UK Biodiversity Indicator B2, Sustainable fisheries

This spreadsheet is the underlying data for the biodiversity indicator B2, Sustainable fisheries. Fish are an integral component of marine biodiversity. They are an important element of the food chain for seabirds, seals and cetaceans and are a source of food and employment for people. Sustainable fisheries will help to ensure marine ecosystems remain diverse and resilient and provide a long-term and viable fishing industry. The indicator shows the percentage of fish stocks in seas around the UK that are both harvested sustainably and are at full reproductive capacity. It is based on a group of seven species in 13 stocks for which there are reliable estimates of fishing mortality and spawning biomass, together with precautionary reference points for fishing mortality and biomass that allow the sustainability of the stocks to be evaluated. The indicator stocks include a range of local and widely distributed finfish species of major importance to the UK fishing industry. This is one of a suite of 24 UK biodiversity indicators published by JNCC on behalf of Defra; the latest publication date was 19 January 2016 - for indicator B2 the latest data are for 2013. The supporting technical spread sheet lists the stocks used to create the indicator.