{"id":22186,"date":"2025-12-05T11:49:44","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T11:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifeplatform.eu\/?p=22186"},"modified":"2025-12-08T11:39:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T11:39:13","slug":"restoring-fish-stocks-exchange-between-life-and-the-commission-on-why-reforming-ices-advice-and-its-use-must-be-a-priority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeplatform.eu\/ma\/restoring-fish-stocks-exchange-between-life-and-the-commission-on-why-reforming-ices-advice-and-its-use-must-be-a-priority\/","title":{"rendered":"Restoring Fish Stocks: Exchange between LIFE and the Commission on Why Reforming ICES Advice and Its Use Must Be a Priority"},"content":{"rendered":"

Restoring Europe\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2014intended as warning thresholds\u2014have 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\u2013prey interactions, natural mortality changes, changing environmental conditions, and the natural age and size structure of fish populations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2014from 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2014not hinder\u2014stock 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\u2014particularly for small-scale coastal fleets\u2014will continue to be seriously affected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reforming the EU\u2013ICES 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

LIFE\/DG Mare exchange May 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

LIFE\/DG Mare exchange October 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Restoring Europe\u2019s 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.\u00a0 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 […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1531],"tags":[306,1537,1566],"class_list":["post-22186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-policy-positions","tag-ices","tag-msy","tag-science","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"yoast_head":"\nRestoring Fish Stocks: Exchange between LIFE and the Commission on Why Reforming ICES Advice and Its Use Must Be a Priority - Life Platform<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeplatform.eu\/ma\/restoring-fish-stocks-exchange-between-life-and-the-commission-on-why-reforming-ices-advice-and-its-use-must-be-a-priority\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Restoring Fish Stocks: Exchange between LIFE and the Commission on Why Reforming ICES Advice and Its Use Must Be a Priority - Life Platform\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Restoring Europe\u2019s fish stocks and the ecosystems that sustain them must be an urgent political priority. 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