First moves to operationalise a Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) approach to European fisheries management were taken at an ICES workshop recently attended by the NFFO under the North Sea RAC.
ICES scientists at the workshop were tasked with developing guidelines on implementing the MSY approach to its fisheries advice. Such work represents the first practical step towards fulfilling commitments under the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development agreement which sets a target date of 2015 to maintain or recover fisheries to levels consistent with Maximum Sustainable Yield. MSY based catch options including step-by-step options towards the 2015 target are expected to be included in ICES advice for 2011.
