UNITED KINGDOM — The U.K. government set fishing quotas last year that did not align with scientific advice for nearly 60% of all fish species, according to assessments. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provides data to determine annual catch limits for the U.K. government.

Since 2021, the U.K. has failed to align its catch limits with scientific recommendations for less than half of all species quotas. The U.K. government established a bycatch quota of over 640 tons for Celtic Sea cod this year, despite ICES recommending a zero-catch limit for Celtic Sea cod since at least 2020. Scientists project the total Celtic Sea cod population is less than 590 tons.

The Marine Conservation Society advised British consumers to avoid all home-caught cod this spring. Adult cod populations along England's southern shores have decreased by 99% since 2012. Jonny Hughes, senior policy manager at Blue Marine Foundation, stated, "If you replace the word cod with the word tiger, people would be outraged at the declines." Hughes also described a recent report by saying, "There's not a lot of good news in [the report]."

ICES assessments called for a new zero-catch limit for Irish Sea plaice and maintained zero-catch warnings for Celtic Sea cod, whiting, and haddock. Further ICES reports called for Irish Sea haddock quotas to be reduced by 69% and North Sea whiting catch quantities to be halved. Two-thirds of all plaice caught across EU-U.K. waters are returned to the ocean. In the Irish Sea, six plaice are returned to the water for every one retained.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated the department is "committed to restoring our fish stocks to sustainable levels and supporting the long-term viability of the UK fishing industry." The spokesperson added that "catch limits are set based on the best available scientific advice, alongside balancing the social and economic impacts they have on the fishing industry." Hughes commented, "Successive governments have not been willing to tell the fishing industry 'no', even though it's, quantifiably, not in the fishing industry's best interests to destroy [fish stocks]."

Why It Matters

The U.K.'s approach to fishing quotas, which includes setting catch limits above scientific recommendations for a majority of species, indicates a discrepancy between scientific advice and policy implementation. This practice has implications for marine ecosystems and the long-term health of fish populations. For example, the Celtic Sea cod population is projected to be less than the bycatch quota set for it.

The U.K. Fisheries Act 2020 includes sustainability objectives in its initial clauses but designates them as optional aims in later clauses. This legislative structure provides flexibility in how sustainability goals are pursued. Changes in government leadership, such as an expected change by mid-July, could also influence future fisheries policy direction.