According to the NGOs Oceana, Seas At Risk and ClientEarth, overfishing continues to increase in European waters, including in lucrative fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic, despite the law of the EU has announced to eliminate this practice.
With several key fisheries negotiations taking place later this year, these organizations are calling on fisheries ministers to align management practices with scientific advice and set future catch limits. Sustainable hybridization for the health of essential fish resources.
Speaking at a press conference held on November 20, Javier López, Director of Oceana Europe's Sustainable Seafood Campaign, said there are more than 25 fish populations in the Northeast Atlantic, including species such as cod, herring, mackerel, kidneyfish and eel, are in “severe” condition. Analysis concludes that 34% of UK fish stocks may be overfished, with 60% of the country's total allowable catch (TAC) set above levels recommended by expert scientific guidance and 26% of fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic that are at their maximum recommended sustainable yield (MSY) may also be overfished.
Regarding the 2020 deadline, López mentioned the legal target set in 2013 as the overarching goal of the bloc's Common Fisheries Policy to end overfishing by 2020 at the latest, but instead, overfishing of already depleted stocks continues.
Some pelagic fish stocks, such as blue whiting, Atlanto-Scandian herring and Northeast Atlantic mackerel have lost their sustainability certification as a result of sustained overfishing. Organizations such as the industry-led North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group and the Marine Stewardship Council have urged “tangible action” on the issue and while coastal states have reached an agreement on quotas for species within the scope of scientific advice in 2023, similar agreements were reached in 2022 and 2021 – but subsequent negotiations still resulted in overfishing.
Besides setting limits that disregard scientific advice, NGOs say much fishing occurs in mixed fisheries. In these situations, Oceana recommends bringing vulnerable stocks to safe levels as a top priority.
If the EU wants to achieve that goal, decision-makers need to consider the human-induced pressures and environmental conditions that influence stock depletion and combine these efforts with comprehensive documentation. powerful enough, such as onboard observers or remote electronic monitoring (REM). ), Lopez said.
Marine at-risk fisheries policy officer, Remi Cossetti, said that in addition to contributing to declines in fish populations, overfishing also undermines the important role fish play in marine ecosystems, including including their key role in the “ocean biological carbon pump,” which captures and stores much of the excess carbon in the atmosphere. So this harmful action worsens the climate crisis. Ultimately, restoring fish populations will lead to healthier and more climate-resilient ecosystems, which will be a valuable asset for fishermen - helping them catch more fish in a sustainable way.
