Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Joseph Bech building 5, Rue Alphonse Weicker L-2721 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
12 April 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 April 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
30 April 2025
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 14 on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine recources for sustainable development which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature'.
SDG 14 aims to protect and ensure the sustainable use of oceans. This includes the reduction of marine pollution and the impacts of ocean acidification, the ending of overfishing and the conservation of marine and coastal areas and ecosystems. SDG 14 has strong interdependencies with a broad range of other SDGs, as oceans sustain coastal economies and livelihoods, contribute to food production and function as a carbon sink.
The indicator can be considered as similar to the global SDG indicator 14.4.1 "Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels".
The Common Fisheries Policy aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector by safeguarding stock reproduction for high long-term yield, improving distribution of fishing opportunities, conserving marine resources and supporting the profitability of the industry. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive takes a comprehensive and integrated approach to the protection of the marine environment and natural resources with the aim of achieving good environmental status of EU marine waters that are ecologically diverse, clean healthy and productive.
4.1. Data description
The indicator presents the model-based median value of fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) in EU marine waters of the North-East Atlantic and adjacent seas (FAO area 27) and the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (FAO area 37) for which current fishing mortality (F) exceeds the estimated fishing mortality consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield (Fmsy). Fishing mortality is a measure for death or removal of fish from a population due to fishing. The fishing mortality consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield is determined by the long-term average stock size that allows fishing at this level. For fisheries to be sustainable, F should not exceed Fmsy– the point at which the largest catch can be taken from a fish stock over an indefinite period without harming it.
The model-based median value of fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) indicates the trend of exploitation: values below 1 indicate sustainable fishing levels (F
Fmsy).
4.2. Unit of measure
Model-based median value of F/Fmsy
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year
4.4. Accuracy - overall
Indicator from non-ESS sources. For assessment of accuracy please refer to the original source (see link to external data source and metadata in section “Annexes”).
Data provider: Joint Research Centre (JRC). Time series for the EU waters of the North-East Atlantic and adjacent seas are provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
For the Mediterranean region (FAO area 37), the information were extracted from the STECF Mediterranean Expert Working Group repositories (reports_en) and from the GFCM stock assessment forms (data).
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year
5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually in April.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
> T+2 years
5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within three years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
Not Applicable
6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
No data for individual countries are presented. Data cover the North-East Atlantic and adjacent seas (FAO area 27) and the Mediterranean and Black Sea region (FAO area 37).
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
Not Applicable
6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Indicator does not refer to individual countries but to FAO areas 27 and 37.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years
6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series starts in year 2003. The EU aggregate is only available until 2021 to respect the time limit set to the Mediterranean and Black Sea time series.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points
6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points. The full time series is updated every year, sometimes including new stocks due to newly available quantitative assessments which can result in small differences from one release year to the next.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
The indicator presents the model-based median value of fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) in EU marine waters of the North-East Atlantic and adjacent seas (FAO area 27) and the Mediterranean and the Black Sea (FAO area 37) for which current fishing mortality (F) exceeds the estimated fishing mortality consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield (Fmsy). Fishing mortality is a measure for death or removal of fish from a population due to fishing. The fishing mortality consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield is determined by the long-term average stock size that allows fishing at this level. For fisheries to be sustainable, F should not exceed Fmsy– the point at which the largest catch can be taken from a fish stock over an indefinite period without harming it.
The model-based median value of fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) indicates the trend of exploitation: values below 1 indicate sustainable fishing levels (F
Fmsy).
30 April 2025
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Calendar year
Indicator from non-ESS sources. For assessment of accuracy please refer to the original source (see link to external data source and metadata in section “Annexes”).
