Mixed fisheries considerations

The document argues that EU and UK fisheries management has historically prioritized profitable stocks over vulnerable ones, leading to a cycle of overfishing and 'choking'—where fisheries must stop operating because they run out of quota for less abundant species despite having quota for target stocks. To break this cycle, the authors recommend that Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for abundant stocks be set below single-stock scientific advice to protect bycatch, and that decision-makers utilize mixed fishery MSY considerations from ICES geared toward rebuilding depleted populations. Additional proposed measures include implementing spatial closures, mandating Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) for full catch documentation, and requiring the use of the best available technology to improve gear selectivity.

• The 'choking' phenomenon occurs when fisheries exhaust their quota for less abundant stocks, forcing a cessation of fishing even when quotas for more abundant target stocks remain available.
• Current EU and UK management of mixed fisheries has typically favored the exploitation of economically profitable or productive stocks, which has resulted in the continued depletion of more vulnerable populations often caught as bycatch.
• To protect vulnerable species in mixed fisheries, TACs for more abundant stocks should be set below the maximum catch advice provided by ICES single-stock assessments.
• The authors recommend using ICES mixed fishery MSY considerations specifically to prioritize the recovery of depleted stocks rather than maximizing the exploitation of abundant ones.
• Spatial management tools, such as real-time closures, permanent closures, and 'move-on' rules, should be adopted to reduce pressure on vulnerable species, particularly in areas of high mixing where population impacts are not well understood.
• The briefing calls for the implementation of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) using cameras and observer coverage to ensure independent and reliable documentation of catch composition.
• Fisheries should be mandated to use the best available technology to improve selectivity, with the burden of proof placed on fishers to demonstrate they are minimizing unwanted catches via logbook reporting.

APA

ClientEarth (2025). Mixed fisheries considerations. https://www.clientearth.org/media/t43oogey/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-6-mixed-fisheries-considerations.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Mixed fisheries considerations. 2025. https://www.clientearth.org/media/t43oogey/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-6-mixed-fisheries-considerations.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Mixed fisheries considerations |date=July 2025 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/t43oogey/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-6-mixed-fisheries-considerations.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2025mixed, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Mixed fisheries considerations}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/t43oogey/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-6-mixed-fisheries-considerations.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }