Beukhof et al (2025) From bycatch to litter: a systematic map of the ecological impacts of fishing in European seas Springer Nature
This large review brings together evidence from over 500 scientific studies examining the ecological impacts of fishing in European seas, ranging from bycatch to seabed disturbance and marine litter. The results show that demersal trawl fisheries are by far the most studied, with impacts mainly focused on catch and bycatch of organisms and physical disturbance of the seabed. In contrast, passive gears such as pots, gillnets, trammel nets and longlines are much less represented in the scientific literature, particularly regarding their broader ecosystem effects. Other topics, including discarding, fisheries-related litter and impacts on food webs are also comparatively understudied. Overall, the paper shows that the scientific evidence base is uneven and contains important knowledge gaps across gear types, highlighting the need for balanced, ecosystem-based management that considers multiple pressures—not bottom fishing alone—when shaping marine policies in Europe
