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New STECF research shows a positive trend in fish stocks

2020.5.14

The European Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) recently published a research paper suggesting that the number of stocks fished outside of safe biological limits has declined intensively since 2003.

Every year the European Commission asks the independent Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) to compute a series of performance indicators on the progress on achieving maximum sustainable yield and on the situation of fish stocks.

The report indicates that completely sustainable fishing is within reach.

Highlights from the report:

Since 2003, in the greater North Sea, an increase of 56% of all stock is fished sustainably [1]

Both in the Greater North Sea and in the Baltic Sea, the number of stocks fished outside of the state of biological limits is halved since 2003. [2]

The fishing pressure in the Baltic Sea and the Greater North Sea has gone down 0.65 and 0.46 points respectively (Se table 12 below), thus indicating an impressive decline since 2003. Baltic Sea and the Greater North Sea are, however, the only two EcoRegions with an F/FMSY trend above 1.

A positive trend

One of the primary objectives of STECF is to provide a “Stock status in the NE Atlantic”, in which the percentage of stocks that are either overfished or outside of safe biological limits is accounted for (see below).

Asked for a comment on the stock status and the research paper, Managing Director of European Fishmeal Anne Mette Bæk says:

“The positive trend since 2003 shows the dedication of the fishers to meet their responsibility. I am very pleased that we are heading in the right direction and this trend supports our full commitment to responsible sourcing.”

Read the full STECF publication

 

[1] Table 6, p. 27

[2] Table 8, p. 28