A publication outlining the main highlights and outcomes of the EU-funded SOCIOEC (Socio-Economic Effects of Management Measures of the future CFP) project is available to download via the project’s website.
SOCIOEC brought fisheries economists, social scientists and biologists together with industry partners and other key stakeholders to assess the socio-economic effects of management measures of the CFP.
The project also explored the potential for developing new measures to achieve a more profitable future fishing sector in Europe, one that will provide sustainable employment and contribute to the societal well-being of European citizens.
SOCIOEC project coordinator Ralf Döring said: “After three excellent years this journey has come to an end.
"The project has been a great success and this great team, whom I have had the pleasure of leading, have tackled some of the major social economic issues affecting the management of the new CFP.
"This project has paved the way for further research and the results generated will undoubtedly be instrumental in the implementation of new fisheries policies.”
When SOCIOEC started in March 2012, the previous CFP was still in place. However, several deep-rooted problems in European fisheries had been identified: overcapacity; imprecise policy objectives; a framework that did not give sufficient responsibility to the industry; lack of compliance; and a decision-making system that encouraged a focus on short-term management.
A substantial reform of the CFP was needed, and duly came into effect on 1 January 2014. SOCIOEC investigated the social and economic impacts of the new management measures of the reformed CFP, namely the introduction of the discard ban, spatial closures and possible use of transferable concessions in some fisheries.
The SOCIOEC Legacy Booklet captures the main highlights and significant outcomes from the project, including:
- guidelines for ensuring acceptable sustainable objectives based on stakeholder feedback;
- details of incentives that are important when implementing management measures, and which lead to more sustainable fisheries governance;
- recommendations to facilitate the move towards regionalisation and decentralisation of European fisheries management;
- and qualitative and quantitative case study results based on the SOCIOEC impact assessment methodology.
The Legacy Booklet also includes information on ecoOcean, an overfishing simulation game, which is an interactive tool for illustrating the challenge of sustainable fisheries to the public.
A synopsis of the final SOCIOEC symposium, where experts in the field of European fisheries management discussed the latest developments in policy and research related to the new CFP is also included in the booklet.
