Samenvatting

The demand for sustainable seafood has increased over the last few years, which has encouraged fisheries to apply for sustainability certification. Fisheries that are not able to apply for this type of certification, due to shortcomings in certain areas related to sustainability, have the opportunity to use a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) as a tool to structurally work towards independent sustainability recognition. Therefore, it was examined to what extent a comprehensive Fishery Improvement Project would be suitable for the Dutch North Sea flyshoot fishery in the upcoming six months. Qualitative research, including a literature review and the conduction of interviews, indicated that the fishery would not be able to receive sustainability certification due to an overall lack of harvest management and managemental monitoring. However, the fishery would not have to meet any sustainability requirements to start a FIP. As a FIP would aim to improve both managemental as well as data collection aspects of the fishery, the fact that its target species are data deficient is not seen as a setback. However, it is unlikely that there would be a Dutch market for the target species of the fishery, as the Dutch population would have little to no interest in purchasing them. It can be concluded that a FIP would be a suitable tool for the fishery to work towards independent sustainability recognition and therefore it is suggested that the fishery partake in such a project. However, the project would only be of added value in the long term, as it would provide an incentive to work towards independent sustainability recognition. In the short term, the added value will mainly depend on profit, but it is probable that short-term project costs will outweigh short-term benefits due to limited market access. As there would be no added market access for the fishery, the added value of a Fishery Improvement Project would only be realized at the end of the project. Therefore, it is suggested that further research take place regarding funding opportunities, as the costs of a Fishery Improvement Project could be substantial. Furthermore, it is suggested that the fishery scope out whether or not individual food retailers would be interested in selling their products to conclude whether or not the shortterm benefits could outweigh the short-term costs.