OceanRep
Assessment of MSC-certified fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic.
Opitz, Silvia, Hoffmann, Julia, Quaas, Martin, Matz-Lück, Nele, Binohlan, Crispina and Froese, Rainer (2016) Assessment of MSC-certified fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic. Marine Policy, 71 . pp. 10-14. DOI 10.1016/j.marpol.2016.05.003.
Text
Opitz_Mar_Pol_2016.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (261kB) | Contact |
|
Text
mmc1.pdf - Supplemental Material Restricted to Registered users only Download (316kB) | Contact |
Abstract
This study examines the status and exploitation level of 31 northern European stocks targeted by fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as being sustainable and well managed. In the first year of certification, 11 stocks (52% of stocks with available data) were exploited above the maximum sustainable level and four stocks (16% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. MSC states that it certifies sub-standard stocks because they will improve once they are in their program. However, after a duration of certification of one to ten years (average four years), no significant changes in fishing pressure or stock size were detected. In the last certified year with available data, seven stocks (44% of stocks with available data) were subject to overfishing and five stocks (21% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. Certification should guarantee that fishing quotas are set correctly and are enforced. However, in 11 stocks quotas were set 20–60% above the level that fishers were taking, whereas in three stocks landings exceeded quotas by 30–50%. The study concludes that MSC should change its rules such that overfishing or unsafe stock sizes lead to immediate suspension of certification and that no certification is issued in the first place for a stock that is already in such a situation.
Document Type: | Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | MSC-certified stocks; Northeast Atlantic; Overfishing; Total allowable catch |
Research affiliation: | OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB3 Marine Ecology > FB3-EV Marine Evolutionary Ecology OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence > FO-R03 OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence > FO-R01 Kiel University Kiel University > Kiel Marine Science OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence > FO-R02 |
Refereed: | Yes |
Open Access Journal?: | No |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Projects: | Future Ocean |
Date Deposited: | 31 May 2016 09:34 |
Last Modified: | 23 Sep 2019 21:49 |
URI: | https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/32957 |
Actions (login required)
View Item |
Copyright 2023 | GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel | All rights reserved
Questions, comments and suggestions regarding the GEOMAR repository are welcomed
at bibliotheksleitung@geomar.de !