FMSY is good 0 9 FMSY is better

FMSY is good 0. 9 FMSY is better 0. 9 MSY is best

Towards Healthy Fish Stocks and Profitable Fisheries in Europe Rainer Froese IFM-GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany rfroese@ifm-geomar. de EC, 22 June 2010, Brussels

What is a Stock? • A stock is the exploited part of a population of fishes • The total weight of the stock is called biomass (B) • SSB is the Spawning Stock Biomass, i. e. , the total weight of the adults

Sardine Biscay and off Portugal ICES 2010

What is MSY? • MSY is the Maximum Sustainable Yield • MSY is the maximum catch that the stock can deliver on a regular basis • Catches above MSY shrink the stock

Cod, Eastern Baltic MSY Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

What is BMSY? • BMSY is the stock size that can produce the maximum sustainable yield • BMSY is the central reference point of the Law of the Sea and UNFSA (1995) with regard to fisheries Can not produce MSY Depleted BMSY Stock biomass B Can produce MSY Unfished

Cod, Eastern Baltic BMSY Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

What the hell is F? • F is the rate by which fish are removed from the stock by fishing (fishing mortality) • F can be translated into the percentage of the stock that is taken by the fishery F 0. 1 0. 2 0. 3 0. 4 0. 5 0. 6 0. 7 0. 8 0. 9 1. 0 % 10 18 26 33 39 45 50 55 59 63

What is FMSY? • FMSY is the fishing mortality that will lead to BMSY • F < FMSY leads to stock sizes above BMSY • F > FMSY shrinks the stock below BMSY Greenland halibut FMSY % Cod, herring Sandeel 0. 11 0. 24 0. 43 10 21 35 Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

Cod, Eastern Baltic BMSY Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

What is the biomass of European stocks relative to BMSY?

Biomass of European Stocks Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

What is the fishing mortality of European stocks relative to FMSY

Fishing Pressure on European Stocks Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

What are the landings relative to MSY?

Landings and Biomass of European Stocks in 2007 Froese et al. , submitted

Will Europe be able to rebuild its stocks by 2015?

Rebuilding European Fish Stocks Average size of 54 European fish stocks (bold blue line). The upper arrow indicates the path, if 75% of the stocks were to reach the internationally agreed target in 2015. The lower arrow shows the current trend. Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

Will Europe be able to rebuild its stocks by 2015? NO

Will Europe be able to at least reduce fishing mortality to FMSY by 2015?

Fishing Pressure on European Fish Stocks Damanaki proposal Average fishing pressure on 54 European fish stocks. The lower arrow indicates the path if 75% of the stocks were to be fished at the maximum sustainable rate in 2015. However, with the current trend that target will be missed by more than 30 years. Froese & Proelß Fish & Fisheries 2010

Will Europe be able to at least reduce fishing mortality to FMSY by 2015? YES If the Damanaki proposal succeeds

FMSY is good because it leads to the biomass that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (Damanaki proposal) 0. 9 FMSY is better 0. 9 MSY is best

Why is 0. 9 FMSY better than FMSY? • Because it increases stock size to 30% above BMSY • Because larger stock size means lower cost of fishing -> Maximum Economic Yield • Because international agreements (UNFSA 1995) asks for Ftarget < FMSY • Because the precautionary principle demands a safety distance to FMSY and BMSY

FMSY is good because it leads to the biomass that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (Damanaki proposal) 0. 9 FMSY is better because it leads to larger stocks, larger profits, more safety, and compliance with international agreements 0. 9 MSY is best

Why is 0. 9 MSY better than 0. 9 FMSY? • Because 0. 9 MSY has all the advantages of 0. 9 FMSY In addition • 0. 9 MSY avoids exceeding MSY (FMSY will do that, thereby creating an incentive for overcapacity) • 0. 9 MSY provides stability for the industry (same landings as long as B > BMSY) • 0. 9 MSY is a simple, transparent rule that is easily communicated to stakeholders

0. 9 MSY Harvest Control Rule Move stocks here. Landings may then be 60% higher Froese et al. , submitted

FMSY is good because it leads to the biomass that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (Damanaki proposal) 0. 9 FMSY is better Because, in addition to the previous, it avoids overcapacity, provides stability for the industry, and is easy to understand because it leads to larger stocks, larger profits, more safety, and compliance with international agreements 0. 9 MSY is best Thank You Rainer Froese, IFM-GEOMAR