Good practice for implementing discard policies elsewhere
Creators: name: Nielsen, Kåre
name: Borges, Lisa
name: Fitzpatrick, Mike
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018

description: This report identifies good practice for implementing a discard ban based on four lines of work. First, a comparative examination was conducted of selected cases worldwide where discard bans have been implemented. This work focused on the cases of Norway, Chile, New Zealand and the EU. Second, bycatch management practices were examined more broadly and globally. Third, experiences with first year of the EU’s Landing Obligation (LO) were examined for the Baltic and Pelagic fisheries. These cases potentially offer valuable lessons for discard management in the context of the LO with regard to cooperation with stakeholders, cooperation between member states and the design and implementation of discard mitigation strategies. Fourth, innovative management approaches to reduce discarding are ebing identified and evaluated. Drawing on results from task 4.4: “The manager’s story”, these include approaches to enhance quota flexibility and direct management measures such as Real Time Closures. With a basis in the above mentioned four lines of work, nine general recommendations for good practice for discard governance were identified. This document represents deliverable 7.3 of the DiscardLess project, and reports from task 7.2 “Good practice with implementing discard policies elsewhere”. <strong>Box 1: Report Highlights</strong> An effective implementation of discard bans requires high levels of at-sea monitoring and effective control, and/or strong incentives and general industry acceptance. It is often not possible to assess and evaluate the specific impacts of the discard bans due to a lack of adequate discard data and due to difficulties of disentangling the effect of the ban from supporting measures. The first 12 months of the LO for Baltic and pelagic fisheries have shown that communication between players at various levels, institutional adaption and regulatory responsiveness will be critical factors in implementation success and in stimulating creative solutions. <strong>Box 2: </strong><strong>The approaches followed</strong> Reviews of the management and governance of discards and bycatch from a number of case around the world, building on academic literature, regulatory documents and interviews with key persons Summary and analysis of the first year of the landing obligation (DiscardLess Policy brief 1 and viewpoint article), building on regulatory documents, scientific reports, meeting observations, publically available meeting minutes, published scientific literature and interviews with key persons. <strong>Box 3: </strong><strong>How can these results be used and by whom?</strong> Reviews of the experience with discard bans and bycatch management around the world are relevant to policy makers and higher level stakeholders as they seek to build on previous successes and avoid past mistakes with the implementation of the LO in Europe. The question of what has happened in first applications of LO is of interest to all groups of stakeholders from local to Member States and to the EU level. Within the DiscardLess project, outcomes of Task 7.2 will inform the work with developing Discard Mitigation Strategies (Task 7.3) and the work with developing regional recommendations for the implementation of the landing obligation (Task 7.4). The work committed to the task that this deliverable reports from includes: A published article on the implementation of discard bans in selected countries around the world. A policy brief published on the first year of the landing obligation (in cooperation with Task 7.4). A viewpoint article in ICES Newsletter series published on the same topic. A book chapter to be published, presenting a global perspective on bycatch management approaches (<em>in preparation</em>) <strong>Box 4: Recommendations for good practice for implementing discard policies </strong> Clarify and widely communicate the goals of the discard policy. Facilitate the involvement of stakeholders in developing and implementing the policy An incremental an adaptive approach to implementing discard ban is favourable to implementing a ‘grand scheme’ over a short period of time, as the latter will require extensive preparations and foresight in order to be likely to succeed. Recognize discard ban as an element in a package of management measures within a wider policy. Align the discard policy with industry incentives and foster a culture of compliance. Ensure effective monitoring, control and enforcement. Draw on results based management principles: set specific targets and monitor achievements, but refrain from micro-management the process. Support innovation throughout the process from policy development to implementation. Evaluate the policy and be ready to adapt the approach taken.