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FarFish · Project

Decision Support Tools for Managing EU Fishing Operations in Distant Waters

foodTestedTRL 5Thin data (2/5)
farfish.eu

Imagine you run a fishing fleet that operates thousands of miles from home — off the coast of Africa or in the middle of the Atlantic. You're making million-euro decisions about where to fish and how much to catch, but the data you're working with is patchy and the local rules keep changing. FarFish built management tools and "what-if" scenario planners that let fleet operators and regulators see the real biological, economic, and social consequences of their fishing plans before committing. They tested these across six real fishing grounds spanning four EU partnership agreement zones and two international waters.

By the numbers
21%
Share of EU catches from non-EU waters targeted by these tools
6
Real-world case studies where tools were tested
EUR 4,999,960
Total EU investment in the project
24
Partners across 13 countries in the consortium
61
Total deliverables produced
4
EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement zones covered
The business problem

What needed solving

EU fishing fleets operating in distant waters — which account for 21% of all EU catches — face poorly regulated environments where management decisions rely on limited data and enforcement is weak. This leads to unsustainable fishing practices, unpredictable access agreements, and growing compliance risks as EU regulations tighten.

The solution

What was built

FarFish built decision support tools with "what-if" scenario modeling for fisheries management, visualization materials for developing management plans, stock assessment models for tuna and mixed fisheries, a Results-Based Management system, and two educational programmes (university diploma and post-graduate training in marine management).

Audience

Who needs this

Distant-water fishing fleet operators managing vessels in African or Atlantic watersFisheries management consultancies advising on EU partnership agreementsSeafood companies needing sustainability certification for non-EU sourced productsRegional Fisheries Management Organisations seeking better decision support toolsGovernment fisheries agencies in EU partner countries (Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal)
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial fishing and fleet management
enterprise
Target: Distant-water fishing fleet operator

If you are a distant-water fleet operator dealing with uncertain stock data and changing access agreements in non-EU waters — this project developed decision support tools and visualization materials that let you model 'what-if' scenarios for your management plans before committing resources. FarFish tested these across 6 real case studies covering EU partnership agreement and international waters, where 21% of all EU catches originate.

Fisheries governance and consulting
SME
Target: Regional fisheries management consultancy

If you are a fisheries consultancy advising governments or regional bodies on sustainable catch policies — FarFish built Results-Based Management approaches and stock assessment models tested in 4 EU Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement zones. The visualization tools provide clear biological, ecological, and economic data to support evidence-based policy recommendations rather than relying on incomplete information.

Seafood supply chain and processing
mid-size
Target: Seafood sourcing and traceability company

If you are a seafood company that needs to prove your supply comes from sustainably managed fisheries — FarFish produced management plans and compliance monitoring tools for distant-water fisheries across 13 countries. Their decision support tools help demonstrate that catch volumes align with sustainability targets, which matters for certification and market access in the EU.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to adopt these fisheries management tools?

The project had a total EU contribution of EUR 4,999,960 spread across 24 partners and 6 case studies. The decision support tools and visualization materials were developed as research outputs. Based on available project data, licensing or pricing terms for commercial use are not specified — you would need to contact the coordinator to discuss access.

Can these tools work at industrial scale for a large fleet?

The tools were tested across 6 diverse case studies covering both EU partnership agreement waters and international waters, representing fisheries that account for 21% of all EU catches. This suggests applicability across different scales, though commercial deployment beyond the research context would need further validation with your specific fleet operations.

What is the IP situation — can we license these tools?

FarFish was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under Horizon 2020. Based on available project data, IP ownership likely rests with the consortium of 24 partners led by MATIS OHF in Iceland. Specific licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the consortium.

Does this help with EU fisheries regulation compliance?

Yes — the project directly addresses the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPAs). The Results-Based Management approaches and monitoring tools were designed to improve compliance and enforcement capabilities in distant-water fisheries where regulation has historically been weak.

How long would it take to implement these tools in our operations?

The project ran from June 2017 to November 2021 and produced 61 deliverables including visualization tools and management plan templates. The tools were designed for iterative development — first-round management plans (MP1) followed by refined second-round plans (MP2) — suggesting a phased adoption approach is possible.

Is training available for our staff?

FarFish developed both a university-level diploma programme in Marine Management and Innovation and an advanced post-graduate training programme. These educational components were specifically designed to build capacity in fisheries management, stock assessment, and the use of the project's decision support tools.

Consortium

Who built it

The FarFish consortium of 24 partners across 13 countries is heavily research-oriented, with 11 research organizations and 5 universities making up the bulk. Industry participation is limited at just 12% (3 partners), with 4 SMEs involved. Led by MATIS OHF, an Icelandic research organization, the consortium spans both EU member states (Spain, Portugal, Denmark) and key third-country fishing partners (Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Cape Verde, Seychelles, Brazil). This geographic spread reflects the project's focus on distant-water fisheries but signals that commercial adoption would require active engagement from industry players not currently in the consortium.

How to reach the team

MATIS OHF is an Icelandic food and biotech R&D institute — reach their fisheries team through their institutional website

Order a report on this consortiumSee MATIS OHF profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how FarFish's management tools could benefit your fleet operations or fisheries consultancy? Contact SciTransfer for a detailed brief and introduction to the research team.

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