Dr Sally Campbell of C.O.A.S.T. pens this report after listening to Paul Degnbol deliver his keynote speech at the Scottish Association Marine Science UHI Annual Lecture at Dunstaffnage near Oban...

Poul Degnbol, one of Europe’s leading fisheries advisors and ecologist, now head of the advisory programme at the International Exploration of the Sea (ICES) talked to the theme of the challenges of combining sustainable European fisheries with healthy marine ecosystems. ICES is a natural science organisation looking at European fisheries in the 21st century. Previously he worked for 5 years with DG-MARE, the EU’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and showed he was unafraid to challenge the status quo, especially of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

He saw the sea of fundamental economic importance, and its use today very intensive with competing uses. He called for not just EAF (Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries) but EAMM (Ecosystem Approach to Marine Management). There is a need for a co-ordinated European Policy and Marine Strategy so that by 2020 there is achieved:

•    Good Environment Status
•    Good Ecosystem Status
•    Good Economic Status

The EU fish supply is now two thirds dependent on imports; it was one third ten years ago.

There are clearly structural shortcomings in the CFP:

•    Imprecise policy objectives
•    Resulting in insufficient guidance for decisions and implementation

So there needs to be clear policy objectives.  The most important  objective is to REDUCE FISHING PRESSURE:

He considers there are 5 elements to EAF:

1.    reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels
2.    reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels
3.    reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels
4.    reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels
5.    reduce fishing pressure to sustainable levels

This produced knowing laughter from the large audience. We all know it- so why does it not happen?
Top down management of fisheries produces a micro-management spiral resulting in alienation of those people who have to implement the rules, producing low legitimacy and low compliance. The long term strategy for the CFP has been forgotten and the concentration and focus is now on this micro-management.

Poul appealed to ministers in the EU to concentrate on long term strategy and leave micro regulations to those much further down the control chain. He gave a wonderful example of the difference between speed regulation on the road, say 30mph, a simple circular sign with 30 in the middle, and the list that would be required if speeding was regulated in the same way as fisheries at present. The sign would deal with different cars, ages, road conditions, weather etc so would be enormous and many would ignore it. Similarly, for the environment there are maximum levels of emissions allowed. With fishing some of the micro-management decided at the most senior levels includes such things as cleaning nets, repairing nets- hardly things ministers should be deciding. Why should fisheries be different to speed regulation, environmental legislation and other legislative areas? How can it be achieved? It would require better monitoring and considerable knowledge but this could be done if there is political will. He thought the policy must reverse the burden of proof and this will include a changing role for science. There will need to be more dialogue and transparency with a wider range of advisory needs. He discussed advice delivery models that are used:

1. The Vatican  Model
Black Box (for decision making in secret)
Non-transparent
Appears to be based on divine revelation
This is no longer acceptable in either financial or community terms

2. Socratic Model
Dialogue based
Exploration with stakeholders
Based on transparency and evidence

In answering questions he compared a fisherman to a farmer. In this metaphor, the farmer picks apples from the tree every year. The fisherman chops the tree down to get all the apples now.
He re-iterated that the will to change has to come politically both for fisheries and indeed for aquaculture which is also destructive to ecosystems. There was a question about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Poul made it clear that they alone will not save or replenish fisheries. We must manage the fisheries first and continuously for sustainability. He added we may protect specific habitats and sensitive species but again stressed the need for first and foremost fisheries management.

He closed with a quote from Rachel Carson- ecologist, environmentalist and writer:

'It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life.'

An excellent lecture, in a research and learning marine centre of excellence, reminding all of those present of our responsibility to press for reform in the management of the sea and fisheries.  Our activities threaten the sea. It is up to politicians, and us too, through the ballot box, to ensure fisheries’ sustainability is achieved by 2020.