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letter-8052497_1280

Restoring Fish Stocks: Exchange between LIFE and the Commission on Why Reforming ICES Advice and Its Use Must Be a Priority

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Restoring Europe’s fish stocks and the ecosystems that sustain them must be an urgent political priority. For LIFE, this begins with fisheries management that draws only on the best available science. 

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) clearly states in Article 2.2 that fish populations must be restored and maintained above levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Yet EU fisheries management has persistently failed to achieve this. A central reason lies in how ICES scientific advice is generated, interpreted, and applied. Biological reference points such as Btrigger and Blim—intended as warning thresholds—have instead been used as management targets, keeping many stocks dangerously close to their lowest viable levels. At the same time, ICES assessments often overlook key ecological realities, including predator–prey interactions, natural mortality changes, changing environmental conditions, and the natural age and size structure of fish populations.

The results are now visible across European waters. Years of overly optimistic biomass estimates and quotas set above precautionary levels have contributed to repeated stock collapses and long-term declines—from pollack, to Baltic cod, herring and sprat, to name a few. These failures point to a systemic issue: scientific advice is constrained by restricted modelling parameters, limited ecosystem context, and governance structures that do not incentivise stock recovery.

To reverse these trends, the EU must scrutinise how ICES advice is produced, mandate more ecosystem-based assessments, and ensure that the design and application of Multiannual Management Plans (MAPs) support—not hinder—stock rebuilding. The unique way in which the EU requests and ICES operationalise MSY urgently requires reform. Without clearer, recovery-oriented guidance, fish stocks will remain trapped in cycles of low biomass, and fishing viability—particularly for small-scale coastal fleets—will continue to be seriously affected.

Reforming the EU–ICES Agreement is the most cost-effective step toward restoring abundance. Science must be empowered to deliver advice that enables stocks to grow, expands fishing opportunities, and rebuilds resilience for coastal communities.

LIFE stands ready to contribute to this reform process and has recently engaged the European Commission through an exchange of letters shared below. By improving the quality and use of ICES science, strengthening decision-making, and integrating the wisdom of fishers, the EU can finally deliver healthy seas, thriving fish stocks, and sustainable coastal livelihoods.

LIFE/DG Mare exchange May 2025

LIFE/DG Mare exchange October 2025

 

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Briefing godkendt af LIFE og 29 organisationer opfordrer til reform af den videnskabelige rådgivning, der ligger til grund for EU's og UK's fiskeriforvaltning

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A recent briefing, endorsed by the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) alongside 29 organisations, draws attention to fundamental shortcomings in the scientific advice used to guide fisheries management in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The document is intended to assist responsible decision-makers – including the European Commission, the Council of the EU, Member States, the UK Government and the devolved administrations – in ensuring that advice on fishing opportunities better reflects legal obligations and sustainability goals.

The briefing, part of a wider series, highlights a growing concern that the current advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), as well as the nature of requests made by fisheries managers to ICES, does not fully reflect all relevant legal requirements or policy objectives. In particular, the briefing calls for a more precautionary, ecosystem-based approach that supports the recovery of fish stocks, safeguards the health of marine ecosystems, and ensures long-term resilience in the face of pressures such as climate change.

Fishers face low quotas and are at risk of further closures because the targets within the scientific advice are not fit for purpose, simply we are aiming to leave too few fish in the population.

Scientific Advice at the Core of Sustainable Fisheries

LIFE and partner organisations argue that scientific advice must form the foundation of effective fisheries management. To this end, the briefing advocates for advice that is explicitly recovery-focused, precautionary, and ecosystem-based in contrast to the current approach which is overly focused on individual stock assessments and insufficiently attuned to broader ecological interactions and cumulative pressures.

Recommendations aimed at improving the robustness and relevance of scientific advice include:

  • Requesting ICES to clarify identified shortcomings in its advisory approach, propose improvements, and offer interim guidance on how existing advice can be used to meet legal and policy requirements;
  • Explicit recognition by EU and UK decision-makers of the existing gaps in the advisory process;
  • Joint efforts between the EU, UK, and ICES to develop a clear and time-bound roadmap for addressing these issues;
  • The application of additional precautionary measures – including setting catch levels below the maximum advised by current single-stock assessments – until more comprehensive advice is available.

The overarching aim is to ensure that fisheries decisions are underpinned by advice that fully supports stock recovery and marine ecosystem health, in line with the legal frameworks and sustainability commitments of both the EU and the UK.

A Constructive Dialogue with Decision-Makers

The briefing was presented at a recent meeting with the EU Commission-DG Mare, attended by approximately 20 organisations, including environmental NGOs, three angling organisations, and LIFE, as well as five members of staff from the European Commission. The discussion provided a valuable opportunity to explore the issues raised in the document and identify pathways toward improved coherence between science, policy, and practice.

LIFE has expressed its intention to remain engaged in this dialogue and to support efforts aimed at strengthening the scientific foundations of fisheries management.

A Broader Scientific Debate

In parallel to these developments, a wider scientific debate has emerged regarding the adequacy of current advisory structures. A recent publication by GEOMAR in Science described a “systemic failure” in European fisheries management, suggesting that only politically independent, ecosystem-based catch limits can provide a durable solution to overfishing in EU waters. ICES has since responded to this critique, prompting further exchange within the scientific community on how best to integrate ecosystem considerations into fisheries advice.

As this dialogue continues, the briefing endorsed by LIFE and its partners adds to a growing call for scientific advice that is more aligned with ecological realities and legal commitments. It underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and a more integrated approach to the provision and application of scientific evidence in fisheries decision-making.

We underline that fishers cannot live with further closures. The scientific advice needs to be adapted so that it provides an analysis conducive to stock growth and significantly lowers the risk of low biomass levels. 

 

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