Abstract

Denmark‘s fisheries activities in the Baltic Sea from 1950-2007 were estimated using a ‗catch reconstruction‘ technique. Using ICES landing statistics as reported landings baseline, we used other available data sources to estimate for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) catch components: data source ‗adjustments‘ to reported landings, estimates of ‗unreported‘ (‗unallocated‘) catches, ‗discards‘, and ‗recreational catches‘. ICES landing statistics report approximately 6.8 million tonnes of Danish fish landings in the Baltic Sea from 1950-2007, and our reconstruction estimates an additional increase of 41% to reflect total marine resource exploitation. Cod (Gadus morhua) accounted for 1.5 million tonnes of this 2.7 million tonne increase, mainly through unreported landings. We believe this reconstruction remains a conservative estimate. Improved data collection, full transparency and accountability, 100% observer coverage on fishing vessels, and Vessel Monitoring Systems are some strategies that Denmark should initiate to reduce illegal fishing.