Introduction 35Criticism of the TAC regulation: decision-making process, biological, economic, and institutional implications 36
Material and methods 36ICES assessment of marine populations 37 ICES scientific recommendations, quota proposals, and approved quotas 37Catches, fishing mortality, recruitment, biomass, discards, and exploitation rates 37Three sustainability indicators in relation to the maximum sustainable yield 37
AbstractThis paper combines official data from 1990-2007 for (i) the Total Allowable Catchs (TACs) recommended by International Council for the Exploration for the Sea (ICES) scientists and the proposed and approved TACs and (ii) biomass, recruitment, catches, fishing effort, and current exploitation rates for all marine populations subjected to TAC regulation. The differences between the fishing quotas and the scientific recommendations provided by the ICES were calculated to be 19% after the first CFP reform (1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001) and 21% after the second one (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008). In some species, these differences showed a three-fold increase, in particular those currently considered to be beyond the biological safety limits.Regarding the most important index of abundance, the results also indicate a biomass and recruitment reduction of 75-85% of the stocks and 90% of catches, whereas the fishing mortality increased in 35% of stocks. In addition, of all populations analysed under TAC regulation, 20% presents an increase in the current exploitation rate, 17% did not show significant changes, and the remaining 63% presented a reduction between 1990 and 2007. These results could contribute to the recovery of stocks. However, following the methodology used by Worm et al. who reported that 6 out of the 10 (60%) marine ecosystems examined showed current exploitation rate values that were significantly higher than those that provide the maximum sustainable yield, this study demonstrates that 86% of the populations regulated by TACs present values higher than exploitation rates that give maximum sustainable yield, following an alarming pattern of exploitation. Impact of the TAC regulation (I): relationships among scientific recommendations, proposals, and approved quotas for commercial populations 38
Pelagic species 38European anchovy (Engrasulius engrasulius) 38Atlantic herring (Harengus harengus) 38
Demersal species 39Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) 39European hake (Merluccius merluccius) 39
Megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) 40European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) 40Common sole (Solea solea) 40Whiting (Merlangius merlangius) 41
Benthic species 41Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) 41Impact of the TAC regulation (II): relationships among catches, fishing mortality, recruitment, biomass and exploitation rates 43The dynamics of catches 43
Fishing mortality 44Recruitment 44Spawning stock biomass 44The exploitation rate (U current ) and the maximum sustainable yield (U mmsy ) 44Impact of the TAC regulation (III): p...
