ICES has issued zero catch advice for haddock, cod, whiting and herring in the Celtic Sea. "This will have serious consequences for fishing and coastal communities that have relied on those stocks for generations," the Council stated.
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The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has released its annual advice on fishing opportunities in several key European zones for 2026, covering 48 demersal and benthic fish stocks across the North Sea, Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay, and the Iberian coast.
The new advice is based on assessments conducted by ICES scientists from across its network, involving field data collection at ports and at sea, as well as stock assessment and advisory groups.
The outlook for the Celtic Seas ecoregion (including the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea) is described by ICES as particularly poor. The organisation reports that many fish stocks in this region are in decline, despite a reduction in fishing mortality over the past decade, with the number of stocks falling below critical biomass thresholds continuing to rise.
For the first time, ICES is advising zero-catch for haddock in the Celtic Sea, following what it describes as "three consecutive years of minimal to no recruitment."
Zero-catch advice has also been issued for cod, whiting, and herring stocks in the same area.
"This will have serious consequences for fishing and coastal communities that have relied on those stocks for generations," ICES stated in a press release announcing the 2026 advice.
Colm Lordan, Chair of the ICES Advisory Committee, said: “The situation in the Celtic Sea and Irish Sea is particularly concerning. Many factors seem to be impacting productivity in the area -- the situation is complex and, likely, fishing is not the only issue, but it is the only factor we can control to give these stocks the best chance of recovery."
In contrast, the North Sea is showing more stable conditions for several species. ICES reports that haddock, whiting, plaice, and witch stocks remain in relatively healthy condition, with biomass levels described as high. However, stocks in the English Channel are said to be more varied, with some declining while others, such as sea bass, show signs of increase.
In the Bay of Biscay and along the Iberian coast, the overall outlook is more positive. ICES states that many stocks in these areas are being fished sustainably, with biomasses either close to historical highs or well above critical limits.
ICES also announced that advice for several stocks will be delayed until the autumn. This includes northern shelf cod, North Sea sole, turbot in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, and megrim in the Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay. The delay is intended to allow further scientific development and quality assurance, ICES said.
The latest advice can be found on ICES website.