Recommendations to the parties managing shared fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic

The document urges the EU, UK, and other Northeast Atlantic coastal states to establish a joint fisheries management framework based on scientific advice and the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) to end overfishing. It recommends multilateral collaboration, the adoption of a precautionary approach as defined by the UNFSA, and the use of peer-reviewed data from independent institutions like ICES. Specific priorities include recovering North Sea cod stocks and resolving allocation issues for large pelagic stocks such as mackerel, herring, and blue whiting, while ensuring transparency in accordance with the Aarhus Convention.

• The EU and UK must establish a fisheries management framework that prioritizes sustainability and legally commits to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) as the upper limit for exploitation to address climate and biodiversity threats.
• Management of shared stocks should be multilateral and transparent, adhering to UNCLOS and the Aarhus Convention to ensure all stakeholders, including civil society, can scrutinize decisions.
• Decision-makers should implement a genuine precautionary approach as defined by the 1995 United Nations Fish Stock Agreement (UNFSA), meaning a lack of scientific certainty should not prevent management action.
• Fisheries management should rely on peer-reviewed, published scientific advice from independent international institutions such as ICES rather than unpublished submissions from individual states.
• Specific urgent actions are required for certain stocks: resolving allocation for large pelagic stocks (mackerel, herring, and blue whiting) and prioritizing the recovery of North Sea cod, which is currently below Blim, through Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and additional conservation measures.

APA

ClientEarth (2020). Recommendations to the parties managing shared fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. https://www.clientearth.org/media/1hlctkke/ngo-recommendations-to-the-parties-managing-shared-fish-stocks-in-the-northeast-atlantic-coll-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Recommendations to the parties managing shared fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. 2020. https://www.clientearth.org/media/1hlctkke/ngo-recommendations-to-the-parties-managing-shared-fish-stocks-in-the-northeast-atlantic-coll-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Recommendations to the parties managing shared fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic |date=1 July 2020 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/1hlctkke/ngo-recommendations-to-the-parties-managing-shared-fish-stocks-in-the-northeast-atlantic-coll-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2020recommendations, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Recommendations to the parties managing shared fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/1hlctkke/ngo-recommendations-to-the-parties-managing-shared-fish-stocks-in-the-northeast-atlantic-coll-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }