Glossary:Fish catches taken from stocks outside safe biological limits
Fish catches taken from stocks outside safe biological limits, expressed as a percentage, refers to to the fish catches of a number of stocks that have been assessed to be outside safe biological limits (SBL).
In general terms, a stock is considered to be within safe biological limits if spawning stock biomass (SSB) estimated at the end of the year is higher than the SSB corresponding to the precautionary approach level, as recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Further details on the way ICES formulates advice in precautionary terms can be obtained from the ICES website.