GES for the descriptor "Condition of commercial fish and shellfish stocks" is achieved "when the fishing mortality rate is not higher for all commercially exploited fish and shellfish populations in the North Sea than the corresponding FMSY target, the spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above BMSY trigger, and the populations of harvested species have an age and size structure in which all age and size classes continue to be represented resembling natural conditions."

The criteria for assessing GES for D3 set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 are as follows: D3C1, D3C2, D3C3.

Explanation: Germany does not update the general description of good environmental status (GES) from 2012 at descriptor level in this reporting exercise. During the reporting period, Germany has worked with the countries bordering the Baltic Sea in the framework of the EU?s MSC CIS process and in HELCOM to develop methodological standards (indicators, evaluation procedures). Specific aspects of criteria and indicators that contribute to a quantitative assessment of good environmental status are reported in the reporting scheme Art. 8_GES. For the assessment of the criteria set out in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848, the relevant assessments under other EU directives shall be taken into account under Article 8_GES, taking into account, as far as possible, the regional assessments that have been coordinated so far and, on a case-by-case basis, supplemented by national assessments.

Cod: ICES recommended FMSY level (not defined in 2018). Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.


Herring: ICES recommended FMSY level (0.21 in the Gulf of 2018, 0.22 in other marine areas). Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.


Sprat: ICES recommended Fmsy level (0.26 in 2018). Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.

Fishing mortality rates for populations of commercial species are equal to or lower than the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The indicator “Fishing Mortality Rate” is used to assess the status of three elements: fish species (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus).

The fishing mortality rate for populations of commercially exploited species is at or below levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY).

Cod: MSY Btrigger level recommended by ICES (not defined in 2018). Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.


Herring: MSY Btrigger level recommended by ICES (283 180 t in the Gulf of 2018 and 600 000 t in other sea areas). Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.


Salmon smolt production is > 75% of the spawning river production potential: in the Tornionjoki and Simojoki. Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.


Sprat: MSY Btrigger level recommended by ICES (570,000 t in 2018). Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.


The perch population size indicator is above the regional threshold for the area: 0.07 in the Gulf of Bothnia, no negative trend in the Bothnian Sea, trend in the Archipelago Sea of 0,18, an increasing trend in the Gulf of Finland. Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.

The biomass of spawning stocks in populations of commercial species exceeds the biomass levels that can ensure the maximum sustainable yield. The indicator “Spawning stock biomass” is used to assess the status of three elements: fish species: cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus).

The spawning biomass for populations of species exploited by industry is above the levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield.

Habitat in the Bothnian Bay: The average growth rate of spawning parent fish is decreasing and the proportion of small individuals in spawning fish is decreasing. Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species. Commercial fish stocks are first assessed by species and then the total estimate for the Finnish marine area as an average of the status of each species.

The age and size distribution of individuals in populations of commercial species indicates that they are in good condition. Older / large individuals must make up a large proportion and the negative impact of resource use on genetic diversity must be small. Indicators to be assessed: 1) 95th percentile of fish length distribution based on records from research vessels: cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus), sprat (Sprattus sprattus), flounder (Platichthys flesus). 2) Proportion of fish above the average first sexual maturity rate: Gadus morhua (> 35 cm), Clupea harengus (> 16 cm), Sprattus sprattus (> 12 cm), Platichthys flesus (> 21.5 cm).

The age and size distribution of individuals in the populations of species exploited for occupational use is indicative of a healthy population. This includes a high proportion of old / large individuals and limited negative effects on genetic diversity as a result of exploitation.

D3: During the reporting period, regional cooperation focused on the development of methodological standards to assess the various aspects of stress and resilience on the basis of Commission Decision 2010/477/EU. The indicators vary in their level of maturity and require further development or testing. Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 gives, for the first time, an explicit obligation on the part of the EU Member States to agree on evaluation elements, thresholds and integration rules in the framework of the EU MSFD CIS process and through regional or subregional cooperation. Germany is actively working with the countries bordering the Baltic Sea in the framework of the ongoing work programmes of the EU MSFD and the HELCOM bodies to establish where a coordinated definition is still missing.

D3C1: The regulation of fisheries and the setting of maximum levels for maximum fishing pressure and minimum spawning biomass are carried out through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of advice from ICES.


D3C2: The regulation of fisheries and the setting of maximum levels for maximum fishing pressure and minimum spawning biomass is done through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of advice from ICES.


D3C3: There is insufficient knowledge of age and size distribution (D3C3) among the commercially exploited species, and therefore there is not a sufficient basis for assessing when good environmental status is achieved. Furthermore, the regulation of fisheries and the setting of limit values for maximum fishing pressure and minimum spawning biomass are carried out through the EU's Common Fisheries Policy on the basis of advice from ICES.