European fishing methods and scale of exploitation are outrageously bad.
On conservancy of fish, the UK is behind other European countries, even worse than France. ChatGPT can confirm this.
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The UK has made significant strides in fisheries conservation, especially since Brexit, but it presents a mixed picture compared to top performers like Norway or Sweden.
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Strengths of UK Fisheries Conservation
1. Post-Brexit autonomy
The UK can now set its own quotas and fisheries policy via the Fisheries Act 2020.
Committed to a “maximum sustainable yield” (MSY) approach, aligning with international best practices.
2. Science-based management
Scientific advice primarily comes from CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) and ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea).
The UK is still closely integrated with ICES stock assessments, ensuring continuity with EU-era best practices.
3. Quota and control systems
Maintains Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and licensing systems.
Increased use of remote electronic monitoring (REM) and vessel tracking (though patchy across fleets).
4. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Over 370 MPAs covering 38% of UK waters.
The UK has banned bottom trawling in some MPAs in 2023, a move praised by conservation groups.
5. Decentralization and co-management
Four devolved administrations (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) manage their fisheries, sometimes allowing for tailored conservation measures.
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Weaknesses and Challenges
1. Enforcement Gaps
While REM and vessel monitoring exist, enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly for smaller vessels and inshore fleets.
2. Discarding and Bycatch
Discard ban ("landing obligation") is still weakly enforced, and bycatch of non-target species (like seabirds, dolphins) is a known issue.
3. Overfishing of Some Stocks
UK has frequently set quotas above scientific advice (often during negotiations with the EU and Norway), especially for key stocks like cod, herring, and haddock.
4. Brexit-related pressure
Tensions with EU vessels and political pressure to increase UK fishers’ share of quota have sometimes led to short-term decisions over long-term sustainability.
5. Complex Governance
Devolution creates a fragmented system—Scotland and England, for example, have different priorities and strategies, which can make cohesive conservation efforts difficult.
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Overall Comparison
Category UK Norway Sweden Denmark
Science-based quotas

(but not always followed)



(strong adherence)




Enforcement (MCS)

Mixed






Bycatch reduction

Needs improvement






Marine protected areas (MPAs)

Good coverage





Ecosystem-based management

Early stage





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Summary
The UK is better than the EU average, especially in terms of transparency and MPA coverage, but it lags behind Scandinavian countries and Iceland/Norway when it comes to consistent scientific quota setting and enforcement.
If the UK strengthens monitoring and follows scientific advice more closely, it could become a leader in sustainable fisheries in the next few years.