Estimated trends in fishing pressure, by fishing area

The indicator presents the model-based median value of fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) in EU marine waters of the North-East Atlantic and adjacent seas (FAO area 27) and the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (FAO area 37) for which current fishing mortality (F) exceeds the estimated fishing mortality consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield (Fmsy). Fishing mortality is a measure for death or removal of fish from a population due to fishing. The fishing mortality consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield is determined by the long-term average stock size that allows fishing at this level. For fisheries to be sustainable, F should not exceed Fmsy– the point at which the largest catch can be taken from a fish stock over an indefinite period without harming it.

The model-based median value of fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) indicates the trend of exploitation: values below 1 indicate sustainable fishing levels (F Fmsy).