North Sea Herring Fisheries Management Plan

Glossary

Biomass - The total mass of a fish stock in a defined area at a given time.

Bycatch- Non-target species that are caught unintentionally during fishing operations.

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) - An approach to fisheries management that considers the broader marine ecosystem, including habitats, predator-prey relationships, and environmental impacts.

Fishing Mortality (FMSY) - The rate at which fish are removed from a stock due to fishing.

Harvest Control Rule (HCR) - A pre-agreed rule that sets how fishing opportunities (e.g. TACs) are adjusted in response to changes in stock status.

Long-Term Management Strategy (LTMS) - An agreed framework used by coastal states to guide sustainable management of a fish stock over time, typically including a harvest control rule.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) - The largest average catch that can be taken from a stock over the long term without compromising its sustainability.

Pelagic species - Fish that live in the water column (mid-water), rather than near the seabed (e.g. herring, mackerel).

Precautionary approach - A management principle where action is taken to avoid risk of serious harm to stocks or ecosystems, even where there is scientific uncertainty.

Quota - The share of a Total Allowable Catch allocated to a country, administration, or fleet segment.

Recruitment - The number of young fish entering a stock or fishery each year.

Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) - The total weight of all mature fish capable of reproducing.

Stock - A population of a species that is managed as a unit.

Total Allowable Catch (TAC) - The maximum quantity of fish that can be caught from a stock in a defined period (usually annually).

Trilateral negotiations - Annual negotiations between the UK, EU, and Norway to agree TACs and management measures for shared stocks.

Technical measures - Regulations governing how, where, and when fishing takes place (e.g. gear restrictions, mesh sizes, minimum landing sizes).

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) - A satellite-based system used to track fishing vessel location and activity.