EC plan to protect northern hake

by replacing replacing the current recovery plan which has been in place since 2004, and which has successfully helped the northern hake stock recover from almost collapse to the safe target size advised by scientists.

According to the EU, the new plan carries this positive trend forward through an approach that will secure the long-term sustainability of the northern hake stock whilst allowing higher catches, lower costs, less impact on the marine environment and lower discards of juvenile hake. It will notably benefit the long-term profitability for the fishing sector targeting this stock.

The next step, via this proposed new plan, is to bring the stock up to its maximum sustainable yield (MSY), i.e. the point at which the largest catch can continuously be taken from the stock without diminishing its numbers.

A flexible approach will allow catch limits to be fine-tuned in line with the biological condition of the hake stock concerned. Fishing mortality – the proportion of hake removed from the stock by fishing – will be reduced year on year until its target rate has been met. Variations in total allowable catches will, however, be limited in order to ensure continuity in fishing activities.

It’s a pity that stocks have to be almost terminally decimated before the EC will act – the original recovery plan was started, because the stock of adult hake had been brought to the brink of collapse.

Thanks to the inept monitoring, inspection and control of vessels, any plan developed is just about meaningless as the EU try to achieve them whilst still allowing the same degree of commercial effort.

Category: Government