This report evaluates methods from Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and fisheries science to assess the impacts of fishing on exploited fish stocks and the seabed. Three case studies are used to examine feasibility and provide recommendations for the development of the European Environmental Footprint (EF).

For fish stock exploitation, both fields offer suitable methods, but challenges remain in integrating them with the 16 EF indicators. The LCA method follows an “intrinsic biodiversity” approach, where every kilogram of fish removed is considered harmful to biodiversity. In contrast, the fisheries science method takes an “instrumental approach,” considering fishing sustainable if stocks are not overfished and fish populations can naturally replenish. Combining these perspectives with the existing EF indicators is complex, and the report recommends involving stakeholders to identify the most appropriate approach for EF applications.

Regarding seabed impacts, the LCA method is not mature enough for reliable use yet, mainly due to limited global data. However, a semi-quantitative method from fisheries science has been successfully applied in the case studies and is recommended as a new indicator suitable for all EU seafood products.

Lastly, the report explores a fallback option: a qualitative grading system using letter scores to evaluate fish stock status and seabed impact, proposed as a second or third option when more detailed data or methods are unavailable.

The publication is available here.