Recommendations to the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2024

A coalition of NGOs urges the UK to set 2024 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) at or below scientific advice to combat persistent overfishing and climate change impacts. The report highlights that 60% of 2023 TACs exceeded scientific advice and calls for an ecosystem-based approach, the implementation of remote electronic monitoring (REM), and stricter protections for depleted, deep-sea, and non-TAC stocks.

• The UK has consistently failed to align fishing limits with scientific advice; in 2023, only 40% of assessed Total Allowable Catches (TACs) followed scientific advice, while 60% were set above it.
• Current UK fish stock health is poor, with an Oceana audit indicating that 34% of 104 analysed stocks are overfished and 25% are in critical condition.
• The authors recommend setting TACs well below the maximum catch level advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to create a 'climate buffer' and improve stock resilience against marine heatwaves and other stressors.
• For mixed fisheries, the document argues that TACs for abundant stocks should be limited to protect more vulnerable species caught as bycatch, preventing the 'choking' of fisheries.
• The report identifies a critical need for Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras to ensure full catch documentation and compliance with the Landing Obligation (LO), which is currently plagued by widespread non-compliance.
• Specific recommendations are made for depleted stocks with zero-catch advice, such as Celtic Sea cod and Irish Sea sole, urging that 'bycatch TACs' only be granted if an effective rebuilding plan is implemented.
• The document calls for the European eel to be added to the prohibited species list and for all targeted fishing to stop, citing ICES advice for zero catch of all life stages.
• Deep-sea stocks are highlighted as exceptionally vulnerable due to slow growth and late maturity; the authors recommend zero TACs for species listed as vulnerable, threatened, or endangered, such as the roundnose grenadier.
• The authors urge the UK to increase transparency in the decision-making process for fishing opportunities in accordance with the Aarhus Convention.

APA

ClientEarth (2023). Recommendations to the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2024. https://www.clientearth.org/media/n2fp3r1b/ngo-tac-recommendations-to-uk-for-2024-final.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Recommendations to the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2024. 2023. https://www.clientearth.org/media/n2fp3r1b/ngo-tac-recommendations-to-uk-for-2024-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Recommendations to the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2024 |date=14 September 2023 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/n2fp3r1b/ngo-tac-recommendations-to-uk-for-2024-final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2023recommendations, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Recommendations to the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities for 2024}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2023}, month = sep, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/n2fp3r1b/ngo-tac-recommendations-to-uk-for-2024-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }