Of the wider total of 104 stocks analysed in Oceana‘s ‘Taking Stock’ report, over a third are being overfished and a quarter have been depleted to critically low population sizes. 

According to the report, this alarming situation is being driven by the government setting catch limits too high, exceeding scientific advice. To prevent the collapse of these populations and safeguard ocean wildlife, coastal communities and the fishing industry itself, the government must urgently commit to setting all catch limits in line with the science, Oceana says.

The UK fishing industry relies heavily on 10 key stocks that are landed by British boats in the greatest volumes. Yet, five of these are either being overfished, like mackerel, or have reached a critically low population size, like North Sea cod.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, chef and campaigner who wrote the foreword to the report, said: “The stark fact is that overfished stocks have one thing in common: they are on course for collapse. If that is allowed to happen, the human livelihoods will go with them just as fast as the marine ecosystems they support. Our government needs to step up today to prevent the UK from losing its fish and starving its seas.”

The Taking Stock report examined a total of 104 populations – the majority of UK commercial fish stocks. Over a third of these are being overfished (34%) and only 45% are sustainably fished: the rest could not be assessed because of lack of data. 

Along with fishing pressure, the report assessed population size, revealing that less than half (41%) of UK fish populations are of a healthy size and a quarter (25%) are in a critical condition. The health of the remaining populations could not be determined due to lack of data, leaving them at greater risk of overfishing.  

Hugo Tagholm, director of Oceana in the UK, said: “Our government claims to be striving for a ‘gold standard’ in fisheries management. Yet they continue to ignore the science and rubber-stamp the rampant exploitation of our seas. This not only puts fish populations at risk, but also everything that relies on them, including marine wildlife and the fishing industry itself. It is time for the UK to show political leadership and commit to catch limits in line with the science and a clear and ambitious strategy to end overfishing.”

The report also considered the top five best (sustainably fished and healthy size) and worst (overfished and low size) managed stocks. Three of the five worst managed populations are in such a state of crisis that a total ban on all catches is advised by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). These populations – Celtic Sea cod, West of Scotland cod and Irish Sea whiting – are frequently caught as bycatch when fishers are targeting other commercial species.

The five best managed populations are typically caught in comparatively small quantities and are of relatively low economic value.