European Fish Catches Could Increase By 57% If Stocks Are Sustainably Managed

A recent study by Oceana has indicated that if total allowable catches followed scientific advice, EU fish catches could increase 3 times the size, including catches of sardine in the Cantabrian Sea, and cod and haddock in the North Sea.

Fish catches in European waters could increase by 57% if fish stocks were exploited sustainably and based on scientific advice, according to a new research released by Oceana today. The study was led by renowned fisheries expert Dr. Rainer Froese at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel in Germany and provides the most comprehensive overview so far of overfishing in European fish stocks, analysing 397 stocks compared to around 150 monitored by the European Commission.

The new study shows that the status of the EU fisheries is far from being in good condition, with 85% of stocks in an unhealthy state and only 12% fulfilling the commitments of the Common Fisheries Policy.

“For the first time ever, we know the potential of fish recovery in Europe and it’s good news! If we managed fish sustainably and based on science, catches can increase by 57% or 5 million tonnes”, said Lasse Gustavsson, executive director of Oceana in Europe. “That’s a lot of good and healthy food!

“It’s about time we recover the abundance of European seas as more fish in the sea means more jobs in the fishing industry and more healthy fish on European dinner tables.”

The potential recovery of fish stocks following sustainable management measures would mean more fish in the sea resulting in increased catches obtained with less fishing effort and less impact on the ecosystem. Among the stocks that would benefit the most from proper management, scientists calculate potential increases of 300% or greater for catches of haddock and cod in the North Sea, some herring stocks in the Celtic Seas, and sardine in the Cantabrian Sea.

“We used an advanced implementation of a standard stock assessment method to obtain estimates of status and exploitation for nearly 400 fish stocks in European seas. For the first time, all European stocks have been evaluated relative to the maximum sustainable yield they can produce, as required by the new Common Fisheries Policy. Our results show that catches can be substantially increased if stocks are rebuilt and properly managed”, explained Dr. Rainer Froese, senior scientist at GEOMAR.

The results of the research are revealed one month before a final decision for 2017 fishing limits in the North East Atlantic which will be negotiated between the EC and the 28 respective fisheries ministers during a meeting of the Council of the EU on 12th-13th December in Brussels. Oceana reminds EU decision makers to give up the current short-term approach and urges urgent action to put an end to overfishing in European fisheries to achieve the legal requirement of recovering all fish stocks above healthy levels by 2020.

Towards the recovery of European fisheries: full report, fact sheet, websection and video