Fisheries Science Partnership Leads the World
The Fisheries Science Partnership between Cefas, Defra and the NFFO has been running since 2003 and is recognised as a model of how to build close collaborative relationships between the fishing industry and scientists and on how to arrive at a shared view on the state of the fish stocks.
FSP OVERVIEW
The Fishery Science Partnership has been in operation from 2003 with £1 million funding each year. The objectives of the programme are given below.
Proposals for projects are sought from industry, with the NFFO helping to facilitate this process.
Proposals are sometimes further developed with the proposers by CEFAS scientists.
Proposals are reviewed for to see if they can be delivered.
A Steering Group of DEFRA officials, CEFAS scientists and English industry representatives reviews advises DEFRA on the proposals. DEFRA agree the projects to be undertaken.
In order to ensure Value for Money for government funds the projects are put out to tender. The project ensuring best VFM is chosen by an Evaluation Panel.
CEFAS scientists deliver the project with the successful skipper. And a report is written and agreed with the skipper. Reports can be seen on the site www.cefas.co.uk/fsp
Approximately two-thirds of the money is spent on developing industry owned “time-series” of data that it is expected will be used by ICES assessment scientists.
The scientists are also funded from the £1M pa.
APPENDIX 1 – FSP OBJECTIVES
Objectives
The objectives of the programme are to build relationships between UK fishermen and scientists and to involve fishermen in the co-commissioning of science.
To achieve these objectives, the programme will:
- provide information from commercial fishing catches on key stocks to supplement data sources traditionally used in ICES assessments;
- investigate concerns raised by fishermen on scientific assessments or on stocks not currently assessed;
- investigate innovative scientific methods and or more selective/environmentally friendly fishing methods; and,
- support the work of Regional Advisory Councils.
Scope
Fishing vessels able to implement the projects in the programme will be eligible. The programme will mainly support projects in fisheries within UK waters.
Deliverables
The key deliverables for the programme are a set of projects which meet the objectives set out above. The projects will address priorities identified by the fishing industry and Regional Advisory Councils, and will be scientifically robust and valuable.
APPENDIX 2 – STRUCTURE OF MANAGEMENT FROM FSP/SG/05/1
From the first 2005 FSP Steering Group
Management of the programme
Defra will establish a steering group to advise on the management of the programme and on the projects to be included in the programme. An evaluation panel will advise on the selection of tenders. CEFAS will administer the FSP under an agreed Memorandum of Understanding with Sea Fisheries Conservation Division. Cefas’s scientific contribution to individual projects will be set out in a separate schedule to the MOU on non-research and development.
APPENDIX 3
Evaluation Panel - Terms of Reference
Introduction
Defra is responsible for the Fisheries Science Partnership (FSP) programme. Defra has appointed, by Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Cefas to distribute funds from the FSP budget. The Department receives advice from a Steering Group on the selection of projects for inclusion in the programme.
Purpose
The purpose of the Evaluation Panel is to consider tenders for projects under the Fisheries Science Partnership and to advise on the selection of successful tenderers. In particular the Panel will:
- Assess tenders submitted against the project requirements established by Defra with the advice of the Steering Group and advise on which proposals meet the criteria and represent best value for money.
2. Review and report back to the FSP Steering Group on progress.
Membership
Defra will appoint members to be evaluators on the evaluation panel as appropriate, depending on the nature of the contracts to be let.
Meetings
Meetings will be held as and when they are needed to progress the projects and tenders.
Confidentiality and Fairness
Panel members will maintain strict confidentiality of any commercially sensitive information produced or received, including pre- and post-tender documentation.
Review
These Terms of Reference can be reviewed and amended by agreement of the Steering Group at any time.
May 2009
APPENDIX 4 : TEMPLATE FOR FSP PROPOSALS
FSP objectives |
(a) Provide information from commercial fishing catches on key stocks to supplement data sources traditionally used in ICES assessments |
(b) Investigate concerns raised by fishermen on scientific assessments or on stocks not currently assessed |
(c) Investigate innovative scientific methods and/or more selective/environmentally friendly fishing methods |
(d) Support the work of Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) |
PROJECT TEMPLATE
Name of project |
|
|
|
Overall aim of the project |
|
Specific project objectives |
|
Why this is important |
|
Which of the FSPs four objectives (a,b,c,d) does this project meet |
|
|
|
Operational details |
|
Vessel type and size range suitable to do the work (this should be as flexible as possible to attract most tenders) |
|
Fishing or other gear required |
|
Area of operation (ideally but not necessarily within British Fishery Limits) |
|
Period of the survey |
|
Duration of survey |
|
Experience of skipper/crew |
|
Other essential or desirable information |
|
|
|
Finance- any supporting finance available |
|
|
|
Contact details |
|
Name(s) of proposers |
|
Name of proposer who can be contacted about the project |
|
Address |
|
Phone numbers |
|
Email address |
|
|
|
EXAMPLE (hypothetical)
Name of project |
Reduced bridle length in the Nephrops fishery |
|
|
Overall aim of the project |
To see if reduced bridle length will reduce cod by-catch in the Nephrops fishery whilst retaining the level of Nephrops catches |
Specific project objectives |
To compare catches of cod and Nephrops and other fish from a standard NE coast single rig gear with one with (minimum/ x metre) length bridles. |
Why this is important |
To help cod recovery, to see if vessels can be exempt from cod recovery measures, and to avoid mandatory use of grids |
Which of the FSPs four objectives (a,b,c,d) does this project meet |
c |
|
|
Operational details |
|
Vessel type and size range suitable to do the work |
Trawler 10-20 metres LOA |
Fishing or other gear required |
Single rig Nephrops gear and a second set of shorter bridles |
Area of operation |
Farnes Nephrops grounds |
Period of the survey |
October to April |
Duration of survey |
4 surveys of 5 days |
Experience of skipper/crew |
Needs to be familiar with the gear and the fishing grounds |
Other essential or desirable information |
none |
|
|
Finance – any supporting finances available |
None / some possible from regional development organisation |
|
|
Contact details |
|
Name(s) of proposers |
|
Name of proposer who can be contacted about the project |
|
Address |
|
Phone numbers |
|
Email address |
|
Download the FSP review here
|
