply similar studies to wider areas and different species of finfish (e.g. Southern Blue Whiting, Rockcod) and cephalopods (Shortfin squid), to better define transboundary stocks across territorial waters of the Falklands, Argentina and Chile. As the Falkland Islands fisheries use a sustainable management method based on Total Allowable Catch linked to real-time catch data, it is vital that the geographical and demographic definition of fished stocks is accurate in the models used. The resultant knowledge transfer, data and advice have helped refine models for sustainable catch regulation for the Falkland Islands Government and fisheries managers, leading to increased sustainability and commercial value. [5.8]

Research by the Shaw group has also had direct impact on fishery management. As an example, the Rodrigues octopus fishery in the Indian Ocean had been in decline over many years due to over-exploitation and there was urgent need to improve its management. A study by Shaw and McKeown, commissioned by ReCoMap [5.9] established that the Octopus population of Rodrigues was isolated from other populations in the SW Indian Ocean, and therefore unlikely to be replenished by larval input from external sources if the Rodrigues population crashed due to overfishing, as predicted by fishery statistics. This finding, together with other fishery data, was used by the local administration [5.10] to change policy in implementing a series of closures to fishing (2012-14), that resulted in 26-49% increases in landings and a USD173,000 increase in export earnings for the local community, plus avoidance of the predicted stock crash [5.11]. The knowledge transfer and success of the closure system implemented has been adopted by the local community and resulted “….in a longterm change in fishing behaviour and management practice” [5.11]. This management approach has resulted in both sustainable management and improved local incomes from artisanal fisheries.