Work package 3: Identify existing regional, European and international collaboration

Objectives

Identify existing collaborative links at the regional, European and international level and identify where more effective linkages are required

Description of work

The aim of this work package is to map out the level of collaboration and coordination which currently exists between Member States and identify where more effective linkages are required.  Fisheries research needs to be collaborated and coordinated at 4 levels: within the Member State’s own national activity; with selected other Member States on a more regional international level; within the European Union; and at broader international level.  This work package focuses on the 3 higher levels – that of regional, European  and international collaboration and coordination.

The MariFish partners consider this task an important part of ensuring that nationally funded research programmes achieve maximum benefit through effective collaboration.

Linkages at the higher international level are undertaken within the remit of properly mandated organisations such as ICES, FAO, and GFCM and at the regional level through organisations such as NAFO.  Linkages with the Commission’s programmes, particularly the Framework Programme, will also be included in the analysis.  Linkages will be made with BONUS early in WP3 to ensure there is no overlap between the two ERA-NETs.

In conducting this analysis MariFish will seek to establish where there is effective collaboration at the regional and international level and  identify good practice to help encourage the development of effective linkages across the marine fisheries science.  The output from WP3 will help the establishment and management of joint research programmes under WP7.

Task 3.1

Map and analyse current collaboration and coordination at:

• 3.1.1  The International Level
• 3.1.2  The European Funded Research Level
• 3.1.3  The Regional Level
  • The North Sea, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea
  • In the Mediterranean

The work in Task 3.1 will be undertaken in two stages. In Stage 1, Partner 3 will contact each national institution participating in MariFish. Partner 3 will visit the institutions, will establish personal contact with the national programme managers and will collect as much relevant information as possible. This material will be analysed and preliminary information will be placed on the MariFish website. In Stage 2, workshops will be organised on a semi-regional basis by Partner 3, Partner 5 and Partner 12: one for each of the North Sea, North Atlantic and the Baltic and the Mediterranean.  Partner 3 will present the preliminary results to the workshops to identify the linkages, overlaps and deficiencies. The workshops are provisionally scheduled for Baltic – Month 5; Mediterranean (1) – Month 9; North Sea – Month 10; Mediterranean (2) – Month 11; West Atlantic and International – Month 12. The results of the workshops will be processed into a number of reports which will assess the degree of cooperation, identifying deficiencies and best practice.  

Task 3.2 

Report to the Steering Committee on the strengths and deficiencies of regional and international collaboration coordination in the area of marine fisheries research.  Publish the report on the MariFish website.

Partner Involvement

WP3 is lead by Partner 3, with Partner 5 as the WP Co-Leader.  Partner 5 and Partner 12 and the Work Package Leader will take responsibilities for identifying existing collaboration on a regional basis – North Sea/Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean - and running the workshops and overseeing the reports.  All MariFish partners will contribute to the regional workshops as appropriate, and will consider the final report within the SC.