Report | June 11, 2015

Myths and facts about deep-sea fisheries in the North-East Atlantic Ocean

The below document addresses common misperceptions about North-East Atlantic deep-sea fisheries, based on the best available information regarding the status and biological characteristics of deep-sea stocks, by-catch and discard rates of deep-sea fisheries, and EU and international precedents of restricting deep-sea bottom trawls and gillnets.

Myth 1: Deep-sea stocks in the North-East Atlantic are in good condition.

Reality: Of the 54 deep-sea species included in the Commission’s proposal, according to ICES:

  • 21 species are considered to be depleted or at risk of depletion
  • 5 species have one or more stocks that are in stable or slightly negative condition
  • 4 species have one or more stocks that are of unknown status, due to a lack of data
  • 3 species have one or more stocks that are considered to be in good condition

The status of a further 26 species is completely unknown, because they have never been assessed

(see Table 1).1

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