Integrating multiple demands on coastal zones with emphasis on aquatic ecosystems and fisheries (INCOFISH)
Background
To conduct specifically targeted strategic research suitable to contribute to the goals set by the world summit for sustainable development in Johannesburg, such as restoring healthy fish stocks and ecosystems by 2015.
Objectives
- Reconciling multiple demands on coastal zones.
- Restoration of aquatic ecosystems.
Policy development
All research conducted in INCOFISH builds on close partnerships between European and Third Country researchers. Five of eleven work packages are led by developing country institutions and more than 51% of the INCOFISH budget goes to Third Countries. These scientific recognitions and financial contributions strengthen developing country research institutions and are thus in the spirit of EU development, cooperation and external relationships.
Cefas contribution
- Examine the patterns of long-term change in North Sea ecosystems and thereby establish targets for the restoration and sustainable use of living marine resources.
- Review the availability of long-term time series for the North Sea (including those from the 19th Century) and to use these to retrospectively 'force' and 'fit' ecosystem models developed under.
- To map ecological populations and fishing effort in the North Sea, to facilitate the development of spatial ecosystem models
- Construction of complex ecosystem models for the North Sea.
- Evaluation of existing and proposed MPAs in the North Sea using these ecosystem models.
Partners
This project involves 35 partners from 22 different countries.
