CHAPTER 23
Evaluation of Ecological Effects of the North Sea Industrial Fishing
Industry on the Availability of Human Consumption Species Using
Geographical Distribution Resource Data
J. Robertson, J. McGlade, and I. Leaver
ABSTRACT: This report presents an analysis of the ecological impacts of the
industrial fisheries in the North Sea. The geographical distribution of fish stocks was
used to demonstrate overlap areas where feeding strategies occur. Potential
consumption levels are calculated using specific diet requirements of human
consumption stocks based on consumption rates and trophic efficiencies. Impacts on
human consumption stock sizes indicate a transfer efficiency problem related to food
deficiencies caused by the industrial fishery. The effects of geographical scaling
procedures on the projected consumption levels with different future stock sizes are
investigated to establish management procedures. Recommendations are made for the
development of GIS systems more appropriate for the handling of fisheries data.
Introduction
The North Sea stocks of human consumption fish species have been seriously depleted
by a combination of overfishing and poor or inappropriate capture practise. The Food
and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO, 1994) has recently warned
of the high exploitation levels of North Sea cod, haddock and whiting stocks by the
commercial fishing fleet and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
(ICES) has been giving clear and regular warnings about the depleted state of the cod
stock for many years (Anon, 1995), and has also posted warnings on other stocks. The
current status for North Sea stocks as given by ICES (see Appendix 1) indicates that
many are either overexploited or just at the safe limit. Management advice extends
from reduction of effort to the setting of precautionary TACs based on recent catches.
297
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-lnformation Systems, 297–347.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
Evaluation of Ecological Effects of the North Sea Industrial Fishing
Industry on the Availability of Human Consumption Species Using
Geographical Distribution Resource Data
J. Robertson, J. McGlade, and I. Leaver
ABSTRACT: This report presents an analysis of the ecological impacts of the
industrial fisheries in the North Sea. The geographical distribution of fish stocks was
used to demonstrate overlap areas where feeding strategies occur. Potential
consumption levels are calculated using specific diet requirements of human
consumption stocks based on consumption rates and trophic efficiencies. Impacts on
human consumption stock sizes indicate a transfer efficiency problem related to food
deficiencies caused by the industrial fishery. The effects of geographical scaling
procedures on the projected consumption levels with different future stock sizes are
investigated to establish management procedures. Recommendations are made for the
development of GIS systems more appropriate for the handling of fisheries data.
Introduction
The North Sea stocks of human consumption fish species have been seriously depleted
by a combination of overfishing and poor or inappropriate capture practise. The Food
and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO, 1994) has recently warned
of the high exploitation levels of North Sea cod, haddock and whiting stocks by the
commercial fishing fleet and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
(ICES) has been giving clear and regular warnings about the depleted state of the cod
stock for many years (Anon, 1995), and has also posted warnings on other stocks. The
current status for North Sea stocks as given by ICES (see Appendix 1) indicates that
many are either overexploited or just at the safe limit. Management advice extends
from reduction of effort to the setting of precautionary TACs based on recent catches.
297
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-lnformation Systems, 297–347.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.