NSAC urges balanced 2026 TACs for cod, haddock, plaice and other North Sea stocks, warning rigid quota cuts risk economic damage
The North Sea Advisory Council (NSAC) has published its formal advice on 2026 fishing opportunities, warning that the European Commission and Council must resist rigid, over-precautionary quota cuts that risk crippling fishing communities.
The body insists that Total Allowable Catches (TACs) must reflect the realities of mixed fisheries, climate impacts and socio-economic pressures, rather than relying solely on single-stock advice.
Cod Still At The Centre Of Debate
North Sea cod remains one of the most controversial species. The NSAC stresses that, despite the stock’s fragile status, cod cannot be avoided in mixed demersal fisheries targeting haddock, saithe and whiting.
The Council warns that, “Cod is a choke species in mixed demersal fisheries. Severe reductions in its TAC could force vessels to tie up, even where other stocks remain healthy.” It calls for careful use of bycatch provisions and flexibility to prevent entire fleets being paralysed.
Haddock: Key Economic Driver
For haddock, the NSAC acknowledges that the ICES scientific advice signals reductions, but it argues that managers must consider the fleet-level consequences. The advice notes, “Haddock is a key economic driver for many fleets, and management must weigh both the science and the consequences of large cuts.”
The Council calls for a balanced TAC that avoids unnecessary shocks to fishing businesses.
Saithe: Importance For Fleet Stability
On saithe, the NSAC underlines its importance as both a target species and a stabilising factor in mixed fisheries. It notes that maintaining a viable saithe TAC is critical to sustaining revenues for offshore fleets, particularly in Scotland and Denmark. The advice cautions against any reduction that would undermine this balance.
Whiting: Data Uncertainty And Caution
Whiting continues to pose challenges due to patchy data and uncertainty in the assessments. The NSAC notes that “relying on precautionary advice without addressing underlying data gaps risks creating long-term distortions.” It argues for investment in better monitoring and surveys before large-scale reductions are imposed.
Plaice: Disconnect Between Data And TACs
The NSAC points to plaice as an example of where management risks becoming overly cautious. “Where evidence shows stable or improving trends, TACs should reflect this rather than defaulting to conservative positions,” it says. The Council insists that unnecessarily restrictive TACs for plaice would create artificial choke risks in mixed fisheries.
Nephrops: Vital For Inshore And Offshore Fleets
For nephrops (Norway lobster), the NSAC stresses its role as a lifeline species, especially for inshore and mixed trawl fleets. It says TACs must be aligned with stock health at functional unit level and warns against blunt, across-the-board cuts.
The advice highlights the need for “more granular management to safeguard both sustainability and fleet viability.”
Herring: Key Pelagic Resource
On North Sea autumn-spawning herring, the NSAC notes the importance of maintaining TACs that reflect the species’ role as a cornerstone pelagic stock. It acknowledges ongoing challenges in recruitment but cautions against disproportionate reductions that would destabilise the pelagic sector.
Sole And Other Flatfish
For North Sea sole, the advice mirrors its plaice comments: TACs should be consistent with stock trends, avoiding precautionary reductions that lack justification. The NSAC adds that sole, alongside plaice, is critical for balance in the flatfish segment of the fleet.
Mixed Fisheries And Climate Change
Beyond single stocks, the Council presses for greater use of mixed-fisheries analysis, warning that without it, “perverse outcomes arise where fishermen are penalised for unavoidable bycatches.”
Climate change is also flagged as a driver of shifting distributions. The NSAC says: “Distribution shifts in key stocks are already evident, and these environmental drivers must be built into management decisions.”
Policy Process And Data Gaps
The advisory body continues to express frustration at persistent data gaps, particularly for data-poor species. It says, “Over-precautionary measures in the absence of robust data can result in unnecessary hardship without demonstrable benefit.”
The NSAC also accuses the Commission of poor communication, warning that opaque decision-making undermines trust in the Common Fisheries Policy process.
Looking To December Council
The NSAC’s advice will feed into the Commission’s TAC proposals for 2026, which are expected later this year, before negotiations at the December Fisheries Council. The document concludes:
“While sustainability remains a shared goal, achieving it requires management that is practical, adaptive and rooted in the realities of mixed fisheries. Otherwise, the risk is not just to fish stocks, but to the future of the communities that depend on them.”
