UNCOVER

UNderstaning the mechanisms of stock reCOVERy

Funding: European Union, 6th framework TP 8.1, Contract no.:

Funding Period: 2006-2010

Website: www.uncover.eu

Contacts: Prof. Myron A. Peck, Dr. Christian Möllmann

Description

UNCOVER is a synthesis program that will develop recovery strategies for EU fish stocks which are outside of safe biological limits. In order to accomplish this, the program will:

1. identify changes experienced during stock decline and their consequences for the prospects of stock recovery
   
2. enhance the understanding of mechanisms of fish stock recovery
   
3. provide recommendations for the recovery of EU fish stocks, which are outside of safe biological limits

The program structure includes six workpackages defining research areas within four case study regions (Bay of Biscay, Barents/Norwegian Seas, North Sea, and Baltic Sea. Findings will identify changes experienced during the decline of specific stocks in each region as well as key processes impacting upon potential for the recovery of each of these stocks. Results will be integrated into a modelling framework in order to evaluate and develop management strategies incorporating biological and environmental factors as well as technical and socio-economic constraints. UNCOVER will investigate the failures and successes of previous stock recovery activities and will try to define optimal strategies for recovery plans for the future. Syntheses of these activities will result in the development of recommendations for rebuilding, as well as alternatives to existing recovery plans, if severe unforeseen problems in achieving their goals have been identified.

UNCOVER program structure, showing the relationships between Workpackages (WP) and Case Studies (CS)

Participating Institutions

• BFAFi Bundesforschungsanstalt für Fischerei - Institut für Ostseefischerei Germany
  
• AZTI FUNDACIÓN AZTI - AZTI FUNDAZIOA Marine Research Unit Spain
  
• CEFAS Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory United Kingdom
  
• CEMARE University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation - Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources United Kingdom
  
• DIFRES Danish Institute for Fisheries Research - Department of Marine Fisheries Denmark
  
• FRS Fisheries Research Services, Marine Laboratory United Kingdom
  
• IEO Instituto Español de Oceanografía Spain
  
• IFM Institute for Fisheries, Management & Coastal Community Development Denmark
  
• IFM-GEOMAR Leibniz Institut für Meereswissenschaften an der Universität Kiel Germany
  
• IFREMER Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer - Ecologie et Modèle pour l'Halieutique France
  
• IMR Institute of Marine Research Norway
  
• SFI Morski Instytut Rybacki w Gdyni (Sea Fisheries Institute, Gdynia) Poland
  
• PINRO Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography Russia
  
• RIVO Nederlands Instituut voor Visserij Onderzoek b.v. The Netherlands
• UiB Universitetet i Bergen– Dept. of Biology Norway
  
• UNI-HH University of Hamburg, Institute for Hydrobiology and Fisheries Science Germany
• AtlantNIRO Atlantic Research Institute of Marine Fisheries & Oceanography Russia
  
• EMI Estonian Marine Institute Estonia
  
• IIASA International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis Austria
  
• IOW Baltic Sea Research Institute Warnemünde Germany
  
• LATFRA Latvian Fish Resources Agency Latvia
  
• MRAG Marine Resources Assessment Group United Kingdom
  
• SWEM Schrum & Wehde: Ecosystem Modelling GbR Germany
  
• Uni Bangor School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Bangor United Kingdom
  
• Uni Mons Mons-Hainaut University Belgium