Status of fish stocks in relation to Good Environmental Status

Methodology

Two criteria are applied for assessing Good Environmental Status (GES), as described in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD): criteria 3.1 - Level of exploitation (i.e. Fishing mortality - F) and/or criteria 3.2 - Reproductive capacity (i.e. Spawning Stock Biomass - SSB). The status of the commercial fish stocks in relation to the MSFD criterion 3.3 - Population age and size distribution - cannot be assessed at present since no reference points are available.

Assessed stocks are those for which the level of exploitation and reproductive capacity can be assessed against a reference point in line with the MSFD methodological requirements. Assessed stocks were therefore analysed to identify those for which only the fishing mortality is in GES i.e. F≤FMSY, those for which only reproductive capacity (SSB) is in GES i.e. SSB≥MSY Btrigger, those for which for both criteria are in GES and those for which either criteria is not in GES.

Units

Number of stocks

Additional information

For the regions covered by ICES this is based on the status in 2012, in the regions covered by GFCM and ICCAT the latest assessment was used which in practice involves assessments as far back as 2007.