MS/Art8/2018/D3/Belgium/NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea — Marine Information System for Europe

Member State report / Art8 / 2018 / D3 / Belgium / NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea

Report type	Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article	Art. 8 Initial assessment (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due	2018-10-15
GES Descriptor	D3 Commercial fish and shellfish
Member State	Belgium
Region/subregion	NE Atlantic: Greater North Sea
Reported by	RBINS - Scientific Service MUMM
Report date	2020-01-14
Report access	ART8_GES_BE_20200110.xml

Greater North Sea, incl. the Kattegat and the English Channel (ANS)

Simplified table

GES component	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3	D3
Feature	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish	Commercially exploited fish and shellfish
Element	Gadus morhua	Gadus morhua	Limanda limanda	Limanda limanda	Merlangius merlangus	Merlangius merlangus	Microstomus kitt	Microstomus kitt	Platichthys flesus	Platichthys flesus	Pleuronectes platessa	Pleuronectes platessa	Scophthalmus maximus	Scophthalmus maximus	Scophthalmus rhombus	Scophthalmus rhombus	Solea solea	Solea solea
Element code	126436	126436	127139	127139	126438	126438	127140	127140	127141	127141	127143	127143	127149	127149	127150	127150	127160	127160
Element code source	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/	Species (D1) http://www.marinespecies.org/
Element 2	Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 7.d and 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)	Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 7.d and 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)	Dab (Limanda limanda) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Dab (Limanda limanda) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel)	Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel)	Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)	Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)	Flounder (Platichthys flesus) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Flounder (Platichthys flesus) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak)	Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak)	Turbot in Subarea IV	Turbot in Subarea IV	Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.dâe (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel)	Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.dâe (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel)	Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)	Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)
Element 2 code	cod.27.47d20	cod.27.47d20	dab.27.3a4	dab.27.3a4	whg.27.47d	whg.27.47d	lem.27.3a47d	lem.27.3a47d	fle.27.3a4	fle.27.3a4	ple.27.420	ple.27.420	tur.27.4	tur.27.4	bll.27.3a47de	bll.27.3a47de	sol.27.4	sol.27.4
Element 2 code source	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357	Species (D3) http://vocab.ices.dk/?ref=357
Element source	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES	ICES
Criterion	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2	D3C1	D3C2
Parameter	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB	Mortality rate / Mortality rate from fishing (F)	BIOM-SSB
Parameter other
Threshold value upper	0.31	150000.0			0.15	241837.0					0.21	564599.0					0.2	37000.0
Threshold value lower
Threshold qualitative			Positive evolution of biomass index	Positive evolution of biomass index			Positive evolution of biomass index	Positive evolution of biomass index	Positive evolution of biomass index	Positive evolution of biomass index			Positive evolution of relative spawning stock biomass	Positive evolution of relative spawning stock biomass	Positive evolution of biomass index	Positive evolution of biomass index
Threshold value source	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy	Common Fisheries Policy
Threshold value source other
Value achieved upper	0.38	152207.0			0.24	312257.0					0.2	940411.0					0.22	67961.0
Value achieved lower
Value unit	ratio	tonne			ratio	tonne					ratio	tonne					ratio	tonne
Value unit other
Proportion threshold value
Proportion value achieved
Proportion threshold value unit
Trend	Improving	Improving	Unknown	Improving	Deteriorating	Improving	Unknown	Deteriorating	Unknown	Improving	Improving	Improving	Unknown	Improving	Unknown	Improving	Improving	Improving
Parameter achieved	No	Yes	Unknown	Yes	No	Yes	Unknown	No	Unknown	Yes	Yes	Yes	Unknown	Yes	Unknown	Yes	No	Yes
Description parameter	Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 7.d and 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)	Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 7.d and 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)	Dab (Limanda limanda) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Dab (Limanda limanda) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel)	Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel)	Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)	Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)	Flounder (Platichthys flesus) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Flounder (Platichthys flesus) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak)	Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak)	Turbot in Subarea IV	Turbot in Subarea IV	Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel)	Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel)	Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)	Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)
Related indicator	Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 7.d and 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)	Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 7.d and 20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)	Dab (Limanda limanda) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Dab (Limanda limanda) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel)	Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in Subarea 4 and Division 7.d (North Sea and eastern English Channel)	Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)	Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)	Flounder (Platichthys flesus) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Flounder (Platichthys flesus) in Subarea 4 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat)	Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak)	Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in Subarea 4 (North Sea) and Subdivision 20 (Skagerrak)	Turbot in Subarea IV	Turbot in Subarea IV	Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.de (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel)	Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.de (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel)	Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)	Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)
Criteria status	Not good	Good	Unknown	Good	Not good	Good	Unknown	Not good	Unknown	Good	Good	Good	Unknown	Good	Unknown	Good	Not good	Good
Description criteria
Element status	Not good	Not good	Good	Good	Not good	Not good	Not good	Not good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Not good	Not good
Description element	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) above FMSY	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) above FMSY	Based on evolution of biomass index	Based on evolution of biomass index	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) above FMSY	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) above FMSY	Based on evolution of biomass index	Based on evolution of biomass index	Based on evolution of biomass index	Based on evolution of biomass index	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) below FMSY	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) below FMSY	Based on evolution of relative spawning stock biomass	Based on evolution of relative spawning stock biomass	Based on evolution of biomass index	Based on evolution of biomass index	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) above FMSY	Spawning stock biomass (SSB) above sustainable level, fishing mortality (F) above FMSY
Integration rule type parameter	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant	Not relevant
Integration rule description parameter
Integration rule type criteria	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO	OOAO
Integration rule description criteria	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.	OOAO for stocks of category 1.
GES extent threshold	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
GES extent achieved	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56	55.56
GES extent unit	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status	Proportion of populations in good status
GES achieved	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported	GES expected to be achieved later than 2020, no Article 14 exception reported
Description overall status	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.	For the four North Sea stocks - plaice, sole, cod and whiting - the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the safe limits. For cod, this has only been the case since 2016, the other species are already in the safe area for spawning stock biomass. Moreover, for all four of these fish stocks, there is a further increasing trend in spawning stock biomass. For plaice and sole, current values are well above sustainable levels. Only for plaice is the fishing mortality below the safe limit, so only this stock is fished sustainably. From the stocks for which trends are assessed, dab, turbot, brill and flounder have improved in recent years. For lemon sole, a negative trend was observed in the most recent years.
Assessments period	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017	2012-2017
Related pressures	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)	Extraction of, or mortality/injury to, wild species (by commercial and recreational fishing and other activities)
Related targets	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25	D3.T1 D3.T2 D3.T3 D3.T4 Target 19 Target 25