North Sea Stock Survey

The NAFC Marine Centre undertakes the collation, analysis and reporting of data collected through the Fishers' North Sea Stock Survey (NSSS), an annual survey of fishermen's perceptions of the state of key fish stocks in the North Sea.  In recent years, this work has been funded annually by the North Sea Regional Advisory Board (RAC).

Following a pilot in 2002, the survey was initiated in 2003 by the North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership and has been carried out annually since then, now under the auspices of the North Sea RAC.  The primary aim of the survey is to make fishermen's knowledge and information available to fisheries scientists and fisheries managers.

The survey uses a questionnaire to collect information from fishermen in five countries (Belgium, Denmark, England, the Netherlands and Scotland) about the state of eight fish stocks (Cod, Haddock, Whiting, Saithe, Monkfish, Nephrops, Common Sole and Plaice) in ten areas of the North Sea, and about their economic circumstances.

National co-ordinators in each participating country circulate the questionnaires and return the data collected to the NAFC for collation and analysis.

The results of the survey are provided to the North Sea RAC and to the ICES Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (WGNSSK), which refers to them in their annual stock assessments.

Copies of the annual reports are available via the links below.