AUTHORS: James Brown-Peter Hjerp

The application of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive to the fisheries sector has not been attempted before in the EU; consequently many questions remain unanswered. Who should carry out the assessments, who should pay, how will potential conflicts be resolved? This report attempts to address some of these questions and provide decision-makers with sufficient background information to apply SEA as a cost-effective policy instrument. WWF commissioned this report: to investigate the requirements of the Directive and give details on best practice from around the world; to highlight the differences between an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and SEA; and to define what plans and programmes might be relevant.