Multidimensional and intertemporal sustainability assessment: A case study of the Basque trawl fisheries

The aim of this paper is to analyse the sustainability of fisheries exploitation through taking into account both the multidisciplinary and intertemporal dimension of the Basque trawl fisheries. The Rapfish methodology is used for the analysis of the ecological, economic and technological sustainability of the Basque trawl fisheries between 1992 and 2003. In accordance with what has been observed in other Rapfish studies, the analysis shows that the contribution towards sustainability depends on many different attributes. Moreover, given that the results obtained are consistent with what other bioeconomic models predict, the technique is postulated as a complementary tool for defining justifiable policy recommendations and fishery management options.