Environmental assessments of fisheries

Aim and goal

The purpose of this project is to investigate the potential of using and combining two tools for environmental systems analysis: Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) through use of case studies. The goal is to contribute to improvement of environmental evaluations of fisheries and seafood products.

Challenge

Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are used separately today, and have different strengths and weaknesses, and uptake of results. LCA has so far been used only by research and industry in fisheries, whereas ERA is integrated in fisheries management in Australia.

Solution

ERA and LCA will be applied on case study fisheries in Sweden and Australia in a collaboration between multidisciplinary research environments. The project will be seeking answers to the following questions:

Can ERA and LCA be used for Swedish fisheries to assist in progress towards EBFM?

Can LCA further progress fisheries management in Australia where ERA is already used?

Can ERA and LCA be combined for improved assessment of fisheries or seafood products?

Effect

Case studies will provide short-term results of broad sustainability indicators and quantified improvement potentials and method advancement of LCA and ERA of fisheries. For Sweden, this may contribute to EBFM decision-support. Australian case study results will illustrate improvement potentials of Australian fisheries from a product perspective. In the long-term perspective, project results may contribute to progress towards more sustainable seafood production and integrated management of coastal waters and by this fulfilling broad environmental objectives. End users are authorities, policy-makers, certification, NGOs, the fishing industry and researchers.