Smelt

The status of smelt in the Northeast Atlantic is virtually unknown. The data that exist show large fluctuations in the stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period.  and there is little information on current fishing pressureFishing pressure:
Fishing pressure is a result of the fishing effort/amount of fishing on a stock, which determines the fishing mortality. Fishing mortality is the share of the fish stock that dies annually as a result of fishing..

There is also little information on the interactions of these fisheries with pursePurse seines:
A ring net in which the net is circulated around a school of fish. Then the net is closed and taken in. This is also called 'purse seine'.  seines and endangered and protectedProtected species:
Many marine species are protected from deliberate or intentional disturbance, capture, injury and killing, and in some cases possession or sale. Species are often protected if they play an important role in the ecosystem or are sensitive to fishing. These marine species are protected regardless of whether they are inside or outside marine protected areas. species. However, seals and birds may be caught as bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards). . Eels play an important role in the ecosystem by being a source of energy for higher links in the food chain. Consequently, (excessive) removal of this species can have a negative impact on predatory fish.

Smelt is managed under the EU Common Fisheries Policy. Furthermore, there are minimal measures to control this catch. The managementManagement:
The regulations surrounding fisheries and aquaculture that ensure that production is carried out within legal frameworks and that sustainability can be assured. of this species is not effective. Late last year a court decided to close the commercial fishery for smelt in the Wadden Sea because of the importance of this species for seabirds.