BRUSSELS SYMPOSIUM TO CHART A WAY FORWARD FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Brussels Symposium to chart a way forward for ecosystem-based fisheries management. Co-convened by SEAwise alongside key partners including the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Symposium 2025: Operationalising Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management will take place in Brussels from 30 June to 3 July.

Bringing together experts from across the fisheries world to discuss the latest developments towards practical realisation of ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM), the symposium is being co-organised by Denmark’s National Institute of Aquatic Resources (DTU Aqua) and the Flanders Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (IILVO), and involves also Norway’s Institute of Marine Research.

EBFM promises a step change in fisheries management by including both social and ecological objectives and recognising these as interdependent. Though the benefits of EBFM are widely acknowledged and laid out in policy, a number of core challenges – including around knowledge gaps – continue to pose barriers to effective implementation.

Involving researchers, stakeholders, managers and policymakers, the symposium aims to provide a space to review, discuss and boost progress on addressing these challenges. Organised across seven sessions covering the social and ecological dimensions of fisheries management, it will offer a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing and advancement in support of sustainable future fisheries – both in Europe and beyond.

SEAwise co-ordinator and DTU Professor Anna Rindorf said:

“Over the last three years, researchers in SEAwise, ECOSCOPE and many other projects across Europe have been working to expand the knowledge needed to operationalise EBFM. A key component to this work is the expert input of NGOs, fishing industry, policy makers, and managers. Now in the final year of SEAwise and ECOSCOPE, we are inviting the broad community to come together in Brussels over four days this summer to discuss the current state of play in a mixture of presentations, interactive and policy sessions, and pave a way forward for realisation of EBFM in Europe, and further.”

Elisabette Betull Morello, Senior Fishery Officer, GFCM said:

“The importance of addressing fisheries management in a holistic manner is paramount. This symposium provides a fantastic opportunity to highlight the latest developments in ecosystem-based fisheries management with the aim of identifying and discussing associated challenges, paving the way to a future effective implementation and use.”

ICES’ Head of the Advice Department, Dr Lotte A. Worsøe Clausen said:

“The SEAwise framework addresses identification of the key interactions and trade-offs, which are inherent when implementing EBFM. Demonstrating these to end-users in a comprehensive way, whilst not compromising quality is an important step towards operationalisation of EBFM across all regions. ICES is looking forward to actively participating in the symposium, and gaining inspiration from the Tools that have been co-created with stakeholders as part of SEAwise to illuminate these complexities.”

To register, submit an abstract or find out more information about the symposium, visit: https://seawiseproject.org/symposium-2025-2/