Marine

IA2017 – Fish communities show signs of recovery in some areas

July 24, 2017 by Marine Scotland Communications No Comments | Category Collaborations, Marine Directorate general, Marine Directorate Science, Marine Directorate Surveys

Fish communities form a major element of marine biodiversity and are a key feature in marine foodwebs. Fisheries can thus have a major impact on marine biodiversity.

The last OSPAR Quality Status Report (QSR 2010) highlighted, among other issues, that depletion of key predator and prey species and disruption of the marine foodweb were worrying ecosystem effects of fishing. The current indicators look at changes in population abundance of sensitive species, size composition, species composition, and the average trophic level of predators.

The current assessments indicate that fisheries management is beginning to have a positive impact on fish communities but show different responses at smaller geographic scales. The assessments indicate that deterioration has been halted and, in some areas, that fish communities are showing signs of recovery.

Trends in the proportion of large fish in the demersal fish community suggest recovery may continue in most of the areas assessed as long as current pressures do not increase.

OSPAR recognises the competence of national, international and European Union authorities to regulate fisheries and informs these fisheries authorities on any issue of concern it may have with respect to fisheries and the ecosystem.

• Read the chapter in the Intermediate Assessment

Tags: Defra, environment, JNCC, north east atlantic, OSPAR, SEPA

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