EU request on distributional shifts in fish stocks

Distributional changes were found for 16 of the 21 fish species analysed. Half of these changes affect the relative distribution of these species across TAC management areas. The drivers for the changes in distribution of most of the analysed species are linked to the environmental conditions (i.e. mostly through sea temperature), but for some species fishing also played an important role. Changes in these drivers have caused changes in fish distribution, mediated through a number of mechanisms that are species- as well as stock-dependent. Future changes in these drivers will further affect the fish distribution and may affect more species/stocks than have currently been detected. ICES cannot predict these changes at present.