Management of fish stocks

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)

The European fishmeal and fish oil industry operates within the framework of the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP sets out how marine resources are managed, with exploitation rates guided by the principle of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and other biological reference points. Its purpose is to keep fishing pressure within levels that the stocks can sustain, supported by scientific advice and a structured decision-making process.

For the key species used in fishmeal and fish oil production—such as sandeel, sprat, blue whiting, and Norway pout—stock assessments are conducted on an annual or biannual basis. These species are among the most regularly and consistently assessed in European waters. The assessments draw on a broad suite of information, including fishery-dependent data (landings, effort, and catch composition), fishery-independent scientific surveys, biological sampling (age, size, and maturity data), and ecosystem indicators such as sea temperature, plankton availability, and recruitment strength.

This evidence base underpins the catch limits proposed by ICES and subsequently adopted through EU management processes.

Science-Based Catch Limits (ICES Advice)

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provides independent, peer-reviewed scientific advice on the status of fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. ICES operates at arm’s length from governments, industry, and NGOs, with advice developed through expert working groups and reviewed by dedicated advisory committees to ensure methodological consistency and scientific neutrality. The advice is built on standardised stock assessment frameworks that evaluate trends in fishing mortality, spawning-stock biomass, recruitment, and other biological reference points. These assessments integrate multiple sources of evidence, including fishery-independent surveys, catch and effort data, biological sampling (age, size, maturity), and ecosystem indicators such as temperature, plankton availability, and habitat conditions. Because the assessment process is collaborative, transparent, and subject to rigorous internal and external review, ICES provides a robust scientific foundation for fisheries management decisions across Europe.

ICES advice is reviewed by the EU’s Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), which evaluates the methodology and checks consistency with EU management objectives. Based on this scientific foundation, the European Commission proposes annual Total Allowable Catches (TACs), which are then negotiated and adopted by the Council of Fisheries Ministers. This process is designed to keep exploitation rates in line with MSY benchmarks or other agreed reference points, while incorporating precautionary considerations and uncertainty.

This science-policy cycle—ICES → STECF → Commission → Council—forms the basis of how European fish stocks are managed and is one of the most transparent and structured advisory systems in global fisheries.

Key resources include:

ICES latest advice – here

ICES fisheries overviews – here

ICES ecosystem overviews – here

ICES ecoregions and advisory areas – here

FAO Area 27 maps (North-East Atlantic and Baltic Sea)

International Cooperation

Fisheries management in the Northeast Atlantic involves extensive cooperation between countries that share fish stocks or fishing grounds. Within the EU governance system, Advisory Councils (ACs) contribute formally to the process. These bodies include representatives from industry, NGOs, and other stakeholder groups, and provide structured input on management proposals, technical measures, and long-term strategies. Their role ensures that management discussions incorporate a broad range of operational knowledge, environmental perspectives, and socioeconomic considerations.

Beyond the EU, neighbouring coastal states—including the UK, Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands—set their own TACs and management measures, drawing on scientific advice from ICES or equivalent advisory bodies. When stocks are shared between jurisdictions, such as blue whiting, mackerel, herring, and several demersal species, annual bilateral or multilateral negotiations are held to agree on total catch levels, quota shares, and management arrangements. These negotiations aim to align national decisions with the underlying science and to distribute fishing opportunities fairly among participants.

Cooperation through these mechanisms is central to managing transboundary stocks sustainably and avoiding unilateral practices that could jeopardise stock status or long-term yields.

Coastal State Collaboration

Coastal states cooperate closely to manage shared and migratory stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. Much of this collaboration takes place through the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), which provides a framework for coordinating management measures among its contracting parties. NEAFC’s role includes adopting conservation and control measures, facilitating data exchange, and ensuring that management decisions for the Convention Area are aligned with the best available scientific advice.

In addition to NEAFC, coastal states engage in annual negotiations for specific shared stocks—such as blue whiting, mackerel, and herring—where agreements on total catch levels, quota shares, and technical measures are required. These processes are essential for stocks that cross multiple Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), where unilateral decisions could affect neighbouring countries.

Together, these cooperative arrangements help maintain coherent management across jurisdictions and support the long-term stability of stocks that move between national waters and the high seas.