The overall objective of LECOFISH is characterized by both theoretical and practical objectives. The theoretical objectives include improving our knowledge of the local ecosystems in the Belgian Part of the North Sea. A second goal is the creation of new and additional information in order to fill in the knowledge gaps that exist in the scientific Ecological knowledge (SEK). Finally, LECOFISH tries to achieve a better understanding of the complex marine ecosystem.

The practical objective is the contribution to the ecosystem approach for sustainable fisheries policy for the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS).

In essence, LECOFISH aims to collect fisheries - and ecosystem related data and information taking into account a duration of the last 50 years through the use of ‘local ecological knowledge’ (LEK). This oral information gathered through interviews with professional and recreational fishermen will allow us to further analyze spatial and temporal distribution of fishery activities and fish abundance in the BPNS. This information will be translated into spatial maps for the BPNS.