Marine Policy

Marine policy

The economic importance of the seas is increasing due to their role in energy, transport, the fisheries, aquaculture and recreation. This confronts companies and government agencies with challenges relating to economy, ecology, market and chain and management issues. Our studies, analyses and insights contribute to the creation of solutions. We make use of our knowledge of land and marine food production and of our scientific expertise in sectors, models and entrepreneurship. We examine the national and international policy contexts and build on our national and international databases. Our work contributes to the sustainable utilisation of the seas.

Fisheries sector accommodates climate change

Climate change has an influence on important fish, shellfish and crustacean stocks, such as flatfish, mackerel, herring and mussels and, consequently, on economic activity associated with those stocks. We, within the scope of the international CERES project, are developing potential policy strategies for the accommodation of both the unfavourable and favourable effects of future climate change. We do so on the basis of IPCC climate scenarios and sector socio-economic knowledge and data. Our work contributes to sustainable fisheries.

Towards sustainable revenue models for fisheries

We encourage fisheries entrepreneurs to make use of their entrepreneurship and the broadening of their operations to develop economically and ecologically sustainable revenue models. How can fishers and groups of fishers who wish to improve the sustainability of their operations be mobilised and facilitated?

We have created learning environments in which fishers can develop innovations in cooperation with other stakeholders. We create links between questions from practice and scientific knowledge, education and government agencies. This enables entrepreneurs to design, organise and develop new fisheries chains and food chains and new cooperative arrangements. We jointly carry out experiments and organise bootcamps with the objective of developing new business models in cooperation with Wageningen Marine Research, NGOs and the Research institute for agriculture, fisheries and food research (ILVO). Our work promotes a sustainable fisheries sector.

Insight into performance and impact

What is the effect of new, innovative fishing gear on the economic importance of the Dutch cutter fleet? What loss will the fisheries suffer on the closure of specific areas of the North Sea for wind turbine parks or nature conservation?

Economic performance and impact studies provide an insight into the economic performance, trends and developments in the most important segments of the fish, shellfish and crustacean sector. Our studies provide information for national and international policy and offer support to development and innovation programmes for the fisheries sector. Our insights into the economic effects of changes and potentials changes in or around the fisheries cluster contribute to sustainable fisheries.