ICES announces updates to 2025 fish stock and catch limit

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has released several updates on pelagic fish stocks and Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for 2025.

Total Allowable Catches (TACs) are regulatory limits set on the quantity of specific fish species that can be caught within a certain time period, primarily used in the UK and European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). TACs are established annually, based on scientific advice, to ensure that fishing activities remain sustainable, helping to prevent overfishing and protect marine ecosystems.

TACs are crucial for maintaining fish populations at levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield (MSY), ensuring the long-term viability of both marine biodiversity and fishing industries. They play an essential role in preserving the livelihoods of fishing communities, securing food sources, and adhering to international conservation obligations.

Recommendations for 2025

For 2025 ICES recommends reductions in TACs for most of our target stocks, such as mackerel, and blue whiting. At North Atlantic Fishing Company, we fully support these recommendations, as we recognise the importance of safeguarding fish populations for future generations.

Following the ICES recommendations, the delegations from the European Union, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom (coastal states) have reached an agreement on management measures for 2025. The deal sets a TAC of 576,958t for mackerel, 412,383t for North Sea herring, and 1,447,054t for blue whiting. These figures reflect a 22% reduction for herring and mackerel and a 5.4% cut for blue whiting.

The ICES advice will now be weighed alongside other factors to balance scientific recommendations with commercial viability, helping to establish the final TACs, fishing opportunities and management measures for 2025. This approach ensures sustainable and responsible fishing practices.

Importance of nurturing fish stocks

While the total allowable catch for herring, mackerel and blue whiting have been reduced, this step is vital for nurturing the fish stocks while continuing to provide essential protein for human consumption.

Protecting and nurturing fish stocks is fundamental to ensuring the health of marine ecosystems, safeguarding long-term food security and sustaining livelihoods. Overfishing harms businesses and economies, may disrupt ecological balance, and can endanger biodiversity.

By managing fisheries responsibly, we can maintain thriving fish populations, preserve breeding stocks, and meet the growing demand for sustainably sourced seafood.

It is crucial that all fisheries collaborate proactively to protect and manage fish stocks, as the collective action of every nation is essential to preventing overexploitation, ensuring sustainable stock recovery, and maintaining the overall health of shared marine resources.

Feeding the world sustainability

The global population, currently at 8 billion, is projected to rise to 8.5 billion by 2030 and reach 11 billion by 2100, increasing the demand for affordable, high-protein food sources. Sustainably managed fish stocks are vital for meeting this need, providing a low-environmental impact, nutritionally rich food source.

Pelagic fish, in particular, offer significant health benefits, being low in cholesterol and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, riboflavin, iron, and calcium, making them a cost-effective way to enhance diets, especially in developing regions. We remain committed to delivering sustainably sourced pelagic fish to support global nutrition.

Protecting the future of fish stocks

Our focus is on maintaining the delicate balance between meeting the growing demand for nutritious seafood and ensuring the longevity of marine ecosystems. Through responsible sourcing and careful management of fish populations, we aim to safeguard both the availability of this essential food source and the health of the oceans for future generations.

We understand that the resilience of our fish stocks depends entirely on responsible stewardship and adherence to the best available scientific advice. That is why we will only source fish allocated to us via quotas derived from the ICES recommended TACs for each quota species, ensuring that our fishing practices are responsible and sustainable.