Risk assessments and tools for fisheries management

We have developed risk assessment frameworks which can be applied to wild capture fisheries.

Our Risk Assessment for Sourcing Seafood (RASS) framework is designed to support commercial seafood buyers and processors in the UK. It provides information on: 

  • the biological status and management of stocks which are landed or imported into the UK 
  • the environmental impacts of catching from  fisheries on these stocks 

RASS applies a framework which scores profiles on a five point risk scale (from 1 very low risk, to 5 very high risk) for four factors: 

  1. stock status 
  2. stock management 
  3. bycatch impact 
  4. habitat impact 

Risk scores are derived from our RASS scoring guidance and assessment is informed by a literature review. 

Scores should not be used in isolation to decide on a purchase of seafood from a fishery. Profiles are designed to: 

  • enable the main features of a fishery to be examined within a structured format 
  • inform buyers of questions they might ask about a fishery and where improvements could be made to improve sustainability 

In 2022 we are moving to a bespoke enquiry service for RASS and will be adding examples of recently reviewed profiles onto this page. You can access recent examples from the links below: 

If you are a commercial seafood buyer looking for a bespoke RASS profile please contact:

Bill Lart
Sustainability and Data Advisor
t:
01472 252323
m:
07876 035 729

Ecological Risk Assessments 

We’ve also been active in developing and implementing methods for understanding the ecological effects of fisheries on a regional scale.  

You can download a guide to Ecological Risk Assessments and a completed risk assessment from the links below. 

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