Fisheries Performance Indicators for Assessing the Ecological Sustainability of Wild-Caught Seafood Products in Europe
2025
Grati, Fabio | Druon, Jean-noël | Gascuel, Didier | Absil, Christine | Bastardie, François | Bonanomi, Sara | Fabi, Gianna | Glemarec, Gildas | Guitton, Jerome | Hornborg, Sara | Iriondo, Ane | Jung, Armelle | Kalogirou, Stefanos | Veli, Daniel Li | Lloret, Josep | Maravelias, Christos | Moutopoulos, Dimitrios K. | Raid, Tiit | Rindorf, Anna | Sala, Antonello | Scanu, Martina | Scarcella, Giuseppe | Tičina, Vjekoslav | Ulrich, Clara | Lucchetti, Alessandro
The increasing global demand for seafood has intensified pressure on marine resources and hence the need to adopt sustainable fishing practices and promote sustainable products. Raising consumer awareness about the variability in ecological sustainability of seafood is one tool to facilitate prevention of marine resource overexploitation, minimise the impact of fishing on ecosystems, and ensure long-term renewal of aquatic resources. Here we propose a simple but comprehensive and generic assessment framework with indicators that inform on the impact of fishing practices on seabed habitats, fish stock status, and bycatch risk of sensitive species for any given product, both coming from domestic fisheries or imported, based on publicly available information. A rating scale from 1 to 5 is used for clarity and effectiveness in communicating the risks. The indicators provide a user-friendly tool for consumers, policymakers, and industry professionals to make informed decisions about seafood sustainability. When applied, significant ecological risks are evident for certain fishing methods. Different fishing gears can catch the same seafood species with varying impacts, making it crucial for value chain actors to make informed choices that support sustainable fishing practices. A clear, transparent, and adaptable scoring system can enhance societal awareness and drive the market toward more sustainable seafood products.
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