Depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice

The document argues that EU and UK fisheries management has failed to rebuild depleted fish stocks, often exceeding scientific advice to avoid short-term economic disruptions. It highlights the risk of 'phantom recoveries' where stock assessments overestimate productivity. To break the cycle of overfishing and 'choke' risks in mixed fisheries, the authors recommend setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) strictly in line with scientific advice, implementing rigorous rebuilding plans with remote electronic monitoring, and reducing TACs for healthy stocks to protect depleted bycatch species.

• Several key fish populations in EU and UK waters are severely depleted and below the biomass limit reference point (Blim), including Celtic Sea and Irish Sea cod and whiting, herring in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and southwest of Ireland, and Celtic Sea pollack. For most of these, 2024 ICES advice recommended zero catch.
• Current fisheries management in the EU and UK is criticized for allowing Total Allowable Catches (TACs) to exceed scientific advice, which the document claims perpetuates a cycle where mixed fisheries are hindered by 'choke' risks—situations where fishing must stop because quota for a depleted bycatch stock is exhausted despite remaining quota for target species.
• There is a significant risk of 'phantom recoveries,' where scientific stock assessment models overestimate the productivity and recovery trajectory of overfished stocks, potentially leading managers to incorrectly conclude a stock is recovering and allow higher catch levels.
• The authors recommend that the EU and UK request ICES advice specifically geared toward rapid rebuilding for stocks below MSY Btrigger, aiming for recovery within no more than twice the time needed in the absence of fishing (TMAX/TMIN <= 2).
• To protect depleted stocks caught as bycatch, the briefing recommends setting TACs for more abundant target stocks in mixed fisheries below their own single-stock scientific advice. Examples include reducing TACs for Norway lobster in the Irish Sea, demersal stocks in the Celtic Sea, or plaice in the Baltic Sea to safeguard cod and whiting.
• The document calls for the implementation of effective rebuilding plans for all populations below MSY Btrigger, which must include spatial measures, selective gears, and mandatory Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras to ensure compliance and documentation of bycatch TACs.

APA

ClientEarth (2025). Depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice. https://www.clientearth.org/media/anhc1fag/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-9-depleted-stocks-with-zero-or-very-low-catch-advice-1.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice. 2025. https://www.clientearth.org/media/anhc1fag/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-9-depleted-stocks-with-zero-or-very-low-catch-advice-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice |date=July 2025 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/anhc1fag/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-9-depleted-stocks-with-zero-or-very-low-catch-advice-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2025depleted, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/anhc1fag/joint-briefing-series-recommendations-on-fishing-opportunities-briefing-9-depleted-stocks-with-zero-or-very-low-catch-advice-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }