On 20 October, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) released a report on the status and perspectives of some of the most important Northeast Atlantic fish stocks.
The conclusion of the report is that the overall status of the fish stocks has not changed much from 2005 to 2006. Sustainable exploitation can be stated for Norwegian Spring Spawning herring, and there are indications of recovery of the Northern hake stock. However, there are still numerous stocks that are too heavily fished and stocks that are depleted – notably cod stocks and sandeel in the North Sea.
However, some positive developments can be reported. Management plans have begun to generate first improvements for Northern Hake in the Bay of Biscay and west of the British Isles. Similar plans are being developed for species such as Blue Whiting and Haddock. ICES is increasingly focusing on advice for long term management plans, thereby shifting the attention from the short-term advice to a longer-term perspective.
In summary, Northern hake appears to have recovered to safe biological levels and herring is at a sustainable level.
Assessments of Norway lobster are difficult to obtain so new surveys to aid assessments are being developed.
Anchovy is still depleted in the Bay of Biscay, plaice and sole are extensively exploited, and sandeel stocks have declined since the late 1990s.
Mackerel and blue whiting are also harvested unsustainably.
Cod are large and productive in northern areas such as the Barents Sea and around Iceland. However, in southern areas the stock is poor and ICES advises that there should be no catch in 2007 for all southern cod stocks.
