Each year the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) classifies a stock’s status by comparing the amount of mature fish (the spawning stock biomass) and the rate at which the stock is exploited in comparison with agreed reference levels.
In terms of spawning stock biomass, a stock is considered to have either full reproductive capacity, being at risk of suffering reduced reproductive capacity or suffering reduced reproductive capacity.
In terms of the rate of fishing mortality, a stock is considered to be harvested sustainably, at risk of being harvested unsustainably or harvested unsustainably.
The following table presents the number within each category for the 47 stocks of most interest to the UK. Figures are given for 2007 to 2009.
Category ICES classification 2007 2008 2009 In danger Very low level of spawning stock biomass 8 6 5 At risk Reduced level of spawning stock biomass 6 7 4 At risk Full reproductive capacity but harvest rate too high 2 3 2 Healthy Full reproductive capacity and low exploitation rate 8 9 12 Unknown Stock status uncertain 23 22 24
Of those stocks for which the status is known with regards to the reference levels, 52 per cent. are considered to be within precautionary biomass limits and fished sustainably. The equivalent figure is 31 per cent. for all stocks across the Community1.
1 Communication from the Commission—Consultation on Fishing Opportunities for 2010 (COM(2009)224).