This year’s annual fisheries negotiations between the UK, EU, and Norway concluded against a stark backdrop – several fish populations around the UK coast have collapsed, with scientists warning that some are now so depleted that no level of catch would be sustainable. Cod, haddock, whiting and herring – species that have long been commercially vital – are among those in crisis.

For the first time in years, there are signs that negotiators may be beginning to accept the reality that pushing stocks to their limits is a recipe for disaster. There appears to be a greater willingness to accept sharp reductions in catch when breeding success is poor or stock sizes have plummeted and rebuilding plans have been prioritised, offering cautious hope that recovery could begin if measures are properly enforced.

The situation remains particularly dire for populations with “zero catch” advice. Outcomes here are mixed, but both the UK and EU seem to recognise that recovery is essential not only for the environment but also for the small fishing fleets that cannot simply relocate to other areas. Persistent problems remain, however, including high levels of bycatch in certain fisheries and reluctance to impose restrictions where they are most needed.

Many catch limits were still set at the maximum scientists believe can be “gotten away with,” leaving no buffer for uncertainty or ecological shocks. Illegal discarding continues to undermine sustainability and hopes for stronger monitoring, such as cameras on vessels or quotas adjusted to account for discards, were not realised. Transparency is also lacking, as the published agreement does not tell the public which stocks will be overfished, despite this being a basic element of managing a shared resource.

Overfishing has long been one of the greatest threats to marine life and fishing communities. The collapse of the once‑vast herring fishery on the UK’s eastern coast is a stark reminder that when stocks vanish, the industries built upon them vanish too. Similar stories have played out worldwide, yet mismanagement continues to drive declines.

There is still some way to go but the government seems to be waking up to the need to curb overfishing with all its terrible ecological and economic consequences. But the path to recovery will require more than words- strict enforcement, precautionary buffers and genuine rebuilding plans. At first glance, the government may finally be taking the crisis seriously, but whether this marks the beginning of a true recovery for depleted stocks will only be clear once scientific analysis of the outcomes is complete.

Blue Marine CEO, Clare Brook, said “We are encouraged by these measures – at last the government seems to be waking up to the need to curb overfishing with all its terrible ecological and economic consequences.”