Commercially exploited fish and shellfish
The extent to which Good Environmental Status has been achieved
The environmental assessment of UK marine waters shows an increase towards Good Environmental Status (GES) for commercially exploited marine quota fish and non-quota shellfish stocks.
42% of quota fish stocks and 11% of non-quota shellfish stocks met the GES criteria for both indicators, fishing pressure and reproductive capacity, showing an increase of 9% and 6% respectively since the last assessment.
The status of 21% of quota fish and 52% of non-quota shellfish remains unknown due to insufficient data.
National and international fisheries management measures have contributed to the increase towards GES.
Progress since previous assessments
GES for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks integrates the outcome of two indicators, fishing pressure and reproductive capacity. This provides an estimate of the percentage of stocks within safe biological limits, i.e. that are fished at or below levels associated with maximum sustainable yield and have a biomass capable of producing maximum sustainable yield.
A total of 120 stocks of UK interest (58 quota fish stocks and 62 national non-quota shellfish stocks in the Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, and those considered widely distributed) were evaluated in the 2024 assessment, considering available data in 6-year assessment period and compared with previous assessments to assess the progress towards GES.
The term “quota fish stock” refers to marine fish and shellfish subpopulations of a particular species defined as a harvested unit (stock) for which ICES gives catch advice and fishing is limited by a quota or Total Allowable Catch (TAC) that caps the amount of fish each country is allowed to catch. In most cases these TACs are agreed in international negotiations. The term “non-quota shellfish stock” refers to marine shellfish subpopulations of a particular species, including both crustaceans (e.g. brown crab and lobster) and molluscs (e.g. scallop and whelk), defined as a harvested unit (stock) for which are national stock assessments report on status and where fishing is not limited by a quota.
A summary of GES outcome considering all marine quota fish and non-quota shellfish stocks in the Celtic Seas, Greater North Sea and widely distributed is graphically presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Good Environmental Status (GES) outcome for commercially exploited quota fish and non-quota shellfish stocks in the Celtic Seas, Greater North Sea (also referred to as “North Sea”) and widely distributed. GES outcome reflects the compliance of stocks for both indicators, fishing pressure and reproductive capacity in the 2024 Assessment. GES status shown as rounded percentages in relation to the number of stocks assessed in each case.
Results show the percentage of stocks that met the GES criteria of being within safe biological limits is higher for quota fish stocks than for non-quota stocks.
Quota fish stocks achieved GES for 50% of widely distributed stocks, 45% of North Sea stocks, and 37% of Celtic Seas stocks. National non-quota shellfish stocks achieving GES was higher in the North Sea (17%), than in the Celtic Seas (6%). Percentage of stocks with unknown status is highest in the Celtic Seas for both quota fish (27%) and non-quota shellfish (56%).
GES outcomes for commercially exploited fish and shellfish are influenced by several factors such as data availability, management measures and environmental conditions. Consequently, changes through time reflect changes in fishing pressure, and changes in environmental factors and other pressures (including natural mortality) that can influence the productivity and health of stocks. The number of stocks with unknown status reflect data limitations.
There is an increase towards GES from previous assessments periods.
The percentage of quota fish stocks meeting the GES criteria for both indicators, fishing pressure and reproductive capacity, was 42% in the 2024 assessment (considering 2016-2021 data). There is an increase of 9% points from previous assessment (considering 2010-2015 data), and an increase of 29% points when compared to period before (considering 2004-2009 data) (Figure 2).
Figure 2. GES for commercially exploited quota fish stocks including Celtic Seas, Greater North Sea and widely distributed and three assessment periods from 2004 to 2021, as percentages of stocks in Good, no Good or unknown status.
Non-quota shellfish stocks changed GES from 5% in 2012 to 11% in 2019, suggesting a GES increase of 6% points since the last evaluated period (2012), and 10% points since the first assessment in 1990 (Figure 3).
The environmental status for half of the national non-quota shellfish stocks remains unknown by 2019, due to insufficient data being available to allow MSY-level stock assessments for some stocks of king scallop, velvet crab, and lobster.
Figure 3. GES outcome for commercially exploited non-quota shellfish stocks including Celtic Seas and Greater North Sea and assessment periods from 1990 to 2019, as percentages of stocks in Good, no Good or unknown status.
How progress has been assessed
Assessment overview
The environmental status for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks is based on the integration of results from fishing pressure and reproductive capacity indicator assessments following a conditional method (ICES, 2016) where both indicators’ criteria need to be met for each stock. The assessment uses ICES’ latest advice on maximum sustainable yield thresholds for each stock, or, where available, national stock assessments. The progress towards achieving GES is evaluated within a 6-year period and compared to previous assessment periods.
Table 1. Summary overview of the GES criteria, target and status for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks (D3) descriptor and indicator assessments by regional seas.
|
D3 Criteria |
Populations of commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks are within safe biological limits |
|
2019 Target |
Increase the proportion of commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks of UK interest that are within safe biological limits, meeting both indicators’ criteria: fished at or below maximum sustainable yield and have a biomass capable of producing maximum sustainable yield. |
|
Descriptor |
Commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks |
|
Greater North Sea |
Partially met |
|
Celtic Seas |
Partially met |
|
Criteria 1 |
Fishing pressure of commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks |
|
2019 Target |
Increase the percentage of commercially exploited marine fish and shellfish stocks with fishing mortality rate at or below levels which can produce the maximum sustainable yield. |
|
Indicator |
Fishing pressure |
|
Greater North Sea |
Partially met |
|
Celtic Seas |
Partially met |
|
Criteria 2 |
Reproductive capacity of commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks |
|
2019 Target |
Increase the percentage of spawning stock biomass of commercially exploited marine fish and shellfish stocks are at or above biomass levels capable of producing the maximum sustainable yield |
|
Indicator |
Reproductive capacity |
|
Greater North Sea |
Partially met |
|
Celtic Seas |
Partially met |
GES outcome for quota fish stocks that are widely distributed beyond regional seas (Celtic Seas and Geather North Sea) is also partially met.
Detailed assessments
The GES outcome from the 2024 assessment, that considers data from the period 2016 to 2021 and change from last assessment period (2010-2015) is presented for each marine fish quota stock in Table 2.
Table 2. Commercially exploited marine quota fish stocks indicating GES outcome in assessment period (2016-2021) and progress since the previous assessment period (2010-2015) for Descriptor 3. GES shown as achieved or not achieved or unknown, and change shown as: ↔ no change; ↑ increase; ↓decrease (Campón-Linares and others, 2024a).
|
Commercially exploited quota fish stock name |
Stock code |
Celtic Seas |
GES outcome and change |
|
|
Black-bellied anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) in Subarea 7 and divisions 8.a-b and 8.d (Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay) |
ank.27.78abd |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea) |
had.27.7a |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Herring (Clupea harengus) in Division 7.a North of 52°30’N (Irish Sea) |
her.27.nirs
|
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.) in Division 6.b (Rockall) |
lez.27.6b |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
White anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in Subarea 7 and divisions 8.a-b and 8.d (Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay) |
mon.27.78abd |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 6.a, Functional Unit 11 (West of Scotland, North Minch) |
nep.fu.11 |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 6.a, Functional Unit 12 (West of Scotland, South Minch) |
nep.fu.12 |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 6.a, Functional Unit 13 (West of Scotland, the Firth of Clyde and Sound of Jura) |
nep.fu.13 |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 7.a, Functional Unit 14 (Irish Sea. East) |
nep.fu.14 |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 7.a, Functional Unit 15 (Irish Sea. West) |
nep.fu.15 |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
|
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea) |
ple.27.7a |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Sole (Solea solea) in Division 7.e (western English Channel) |
sol.27.7e |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Sole (Solea solea) in divisions 7.f and 7.g (Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea) |
sol.27.7fg |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
|
Cod (Gadus morhua) in Division 6.a (West of Scotland) |
cod.27.6a |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved no change ↔ |
|
|
Cod (Gadus morhua) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea) |
cod.27.7a |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Cod (Gadus morhua) in divisions 7.e-k (eastern English Channel and southern Celtic Seas) |
cod.27.7e-k |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in divisions 7.b-k (southern Celtic Seas and English Channel) |
had.27.7b-k |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Herring (Clupea harengus) in divisions 7.a South of 52°30'N. 7.g-h. and 7.j-k (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, and southwest of Ireland) |
her.27.irls |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; decrease ↓ |
|
|
Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) in divisions 7.b-k, 8.a-b, and 8.d (west and southwest of Ireland, Bay of Biscay) |
meg.27.7b-k8abd |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Division 7.e (western English Channel) |
ple.27.7e |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in divisions 7.f and 7.g (Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea) |
ple.27.7fg |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Sole (Solea solea) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea) |
sol.27.7a |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Division 6.a (West of Scotland) |
whg.27.6a |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea) |
whg.27.7a |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in divisions 7.b-c and 7.e-k (southern Celtic Seas and eastern English Channel) |
whg.27.7b-ce-k |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Cod (Gadus morhua) in Division 6.b (Rockall) |
cod.27.6b |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
|
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in Division 6.b (Rockall) |
had.27.6b |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change↔ |
|
|
Herring (Clupea harengus) in Division 6.a North (North of 56°00'N and East of 07°00'W), autumn spawners (West of Scotland) |
her.27.6aN |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change↔ |
|
|
Herring (Clupea harengus) in Division 6.a South (South of 56°00'N and West of 07°00'W) and 7.b-c (northwest and west of Ireland) |
her.27.6aS7bc |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in divisions 7.b-c and 7.j-k, Functional Unit 16 (west and southwest of Ireland, Porcupine Bank) |
nep.fu.16 |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change↔ |
|
|
Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) in subareas 6-7 (Celtic Seas and the English Channel) |
pol.27.67 |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
|
Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) in subareas 6-7 and divisions 5.b and 12.b (Celtic Seas and the English Channel, Faroes grounds, and western Hatton Bank) |
rng.27.5b6712b |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
|
Sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in Subarea 6 and divisions 7.a-c and 7.f-k (West of Scotland, southern Celtic Seas) |
spr.27.67a-cf-k |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
|
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Division 6.b (Rockall) |
whg.27.6b |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
|
Commercially exploited quota fish stock name |
Stock code |
Greater North Sea |
GES outcome and change |
|
|
Herring (Clupea harengus) in subareas 1, 2, 5 and divisions 4.a and 14.a, Norwegian spring-spawning herring (the Northeast Atlantic and Arctic Ocean) |
her.27.1-24a514a |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Herring (Clupea harengus) in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d. autumn spawners (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel) |
her.27.3a47d |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.) in divisions 4.a and 6.a (northern North Sea, West of Scotland) |
lez.27.4a6a |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 4.a, Functional Unit 7 (northern North Sea, Fladen Ground) |
nep.fu.7 |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 4.b, Functional Unit 8 (central North Sea, Firth of Forth) |
nep.fu.8 |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase↑ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 4.a, Functional Unit 9 (central North Sea, Moray Firth) |
nep.fu.9 |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
|
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak) |
ple.27.420 |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel) |
whg.27.47d |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase↑ |
|
|
Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4, Division 7.d, and Subdivision 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak) |
cod.27.47d20 |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved no change ↔ |
|
|
Anglerfish (Lophius budegassa. Lophius piscatorius) in subareas 4 and 6, and Division 3.a (North Sea, Rockall and West of Scotland, Skagerrak and Kattegat) |
anf.27.3a46 |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) in Subarea 4, Division 6.a, and Subdivision 20 (North Sea, West of Scotland, Skagerrak) |
had.27.46a20 |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 4.b, Functional Unit 6 (central North Sea, Farn Deeps) |
nep.fu.6 |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Division 7.d (eastern English Channel) |
ple.27.7d |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Saithe (Pollachius virens) in subareas 4, 6 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Rockall and West of Scotland, Skagerrak and Kattegat) |
pok.27.3a46 |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) |
sol.27.4 |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Sole (Solea solea) in Division 7.d (eastern English Channel) |
sol.27.7d |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in divisions 4.b and 4.c, Functional Unit 5 (central and southern North Sea, Botney Cut-Silver Pit) |
nep.fu.5 |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change↔ |
|
|
Sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in Division 3.a and Subarea 4 (Skagerrak, Kattegat and North Sea) |
spr.27.3a4 |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
|
Commercially exploited quota fish stock name |
Stock code |
Widely distributed |
GES outcome and change |
|
|
Spurdog (Squalus acanthias) in subareas 1-10, 12 and 14 (the Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters) |
dgs.27.nea |
Widely distributed |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
|
Hake (Merluccius merluccius) in subareas 4, 6, and 7, and divisions 3.a, 8.a-b, and 8.d, Northern stock (Greater North Sea. Celtic Seas. and the northern Bay of Biscay) |
hke.27.3a46-8abd |
Widely distributed |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in subareas 1-8 and 14 and Division 9.a (the Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters) |
mac.27.nea |
Widely distributed |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Subarea 8 and divisions 2.a, 4.a, 5.b, 6.a, 7.a-c, e-k (the Northeast Atlantic) |
hom.27.2a4a5b6a7a-ce-k8 |
Widely distributed |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
|
Blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) in subareas 1-9, 12, and 14 (Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters) |
whb.27.1-91214 |
Widely distributed |
GES not achieved; decrease ↓ |
|
|
Ling (Molva molva) in subareas 3, 4. 6-9, 12, and 14 (Northeast Atlantic and Arctic Ocean) |
lin.27.346-91214 |
Widely distributed |
GES unknown; no change↔ |
|
|
Table legend |
|
GES was achieved for D3 |
|
GES is unknown for D3 |
|
GES was not achieved for D3 |
|
Trend as change from last assessment period |
|
↔ no change; ↑increase ; ↓ decrease; |
Seventeen quota fish stocks achieved GES for two consecutive assessment periods (from 2010 to 2021).
Of the six widely distributed stocks considered, two changed GES. The spurdog stock in the Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters changed to GES achieved due to an increase of their reproductive capacity to produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY); this was because of a combination of managing the fishing pressure within safe biological limits and improving the stock assessment with additional data. In contrast, the blue whiting stock in the Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters did not achieve GES because fishing pressure exceeded levels which can produce MSY.
Stocks in the Greater North Sea maintained the GES achieved from the last assessment period and three more stocks achieved GES. Whiting in the North Sea and eastern English Channel stock achieved GES because its spawning stock biomass increased to levels capable of producing MSY and fishing pressure reduced. Two of the Nephrops stocks in the central North Sea (in Firth of Forth and in Moray Forth) achieved GES due to both a reduction of fishing pressure and stocks being within safe biological limits.
In the Celtic Seas, four stocks changed GES, and the rest of stocks maintained the same status as in the last assessment. The three stocks that changed to GES achieved are Nephrops stock in the West of Scotland, the Firth of Clyde and Sound of Jura, Nephrops stock in the Irish Sea, and Sole stock in the Bristol Channel and Celtic Seas, due to the reduction of fishing pressure and stock being within safe biological limits. The herring stock in the southwest of Ireland did not achieve GES because its spawning stock biomass did not reach levels capable of producing MSY, despite fishing pressure being very low, which might suggest the influence of environmental factors or changes in the ecosystem, since no evidence was found for this stock migrating outside its traditional area.
GES differences between regional seas and between assessment periods for quota fish stocks are summarised in Figure 4. The percentage of marine quota fish stocks that reached GES in the current assessment period, considering 2016-2021 data, was higher in the North Sea (45%) than in the Celtic Seas (38%). In the Greater North Sea quota fish increased GES 17% points since 2015 and 33% points since 2009, while the increase in the Celtic Seas was 6% points and 24% points respectively.
Figure 4. GES for commercially exploited quota fish by regional seas (Greater North Sea and Celtic Seas) in three assessment periods (2004-2009, 2010-2015, 2016-2021)
These regional differences could be linked to a combination of factors influencing the productivity and health of stocks and their response to a range of pressures and environmental variables, from fishing pressure, changes in habitats or food webs, to climate conditions. The higher number of stocks with unknown status in the Celtic Seas compared to the North Sea is due to a larger range of stocks in the Celtic Seas, many of which are relatively small and consequently have greater data limitations. In addition, the North Sea stocks have generally been studied for a longer period of time and have a longer history of fishery management resulting in fewer data limitations.
Non-quota shellfish stocks
GES for non-quota shellfish stocks is based on the UK national shellfish stock assessments, which are data-limited assessments covering a reduced number of stocks and years (Dobby and others, 2012; Delargy and others, 2019; Cefas, 2020a, 2020b; Lawler and others, 2023; Mesquita and others, 2023). The most complete data set of national non-quota shellfish stock assessments available to cover the current assessment period included 2013-2019 data, and these results were compared with previous periods to evaluate progress towards GES. Data were lacking for biomass MSY reference point for the majority of national non-quota shellfish stocks, so trends in this indicator could be assessed only through the spawning stock biomass of marine quota fish stocks. GES is therefore based on mortality rate being within safe biological limits from the data-limited stock assessments.
The GES outcome and change from the last assessment period for each of the non-quota shellfish stocks is presented in Table 3.
Table 3. GES outcome and trend assessment for commercially exploited marine non-quota shellfish stocks. GES shown as achieved or not achieved or unknown (Campón-Linares and others, 2024b). Change from last assessment period (2012) shown as (↔no change; ↑increase; ↓decrease)
|
Commercially – exploited non-quota shellfish stocks |
stock code |
Celtic Seas |
GES outcome and change |
|
King scallop Western English Channel Inshore |
SCE-27.7.e.I |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
King scallop Cornwall North |
SCE-27.7.f.I |
Celtic Seas |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
Brown crab Clyde |
CBE-CL |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Edible crab in the Celtic Sea |
CBE-CS |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab Hebrides |
CBE-HE |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab North Coast |
CBE-NC |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; decrease ↓ |
|
Brown crab South Minch |
CBE-SM |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab Sule |
CBE-SU |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab Ullapool |
CBE-UL |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Edible crab in the Western Channel |
CBE-WEC |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Clyde |
LBE-CL |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Hebrides |
LBE-HE |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster South Minch |
LBE-SM |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Clyde |
LIO-CL |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Hebrides |
LIO-HE |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab South Minch |
LIO-SM |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster South West |
LBE-SW |
Celtic Seas |
GES not achieved; decrease ↓ |
|
Brown crab Mallaig |
CBE-MA |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Mallaig |
LBE-MA |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster North Coast |
LBE-NC |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Sule |
LBE-SU |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Ullapool |
LBE-UL |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Mallaig |
LIO-MA |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab North Coast |
LIO-NC |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Sule |
LIO-SU |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Ullapool |
LIO-UL |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Queen scallop West of Scotland and Irish Sea (VIa and VIIa) |
QSC-IRIS |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Cardigan Bay |
SCE-CB |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Clyde |
SCE-CL |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Irish Sea |
SCE-IS |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Northwest |
SCE-NW |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop West of Kintyre |
SCE-WK |
Celtic Seas |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Commercially – exploited non-quota shellfish stocks |
stock code |
Greater North Sea |
GES outcome for D3 and change |
|
Brown crab Papa bank |
CBE-PA |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Yorkshire coast |
SCE-27.4.b.S |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
King scallop Eastern Channel North |
SCE-27.7.d.N |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
King scallop Western English Channel Lyme Bay |
SCE-27.7.e.L |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
King scallop Western English Channel Offshore |
SCE-27.7.e.O |
Greater North Sea |
GES achieved; increase ↑ |
|
Edible crab in the Central North Sea |
CBE-CNS |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab East Coast |
CBE-EC |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab Orkney |
CBE-OR |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Brown crab Southeast |
CBE-SE |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Edible crab in the Southern North Sea |
CBE-SNS |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster in East Anglia |
LBE-EA |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster East Coast |
LBE-EC |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster in Northumberland and Durham |
LBE-Nrthblnd |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Orkney |
LBE-OR |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Papa Bank |
LBE-PA |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster South East |
LBE-SE |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster Shetland |
LBE-SH |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster on the Yorkshire and Humber coast |
LBE-YorkHum |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab East Coast |
LIO-EC |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Orkney |
LIO-OR |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab South East |
LIO-SE |
Greater North Sea |
GES not achieved; decrease ↓ |
|
Brown crab Shetland |
CBE-SH |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; decrease ↓ |
|
Edible crab in the Eastern Channel |
CBE-EEC |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Lobster South East South Coast |
LBE-SESC |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Papa Bank |
LIO-PA |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Velvet crab Shetland |
LIO-SH |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop East Coast |
SCE-EC |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Northeast |
SCE-NE |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Orkney |
SCE-OR |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
King scallop Shetland |
SCE-SH |
Greater North Sea |
GES unknown; no change ↔ |
|
Table legend |
|
GES was achieved for D3 |
|
GES is unknown for D3 |
|
GES was not achieved for D3 |
|
Trend as change from last assessment period |
|
↔ no change; ↑increase ; ↓ decrease; |
Of the sixty-two non-quota shellfish stocks assessed, most maintained similar GES from last assessment period except for six stocks that GES increased, three changed from ‘Good’ to ‘Not Good’, and one to ‘Unknown’.
The GES increase in non-quota shellfish stocks came from six king scallop stocks. Two of these were previously classed as “unknown”, while the other four are new stock assessments that could be added in the current assessment period.
GES changed from ‘Good’ to Not Good’ for one Brown crab stock and one lobster stock in the Celtic Seas, and one velvet crab stock in the Greater North Sea due to fishing mortality being found above safe biological limits in the current assessment period. The Shetland brown crab stock in the Greater North Sea changed from ‘Good’ to ‘Unknown’ status due to data gaps from surveys in adverse weather conditions (Mesquita and others 2023).
The comparison between regions showed that more non-quota shellfish stocks achieved GES in the Greater North Sea (17%) than in the Celtic Seas (6%) in 2019 (Figure 5). The progress towards GES since 2002 appears more noticeable in the North Sea partly due to the existence of more stock assessments informing fisheries management than in the Celtic Seas. Although data-limited methods have been developed to assess non-quota shellfish stocks, data collection gaps due to monitoring need addressing to decrease the percentage of stocks with unknown status.
Figure 5. GES for commercially exploited non-quota shellfish stocks by regional seas (Greater North Sea and Celtic Seas) in three assessment periods (2002, 2012, 2019).
Achievement of targets and indicators used to assess progress in 2024
Drivers, activities and pressures affecting the state of the marine environment
The main drivers in the UK for commercial fisheries are to meet societal needs for economic, social and employment benefits, and to support coastal communities.
Impact of pressure on ecosystem services
Commercial fishing activity is a direct pressure on the abundance and structure of targeted populations that provide food and other ecosystem services, including marine natural capital. Recreational fisheries also provide ecosystem services and benefits for society.
While commercial fishing activities (national and international) lead directly to pressures on fish and shellfish populations in terms of mortality rates and extraction of biomass, marine recreational fisheries can contribute substantially to the extraction of biomass of some of the stocks targeted by commercially fisheries (Radford and others 2018) resulting in a pressure that is less well understood.
Other pressures that can affect fish and shellfish populations arise from the use of the marine environment and habitat for example: renewable energy; coastal defence; marine transport infrastructure and shipping; extraction of oil and gas, minerals, and aggregates; disposal of waste and chemicals; greenhouse emissions and subsequent changes in the environment, ecosystem, hydrographical and climate conditions.
There will also be indirect impacts on the wider ecosystem through the interactions with other species and populations, marine food web dynamics, reduction of prey availability, and marine biogeochemical cycles (including carbon fixation).
Impacts of climate change on pressures and state
Climate variability impacting the recruitment and growth of the cod stock in the southern area of the North Sea was reported in 2000, showing a decline in the production of young cod in parallel with the increase in the seawater temperature average in previous years (O’Brien and others 2000). As a result, the fishing pressure was reduced as a precautionary measure to allow the stock recovery. However, the stock would still require spawning in suitable temperature conditions to successfully recruit and produce biomass.
Fish have specific tolerances to changes in temperature, and research continues to indicate that temperature changes affect fish growth and maturity in UK waters (Fox and others 2023). The increase in seawater temperature would affect differently fish species with preference for cooler or warmer waters that might possibly lead to changes in the timing of reproduction or spawning locations.
Fish and shellfish tolerance to changes in climate conditions, ecosystem and food web dynamics varies between stocks. Distinguishing between climate change impacts and other drivers of impacts on fish stocks remains a challenge. However, stock assessments consider fishing mortality rate and spawning biomass in terms of MSY under existing environmental conditions, including changes in recruitment, growth and biomass of stocks that are influenced by both climate variability and change.
Fisheries activities would need to continue adapting to changes in stocks, such as reducing allocation of quotas for stocks with decreasing productivity while fishing other stocks with a biomass capable of producing maximum sustainable yield.
Management actions taken
Fisheries management measures in the UK have been in place for decades, involving international agreements and declarations to address the sustainability of fisheries. These include the (TCA) between the EU and the UK, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic (OSPAR).
The fisheries management framework aims to maintain fishing activity pressures to levels that are considered within safe biological limits for the stock populations, and measures would depend on the availability and reliability of stock assessments.
The UK Fisheries Act 2020 provides the regulatory framework to manage commercial fishing activities, and sets sustainability, by-catch, precautionary and ecosystem objectives. These, together with the Joint Fisheries Statement (2022), including all UK fisheries policy authorities, the devolved administrations, and the Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (2023), are setting evidence-based action plans that will directly manage the long-term sustainability of UK stocks and help to deliver GES for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks.
At a UK scale, recreational fisheries are fully embedded in the Fisheries Act of 2020 and are subject of broader regulations related to conservation of biodiversity and marine protected areas. Under the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, there are many local fishing byelaws in place and managed by the Inshore and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) to achieve the inshore sustainable fisheries and conservation objectives including management measures for recreational fishers’ activities.
The UK Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 require competent authorities in the UK to take action to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in all UK waters.
Fisheries policy authorities may use FMPs as part of the UKMS programme of measures for achieving GES. FMPs may include actions, where appropriate, focused on risks to ecosystem components or pressures to support the achievement of GES.
Other existing measures include: the Shellfish Licensing Scheme 2004; the Lobsters and Crawfish (Prohibition of Fishing and Landing) (Amendment) (England) Order 2017; the Whelk Fishing (Wales) Order 2019; the Edible Crabs (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020; the Marking of Creels (Scotland) Order 2020; the UK National North Sea Cod Avoidance Plan.
Next steps
Evidence challenges
The GES goal for commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks in the UK is to continue increasing the number of stocks achieving GES, reduce the unknowns, and maintain stocks within safe biological limits.
Existing gaps in data and evidence result in a substantial number of stocks with unknown status. Monitoring and research programmes are required to address the lack of robust data and knowledge gaps in the underlying biology for data-limited stocks, and non-quota finfish and shellfish stocks, to feed into future stock assessments and determine sustainable reference points for more stocks, and to inform fisheries management advice.
There is a limited understanding of the impact of multiple pressures on stocks in a transboundary context and the effectiveness of management measures that require international cooperation. Further development of stock assessments considering a wider range of pressures, including environmental and ecosystem changes, is required to inform GES outcomes and targets.
The development and implementation of an indicator to assess the criteria of age and size distribution indicative of healthy stock remains a challenge that will require future research.
Because commercially exploited fish and shellfish stocks are generally shared and fished internationally, GES progress for the UK would need to consider relevant exceptions in relation to the number of years required for stocks to respond to the various existing and planned management measures, and the need for international cooperation to achieve the targets.
Operational objectives
Management actions already in place nationally and through international commitments support the objectives. Further operational activities would be required to address existing gaps and challenges.
-
The UK Fisheries Act 2020, and its regulatory framework facilitates achieving GES for Commercial Fish and Shellfish in the UK by managing commercial activity to ensure that exploitation of marine stocks maintains populations of harvested species is within safe biological limits.
-
The Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) is enabling all UK fisheries policy authorities and the devolved administrations (Defra, and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) to develop fisheries management plans (FMPs) to help deliver sustainable fisheries and progress towards GES.
-
The UK Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) are acting as evidence-based action plans (including those for non-quota shellfish stocks) to delivering sustainable fisheries and progress towards GES.
-
The development of FMPs for shellfish and non-quota stocks must consider research and monitoring plans to address data gaps. An increase in monitoring of shellfish stocks, combined with development of stock assessments, could address gaps and the lack of robust data. This could help determine sustainable reference points, including safe biological limits and the age and size distribution of a healthy stock. Similar approaches can be used to address the existing gaps for stock assessments of non-quota stocks. As more stock assessment data becomes available for the next GES assessment, the list of stocks could become longer.
-
The UK research and monitoring programme activities will aim to provide evidence, address gaps in fisheries stock assessments, play a critical role to determine sustainable reference points, particularly addressing the existing cases of unknown status, and feed into scientific advice for fisheries management.
-
The UK, informed by the best available science, will aim to set sustainable catch limits for quota stocks. The total allowable catch (TAC) limits for quota stocks will be subject to international negotiations with the EU and other coastal states. For shared non-quota stocks without TAC limits, the UK is developing multi-year strategies with the EU.
-
The update of good environmental status targets would need to consider the time scale for stocks to respond to fisheries management measures, including transboundary implications, as well as to changes in the environment, including climate and ecosystem.
Technical Detail: Good Environmental Status for the next cycle
GES Criteria, Targets, Indicators for next assessment
|
Criteria D3 |
2024-2030 GES targets |
Comment |
Indicators to be used |
||
|
Populations of commercially exploited marine fish and shellfish are within safe biological limits |
Increase the proportion of commercially exploited marine fish and shellfish of UK interest that are within safe biological limits, and are fished at or below MSY and have a biomass capable of producing MSY |
No change in target |
Integrate two indicators, fishing pressure and reproductive capacity |
||
|
Fishing pressure of stocks being within safe biological limits |
Increase the proportion of fishing mortality rates of commercially exploited marine fish and shellfish stocks of UK interest being at or below levels which can produce MSY. |
No change in target |
Fishing pressure (D3.1) |
||
|
Reproductive Capacity of stocks being within safe biological limits |
Increase the proportion of spawning stock biomass of commercially exploited marine fish and shellfish stocks of UK interest being at or above biomass levels capable of producing MSY. |
No change in target |
Reproductive capacity (D3.2) |
||
References
Campón-Linares, V., Garnacho, E., De Oliveira, J. 2025a. Assessment product for good environmental status of marine quota fish stocks of UK interest (https://data.cefas.co.uk/).
Campón-Linares, V. Garnacho, E, Bell, E., 2025b Assessment product for good environmental status of non-quota shellfish stocks of UK interest (https://data.cefas.co.uk/).
Cefas. (2020a). Lobster (Homarus gammarus). Cefas Stock Status Report 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crab-and-lobster-stock-assessments-2019
Cefas. (2020b). Edible crab (Cancer pagurus). Cefas Stock Status Report 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crab-and-lobster-stock-assessments-2019
CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). https://cites.org/eng/disc/text.php
Dobby, H., Millar, S., Blackadder, L., Turriff, J., and McLay, A. (2012). Scottish Scallop Stocks: Results of 2011 Stock Assessments. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 3 Number 10. ISSN: 2043-7722. https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-marine-freshwater-science-volume-3-number-10-scottish-scallop/
Delargy, A., Hold, N., Lambert, G. I., Murray L. G., Hinz H., Kaiser M. J., McCarthy, I., and Hiddink J. G. (2019). Welsh waters scallop surveys and stock assessment. Bangor University, Fisheries and Conservation Report No. 75. pp 48.
Fisheries Act (2020). Fisheries Act 2020. UK Public General Acts 2020 c. 22. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/22
Fisheries Management Plans (2023). https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fisheries-management-plans
Fox, C.J., Marshall, C.T., Stiasny, M.H. & Trifonova, N. Climate Change Impacts on Fish of Relevance to the UK and Ireland (2023). MCCIP Science Review 2023, 17pp. https://www.mccip.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-10/Impacts%20on%20Fish%20of%20Relevance%20to%20the%20UK%20and%20Ireland.pdf
HM Government (2010). The Marine Strategy Regulations 2010. UK Statutory Instruments 2010 No. 1627. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/1627
ICES (2016). ICES guidance on the practical methodology for delivering an MSFD GES assessment on D3 for an MSFD region/subregion. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.18686882
Joint Fisheries Statement (2022). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/637cee048fa8f53f4af6850b/Joint_Fisheries_Statement_JFS_2022_Final.pdf
Lawler, A., Nawri, N., Harvey, J., Clarke, D., Vanstaen, K., and Benedet, R. (2023). Assessment of king scallop stock status for selected waters around the English coast 2021/2022. Cefas stock assessment report. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessment-of-scallops-stocks-202122
Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/23/contents?view=plain.
Mesquita, C., Ellis, A., Miethe, T., and Dobby, H. (2023). Crab and Lobster Fisheries in Scotland: Results of Stock Assessments 2016-2019. Scottish Marie and Freshwater Science Vol 14 (5). 123 pp. https://doi.org/10.7489/12451-1.
O’Brien, C. M., Fox C.J., Planque, B., Casey, J. (2000). Climate variability and North Sea cod. Nature, 404, 142p.
OSPAR. Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast
Atlantic. https://www.ospar.org/convention/text
Radford, Z., Hyder. K., Zarauz, L., Mugerza, E., Ferter, K., Prellezo, R. (2018). The impact of marine recreational fishing on key fish stocks in European waters. PLoS ONE 13(9): e0201666. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0201666.
TCA. Trade and cooperation agreement 2020. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/982648/TS_8.2021_UK_EU_EAEC_Trade_and_Cooperation_Agreement.pdf
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf.
UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). https://www.cbd.int/convention/text/
UN Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Contributors
Authors: Eva Garnacho1, Victoria Campón-Linares1, José De Oliveira1, Ewen Bell1, Carl M. O’Brien1
1Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science