Tope

What to check for

Location

North East Atlantic

Technical location

Atlantic, Northeast, All areas

Caught by

Hook & line (longline), Net (gill or fixed)

Rating summary

For more information about this rating please visit: http://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/tope.php

Technical consultation summary

This stock is data limited. Tope is considered highly vulnerable to overexploitation, as this species has low population productivity, relatively low fecundity and a protracted reproductive cycle. Unmanaged targeted fisheries elsewhere in the world have resulted in stock collapse (e.g. off California and South America) and IUCN have listed tope as critically endangered globally. Tope are an EU Prohibited species with some exemptions. It is prohibited to target tope- Critical fail - and a low by catch level is advised of 301 tonnes for whole of Europe (ICES). This continues into 2023/4 with no change.