State Agency Latvian Fish Resources Agency

1
Latvia Integration of fisherman knowledge into
stock assessment of the Eastern Baltic cod
State Agency Latvian Fish Resources Agency
Latvian Fisheries Association
2nd Workshop for GAP 1, Norwich, 5-7 May 2009
2
New structure of management of fisheries sector

• Since 1st January 2009
• Fisheries Policy Department, Ministry of
  Agriculture
• Elaboration and governance of implementation of
  state policy in fisheries sector
• LATFRA
• implementation of state management of Latvian
  fisheries in territorial waters, economic zone,
  high seas
• fisheries research, provision of scientific
  advice on management of fish resources and
  protection of biodiversity

3
New relations

• Fishermen / scientists managers

4
Workshops

• Meeting of coastal fishermen of Roja and Mersrags
  municipalities, scientists, control experts and
  managers (Roja, 30.01.2009)
• 2. Workshop on LATFRA and fishermen cooperation
  in collection of fisheries data and in assessment
  of cod stocks
• (Liepaja, 27.02.2009)

5

• Methodology
• Introduction with objectives of GAP1
• Giving information on restructuring of fisheries
  sector, new legislation, news in EU fisheries
  policy, impact on fisheries
• Presentation of the views of scientists on state
  of cod stocks, assessment problems, fishing
  possibilities, role of fishermen in sustsainable
  fisheries management
• Free exchange of views
• Distribution of voluntary anonymous questionaries
  on views of fishermen on state of fish stocks,
  stocks assessments, fishing regulation measures,
  fishing control measures, cooperation with
  scientists

6
First outcomes

• In Latvia in general there is no gap between
  fishermen and scientists, but exist traditionally
  established and useful collaboration at sea
• Collaboration has to be strengthened by closer
  participation of fishermen in data collection at
  sea and more frequent information exchange and
  transparency on proposals and decisions
• Regular fishermen-scientists-managers workshopps
  have to be continued
• The Consulting Group was established, consisting
  of representatives of fisheries organizations and
  LATFRA

7
Mandate of Consulting Group

• Is to discuss and and take into account
  stakeholders opinion on actual fisheries
  problems
• Further development of GAP1 case study
• Collection of credible fisheries data
• Transparent stock assessment
• EU and national decisions on fishing fleet
  management, fishing regulation measures
• Distribution of fishing rights, distribution of
  quotas
• Projects on new EU and national legislation acts
  on fisheries
• other actual questions...

8
Thanks !
to be continued