The marine environment continues to provide important food resources in many parts of the world. Scientific input is vital to meet the challenge of harvesting resources sustainably so as to ensure continuity of supply without degradation of fish stocks or the environment in which they live. Continuing a long tradition of fisheries science in Aberdeen, the Fisheries Research Services (FRS) participates in the international effort to assess fish stocks and contributes scientific advice on the sustainable management of them. An increasingly important role for FRS is the dissemination of scientific information to stakeholders using briefing sessions, information leaflets and its website (link). With the development of global markets for fish products, it is clear that the requirement for scientific information on stocks goes beyond catchers and processors local to Scotland. The website initiative by Seafood Scotland potentially widens the audience and increases awareness of the states of stocks around Scotland and the scientific efforts directed at ensuring a sustainable future.
The opportunity to contribute scientific information to this process and to see it presented alongside other aspects of the fisheries is a welcome development. FRS has provided background material on biology, state of the stocks and management arrangements and most of this is summarised from the FRS leaflets.
In the North East Atlantic the scientific advice for many fish stocks is provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in which FRS plays a major role. ICES has adopted the Precautionary Approach to fishery management and given the uncertainty of stock estimates, defines levels of biomass and fishing mortality rate which trigger management action before stocks reach dangerously low levels. For the stocks to be within safe biological limits, there should be a high probability that the spawning stock biomass (SSB) remains above a minimum level. ICES has defined a precautionary biomass reference point Bpa . If SSB falls below Bpa, then management action should be taken to increase it. In addition, the fishing mortality rate (F) should be below a rate likely to drive the SSB below acceptable levels. ICES has defined a precautionary reference point for the fishing mortality rate, Fpa. If F exceeds Fpa, then management action should be taken to reduce it. ICES has also defined what can be termed ‘limit’ reference points. Blim is set at a value below Bpa, at a point where there is a serious risk that the reproductive capacity of the stock may be critically impaired. Flim is set at a value above Fpa, and is the level of fishing mortality that is likely to drive SSB to or below Blim. The diagram below explains how ICES defines stock status in relation to the reference points described. eg If SSB is above Bpa, the stock is considered to have ‘full reproductive capacity’. This terminology is used in the stock summaries provided here.
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The precautionary approach framework gives important guidance on stock conditions that should be avoided. In recent years there have also been positive developments in the identification of targets of preferred exploitation rate. International agreements now seek to achieve maximum sustainable targets for stocks by 2015.
A number of shared stocks exploited by Scottish fishermen are subject to management plans which generally set modest exploitation rates and apply harvest rules in the event of stock decline. Some of the management advice summarised here makes reference to these. Within Scotland a sea fisheries strategy sets out a sustainable framework for its sea fisheries, and stakeholders, scientists and managers are now active in implementing the policies which move fisheries in the direction of the internationally agreed targets that are embedded in the strategy.
In order to ensure a long term future for fish stocks and all those that depend on them it is vital that user expectations and management actions are aligned with the latest science. Greater understanding across all stakeholder groups will contribute to improved governance and a sustainable future for our seas. The Seafood Scotland website is an important step in extending the availability of information on fish products from Scotland to a much wider audience. I am very pleased that FRS was invited to assist in the provision of background scientific information and we look forward to continuing this cooperation …I hope you will find the content helpful and informative.
Robin Cook
Chief Executive Fisheries Research Services, an Agency of the Scottish Government
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