European Commission, April 18, 2007

EU-FUNDED FISHERIES PROJECT MAKING WAVES INTERNATIONALLY

[Rachel's introduction: A new approach to studying the social impact of fisheries (and the loss of fisheries) has begun to embed precaution into cost-benefit analysis.]

The internationally respected social science journal Social Science Information recently focused on coastal communities and marine ecosystems issues, drawing heavily on the research coming from the FP6 project ECOST.

ECOST, or 'Ecosystems, Societies, Consilience, Precautionary principle: Development of an assessment method of the societal cost for best fishing practices and efficient public policies,' aims to develop a completely new approach to assess the societal cost of fishing activities and fishing policies.

ECOST, a project funded through the International Cooperation Programme under FP6, takes a broad, multidisciplinary approach to fishing, fisheries policy, and the wider societal impacts both have on communities that derive a livelihood from costal waters. Members of the project describe their approach as having a triple theme encompassing 'marine environment -- fishing activities -- civil society' and combining life science and social sciences. The findings of the first phase of ECOST's research, which covers the experience of fishing communities from Asia and Africa to the Caribbean, was published in the recent SSI edition.

Ensuring productive fishing for generations to come is one of the main goals of the ECOST project.

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Sidebar: The ECOST Project

ECOST, or 'Ecosystems, Societies, Consilience, Precautionary principle: Development of an assessment method of the societal cost for best fishing practices and efficient public policies', aims to develop a completely new approach to assess the societal cost of fishing activities and fishing policies. A more realistic assessment of costs and benefits should enable better decision-making. Members of the consortium, through their research, hope to be able to equip economic and political decisions-makers and society at large with the appropriate tools and methods needed to accurately assess the effects of fishing activities on ecosystems and repercussions it can have on society as a whole, as well as to analyse alternatives.

Their work spans three continents representing the unique fishing conditions found on each -- the coastal upwelling found in West Africa, the delta ecosystems of Southeast Asia and coral reefs found in the Caribbean. Researchers have identified several fisheries within each 'eco-region' to collect the most comprehensive data set possible. Additionally, they have selected a protected area in each region to serve as a reference point for comparative analysis.

ECOST researchers expect the ultimate outcomes of their research to benefit both the public and private spheres of society. By exploring policy options that support sustainable and ethical management strategies they expect to help reconciling the need to earn a decent living with maintaining productive fishing ecosystems for generations to come. Their ambition is to help reduce the vulnerability of coastal fishing communities.

At international or global level, they expect their work to provide invaluable input into national and international governance and regulation of ocean and costal resources. Once effective, sustainable policy can be agreed upon, resulting in increased resource availability, poverty alleviation and external debt reduction for at- risk communities.

The consortium interacts closely with another EU-funded International Cooperation project, the Specific Support Action PASARELAS, to enhance the interface between scientific research and social dialogue processes. ECOST will host a policy conference in Amsterdam in July, and expects to finalise their research by the end of 2009.

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