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Indicator 11. Sea fisheries
Proportion of fish stocks which are within safe biological limits
Year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
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Number of fish stocks within safe biological limits | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Number of fish stocks | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
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Proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits | 19% | 19% | 14% | 14% | 19% | 24% |
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Source: Fisheries Research Services and ICES
Notes: The 21 monitored fishstocks are: North Sea Cod, West of Scotland Cod, North Sea Haddock, West of Scotland Haddock, Rockall Haddock, North Sea Whiting, West of Scotland Whiting, Saithe (VI, IV + IIIa) Northern Hake, North Sea and West of Scotland Anglerfish, North Sea Herring, Western Mackerel, North Sea Mackerel, North Sea Norway Pout, North Sea Sandeel, Northern Blue Whiting, Blue ling Sub-area VI, Tusk Sub-area VI, Roundnose grenadier Sub-area VI, Black scabbard fish Sub-area VI and Orange roughy Sub-area VI.
The relevance of the indicator
We need to live within the capacity of the planet to sustain our activities and replenish resources which we use. Sea fisheries is a key area where this applies.
Choice of Indicator
Many marine fish stocks have been monitored over a long time period and therefore good quantitative data are available. The indicator used is a standard measure used by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea ( ICES) to classify the state of exploited fish stocks.
Detailed definition and source details
Stocks are classified as having full reproductive capacity where scientific analysis has established that. Where scientific analysis is incomplete or inconclusive, it is not possible to assert that a stock has full reproductive capacity. Hence whilst some of these stocks definitely have reduced reproductive capacity, others suffer from a degree of uncertainty as regards their status. Full reproductive capacity is defined by a minimum safe stock size and a maximum exploitation rate. These are known as reference points. The stock size is measured in terms of 'spawning stock biomass ( SSB)' which represents the total weight of spawning fish each year. If the SSB of the stock falls below the reference points then it is judged to have reduced reproductive capacity.
The definitions of the reference points are given by the Advisory Committee for Fishery Management ( ACFM). This is an ICES committee and copies of the relevant reports can be found on the ICES website 1.
Trends
The available data suggests that the number of stocks inside SBL has increased over the past year to the highest level since the indicator was introduced. It should be noted that this indicator does no more than give a numerical sketch within the binary parameter set: within or outside SBL. The indicator cannot, for example, show where the health of a stock has improved or worsened without changing its designated status.
Further disaggregation
The five stocks within safe biological limits in Scottish waters in 2003 were North Sea Norway Pout, North Sea Herring, North Sea Haddock, Saithe (VI, IV & IIIa) and West of Scotland Haddock. Some of those stocks which are outside safe biological limits, such as Cod and Plaice for example, are particularly at risk (ie close to collapse). No further disaggregation of the information held is possible.
Target
No current target - but our ambition is to ensure that all major species in Scottish waters are within safe biological limits.
Action
Formally, competence in the management of stocks beyond lies with the European Union. For many important Scottish stocks in the North Sea, management responsibility is shared between EU and Norway.
Ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy provides for several important measures to increase sustainability of stocks, including effort limitations on directed fishing for stocks outside SBL and the development of multi-annual management plans for all stocks. We remain fully involved in a continuing review which includes consideration of measures designed to reduce discarding of undersized fish and the integration of broad environmental protection measures into the Common Fisheries Policy.
We work closely with Defra and the scientific community to influence Commission and Council fisheries policy.
We also initiate unilateral action to improve the welfare of stocks where Scotland takes the largest share. Alone in the EU, Scotland has banned the use of strengthening bags and places autonomous restrictions on multiple rig trawling. We were the first country in Europe to introduce mandatory 90mm square mesh panels.
Footnote1 www.ices.dk
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