Bycatch in Africa: Assessment, Research, and Mitigation

Goals of workshop:

1. Assess current knowledge of bycatch in Africa;
2. Determine research and assessment needs and priorities;
3. Discuss potential mitigation strategies; and
4. Evaluate the rapid assessment protocol being implemented in several African countries

Note: Participants have been invited to the workshop, but there are a few spaces still available. If you are interested in participating, please contact Tara Cox.

Below is a draft agenda.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Morning (08:30 – 12:30):

Welcome and Introductions – 30 minutes

Regional Overviews

• One presenter will provide a regional overview followed by individual country presenters who will provide more detail. Regional presentations will cover the following:

• A brief overview of relevant fisheries (including what data exist; e.g., number of vessels, spatial and temporal distribution and how effort and catches are reported)
• Review knowledge of bycatch of sea turtles and marine mammals in countries not covered by country presentations
• Describe offshore fishing fleets and any regional organizations
• Review outcomes of any recent regional scientific or management meetings
• Highlight regions/species/fisheries of concern

Country presentation will cover the following:

• Introduction: what species have been documented in what fishery as bycatch?
• Assessment: what methods were used to collect information? Are there (or have there been) observer programs? Are abundance estimates available to assess impact on population level?
• Mitigation: what strategies have been tested and/or implemented?
• National legislation/action plan: Do any exist?

Afternoon (1:30 – 5:00)

Round-table discussion to accomplish the following objectives:

• Identify bycatch issues not identified in morning discussions
• Determine areas, fisheries, or taxa for which there is conservation concern
• Determine priorities for research and conservation
• Identify candidate fisheries for mitigation trials

Coffee/Tea Break (3:30 – 4:00)

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Morning (08:30 – 12:30)

Round-table discussion of rapid bycatch assessment protocol

Each person conducting an RBA should come to the table with:

1. Concise summary of experiences to date
2. Suggestions for improvement of protocol and
3. Suggestions for future use of protocol.

We also welcome input from other workshop participants.

Discussion will have following objectives:

• Highlight challenges of RBA protocol
• Revise protocol based on user feedback
• Determine overall utility of RBA approach
• Decide on future direction of RBAs (e.g., apply for funding to implement region-wide?)