Open Procurement

Research into marine aquaculture. Inland and freshwater aquaculture is not currently eligible for funding. This area of funding will be focussed on improving our understanding of the ecosystem benefits of marine aquaculture, for example aquaculture as a nature-based solution to ecological contaminants and improving our understanding of how the environmental impacts of existing aquaculture systems can be minimised. To focus on research in the following areas: • Understanding the ecosystem benefits of aquaculture e.g. seaweed, bivalves etc • Practical proposals of aquaculture as a nature-based solution and the identification of areas that could benefit from this. • Minimising the environmental impacts of existing aquaculture systems, including escapees; disease & parasite management; recirculation, control and reduction of discharges. • Ecological impacts and benefits of seaweed farming, offshore aquaculture, and recirculation to generate additional evidence on ecological impacts and benefits. Improved data and knowledge could lead to increased opportunities for the aquaculture sector by supporting the development of fish farming as a nature-based solution towards sustainable fisheries management. Minimising environmental impacts and increasing our understanding of the ecosystem benefits of aquaculture will increase the accessibility of seafood whilst sustainably using marine resources towards the development of healthy stocks.

The main UK fisheries catch a mix of commercial species and stocks. A key challenge remains in exploiting the fishing opportunities from healthy commercial stocks whilst simultaneously protecting vulnerable stocks and other protected marine species and habitats. There is a need to deliver research and data collection on technical measures in selectivity that significantly reduce environmental impacts, bycatches and discards whilst maintaining fishing opportunities within advised limits. The UK remains fully committed to ending the wasteful discarding of fish and minimising catches of sensitive and protected marine species. Contracts awarded under this lot will fund research and data collection on technical measures which aim to address these challenges.

Lot 1 Fisheries Data Collection Enhanced data collection is required to ensure UK fisheries policy, management and negotiation decisions are based on the best possible science and evidence. There are challenges around implementing the sustainable management of stocks; some of these are data limited stocks and species which have complex life-histories that affect our ability to assess their status. Contracts awarded under this Lot will be expected to address key data and knowledge gaps to develop monitoring, assessment and management approaches, particularly for data-limited stocks. These aspects form a key component of the Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) that will guide our future management of fisheries. These types of projects would include: • Stock assessments and understanding life history parameters such as growth and maturity. • Establishing sustainable harvest limits for data poor stocks, including appropriate metrics. • Ecological processes such as predator-prey relationships. • Stock definition. • Rates of discards and impact of selectivity measures. Research and data collection which supports the development of Fisheries Management Plans, and projects on data-limited stocks and non-quota species are particularly encouraged. This includes, but is not limited to, deep sea stocks, cuttlefish, squid, skates, rays, shellfish and other data poor species. Defra set out the timetable for publishing FMPs in the Joint Fisheries Statement and we would welcome proposals that contribute to those plans scheduled for publishing in 2023. Improved data could lead to increased opportunities for the UK fishing industry and seafood sector by supporting operational flexibility and, by supporting improvements in traceability (tracking seafood supply chains and limiting mislabelling of products by location or species), to demonstrating environmental credentials and provide improved market access.