Moving reference point goalposts and implications for fisheries sustainability

For many environmental indicators, the sustainable status can change because of changes in either monitored state or policy goal. Fisheries provide an intensively setting to investigate relative impacts such change. Key fisheries sustainability indicators comprise ratio between fishing pressure biomass and their respective reference levels. We developed a retrospective database population status, point reported reasons for all data-rich stocks ICES region. derived methods distinguish source (monitored goal) on status. found that points changed frequently (64% populations had changes) with varying magnitudes. Contrary expectation, were often not compensated by thus significantly impacting inferred dependent scientific advice. Across range life histories assessments, dominate revisions over full time series. Overall, before after no significant directional differences would suggest effecting movement towards away from sustainability. Although multiple factors have contributed changes, our results show definition technical basis estimation most important Recognizing are constant but rather form series is paramount quantifying present historical Properly documenting, justifying ongoing challenge.