A recent study published in Ocean and Coastal management reveals that on average the European fishing fleet catches up to 3.5 times more deep sea fish than the allocated quotas. In some between ten and twenty-eight times more fish is caught than what is allocated by the quotas. Deep Sea species, such as orange roughy, are often slow growing and long lived and are therefore very sensitive to overfishing.
The researchers behind the study conclude that the results illustrate the ineffectiveness in EU fisheries management and the lack of control ensuring compliance with the rules. Not only have scientifically proposed TAC levels been exceeded during Council negotations, but the agreed quotas have also not been complied with. They argue that this mismanagement has undermined the long-term sustainability of several stocks, with urgent management measures required to ensure the sustainability of these fisheries.