It is informed that MSC’s workshop would review the assessment of low trophic level species within the MSC Fisheries Assessment Methodology (FAM). The workshop will be held in Washington DC over the 1st and 2nd of October and will be attended by a range of stakeholders, including members of the MSC Low Trophic Level Fisheries Working Group (made up of Board and Technical Advisory Board members Dr Euan Dunn, Kees Lankester, Dr Keith Sainsbury and Tony Smith), as well as international scientists, experts in the management of these fisheries and industry representatives.
Kees Lankester, a member of the MSC Board of Trustees and consultant for fisheries management and ocean wildlife explained that they need to ensure that the MSC assessment process is consistent with global best management practice of all fisheries, including those on low trophic level species. This workshop is said to be a first step to explore the specific characteristics for the management of these fisheries.
The workshop is the first of two being carried out. After a second workshop is held in mid 2010 the working group will report back to the full MSC Technical Advisory Board and Board of Trustees on the findings of their review. It is informed that along with the workshops the MSC has contracted a group of international scientists to carry out modelling work to evaluate the impact of an MSC standard compliant fishery on ecosystem dynamics.
According to the agency the modelling work will encompass key ecosystems including the Californian current, the Benguela current, the North Sea and the Peruvian upwelling and will utilise a range of best-practice ecosystem models, including Ecoism, Osmose and Atlantis.
