Lessons in marine fisheries resource management: Anatomy of the Celtic Seas and English Channel pollack fisheries closure

The Celtic Seas and English Channel pollack fisheries was closed in 2024. Quota allocations, landings and price, and stock biomass and fishing pressure was combined with first-hand accounts of fisher experience to visualise interacting elements of the social-ecological system prior to closure. Since 2000 quota was reduced in response to declining stocks. The final quota agreed after negotiation between member states exceeded that based on scientific advice in five of seven years between 2016 and 2022. Data limitations created uncertainty in stock estimates, although a decline in biomass for nearly four decades was apparent. The quantity of pollack landed declined both in absolute terms and as a percentage of quota allocated. Fishers believed stocks had been mismanaged, leading to an abrupt change in policy with a lack of consultation and communication. They described multiple negative impacts on livelihoods, families and local communities. Adaptation occurred through costly diversification in target species using new gear, altering effort (distance travelled, number of crew employed), gaining alternative employment, or choosing to retire. By taking a holistic perspective in which economic, ecological, and social factors are integrated, systems thinking helped develop recommendations: (i) stocks should be managed to maintain biomass higher than that which will achieve Maximum Sustainable Yields; (ii) quota should not exceed scientific advice and interannual flexibility should be ceased for stocks below the biomass target; (iii) any subsidies and compensation should enhance sustainability and benefit local communities; (iv) stakeholders should be better engaged in a transparent and well-communicated decision-making process; and (v) fisheries management and policy development should be based on a systems approach. • Systems based fisheries management considers complex economic, environmental, and social interactions. • Pollack stocks were consistently overfished against quota set higher than scientific advice leading to fishery closure. • Small-scale fishers were negatively impacted by the closure leading to a need to adapt. • Stocks should be managed to maintain biomass higher than that which will achieve Maximum Sustainable Yields. • Future management should better engage fishers in the decision-making process.