DISPLACE

DISPLACE implements a spatial model of fisheries to help sustainable fishing and maritime spatial planning. The DISPLACE project develops and provides a platform primarily for research purposes to transform the fishermen’s detailed knowledge into models, evaluation tools, and methods that can provide the fisheries with research and advice. The model intends to serve as a basis for decision support tools for (fishery) managers. Among other goals, economic benefit of stock replenishment and sustainable harvesting can be demonstrated. This contributes to evaluate the combined ecological and economic impacts of fishery management before its implementation (i.e. impact assessment). An individual-based model (IBM) on a per-vessel basis covering several fisheries and stocks is a benchmark tool capable of integrating fishermen’s decision-making processes when they face changes in fishery management (e.g. for conservation of fishery resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures), economic factors influencing the fishery and economic viability, and underlying stock conditions, including spatial and seasonal patterns in resource availability.