Advice and Recommendations

The Pelagic Advisory Council’s advice on herring stocks highlights the need to follow ICES MSY advice for setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) in 2026, with specific recommendations for various herring stocks including 6a North Autumn spawning herring, 6a South 7bc herring, Irish Sea herring, Celtic Sea herring, and North Sea Autumn Spawning herring. The document emphasizes the importance of addressing data inconsistencies, improving stock assessments, and conducting further research to understand stock dynamics and productivity issues, while also advocating for better management measures and the development of long-term management strategies to ensure sustainable fisheries.

The Pelagic Advisory Council’s advice on the benchmark report for Northeast Atlantic mackerel highlights significant updates to the stock assessment model, including changes in reference points and a confirmed decreasing trend in spawning stock biomass since 2014. The document emphasizes the urgent need for Coastal States to agree on a long-term sharing arrangement to safeguard the stock and calls for the development of a Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) that includes ecosystem considerations, a rebuilding plan, and an analysis of implementation errors to ensure sustainable management of the mackerel stock.

The Pelagic Advisory Council’s response to the draft report on the cumulative impacts of offshore wind farm expansions underscores the necessity for a comprehensive, long-term approach to assessing and managing these impacts to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) across European marine waters. The document emphasizes the importance of addressing significant knowledge gaps through improved monitoring, cross-disciplinary research, and adaptive policy frameworks, while also advocating for the inclusion of fisheries stakeholders in marine environmental management.

The NWWAC and PelAC have submitted their joint recommendation on sprat in the English Channel.

The Pelagic Advisory Council’s contribution to the evaluation of the 2013 Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) highlights that while progress has been made in achieving environmental sustainability and reducing overfishing, the policy has only partially met its objectives, particularly in terms of economic and social sustainability. The document emphasizes the need for improved data collection, better integration of ecosystem-based fisheries management, and enhanced stakeholder engagement to address current and emerging challenges such as climate change and pollution.

The advice from NWWAC and PelAC emphasizes the need for increased inclusion of fisheries in marine spatial planning and protected area designations to balance energy targets with food security and socio-economic benefits. It also calls for improved stakeholder engagement, better coordination among administrations, and thorough assessments of the impacts of offshore renewable energy developments on fisheries and the environment.

The Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) commends ICES for developing the Framework for Ecosystem Informed Science and Advice (FEISA) and expresses interest in applying this framework to specific pelagic stocks, such as North Sea herring, to enhance ecosystem-based fisheries management. The letter also highlights PelAC’s ongoing efforts to integrate ecosystem and climate considerations into fisheries management and requests a meeting to discuss the implementation of FEISA.

The joint advice from NWWAC, PelAC, and NSAC on the implementation of the EU Fisheries Control Regulation emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement and the need for harmonized and practical control measures to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the EU fisheries sector. It highlights concerns and recommendations regarding various aspects of the regulation, including remote electronic monitoring, electronic logbook submissions, vessel monitoring systems for small-scale fleets, serious infringements, weighing procedures, margin of tolerance requirements, engine power monitoring, the use of EMFAF, separate stowage, and digital traceability.

The letter from eleven Advisory Councils highlights the critical need for continued financial support for fisheries and aquaculture in the EU’s post-2027 budget, emphasizing the importance of dedicated funds like EMFAF for sector sustainability and growth. It also underscores the necessity of stakeholder involvement in policy-making and the vital role of Advisory Councils in providing expert advice to ensure effective and inclusive governance.

The Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) expresses disappointment with the outcomes of recent negotiations on access to Norwegian waters for fishing Atlanto-Scandian herring, criticizing Norway’s stance on not recognizing the EU as a Coastal State. The letter highlights the EU’s historical concessions and consistent quota management, arguing for the restoration of access to Norwegian waters based on previous agreements. PelAC recommends that the EU push for access restoration, revisit the stock’s management plan with ICES, and expedite legislative measures to address unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries.