The Big Picture: Discards from commercial fisheries have long been a concern for marine ecosystems. The EU’s new landing obligation policy aims to reduce this practice, but its effects on marine food webs are not fully understood.
The Study: Researchers used an ecosystem model to simulate the effects of the EU’s landing obligation policy on the Thermaikos Gulf in Greece through 2025. They compared current fishing practices with scenarios of full policy implementation and zero discards.
The Discovery: The model showed that enforcing the landing obligation would have smaller impacts on commercial species but larger effects on marine life that depends on discards for food. Different discard management practices resulted in varying ecosystem outcomes.
The Takeaway: To effectively implement the landing obligation and reduce discard mortality, policymakers should prioritize scientific surveys, improve gear selectivity, and enhance commercial fisheries documentation and regulation. These actions will help minimize negative impacts on marine ecosystems while achieving policy goals.