LIFE CIBBRiNA - Coordinated Development and Implementation of Best Practice in Bycatch Reduction in the North Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean Regions

Dolphins, Sea turtle, diving sea bird, Shark
Project data  
Project leader: Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert
Scientific staff: Dr. Lilja Fromme, Robabe Ahmadi
Project term: September 2023 until August 2029
Sponsorship: European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
Further participants: EU Funding & Tenders Portal
Logo cibbrina

Project description

Incidental bycatch represents a significant threat to marine species worldwide, particularly for Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species, which include marine mammals, sea birds, turtles and elasmobranchs.

Fishing vessel, lifting a net

To date, efforts to minimize the bycatch of ETPs have been largely unsuccessful. A coordinated international approach is required to address this issue. LIFE CIBBRiNA, funded by the EU LIFE program, is a cross-border and cross-sectoral project in which research institutions, environmental authorities, the fishing industry and non-governmental organizations from 13 European countries collaborate to reduce the incidental bycatch in fisheries that have a high risk of bycatch of ETPs in the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea. The objective is to develop new bycatch mitigation, monitoring and assessment methods and to ensure their long-term implementation.

photo of a beach overlayed with icons from dolphin, bird, shark, turtle and sea lion

As part of LIFE CIBBRiNA, the ITAW develops and improves tools for the monitoring and collection of data on bycatch of priority ETP species. The potential of strandings as a cost-effective source of data on bycatch, complementary to more conventional datasets, will be investigated. Pathological examinations of the stranded animals will be used to determine whether the animals were victims of bycatch. To this end, specific biomarkers for the identification of bycatch (e.g. stress protein markers) are being developed. Species-specific bycatch rates and total bycatch estimates can be derived from the data and carcass drift models will allow the identification of bycatch hotspots. Furthermore, a database will be developed to collate strandings data and to enable a temporospatial analysis of the information.
The project outcomes of LIFE CIBBRiNA will be communicated to relevant stakeholders, including the fishing industry, national and regional authorities, non-governmental organizations and the general public and will be published in peer-reviewed journals for the scientific community. Additionally, research boxes will be developed as didactic material for educational institutions. Furthermore, networking activities aim to reach out to new partners in areas where the project has yet to establish a strong presence, with the objective of promoting knowledge exchange.