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April 29, 2014

EU’s Most Wanted

BY: Peter Pierrou

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© OCEANA Carlos Minguell

 

A new report released by the European Commission paints a broad overview of European fisheries. Here are some key facts for you:

  • Despite a shrinking EU fleet – with less fishing capacity in the past – many EU stocks are still overfished.
  • In the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the number of stocks considered to be fished at sustainable levels has dropped since 2010.
  • Spain captures the most fish in the EU, with blue shark accounting for the greatest share of catches. This species is fished in all of the world’s major oceans – with no catch limits or management measures.

According to the report, these are the most captured species in EU fisheries. It’s a lot of fish, no doubt – and the ones highlighted are just a fraction of the more than 800 species taken by EU fleets:

Click on each image to enlarge.

Number 1:  Herring, 509 951 tonnes

© OCEANA Carlos Minguell

Number 2: Sprat, 413 415 tonnes

© OCEANA LX

Number 3: Mackerel, 376 333 tonnes

© OCEANA Jose Rodríguez

Number 4: Sandeel, 335 023 tonnes

© OCEANA / Carlos Suárez

Number 5: Sardine, 307 963 tonnes

 © OCEANA / Marta Carreras

Number 6: Horse mackerel, 159 756 tonnes

© OCEANA / Juan Cuetos

Number 7: Cod, 146 634 tonnes

© OCEANA / Carlos Minguell

Number 8: Jack and horse mackerels, 133 531 tonnes

© OCEANA

Number 9: Anchovy, 126 115 tonnes

© OCEANA / Javier López

Number 10: Round Sardinella, 123 600 tonnes

© OCEANA

Number 11: Skipjack tuna, 121 056 tonnes

Flickr/t-mizo

Number 12: Yellowfin tuna, 102 132 tonnes

© OCEANA / LX

Number 13: Blue shark, 100 270 tonnes

© Terry Goss

Number 14: Hake, 85 256 tonnes

© OCEANA / María Pérez

Number 15: Plaice, 82 668 tonnes

© OCEANA / Carlos Minguell