Definition: the indicator is based on the concept of maximum sustainable yield, which is defined in such a way that its compliance ensures the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks. The indicator shows the proportion of commercial fish species in the North Sea and surrounding waters whose stocks are within those values, among the 18 fish species for which those values are calculated. The FPB calculates the indicator using data from the recommendations of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

Goal: to achieve 100% sustainably exploited fish stocks.

The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics”.

The Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity of December 2022 has adopted new goals, among which "Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe and legal, preventing overexploitation" (target 5, CBD, 2022).

Since the target is to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics, it can be deduced that the goal is to achieve 100% of sustainably exploited fish stocks.

International comparison: no comparison can be made, since the data are not available on the Eurostat website.

UN indicator: the selected indicator corresponds to indicator14.4.1-Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels.

Sources

• General

  • SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals: United Nations (2015), Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, document A/RES/70/1.

  • Indicators: United Nations (2017), Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, document A/RES/71/313.

  • UN Sustainable Development: https://sdgs.un.org/ (consulted on 18/01/2023).

  • UN Sustainable Development Goal indicators website: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/ (consulted on 18/01/2023).

• Specific

  • CBD (2022), Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework, CBD/COP/15/L.25.

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