Fish as feed inputs for aquaculture – Practices, sustainability and implications: a global synthesis 45
- Working Group on Northern Pelagic and Blue Whiting Fisheries; and
- working group on the Assessment of Mackerel, Horse Mackerel, Sardine and
Anchovy.
These working groups feed information into the decision-making process through
the ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management (ACFM). The ACFM meets
twice a year (summer and late autumn) to prepare its advice, which is then translated
into operative fisheries management measures by national governments and the
European Union. EU fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea tends to be
focused upon coastal fisheries. In general, EU catch limits or quotas are not applicable
in the Mediterranean Sea, with the exception of limits on bluefin tuna that have been
introduced in response to recommendations by the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT). The work of the General Fisheries Council
for the Mediterranean (GFCM), on the other hand, has focused on shared or straddling
stocks, particularly those involving demersal and large pelagic species. GFCM’s Sub-
Committee on Stock Assessment (SCSA) recently assessed the stocks of 11 small pelagic
species. This assessment will result in the development of management programmes to
control the pelagic trawling and purse-seine fisheries exploiting European anchovy
(Engraulis encrasicolus), sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus)
(FAO, 2006b).
The EU has produced a strategy and action plan to improve scientific advice and
research on stock evaluation in the waters of non-EU coastal states. This plan will
combine actions to (i) improve data collection, management and use; (ii) increase the
level of research, especially into ecosystem considerations; (iii) strengthen the role of
regional fisheries organizations (RFOs); and (iv) provide greater cooperation among
European research and advisory organizations, as well as improve the capacity of
national fisheries administrations to operate within a regional context.
Ultimately, pressure for improved management of feed-fish stocks must come
from both the aquaculture industry and from consumers. One of the barriers to the
environmental certification of aquaculture in Europe has been the inability to be
assured of the sustainability of fishmeal and fish oils in compound feeds. As mentioned
earlier, the sustainable production of fishmeal has become an increasingly important
issue, with feed manufacturers looking to FIN for reassurance. There has also been
growing pressure for independent certification through such schemes as MSC’s
standard for responsible fishing.
Impact of fisheries on marine ecosystems
There have been an increasing number of reviews of the impact of fisheries upon
marine ecosystems, including:
- ICES/SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research) Symposium on
Ecosystem Effects of Fishing (ICES Journal of Marine Science, 57(3), June 2000); - The Workshop on the Use of Ecosystem Models to Investigate Multispecies
Management Strategies for Capture Fisheries (Fisheries Centre Research Reports,
10(2), 2002); - The International Whaling Commission (IWC) Modeling Workshop on Cetacean-
Fishery Competition (Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 6 (Suppl.),
2004); and - The Workshop on Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries in the Southern Benguela
(African Journal of Marine Science, 26, 2004).
Increased utilization of feedfish for human consumption
Small pelagic fish tend to be highly perishable, as the high oil content of their flesh
makes them susceptible to oxidative rancidity, making the flesh soft and susceptible
to physical damage and faster spoilage than white fish. The presence of zooplankton