C.3 - Development of an action plan for limiting impact of invasive marine species and development of mitigation measures to reduce seabird and marine mammal bycach in coastal fisheries

Sub-action C.3.1

This sub-action is focused on development of an action plan for limiting impact of invasive marine species.
The main purpose of invasive alien species actiont plan is balanced and species-specific recommendations for prevention measures for the introduction and spread of species, including clear indications in which cases or areas the elimination of a population is technically feasible and economically justified (total destruction of population at the same time minimising the impact of non-target species and habitats).
Two target invasive species to work with are round goby Neogobius melanostomus and chinese mitten-crab Eriocheir sinensis.

Sub-action C.3.2

This sub-action is focused on development of mitigation measures to reduce seabird and marine mammal bycatch in coastal fisheries.
It is almost impossible to avoid any bycatch in a coastal small-scale mixed fishery. Within the project it is planned to assess the historical and current level of seabird, marine mammal and another protected nontarget species bycatch in the coastal fishery. Best practices to minimize the bycatch will be included in the scientific advice for updating of national fishery management in coastal waters. We expect to reduce bycatch level to the level which is below last 3-year average by more scientifically justified and improved proposals for fishery seasonal and spatial management in the coastal zone.

Results in the Mid-term of the Project:

Sub-action C.3.1 of the Project to develop management plan for invasive alien species will be started after guidelines for management plans for invasive species will be designed and approved by LIFE19 IPE/LV/000010 LIFE-IP LatViaNature “Optimising the Governance and Management of the Natura2000 Protected Areas Network in Latvia” (within LIFE-IP project action C.5.4). The Project management Team participates in consultations and working groups with representatives of previously mentioned LIFE-IP project team.

For sub-action C.3.2. all information and data on invasive round goby population development were compiled. Literature and applicable technical solutions were reviewed before round goby tagging field works and specifications were developed for T-bar anchor type tags. After the estimation of the market price, the purchase of 8000 round goby tags and tagging equipment was organised from Hallmark (Australia) in February 2022. Three suitable coastal locations covering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga were selected for the first tagging activities. In total 1900 round goby specimens were tagged in 2022. Till the end of 2022, BIOR received information about seven collected individuals. Tagging activities will be continued in 2023.