The impacts of climate change on the ocean are compounding the challenge of managing iconic stocks of mackerel and Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic, risking long-term sustainability, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has warned ahead of COP29 climate negotiations.
Warming seas are causing fish to shift towards cooler temperatures in northern or deeper waters, a pattern that is expected to increase in the future. Under these conditions stock shifts can occur at pace, making it critical for governments to work together to ensure effective long-term management plans are in place to protect these economically and ecologically important resources across political boundaries.
But for several years, the governments of Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, the EU, UK and Russia have each set individual quotas for catching North-East Atlantic pelagic fish - mackerel, Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting – that collectively exceed the scientific advice on catch limits. The relevant Coastal States met in October to agree to set overall quotas according to scientific advice. This agreement will be ‘rubber stamped’ at the upcoming North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) on 11 November.
However, while signatories of NEAFC agree to set quotas in line with scientific advice, they end up setting their quota share at a national level, thereby exceeding science-based quotas, by up to 50% at its most worrying point in the case of mackerel. The most recent advice set by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) shows that the catches of Atlanto-Scandian herring, blue whiting, and mackerel in 2023 again exceeded scientifically advised limits by 33%, 28%, and 35% respectively. These limits are recommended to ensure the long-term viability of these stocks and consistently overshooting them, while mackerel and Atlanto-Scandian herring are on downward trends, puts the health of the ocean, economies and livelihoods at risk.
Erin Priddle, Regional Director for the MSC in North Europe said: “The North-East Atlantic pelagics are vital to marine ecosystems, livelihoods and global seafood supply chains and livelihoods. The MSC is urging governments of the coastal states to break this decade old impasse and secure a quota sharing agreement in line with scientific advice. At the upcoming NEAFC annual meeting, it is essential that signatories adhere to their commitment to set catch limits in line with science as stated in their agreed records. With downward biomass trends for both mackerel and AS herring, and fishing pressure up to 135% of advice, we don’t have time to waste before the threat of stock collapse and environmental crisis is upon us.
“Climate change is further compounding the challenges of reaching a stock share solution as stocks move in and out of management zones, not respecting political boundaries, especially for pelagic species which are known to be highly susceptible to stock shifts and responsive to changes in the environment. However, it is becoming increasingly urgent to address the ongoing deadlock and find a quota share solution, nested in a long-term management plan, that embraces climate-ready management strategies that will help build back healthy and resilient stocks. At COP29 it is key that marine resource management is part of the dialogue between nations on finding ways to mitigate against climate impacts.”
Katie Longo, Principal Scientist at the Marine Stewardship Council said: "Climate change is quickly changing our oceans, while global seafood demand continues to rise, so management systems need to urgently adapt to ensure fisheries stay sustainable. We’re seeing the challenges of managing stocks such as herring and mackerel in real time.
“With climate change on the agenda we are calling on world leaders to remember that fish know no borders and so it is down to governments to come together and ensure our oceans are protected and teeming with life for future generations.”
Compared with other protein sources, sustainably caught wild fish has low environmental impacts, giving even greater impetus to the preservation of stocks as a protein source for future generations.
