Science at the basis of adequate decision management to solve conflicts between fisheries and other users of the sea

The brown shrimp fishery is very important along the Belgian coast, but conflicts with other activities and environmental policy impose a heavy burden. Shrimp fishery is faced with spatial restrictions in function of the newly assigned N2000 area and the Belgian marine spatial management plan. Secondly, there is a conflict with the potential re-allocation of a dredge disposal site into the shrimp fishing zone.
The major obstacle to adequately manage both cases was the lack of information on the spatial extent of the fishing grounds and activities (VMS data protected by fishing industry and administration), the socio-economic importance for the shrimp fishery (no direct link between logbook data and fishing location), and the impact of human activities (dredge disposal and nature conservation) on the living marine resources.
Both conflicts triggered Belgian policy makers to imply scientific research. VMS and logbook data (also foreign vessels) were made available, a BACI study was performed, and the effects of all activities were compared. The scientific studies delivered the necessary information, which allows for a better negotiation for both policy makers and the shrimp fishery. This governance process shows that transparency of all users on their activities can lead to an appropriate decision management.