About MariFish

MariFish is a project funded by the ERA-NET Scheme of the EU FP6 (2006-2011). MariFish brings together the major European national funders of marine fisheries research to form an effective, working partnership. The total combined annual fisheries research budget of all partners amounts to approximately €160 million and represents a very significant European research resource and body of scientific knowledge. 

To achieve this aim MariFish will undertake the following key activities over a 5 year period:   

• Exchange information on current R&D/research programmes.
• Improve practices in the planning and procurement of research through shared knowledge.
• Identify existing regional, European and international collaboration.
• Enhance coordination between fisheries research and other disciplines.
• Compare and analyse national research programmes to identify areas of common interest, gaps and possible duplication.
• Develop and commission shared research programmes.
• Identify innovative, strategic research needs and develop a jointly funded programme.

MariFish partners have met on a number of occasions to discuss
and adopt ways of improving collaboration.

Fishery management relies heavily on science; research makes a significant contribution to the translation of the Common Fisheries Policy, and other policy drivers, into practical effect. There is, therefore, a strong sense of overall purpose for fisheries research – that of providing evidence for achieving sustainable fisheries management, set within the ecosystem based principle. MariFish will bring much needed dialogue and cooperation between national programme managers of fisheries research through the development of an effective partnership.

To help MariFish achieve its many challenging goals the following statement of overall purpose has been adopted by the partners:

“MariFish will focus on that research which provides evidence to managers for the development of strategies for sustainable fisheries, including links with aquaculture, set within the ecosystem based principle.”