World: NAPA study claims Atlanto-Scandian herring fishery could collapse in two years without action

A study commissioned by the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA) indicates the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock in the Northeast Atlantic may be nearing a collapse if steps aren’t taken to halt overfishing. NAPA is one of the groups behind persistent calls for action to end overfishing of Atlanto-Scandian herring, which has faced severe sustainability issues for multiple years. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) suspended its certification for the species in 2020, and since that time, coastal states have continued to exert more pressure on the stock than the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) recommends. The new study by NAPA – which represents a coalition of 70 retailers, foodservice companies, and suppliers – was conducted in collaboration with University of Washington Professor of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences Ray Hilborn and found the Atlanto-Scandian herring stock could be just a few years from its biological limit reference point (Blim) and a ...