ICES Advice 2007, Book 1 - Introduction, Overviews and Special Requests

1 INTRODUCTION, OVERVIEW AND SPECIAL REQUESTS 1

1.1 About ICES 1

1.2 General guidelines for the ICES advice 2

1.2.1 Precautionary approach 2

1.2.2 Maximum sustainable yield 5

1.2.3 Ecosystem approach 5

1.2.4 European Marine Strategy 6

1.3 Structure of the Report 6

1.3.1 A regional orientation 6

1.3.2 Ecosystem overviews 7

1.3.3 Human impacts on the ecosystem 8

1.3.4 Assessment and advice 8

1.3.5 Single stock summaries 8

1.4 Basis for the advice 8

1.4.1 Data used and data quality 8

1.4.2 Assessing the status of fish stocks 9

1.4.3 Evaluations of management plans 10

1.4.4 Three layers in providing fisheries advice 10

1.4.4.1 Single stock exploitation boundaries 10

1.4.4.2 Mixed fisheries advice 10

1.4.4.3 Ecosystem aspects 11

1.4.5 Quality of the advice 11

1.5 Answers to non-Ecoregion specific Special Requests 12

1.5.1 EC DG Fish 12

1.5.1.1 Status of fish stocks managed by the Community in the Northeast Atlantic 12

1.5.1.2 Status of small cetaceans and bycatch in European waters 15

1.5.1.3 Review of the Data Collection Framework: Definition of environmental indicators to measure the impacts of fisheries on the marine ecosystem 19

1.5.2 HELCOM 22

1.5.3 NASCO 22

1.5.4 NEAFC 22

1.5.5 OSPAR 22

1.5.5.1 Quality assurance of biological measurements 22

1.5.5.2 Progress on the assessment of the changes in the distribution and abundance of marine species in the OSPAR maritime area in relation to changes in hydrodynamics and sea temperature 23

1.5.5.3 Scoping of an assessment of the environmental impact of fisheries 52

1.5.5.4 Development of EcoQO on changes in the proportion of large fish and evaluation of size-based indicators 59

1.5.5.5 An integrated framework for ecosystem advice in European Seas 65

1.5.5.6 Development of JAMP monitoring guidelines 78

1.5.5.7 OSPAR OECD test protocols for EDCs 105

1.5.5.8 Background concentrations of contaminants in biota and sediments 111

1.5.6 Additional Advice 115

1.5.6.1 Progress on integrated chemical biological effects 115

1.5.6.2 Progress in the BEQUALM Programme 118

1.5.6.3 Integrated methods for assessments of effects on biota from flame retardants 122

1.5.6.4 Harmonisation of biological effect methods in the EU 125

1.5.6.5 Update on methods for biological effects monitoring 129

1.5.6.6 Fish Disease Index – an assessment tool 143

1.5.6.7 New disease trends in wild and cultured fish and shellfish 146