Support for the fishery measures in the Belgian part of the North Sea

General introduction

Following the Habitat Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU-MSFD), ILVO and RBINS submitted a proposal to the FPS Environment in a previous project for the concrete demarcation of 3 zones to protect some specific underwater habitats in the Belgian part of the North Sea. In these seabed protection zones, all seabed-disturbing activities (e.g. mobile bottom-disturbing fisheries) are prohibited. In the current research project VISNAT3, the socio-economic context of fishing activities in these seabed protection zones, in the marine Natura 2000 area 'Flemish banks' and the wider Belgian part of the North Sea will be mapped over the period 2007-2022.

Research approach

Commercial fishing activities are presented in a clear spatial and temporal overview. Fishing activity is mapped based on the number of fishing hours, SAR and yield (kilos and euros). ILVO also provides broader support to the Marine Environment service of the FPS Environment during international negotiations related to the EU process for requesting seabed protection measures.

Relevance/Valorisation

The extensive socio-economic mapping of fishing activities in the 'Flemish banks' protection area and the Belgian part of the North Sea forms an important part of the application for seabed protection measures to the EU Commission (a delegate act). The marine spatial plan 2020-2026 for the Belgian part of the North Sea provides a legal basis (art. 6) for the spatial restriction of bottom-disturbing fishing within this area. However, the measures must also comply with the European procedures (EU Regulation No. 1380/2013) regarding the Common Fisheries Policy.