Joint NGO recommendations to the UK on fishing opportunities for 2025

These joint NGO recommendations to the governments of the United Kingdom and of its devolved administrations regarding catch limits in the Northeast Atlantic for 2025 were co-signed by 13 NGOs (ClientEarth, Angling Trust, Bass Angling Conservation, Blue Marine Foundation, Marine Conservation Society, Northern Ireland Marine Task Force, Oceana UK, Open Seas, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Shark Trust, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Wildlife and Countryside Link and WWF-UK). In this document, we jointly call on the UK to work with the EU and third countries to agree sustainable fishing opportunities for 2025 that end overfishing, significantly contribute to restoring and/or maintaining all fish populations above healthy levels and safeguard marine ecosystem functions.

This means setting precautionary fishing opportunities well below the best available scientific single-stock advice for maximum catches, in order to end overfishing and maximise long-term ecosystem health, productivity and resilience in the face of mounting pressures like climate change. We provide clear recommendations regarding:

• the setting of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 2025, including suggestions for how to apply additional precaution in the face of uncertainty and knowledge gaps regarding relevant ecosystem dynamics and impacts,
• the management of fish stocks shared with third parties, including the EU,
• the need to use mixed fisheries and interspecies considerations and implement an ecosystem-based approach in order to safeguard the most vulnerable stock(s),
• the correct implementation of the landing obligation,
• the management of depleted stocks with zero or very low catch advice,
• the management of stocks not subject to a TAC (such as European eel and sea bass), and
• the management of deep-sea stocks.

Related links:

Find other files produced or co-signed by ClientEarth related to the annual negotiations on fishing opportunities from 2015 onwards here.