Recovery of cod stocks in the North Sea achieved by a change in EU fisheries policy driven by evidence from mathematical models

Narrative

In 2012, cod stocks in the North Sea were assessed as having recovered almost to a level at which their viability is considered to be safe. This recovery followed 3 decades of progressive depletion to only 50% of the safety threshold of abundance. Achieving this recovery required the EU to abandon an earlier ‘closed area’ policy banning fishing in selected areas of the North Sea, and instead enforce drastic cuts in overall activity on national fishing fleets. The policy change was prompted in part by predictions from mathematical modelling of cod populations by researchers at Strathclyde, showing that the ‘closed area’ policy was unlikely to be an effective strategy for recovery. The recovery has so far restored £17 million in annual value to the fishery.

Impact status	Open
Category of impact	Economic and commerce, Environment and sustainability - natural world and built environment