Atlantic cod

Stock Status Score: Critical Fail

Celtic Sea cod scores a Critical Fail, and the rating is a default red due to continued fishing pressure despite the stock having dangerously low reproductive capacity. There is no precautionary recovery plan in place.

Stock assessments are carried out annually by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The most recent assessment was published in 2026 using data up to 2026. The next assessment is expected in 2027.

Catches peaked in 1989 at over 19,000 tonnes but have since declined. Celtic Sea cod is no longer a target species but is caught as bycatch in haddock and whiting fisheries. Recent catches have averaged around 260 tonnes.

ICES advises that there should be zero catch in 2027 because the reproductive capacity of the stock or spawning stock biomass (SSB) is below minimum scientific levels needed to sustain the population (Blim). SSB in 2026 is 133 tonnes, while Blim is 4,200t. The stock is therefore in a severely depleted state.

Fishers in the Celtic Sea have a bycatch allowance. In 2025 landings were below the allotted TAC (644t). Fishing pressure on the stock in 2025 was 1.44. This is higher than levels associated with Maximum Sustainable Yield (FMSY, 0.29) precautionary level (Fpa, 0.77). The stock is therefore subject to heavy overfishing.

If fishing pressure in 2026 matches the level in 2025, the stock is projected to increase by 28%. If scientific advice was followed, and there was zero catch, the stock is projected to increase by 310%. SSB is forecast to remain below Blim in 2028 under all catch scenarios.

There are a number of management measures for this stock, but they are generally not effective and certainly have not achieved a recovery of cod in this area. There is currently no recovery plan in place.

Cod is not a target species in the Celtic Sea area, but is caught as bycatch in haddock fisheries. Cod is mainly caught in otter trawls and landed by Ireland, France, UK and Belgium. The EU has a multiannual plan (MAP) for stocks in Western Waters, which applies to this stock, but the MAP doesn’t contain any cod-specific measures. It does allow for the fishery to be closed if Blim has been reached, as is the case with this stock. The UK is not signed up to the MAP.

The main management measure is a limit on how much cod can be caught as bycatch (Total Allowable Catch, TAC). Landings have declined considerably in recent years from over 11,000 tonnes in 2012 to 103t tonnes in 2025. However, ICES recommends zero catch for this stock as it is at critically low levels. Therefore, management is not following scientific advice.

In 2025, the bycatch TAC was 644 tonnes. 103 tonnes was landed and discarded. Further reductions in haddock catch could allow slightly bigger increases in cod biomass. Therefore, the haddock fishery needs to be reduced in order to support recovery of the cod stock.

The TAC area does not relate directly to the stock area. Cod caught in the southern Irish Sea (division 7a South, rectangles 33E2 and 33E3) is considered to be part of this stock. On average, around 18% of Irish Sea landings have been reallocated to this stock over the past 5 years. This equates to 1.4% of official landings in divisions 7.e-k. When TAC and stock areas don't match, it could risk displacing fishing effort to areas outside of the TAC limit, but still affecting the stock.

Other management measures for cod include protections for spawning areas. This includes the Trevose Box - an area between Cornwall and Ireland (ICES rectangles 30E4, 31E4, and 32E3) that is closed to fishing during spawning season. Evidence suggests that the Trevose closure has been effective at minimising fishing, although there appears to be some Irish fishing activity in the area.

Technical measures include a minimum mesh size (MMS) for beam and otter trawlers in Subarea 7 and a Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) of 35 cm. As cod mature between 31 - 74 cm, this does not fully protect juveniles. There are restrictions to improve selectivity, and modification of gears to reduce cod bycatch. This includes square mesh panels with a large mesh size, which according to recent ICES reports should help to reduce cod catches. However, ICES also indicates that the effectiveness of these measures should be monitored.

Despite implementation of the above management measures, the stock status of cod in the Celtic area has not improved indicating that current management approaches are not effective.

The EU and UK both have fishery management measures, which can include catch limits, population targets, and gear restrictions. However, compliance in the EU and UK has been inconsistent, with ongoing challenges in implementing some regulations. The goal of reaching Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2020 was missed, with less than half of UK TACs in 2024 following ICES advice. In 2024, the EU and UK reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable fisheries by aligning management with scientific advice to gradually approach MSY. However, no new target date has been set for achieving MSY across all fisheries. The Landing Obligation (LO), an EU law retained by the UK post-Brexit, requires all quota fish to be landed, even if unwanted (over-quota or below minimum size). It aims to encourage more selective fishing methods, reduce bycatch, and improve catch reporting. However, compliance is poor, and accurate discard levels are hard to quantify with current monitoring programmes. The UK is in the process of replacing the LO with country-specific Catching Policies.   

The Marine Conservation Society views Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras is one of the most cost-effective tools for providing reliable fisheries data and aiding informed management decisions. Fully monitored fisheries enhance collaboration, data accuracy, stock recovery, and reduce impacts on marine wildlife and habitats. However, the full potential of REM may only be achieved when it tracks fishing location and documents catch and bycatch, particularly where vulnerable species and habitats are at risk. As of January 2024, the EU is introducing a Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) mandate for EU vessels, including CCTV cameras on vessels 18m or more that pose a potential risk of non-compliance, within the next 4 years. Across the UK, different approaches to REM are being taken and legislation is expected to be in place across all 4 countries within the next few years. 

The Fisheries Act (2020) requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (replacing EU Multi-Annual Plans) in the UK. 43 FMPs have been proposed and are at various stages of development and implementation, these should all be published by the end of 2028. FMPs have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries, although data limitations may delay them for some stocks. It is also essential the UK governments define and adopt a standardised approach or model across the four nations to a universally defined FMP design, to ensure the consistence, quality and coherence of all the proposal FMPs. 

The Marine Conservation Society is keen to see publicly available Fishery Management Plans for all commercially exploited stocks, especially where stocks are depleted, that include: 

• An overview of the fishery including current stock status, spatial coverage, current fishing methods and impacts 

• Targets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best scientific evidence 

• Timeframes for stock recovery 

• Improved data collection, transparency, and accountability, supported by technologies such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) 

• Consideration of wider environmental impacts of the fishery, including habitat impacts and minimising bycatch 

• Stakeholder engagement 

Most Celtic Sea cod is caught by otter trawls, which can cause damage to the seabed and may have bycatch of vulnerable species.

Demersal otter trawls accounted for over 55% of landings. They use doors to hold nets open that penetrate the seabed, resulting in the abrasion of habitat features. The ground sweeps and bridles of the trawl can have similar abrasive impact. However, the impact of trawling is not only related to the gear type and modifications but also the location and scale in which trawling occurs. For example, areas that are used to natural disturbance through tides and waves, are less sensitive to habitat impacts. Additionally, areas not used to mobile towed gears are typically more sensitive.

Seine nets landed 27% of cod in 2025. This gear can have habitat impacts, although to a lesser extent than trawling. Bycatch of vulnerable sharks and rays has been reported for seine nets in the area.

Around 11% of Celtic Sea cod catches are by beam trawls, which penetrate the seabed, resulting in the abrasion of habitat features and bycatch of benthic species such as corals and sponges.

Trawling is also associated with discarding of unwanted fish, i.e. undersized and/or non-quota and/or over-quota species. However, Celtic Sea cod is not targeted, but is caught as bycatch itself by the haddock fishery. Therefore, bycatch of other non-vulnerable species is not scored.

Trawl gears in the Celtic Seas have been observed to have a high bycatch of elasmobranchs, including vulnerable species. However, there is a lack of information regarding catch rates and there is low observer coverage. Therefore, it is difficult to fully understand the impact of the fishery on ETP species.

The main mitigation measures are Marine Protected Areas, some of which are designated for benthic features. If those MPAs were found to be subjected to bottom trawling, we would consider it a default red rating unless there is evidence (e.g. environmental impact assessment) indicating the activity does not damage the integrity of the site.