TAC’s and the European Quota System

The Danish fishmeal and fish oil industry operates under the EU Common Fisheries Policy and adheres strictly to the principle of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). This approach aims to ensure that fishing pressure remains within biologically sustainable limits, enabling healthy stock reproduction and long-term resource availability. For the industrial species used in fishmeal and fish oil production——comprehensive, data-rich stock assessments are conducted annually or biannually. These species are among the most scientifically monitored in European waters, with assessments incorporating a wide range of data, including survey indices, catch data, age structure, spawning biomass, and environmental variables such as temperature and plankton availability.

Scientific advice is delivered by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES- lastest advice here) and reviewed by the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF). These independent advisory bodies use quantitative stock models and follow established assessment protocols to estimate stock status and recommend catch limits. On this basis, the European Commission proposes Total Allowable Catches (TACs), which are then agreed upon by the Council of Fisheries Ministers. This process ensures that political decisions on quotas are grounded in peer-reviewed science, with built-in mechanisms to account for uncertainty, ecosystem variability, and long-term sustainability objectives.

This evidence-based framework makes Denmark’s fishery for industrial species one of the most data-driven and scientifically regulated in the world.

The final decision on TACs rests with the Council of Fisheries Ministers, ensuring a balance between science, policy, and long-term resource stewardship. Significantly, the Commission’s proposal incorporates substantial contributions from stakeholders with Advisory Councils (ACs) playing a pivotal role in shaping decisions.

Interaction with biodiversity

Forage fish fisheries in Europe—targeting species such as sandeel, sprat, and Norway pout—are generally considered to have a limited direct impact on biodiversity when managed appropriately. The recent technical service from ICES has outlined how ecosystem considerations are incorporated into single-stock advice for these species.

In particular, ICES takes into account the role of forage fish as prey for higher trophic level predators, including seabirds, marine mammals, and larger fish. This is achieved through the use of quantitative ecosystem models that estimate predator biomass and prey consumption rates. These models help assess whether sufficient biomass is left in the ecosystem to maintain predator populations when setting catch limits. ICES applies this approach using extensive historical datasets, particularly in data-rich areas such as the North Sea. While management remains focused on individual stock status, the incorporation of ecosystem-level interactions reflects ongoing efforts to align fisheries advice with the principles of ecosystem-based fisheries management.