Exceedance of fish catch quota RD-9

Resource Depletion Pressure

1 Indicator definition and unit of measurement

Total annual fish catch above fish catch quota, expressed in metric tonnes per year.

2 Placement in the framework

Partly deals with natural resources in Chapter 5: The themes and targets of the programme, section 5.3: Protection of nature and biodiversity, table 10.

Agenda 21 in many of its chapters calls for policies and actions in various areas, that take into account the vulnerability and availability of natural resources, and for an increased efficiency in the use of these resources. Chapter 17: Protection of the oceans, all kinds of seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas and the protection, rational use and development of their living resources, calls for more selective methods that prevent the catch of non-commercial species and juvenile fish.

International conventions and agreements:

Article 130 of the Treaty on the European Union (Maastricht, 1992) calls for prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources. The Conferences of London (1946), Dublin (1958), London (1960), Copenhagen (1961), Hamburg (1962) and London (1963) regulate meshes of fishing nets and size limits of fish. The Conference of Washington (1949) controls the catch of tropical tuna. The Conferences of Tokyo (1952 and 1978) and of Moscow (1992) regulate high sea fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean. The Agreement of Stockholm (1962) and Protocol of Stockholm (1972) call for protection of the salmon in the Baltic Sea. The Convention of London (1964) regulates high sea fisheries and the Convention of Rio de Janeiro (1966) calls for conservation of the Atlantic tuna. The Convention of London (1967) conducts fishing operations in the North Atlantic. The Convention of Rome (1969) calls for conservation of the living resources in the South East Atlantic. The Convention of Gdansk (1973) and of Warsaw (1982) regulate fishing and conservation of living resources in the Baltic and the Belts. The Convention of Washington (1948) and the Protocol of Washington (1956) regulate whaling. The Convention of Geneva (1958) regulates fishing and conservation of living resources of the high sea. The Convention of Ramsar (1971) and the Protocol of Paris (1982) protect wetlands of international importance. The Convention of Ottawa (1978) establishes multilateral co-operation in North West Atlantic fisheries. The Convention of Honiara (1979) establishes control on South Pacific fisheries. The Convention of Canberra (1980) protects Antarctic marine living resources. The Convention of London (1980) establishes multilateral co-operation in North East Atlantic fisheries. The Convention of Reykjavik (1982) calls for conservation of the salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Treaty of Port Moresby (1987) regulates South Pacific fisheries. The Convention of Wellington (1989) prohibits fishing with long drift nets in the South Pacific. The Treaty of Honiara (1992) introduces surveillance and law enforcement on South Pacific fisheries. The Convention of Canberra (1993) calls for conservation of South Pacific bluefin tuna. The Convention of Washington finally (1994) regulates conservation and management of pollack resources in the Central Bering Sea. The World Charter for Nature (1982) proclaims that fisheries practices shall be adapted to the natural characteristics and constraints of given areas.

Core ranking: 9 (29%)

Policy Relevance: 9 (2.8)

Analytical Soundness: 14 (2.7)

Responsiveness: 11 (2.4)

Most appropriate related state indicator:

The total estimated stock of fish in metric tonnes per year, in relation to the natural volume.

The indicator represents the main pressure on fish resources. Fish resources are also affected by pollution, but the effect is hard to quantify. The effect of fisheries on the resources dominates. Salt and fresh water fish should be presented separately because of the differences of scale and character of issue.

Although fisheries are not a very important economic sector it is clear that the production function of the fish resources suffers from shortage. Many conventions and agreements throughout the years have tried to protect the remaining resources and to establish a more sustainable way of fishing. Investigations have learned that for commercial fish species the effect of pollution is evident but that fisheries put by far the highest pressure on the resources. The fish quota are meant to prevent that fish populations do not drop to critical levels which would hamper reproduction. Therefore the indicator which shows catches above fish quota is very relevant for the production function.

Linkages to other pressure indicators:

The European Common Fisheries Policy establishes quota (Total Allowable Catches) for European waters except the Mediterranean Sea. Reference levels for this indicator can be derived from the yearly quota for the commercial species. The quota can be added up in metric tonnes.

4 Methodological description and underlying definitions

Underlying definitions and concepts:

The figures of fish catches are not very reliable. The official figures do not include the illegal catches that are brought ashore. Moreover intensive fisheries change the character of the population. More younger fishes survive, which increases reproduction rate, but at the same time less big fishes survive which affects the ecological function of the resource. Therefore fish catches in relation to quota say something about the sustainability of the production function but not very much about the ecological function.

Measurement methods:

The indicator is measured in metric tonnes per year. The most important commercial fish species, approximately 10, are added up. The yearly figures are related to the total quota for the species. Shellfish are not included as this is considered a form of farming.

Limitations of the indicator:

The indicator does not include illegal catches, which have proved to be a substantial part of total catches. Therefore caution is required in interpreting the official figures. Also quotas are political limits well above limits considered sustainable.

Alternative definitions:

The indicator could be based on the Potential Population Decrease, a figure that is obtained by research on population structure for the different species. This figure includes the effect of the non-registered catches.