Abstract
The appropriateness of three official fisheries management reference points used in the north‐east A tlantic was investigated: (i) the smallest stock size that is still within safe biological limits ( SSB pa ), (ii) the maximum sustainable rate of exploitation ( F msy ) and (iii) the age at first capture. As for (i), in 45% of the examined stocks, the official value for SSB pa was below the consensus estimates determined from three different methods. With respect to (ii), the official estimates of F msy exceeded natural mortality M in 76% of the stocks, although M is widely regarded as natural upper limit for F msy . And regarding (iii), the age at first capture was below the age at maturity in 74% of the stocks. No official estimates of the stock size ( SSB msy ) that can produce the maximum sustainable yield ( MSY ) are available for the north‐east A tlantic. An analysis of stocks from other areas confirmed that twice SSB pa provides a reasonable preliminary estimate. Comparing stock sizes in 2013 against this proxy showed that 88% were below the level that can produce MSY . Also, 52% of the stocks were outside of safe biological limits, and 12% were severely depleted. Fishing mortality in 2013 exceeded natural mortality in 73% of the stocks, including those that were severely depleted. These results point to the urgent need to re‐assess fisheries reference points in the north‐east A tlantic and to implement the regulations of the new E uropean C ommon F isheries P olicy regarding sustainable fishing pressure, healthy stock sizes and adult age/size at first capture.