Positive Recovery Signs for Fish Stocks in the North Sea

A recent report from the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM) of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) shows some positive signs of recovery for North Sea cod, herring and Norway pout.

On 19 October 2007 the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM) of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) released preliminary indications on the status of North Sea cod, herring and Norway pout, as well as blue whiting and Bay of Biscay anchovy stocks.

According to ICES, the last scientific surveys undertaken by Member States have provided data, which indicate that recruitment of juvenile cod to the North Sea fishery has increased. At the same time, fishing mortality has decreased. These two factors have resulted in a better situation for these stocks, although ACFM remains cautious about increasing catch levels too soon. The report also highlighted that the Norwegian spring spawning herring stock in the Northeast Atlantic remains at a high level, while Norway pout in the North Sea, after fishing closure, has returned within safe biological limits and this means that the fishery could reopen in 2008.

Martin Pastoors, ACFM Chair, said
“Our scientific surveys show that the number of young fish has increased, although only to half of the long term average. These young fish could contribute substantially to the recovery of the North Sea cod stock. We also observe a decrease in mortality, which is a welcome signal in response to the management efforts from the past year. But it is not enough. We recommend constraining catches in 2008 to less than 50% of the 2006 catches. And this should include measures to constrain discards and illegal catches. This should give these young fish the opportunity to grow and to reproduce and thereby to contribute to the recovery of this important fish stock. ”

These indications from ICES were received with enthusiasm by Commissioner Joe Borg, who believes that these positive signals about the stocks are directly linked to the current EU long-term management approach to fisheries management. Despite these improvements, the Commissioner was clear that current efforts must continue to ensure long-term sustainability of stocks.

The complete ACFM report on all commercial stocks will be released in the coming weeks.

Jason Watts