Title | Key commercial fish stocks at full reproductive capacity and harvested sustainably. |
National Indicator/Target | Ensure 70% key commercial fish stocks at full reproductive capacity and harvested sustainably by 2015. |
Brief Description | The indicator provides a measure of the success of Scotland in establishing EU-wide catch limits at levels which ensure the sustainability and profitability of the 13 key Scottish commercial fisheries. The indicator monitors the forecasted stock condition based on ICES and/or STECF advice and commits the Scottish Government to use its best endeavours to attain pan-European agreement to moderate fishing levels on key Scottish commercial stocks. |
Strategic Objective(s) to Which Indicator Relates: | The indicator informs progress towards a Greener Scotland by capturing the sustainability of the wider marine environment through the measurement of sustainability of fish stocks. The indicator also informs progress towards a Wealthier Scotland as fishing Scottish key commercial stocks more sustainably maximises sustainable returns from fishing in time. Meeting the target involves the continuation and development of fish stock management plans. |
More Detailed Definitions |
Definitions of Keywords | Key Scottish commercial fish stocks : fish in listed species caught in listed sea areas as set out in Annex 1. Total Allowable Catch ( TAC): Limit of annual EU catch allowed for species caught in particular sea areas (quota stock) set each year by the EU Council of Ministers, based on scientific advice from ICES, though not necessarily following the recommended limits. ICES: International Convention on Exploration of the Sea. STECF: Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries Stocks at full reproductive capacity and harvested sustainably: advice from ICES / STECF indicatesfor each fish quota stock a TAC limit which, if adhered to, would ensure optimal numbers of fish able to breed and which would allow harvesting at a rate that optimises the economic benefits to the Scottish industry. 70%: The proportion of key Scottish commercial species landed by Scottish fishing vessels where the TAC limit is consistent with the scientific guidance and provides maximum sustainable yield, calculated over a three year moving average. Scottish vessels: fishing vessels whose administration port is in Scotland |
Evidence Source | Advice from ICES / STECF indicates a best practice guideline figure for TAC in tonnes for each quota species. This information is quantitative and based on best international scientific knowledge. The actual TAC is set by the Council of Ministers in tonnes. The value of catch in (£ million) of Scottish vessels by quota species is obtained from Scottish Sea Fisheries statistics - these, combined with the information from the other two data sources, provide a direct measure of the achievement of the target. Some key Scottish commercial stocks currently lack the scientific data to allow identification of safe biological limits. Ongoing research and monitoring on those stocks should allow the identification of these limits in due course. |
Baseline and Past Trends | The baseline is three year moving average over calendar years 2005 to 2007, centred on 2006. The figures for 2001 to 2007 are given in the table below and illustrated in the following chart Chart: Percentage of key stocks where the TAC limit is consistent with the scientific advice 
Source: Scottish Government Marine Directorate Important points to note: - Stocks have been counted as if the TAC was not set within the scientific advice if there was no advice for them that year.
- Stocks have been counted as if the TAC was not set within the scientific advice if the advice for that year is unclear.
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Methodology | The indicator is based on a simple count of value of catch landed reported by fishermen and Buyers and Sellers, as required by EU legislation. The indicator is the value of catch landed by Scottish fishing vessels of key Scottish stocks where the TAC limit is consistent with the ICES guidance, expressed as a percentage of the value of all the key Scottish stocks landed by Scottish vessels. Indicator = value of catch landed by Scottish fishing vessels of key Scottish stocks where the TAC limit is consistent with the ICES guidance/total value of all the key Scottish stocks landed by Scottish vessels multiplied by 100, calculated on a three-year moving average. |
Data Ownership and Quality Assurance | Advice from ICES / STECF indicates a best practice guideline figure for TAC in tonnes for each quota species. This information is quantitative and based on best international scientific knowledge but is not a National Statistic. The data is provided by ICES / STECF. The actual TAC set by the Council of Ministers in tonnes is also quantitative but is not a National Statistic. These data are provided by the EU. The value of catch of Scottish vessels by quota species is obtained from Scottish Sea Fisheries statistics - these are National Statistics provided by Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government. |
Publication of Data | Scottish Sea fisheries statistics are published annually in the September following the latest year, with provisional figures published in May. Published data is only (rarely) revised inecessary to avoid presenting misleading information on trends. Summary statistics are also published in the High Level Summary of Statistics. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/09/12153002/0 |
| Comparability | As information is required by EU legislation, information on the quantity of fish landed is comparable across the EU, though value will be expressed in the currency used by the Member State |
Consistency / Measurability | Stock prices can vary from year to year affecting profitability. Fuel cost increases can also impinge significantly on annual profits. Other external trends, such as climate change, can affect fish stock levels. |