Ireland's Fisheries Stock Book 2015

Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services,
Rinville, Oranmore,
Co. Galway, Ireland
THE STOCK BOOK

Report to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Annual Review of Fish Stocks in 2015 with

Management Advice for 2016
NOVEMBER 2015
In the 2015 Stock Book, every effort has been made to use the
most up to date version of the ICES and STECF advice. However, the
final official ICES ACOM and STECF Reports should be consulted for the
definitive advice. For more detailed information on specific stocks the
relevant ICES Working Group Reports should be consulted. The official EU
journal should be consulted for definitive TACs and Quotas for 2015.
The image on the cover shows the Irish share of the international landings
taken in the waters around Ireland in recent years, the size of the pie charts
corresponds to the estimated value at first sale in the top left graphic, and to
the live weight of the landings in the bottom right graphic.
Marine Institute Headquarters

Rinville
Oranmore
Co. Galway
Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)91 387 200
Facsimile: +353 (0)91 387 201
E-mail Information: institute.mail@marine.ie
E-mail Webmaster: webmaster@marine.ie
Website: www.marine.ie
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
ICES Fishing Areas
Introduction
Summary of 2016 Scientific Advice for the Main TAC Stocks
Progress Towards the Landing Obligation in EU Fisheries
The Importance of Catch Sampling for Fisheries Advice
1
3
5
14
16
18
Ecosystem Overview for the Irish Sea

COD - Irish Sea Cod (Division VIIa)
WHITING - Irish Sea Whiting (Division VIIa)
HADDOCK - Irish Sea Haddock (Division VIIa)
NEPHROPS - Overview of Nephrops Stocks around Ireland (Sub-area VII)
NEPHROPS - FU 14 Eastern Irish Sea Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 15 Western Irish Sea Nephrops
PLAICE - Irish Sea Plaice (Division VIIa)
SOLE - Irish Sea Sole (Division VIIa)
HERRING - Irish Sea Herring (Division VIIa North)
20
25
26
32
39
42
49
58
64
72
Ecosystem Overview for West of Scotland and Rockall

COD - West of Scotland Cod (Division VIa)
COD - Rockall Cod (Division VIb)
HADDOCK - West of Scotland, North Sea and Skagerrak Haddock (Divisions VIa, IIIa and Sub-area IV)
HADDOCK - Rockall Haddock (Division VIb)
WHITING - West of Scotland Whiting (Division VIa)
WHITING - Rockall Whiting (Division VIb)
MEGRIM - West of Scotland and North Sea Megrim (Sub-areas IV & VIa)
MEGRIM - Rockall Megrim (Division VIb)
ANGLERFISH - West of Scotland, Rockall and North Sea Anglerfish (Sub-areas IV and VI)
NEPHROPS - FU 11-13 West of Scotland Nephrops
PLAICE - West of Scotland and Rockall Plaice (Sub-area VI)
SOLE - West of Scotland and Rockall Sole (Sub-areas VI)
SAITHE - North Sea Saithe (Sub-areas IV, VI and Divisions IIa, IIIa-d)
LING - (Divisions IIIa and IVa, and in Sub-areas VI, VII, VIII, IX, XII, and XIV)
HERRING - West of Scotland and Northwest Ireland Herring (Divisions VIaN, VIaS and VIIbc)
SEA BASS -West of Scotland and Ireland (Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj)
80
84
93
99
111
118
125
129
137
142
149
150
152
154
164
170
181
Ecosystem Overview for the Celtic Sea

HAKE - Northern Hake (Divisions IIa, IIIa-d, Vb, VIIIabde Sub-areas IV, VI, XII and XIV)
COD - Celtic Sea and Western Channel Cod (Divisions VIIb,c,e-k)
HADDOCK - West of Ireland and Celtic Sea Haddock (Divisions VIIb,c,e-k)
WHITING - Celtic Sea and Western Channel Whiting (Divisions VIIb,c,e-k)
ANGLERFISH - Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay Anglerfish (Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b,d)
MEGRIM - Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay Megrim (Sub-area VII and Divisions, VIIIa,b,d,e)
POLLACK - Celtic Sea and West of Scotland (Sub-areas VI & VII)
PLAICE - Celtic Sea Plaice (Divisions VIIf,g)
186
191
201
210
219
226
240
247
254
Table of Contents
PLAICE - Southwest of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIh-k)

PLAICE - West of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIb,c)
SOLE - Celtic Sea Sole (Divisions VIIf,g)
SOLE - Southwest of Ireland Sole (Divisions VIIh-k)
SOLE - West of Ireland Sole (Divisions VIIb,c)
NEPHROPS - FU 16 Porcupine Bank Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 17 Aran Grounds Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 19 South Eastern and South Western Coasts of Ireland Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 20-21 Celtic Sea Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 22 The Smalls Nephrops
SAITHE - West of Ireland and Celtic Sea Saithe (Sub-area VII)
HERRING - Celtic Sea Herring (Division VIIaS, VIIg-h, VIIj-k)
SPRAT - Celtic Sea and West of Scotland Sprat (Sub-area VI & Divisions VIIa-c and f-k)
SEA BASS - Irish Sea, Celtic Sea etc. (Divisions IVbc, VIIa, and VIIdh)
RAYS and SKATES - Celtic Sea and West of Scotland Rays and Skate (Sub-areas VI and VII)
260
266
272
280
286
292
302
310
317
323
330
332
342
351
358
Ecosystem Overview for Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks

HERRING - Northeast Atlantic Herring (Sub-areas I & II)
MACKEREL - Northeast Atlantic Mackerel
HORSE MACKEREL - Western Horse Mackerel
HORSE MACKEREL - North Sea Horse Mackerel
BLUE WHITING - (Sub-areas I-IX, XII and XIV)
ALBACORE TUNA - North Atlantic
BLUEFIN TUNA - East Atlantic and Mediterranean
SWORDFISH - North Atlantic
BOARFISH - Northeast Atlantic
PELAGIC SHARKS - Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Sharks
SPURDOG - Northeast Atlantic Spurdog
364
368
375
389
397
403
412
415
417
419
427
429
Ecosystem Overview for Deepwater

DEEPWATER STOCKS SOUTH OF 630 N
430
433
Other Stocks of Interest to Ireland

INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES
ARCTIC STOCKS - Cod, Haddock and Saithe
CAPELIN - (Sub-areas V and XIV and Division IIa west of 5W)
SARDINES - (Sub-areas VII and Divisions VIIIa, b, d & e)
435
439
441
442
Appendices
Appendix I - Nephrops Functional Units (FUs) around Ireland
Appendix II - Restrictions on Mackerel & Herring
Appendix III - Herring Spawning Boxes off the South Coast
Appendix IV - Approximate Locations of Herring Spawning Grounds and Areas
Appendix V - Fisheries Management in 2015
Appendix VI - Ecosystem Overview References
Appendix VII - Fisheries and Stocks to be Covered by the Landing Obligation in 2016
Appendix VIII - Basis for ICES advice
Definition of Fisheries Technical Terms and Acronyms
443
444
445
446
447
448
455
458
471
Table of Contents
ICES Fishing Areas
IIb
XIVa
IIa
Va
31
XIVb
30
Vb1
Vb2
32
IVa
29
27
IIIa
VIb
IVb
XII
IIIc
IIIb
24
IIId
25
26
VIIa
VIIc
VIIb
VIIk
28
VIa
IVc
VIIg
VIIj
VIIf
VIId
VIIe
VIIh
VIIIa
VIIIe
VIIId
VIIIb
VIIIc
X
IXb
IXa
ICES Fishing Areas
ICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish Coast
63
IIa
Va
61
Vb2
Vb1
IVa
Depth
59
57
55
VIb
XII
53
51
-500 m
VIa
IVb
-1500 m
VIIc
VIIb
VIIa
IVc
VIIk
VIIj
49
VIIf
VIIg
VIId
VIIe
VIIh
-2500 m
-3500 m
-4500 m
47
45 X
VIIIa
VIIIe
VIIId
VIIIb
-5500 m
VIIIc
43
IXb
-6500 m
IXa
-20 -18 -16 -14 -12 -10
-8
-6
-4
-2
ICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish Coast
INTRODUCTION
About the Stock Book
The Stock Book is produced annually by the Marine Institutes Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services (FEAS)
team and provides up to date scientific information on the state of the fisheries resources exploited by the Irish
fleet. It provides the latest scientific advice developed in 2015, that informs fishing opportunities in 2016 . The
Stock Book has been published by the Marine Institute since 1993 and has evolved considerably in that time
period. It continues to evolve in a changing fisheries advisory environment.
The majority of the scientific advice presented in the Stock Book is formulated by the International Council for
the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). Relevant scientific advice from the Scientific, Technical and Economic
Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
(ICATT) is also used. In a minority of cases, the Marine Institute may not agree with some aspects of the
scientific advice. In such cases an alternative FEAS advice is given with a clear rationale for this advice.
The majority of the ICES scientific advice is released in June each year. This is to facilitate consultation with
industry and managers on available fishing opportunities for the coming year. ICES produces the remaining
scientific advice in October. The EUs Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF)
may also review the status of or give advice on certain fish stocks. The Stock Book draws on both the ICES
and relevant STECF material and the resultant scientific advice it contains relates to those stocks exploited by
the Irish fleet that come under the remit of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The provision of scientific
advice on the fisheries resource base is a key component to the CFP and forms the basis for the management
decisions made under the CFP (e.g. annual TACs and technical measures).
The Stock Book contains impartial scientific advice developed by the Marine Institute working with other
international scientists at ICES and STECF. This advice is developed using the latest available research,
assessments and advice on the fisheries resource. It is formulated by consensus.
The function of the Stock Book is to inform management decisions on fishing opportunities for 2016 using the
latest scientific advice.
The Stock Book is presented annually to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) in
November. The information is of vital importance in serving Ireland during the annual TAC negotiations at the
various EU Council of Fisheries meetings, but principally at the December Council meeting. It also serves as a
valuable reference throughout the year at other fisheries management meetings with the EU. The Stock Book
is also of interest to a wider audience, including the fishing industry, marine scientists, managers, environmental
NGOs, third level institutes, financial institutions and those with an interest in the status and management of
marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland.
While every effort has been made to ensure that the Stock Book contains the most up to date and accurate
information, the final ICES, ICCAT, STECF reports and various cited reports should be consulted for the
official and definitive advice. More detailed information on specific stocks is available in the relevant ICES
Working Group Reports. Definitive information on TAC areas and quota allocations should be obtained from
the official EU Journal.
The Stock Book is also available electronically on the Marine Institutes web site at www.marine.ie.
The Fisheries Resource.
The fishing industry in Europe employs 139,023 full time equivalents and has a fishing fleet of 83,014 vessels
with a total gross tonnage of 1.7 million tonnes and engine power of 6.4 million Kilo Watts. The EU
represents about 4.4% of global fisheries and aquaculture production (6,369,756 tonnes) which makes it the
fifth producer worldwide. The overall value of the seafood production sector is around 23 billion, which by
revenue comparison, puts the EU seafood industry among the top 250 of the global Fortune 500 companies
(source EU Commission Statistics).
The seas around Ireland are among the most productive and biologically sensitive areas in EU waters. Most of
the fisheries resource within the area come under the remit of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The
overall 2015 fishing opportunities (i.e. Total Allowable Catches, TACs species) for stocks to which the Irish
fleet has access to, were 1.1 million tonnes of fish, with an estimated landed value of 1.05 billion (Figure 2.1).
Irelands total share of these TACs in 2015 amounted to 227,693 tonnes with a value of 205 million. These
5
Introduction
figures represent stocks in Areas VII and VI as well as other areas and international waters. This economic
value is based on 2014 average prices and represent a conservative estimate. Irelands share of these fishing
opportunities for 2015 represents 20% by tonnage and 19.5% by value.
These values do not include the valuable inshore fisheries (e.g. lobster, whelk) which are not managed using
internationally agreed TACs but do come within the remit of the CFP. These inshore fisheries resource
represents a very important resource base for the coastal communities around Ireland.
Irelands share of the TAC (the Irish quota) varies depending on the stock concerned. Ireland has 86% of the
Celtic Sea herring TAC; 69% of the Boarfish; 37% of Nephrops in VII; 25% of Horse Mackerel and 21% of
mackerel. In other stocks it has a much lower share of the TAC; 8% of Anglerfish in VII; 15% of Celtic Sea cod
and 6% of Northern Hake (Fig. 1.1).
Organisation of the Stock Book
The Stock Book is divided into the following parts;
Introduction
o About the Stock Book
o Rationale for ICES Advice and Commission Proposal on Fishing Opportunities
o The Resource Base Status Assessment
Marine Institutes Summary on the Status, Scientific Advice and Proposed 2016 Fishing Opportunities for
those stocks of interest to Ireland
Progress Towards the Landing Obligation in EU Fisheries
The Importance of Catch Sampling for Fisheries Advice
Irish Sea Stocks

West of Scotland and Rockall Stocks
Celtic Sea Stocks
Widely Distributed and Migratory Species
Deepwater Stocks
For each stock, the FEAS single stock considerations section (the yellow box) provide the latest scientific
advice for the stock (e.g. TAC) for the following year. This advice is principally based on MSY (Maximum
Sustainable Yield) considerations or agreed Management Plan considerations. In the exceptional cases where
FEAS does not agree with the ICES advice, the reasons are given and an alternative FEAS advice is proposed.
In some cases, this section also provides stock relevant comment on the Communication from the
Commission (COM(2015) 239. The status of the stock in relation to the landing obligation and management
plans are also given. The Long term management strategies in place for stocks of Irish interest are shown in
Table 1.1. Salient information on the future management of the stock may also be presented in the FEAS
single stock considerations section.
The current management section gives information on the past TAC; the match between assessment area and
management area and quota allocations by country. For some stocks, the FEAS advice is supplemented with
the details of the ICES advice (note this year the new format of the ICES advice).
The stocks are grouped by areas (e.g. Irish Sea). For each area, FEAS have produced an ecosystem overview
which includes information on the physical, biological, environmental and fishery effects on the benthos and
fish communities. The ecosystem overviews also provide ecosystem considerations in terms of formulating
ecosystem advice for the particular area.
A summary table of the status of the resource and the advice for each stock is presented at the beginning of
the Stock Book (Table 1.6).
The Stock Book also contains a series of annexes which include definitions of the technical terms and
acronyms used throughout the text.
Introduction
Fig. 1.1
% Share of 2015 EU TAC By Ireland & Other EU1 Members

and approximate2 value of Irish Quota & EU TAC
S pecies
TAC Area
M ACKEREL
Vb,VI,VII,VIIIabde, IIa,
NEPHROPS
VII
HORSE M ACK.
Est. Value
Irl. Tonnes of Irl Quota
Est. Value of
EU TAC
89,220
66,019,848
245,278,313
7,973
43,390,544
74,264,061
IIa, IVa, VI, VIIa-c, VIIe
21,621
13,719,809
40,682,238
BLUE WHITING
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII,
23,313
11,376,421
84,852,005
M EGRIM S
VII
2,878
8,664,560
43,675,045
ANGLERFISH
VII
2,540
8,268,822
100,840,568
HAKE
Vb,VI,VII,XII,XIV
2,810
6,798,051
116,447,460
WHITING
VIIb-k
5,029
5,723,835
14,469,500
2,511
4,653,358
45,277,106
2,016,855
ALBACORE TUNA North Atlantic

BOARFISH
VI, VII and VIII
36,830
4,511,161
HERRING
VIIghjk
13,527
4,069,176
639,240
HADDOCK
VIIb-k,VIII,IX,X
1,854
3,072,144
10,750,846
SAITHE
VII,VIII,IX,X
1,491
2,738,511
3,094,829
COD
VIIbc,e-k,VIII,IX,X
901
2,180,084
10,092,263
ANGLERFISH
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
POLLACK
VII
M EGRIM S
SOLE
531
1,728,640
15,567,523
1,030
1,651,165
19,982,306
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
535
1,610,681
10,820,163
VIIhjk
171
1,529,591
1,887,390
PLAICE
Vlla
768
1,410,581
606,109
Skates & Rays
VIa, VIb, VIIa-c and VII
1,048
1,351,362
9,005,642
HADDOCK
Vb,VIa
743
1,231,177
6,285,135
NEPHROPS
Vb,VI
192
1,044,900
76,179,711
HERRING
Vb,VIaN,VIb
3,427
1,030,906
5,794,672
HADDOCK
VIIa
511
846,745
1,110,214
COD
I,II
330
798,477
52,520,415
LING
VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII
623
762,241
9,593,473
SAITHE
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
389
714,474
10,944,859
HERRING
I,II (Atlanto-Scandic)
1,634
491,538
5,050,747
PLAICE
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
261
479,377
729,167
SOLE
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
46
411,469
98,395
HERRING
VIIa
1,264
380,235
1,079,939
PLAICE
VIIfg
202
371,012
475,704
SOLE
Vlla
38
339,909
465,139
HADDOCK
VIb,XII,XIV
203
336,378
3,938,773
SOLE
VIIbc
36
322,019
53,670
COD
VIIa
120
290,355
150,017
SOLE
VIIfg
HORSE M ACK.
IVb, IVc, VIId
PLAICE
PLAICE
27
241,514
7,370,662
347
220,192
7,172,425
VIIbc
63
115,712
20,204
VIIhjk
59
108,365
139,589
WHITING
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
79
89,915
209,422
POLLACK
Vb,VI,XII,XIV
56
89,772
546,648
GREENLAND HALIBIIa, IV, Vb and VI
17
76,500
6,673,500
WHITING
VIIa
46
52,356
38,698
Tusk
V, VI and VII
53
42,035
701,114
COD
VIb, West Vb,XII,XIV
GREATER SILVER SM
V, VI and VII
BLUE LING
Vb, VI, VII
BLUE LING
II, IV
GREATER SILVER SM
III and IV
16
38,714
140,338
305
30,500
401,100
14
11,956
4,041,128
3,416
41,846
700
102,100
205,441,203 1,052,318,267
Only TAC areas where Ireland has a share of the TAC are included above.
Est. value per tonne based on 2014 average values of Irish Landings in Irish Ports.
Introduction
Rationale for ICES Advice and the Commission Proposal on Fishing

Opportunities
ICES advice is provided based on maximum sustainable yield (MSY). ICES provides analytical
forecasts with a catch option consistent with Fmsy for 2016. Where the SSB in 2016 is forecasted to
be below the MSY Btrigger, ICES advises on a lower F scaled by the degree to which biomass in 2016 is
below the trigger. For stocks where analytical forecasts are not possible ICES provides advice
according to a set of procedures that follow the Precautionary Approach to Fisheries Management.
The European Commission has first competency in making TAC proposals for the year ahead. The
Commission has set out its approach to formulating these proposals. For 2016 these proposals are
tightly aligned with ICES advice. FEAS provides the summary below explaining the Commissions
approach, and outlining the communication COM(2015) 239 of the 2nd June 2015.
1. Stocks with MSY advice but no long term management plan: TAC shall be set using the
available point estimate of FMSY.
2. Stocks with long term management plans, which are consistent with MSY: TAC shall be set
following provisions of that management plan (see table).
3. Stocks with long term management plans, which are not consistent with MSY: TAC shall be
set using the available point estimate of FMSY.
4. Stocks, with MSY advice, that are shared with Third Countries: Commission intends to
seek agreement with these countries and through RFMOs to follow Items 1-3 above.
5. Stocks without MSY estimates: Biological advice shall be followed according to these
provisions:
a. MSY proxies available: TAC shall be set using the available proxy for MSY.
b. Stocks with trends-only advice or catch data providing MSY proxies: TAC shall be
set following the ICES advice
6. Stocks with a presumption of stability: TACs will be rolled over.*
7. Stocks without biological advice: The principles of MSY and the Precautionary Approach to
Fisheries Management shall be followed in TAC setting**.
* The following stocks fall into this category: Rockall cod, VIa sole, VIIbc sole, VIIef herring, VIa
plaice, VIIbc plaice, VII saithe, VI Pollack.
**The new CFP explicitly states MSY and PA objectives and COM(2015)239 envisages a process
aligning closely with ICES policies.
In 2016 the landing obligation will be progressively entered into force for demersal species in
western waters. The Commissions proposals shall take into account of catches previously discarded,
as estimated by ICES. Thus, TACs will cover total catch and not, as previously, for landings only.
ICES advice is now for total catch (landings + discards). ICES advice and Commission policy are
therefore compatible with respect to the landing obligation.
The Communication also explains how the inter-institutional deadlock on multi-annual management
plans will be broken. A new generation of such plans must include targets and timelines for achieving
MSY conditions. A new development is that a range of FMSY may be included in such plans.
Introduction
Northeast Atlantic
IIa IVa VI VIIa-c,e-k VIIIabde
I II
Northeast Atlantic
Blue whiting
Western Horse mackerel
Herring in the NE Atlantic
Porbeagle in the NE Atlantic
2007
2006
2004
2003
1998
de facto
Irish legislation
EC legislation
International (3rd country) agreement
2002
X Not implemented in that year

MP Management plan
RP Rebuilding Plan
p.m. for negotiation
* Herring VIaS VIIbc & VIaN stocks combined for 2016
2008
East Atlantic & Mediterranean
2009
X X
2010
Bluefin Tuna
2001
X
2011
VI, VII, VIII
1999
X
2012
West of Scotland
p.m.
p.m.
Annual TAC regn.
MPs since 2000 under Coastal States
EC cod recovery plan
RP followed since 2014
MP followed since 2013, RP since 2009
EU plan followed 2008-13, discontinued
p.m. R.P. since 2006, later in EU law.
New plan proposed by PAC, 2015
Prohibited species not to be taken in any

p.m
fishery
p.m.
fishery
EC 302 (2009)
Annual TAC regn.
Annual TAC regn.
EC 1342/2008
Ban on commercial fishing IRL, since 1990 SI 230, 2006

fishery
X X X p.m. MPs since 1997 under Coastal States
EC 811 (2004)
Ban on commercial fishing IRL, since 1990 SI 230, 2006
Rebuilding plan complete, as targets met
Annual TAC regn.
Annual TAC regn.

fishery
Previously prohibited
EC 1308/08
EC 1342/2008
EC 1342/2008
Legislation
Adopted in law 2008, previous plans not

implemented
p.m. MP under EU-Norway since 2000
EU cod recovery plan
EU cod recovery plan
Description
X X p.m. MPs since 2003 under Coastal States
X X X X X X X X X
2013
X X X X X
2014
Boarfish
1997
X
2015
Basking Shark in the NE Atlantic Northeast Atlantic
Northeast Atlantic
NEA mackerel
VIaS VIIbc *
Herring
VIIa
VIIaS VIIg,j
Herring
Cod
VIa, VIIb, and VIIj
Bass
VIIb,j
Undulate ray
VI, VII
VI, VII & VIII
Angel shark
Common skate species
VIaN *
Herring
IVbc, VIIa, and VIIdh
IV & VI and IIIa
Saithe
Bass
VIb
Cod
II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII
VIa
Cod
Hake
Stock area
Species
2000
Celtic Sea West of Ireland
2005
Irish
Sea
2016
Pelagic/Widely Distributed/Migratory
ICCAT, 2006, 2008
Interim plan 2011, LTMP 2013,

new LTMP proposed 2015
Coastal States, 2000
ICES (2008)
Coastal States MPs in 2003

and 2008, new proposal 2015
ICCAT SCRS, 2014
ICES 2007, overruled

2013
ICES, (2008;2014);
ICES 2002 conditional
STECF (2013)
ICES (2009; 2012)
Not supported by ICES
Not directly
ICES, 2013, conditional
Endorsed by Science
Coastal States 1999 2009
CSHMAC initiatives, followed

by Council
PAC initiative followed by
Council
Previously SI 128, 1990
Previously SI 128, 1990
LTMP proposed 2009, not

implemented
Prohibited 2010-2013
Notes
Table 1.1
Long term management strategies in place for stocks of Irish interest, History of implementation of strategies shown in each case
The Resource Base Status Assessment

Summary
ICES and FEAS evaluate the state of the resource base in relation to pressure and state indicators.
These are fishing mortality (F) in the last year of the assessment relative to FMSY (the fishing mortality
which is expected to deliver maximum sustainable yield) and SSB in the year of the assessment in
relation to a defined biomass trigger point (below which the stock is at risk of recruitment
impairment). In Table 1.6 on pages 14 and 15, FEAS gives an overview of the scientific status and
advice on 72 fish stocks, of which Ireland has a share of the TAC.
Table 1.2 summarises the pressure on the 72 stocks dealt with in the 2015 Stock Book and
compares with the same evaluation presented in the Stock Book last year. There is a higher number
of sustainably fished stocks (26) and percentage (36%) in 2015 compared with last year. The
percentage and number of stocks overfished has declined in 2015 though the number and
percentage of stocks with unknown status is similar to last year.
Table 1.3 compares the state of the resource base in terms of SSB in relation to biomass trigger
points with the same evaluation presented last year. Around a quarter or 20 stocks are above
biomass trigger points. The number of depleted stocks has increased from 12 to 14 and now 19% of
stocks are assessed to be depleted. The number of stocks with unknown SSB, no assessments or
undefined Btriggers remains relatively high at 53%. There are several different reasons why this may be
the case:
Some stocks are very relatively small and sampling is insufficient to support traditional
assessment approaches e.g. Plaice and Sole in VIIbc, VIa, Pollock in VI.
Some have uncertain assessment data for biological or stock identity/mixing reasons (e.g.
megrim in VII, anglerfish in VII, Pollock in VII, Sprat, Plaice and Sole in VIIhjk)
The absolute level of catch is an issue for stocks with high discards (e.g. Whiting in VIa and
VIIa, Plaice in VIIa and VIIfg), where several species are landed together (e.g. rays) or where
there are other catches (e.g. angling in the case of Pollock)
For other stocks the time series of data is too short to properly define Btrigger levels (e.g.
Nephrops Stocks).
Over time the number of stocks with unknown status should decline but it is likely that for some
stocks problems will remain and the management and advisory framework should take that into
account.
Table 1.2 Summary of FEAS evaluation of fishing mortality in relation to FMSY for stocks of interest
to Ireland6.
For a Key to Stock Status Symbols used in ICES Advice and Summary Table of Stock Book please see
Appendix VIII
10
Introduction
Table 1.3 Summary of FEAS evaluation of SSB in relation to biomass reference points for stocks of
interest to Ireland.
Detailed analysis
A detailed breakdown of the Marine Institute evaluations of stock status in relation to sustainable
fishing rates and biomass levels as given in the last four stock books presented in Table 1.4. The
stock status as evaluated by ICES/ICCAT varies over time. The main changes between the 2014 and
2015 Stock Books are presented in Table 1.5. The main change of note is that following a
benchmark Herring in VIaN has been merged with the Herring stock in VIIaS and VIIbc. This new
stock is labelled as Herring_ VIaN, VIIaS and VIIbc which is the reason the number of stocks has
declined from 73 to 72. The assessment on the merged stock also results in a change in status.
Blue whiting, mackerel and Nephrops in FU13 have been revised from being sustainably fished to
being over exploited. Boarfish has been revised from being sustainably fished to having unknown
status, while Whiting in the Irish Sea has gone from over exploited to unknown status. Nephrops
FU19, Sole VIIa and Western Horse mackerel IIa IVa VI VIIa-c,e-k VIII are now classified as
sustainably fished . Celtic Sea cod has decreased below the MSY Btrigger. New MSY Btrigger values have
been defined for Nephrops FU14 and FU17 and Whiting in VIIa following benchmark assessments at
ICES. Haddock VIb and Herring in the NE Atlantic I II have increased above MSY Btrigger.
11
Introduction
Table 1.4 Details of FEAS evaluation of fishing mortality in relation to FMSY and SSB in relation to
biomass reference points for stocks of interest to Ireland.
Stock
Albacoretuna_NorthAtlantic
Anglerfish_VI,IIa,IIIa,IVa
Anglerfish_VII&VIII
BaskingSharkintheNEAtlantic_NortheastAtlantic
Bluewhiting_NortheastAtlantic
Bluefintuna_EastAtlantic&Mediterranean
Boarfish_VI,VII,VIII
Cod_VIa
Cod_VIb
Cod_VIIa
Cod_VIIek
Dipturusspecies_VIandVII
Greygurnard_VI&VII(excl.VIId)
Haddock_IV,IIIaandVIa
Haddock_VIb
Haddock_VIIa
Haddock_VIIbcek
Hake_II,III,IV,VI,VII,VIII
HerringintheNEAtlantic_III
Herring_VIaN
Herring_VIaSVIIbc
Herring_VIaN&VIaSVIIbc
Herring_VIIaN
Herring_VIIaSVIIg,j
Leucorajacircularis_VIandVII
Leucorajafullonica_VIandVII
Leucorajanaevus_VI,VII,andVIIIa,b,d
Ling_IIIa,IVa,VI,VII,VIII,IX,XII,andXIV
Megrim_VIaandIV
Megrim_VIb
Megrim_VIIbk&VIIIabde
NEAmackerel_NortheastAtlantic
Nephrops_FU11
Nephrops_FU12
Nephrops_FU13
Nephrops_FU14
Nephrops_FU15
Nephrops_FU16
Nephrops_FU17
Nephrops_FU18&otherrectangles
Nephrops_FU19
Nephrops_FU2021
Nephrops_FU22
Nephrops_VIrectanglesoutsideFUs
NorthSeahorsemackerel_IVb,IVcandVIId
Otherskates_VIandVII
Plaice_Vb(EUwaters),VI,XII,XIV
Plaice_VIIa
Plaice_VIIbc
Plaice_VIIfg
Plaice_VIIhjk
Pollock_VI
Pollock_VII
PorbeagleintheNEAtlantic_NortheastAtlantic
Rajabrachyura_VIIa,f,g
Rajaclavata_VI
Rajaclavata_VIIa,f,g
Rajamicrocellata_VIIf,g
Rajamontagui_VI,VIIb,j
Rajamontagui_VIIa,e,f,g
Rajaundulata_VIIb,j
Saithe_IV&VIandIIIa
Saithe_VII,VIII,IX,X,
Seabass_IVbc,VIIa,andVIIdh
Seabass_VIa,VIIb,andVIIj
Skates&Rays_VI&VII(excl.VIId)
Sole_Vb(EU),VI,XII,XIV
Sole_VIIa
Sole_VIIbc
Sole_VIIfg
Sole_VIIhjk
Sprat_VIandVII(excl.VIIdandVIIe)
SpurdogintheNEAtlantic_NortheastAtlantic
Swordfish_NorthAtlantic
WesternHorsemackerel_IIaIVaVIVIIac,ekVIII
Whiting_VIa
Whiting_VIIa
Whiting_VIIbcek
FishingMortalityStatus
2011
2012
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
1
1
2
2
1
1
3
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
2
3
3
3
1
3
1
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
3
1
3
1
1
1
3
3
1
1
3
3
3
1
3
1
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
1
1
2
2
3
1
3
3
2
2
3
3
1
2
2
2
1
1
3
3
12
2013
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
2
1
3
3
2
2
2
2014
3
2
2
2
1
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
2
3
3
2
1
3
3
1
3
1
3
1
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
1
1
3
1
2
1
2
1
2
1
3
2
3
3
1
2
1
3
3
2
1
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
SSBStatus
2011
1
2
2
3
1
3
1
2
1
3
2
4
3
2
3
3
3
1
2
3
3
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
1
2
2
1
3
2012
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
1
2
1
3
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2013
1
2
2
2
3
1
2
1
2
1
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
3
1
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2014
1
2
2
2
3
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
3
3
2
3
3
3
1
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
3
1
2
1
2
3
2
2
1
3
3
2
1
3
1
2
3
2
2
1
3
3
1
1
3
Introduction
Table 1.5 Stocks with a status change between the 2014 and 2015 Stock Books.
Stock
Bluewhiting_NortheastAtlantic
Boarfish_VI,VII,VIII
Cod_VIIek
Haddock_VIb
HerringintheNEAtlantic_III
Herring_VIaN
Herring_VIaSVIIbc
Herring_VIaN&VIaSVIIbc
NEAmackerel_NortheastAtlantic
Nephrops_FU13
Nephrops_FU14
Nephrops_FU17
Nephrops_FU19
Plaice_VIIa
Saithe_IV&VIandIIIa
Sole_VIIa
WesternHorsemackerel_IIaIVaVIVIIac,ekVIII
Whiting_VIa
Whiting_VIIa
FishingMortalityStatus
2011
2012
3
3
3
3
3
1
3
3
3
3
1
3
1
2
1
2
1
1
3
3
3
1
3
1
3
3
3
3
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
13
2013
3
3
1
1
3
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
3
3
1
1
2
1
2014
1
2
1
1
3
3
1
1
3
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
SSBStatus
2011
3
3
3
3
3
1
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
1
2
2
1
2012
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
1
1
2
2
1
2013
3
2
3
1
1
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
3
2
1
2014
3
2
1
3
3
1
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
Introduction
Irish Sea
Celtic Sea
14
VI and VII
VI and VII
VI and VII (excl. VIId and VIIe)
VIIaS VIIg,j
Other skates
Dipturus species
Sprat
Herring
188
0
2,852
17,287
0
0
VIIf,g
VIIb,j
Raja microcellata
13%
0%
65%
88%
na
0%
1,476
1
4,392
19,574
124
830
211
175
9%
2%
0%
76
5
0
Raja undulata
3,879
9,855
12,847
5,215
1,311
410
23
169
1,042
27
243
468
1,837
2,615
766
1,189
13,277
25,300
89,800
2,682
2
214
518
23
282
99
8,613
679
174
787
964
1,156
5,208
30%
21%
53%
19%
78%
12%
74%
46%
3%
85%
33%
98%
73%
93%
100%
68%
18%
13%
3%
0%
0%
58%
18%
43%
44%
43%
34%
5%
68%
8%
5%
35%
2%
1,159
2,080
6,851
1,012
1,026
50
17
78
28
23
81
459
1,342
2,443
766
813
2,391
3,226
2,598
0
0
Cod
Haddock
Whiting
Pollock
Saithe
Plaice
Plaice
Plaice
Sole
Sole
Sole
Nephrops
Nephrops
Nephrops
Nephrops
Nephrops
Megrim
Anglerfish
Hake
Bass
Bass
Grey gurnard
Leucoraja naevus
Leucoraja fullonica
Leucoraja circularis
124
93
10
123
43
2,938
31
119
63
51
404
119
VIIe-k
VIIbce-k
VIIbce-k
VII
VII, VIII, IX, X
VIIfg
VIIbc
VIIhjk
VIIfg
VIIbc
VIIhjk
FU19
FU20-21
FU22
FU17
FU16
VIIb-k & VIIIabde
VII & VIII
II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII
IVbc, VIIa, and VIIdh
VIa, VIIb, and VIIj
VI & VII (excl. VIId)
VI, VII, and VIIIa,b,d
VI and VII
VI and VII
VIIa
VIIa
VIIa
VIIa
VIIa
FU15
FU14
FU18 & other rectangles
VIIa,f,g
VIIa,e,f,g
VIIa,f,g
VIIaN
Stock area
Cod
Haddock
Whiting
Plaice
Sole
Nephrops
Nephrops
Nephrops
Raja clavata
Raja montagui
Raja brachyura
Herring
Species
na
na
0
644
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
3,500
23,164
na
na
na
na
na
109,592
na
na
9,100
134
0
na
na
8,590
19,076 + 4,175
na
na
1,500
0
1,072
0
1,244
0
8,682
1,272
na
na
na
na
4,575
789
0
3,500
22,423
188
1,998
186
68
3,569
6,078
15,395 + 2,330
4,200
na
420
30
135
745
30
205
542
2,225
2,634
915
1,850
18,216
10,757 + 26,691
96,651
na
na
no new advice
481
0
343
0
7,388
1,197
235
1,235
1,118
897
4,575
2016 ICES/ICCAT 2016 ICES/ICCAT

Catch Advice
Landings Advice
na
760
30
205
793
3,045
3,027
991
1,850
na
na
F ~ MSY SSB ~ Btrig
ICES Stock Status

2014
741
3,177
3,895
10
na
1,158
na
72
21
0
0
161
821
415
48
0
2,179
115
488
1,975
1,196
7
1,418
32
na
na
na
na
0
Ireland Ireland's % International International

of 2014
2014
Discards
Landings
Landings Landings
2014
2014
789
0
3,500
19,697
188
1,998
186
68
3,569
6,078
15,395 + 2,330
13,495
3,176
420
74
135
745
42
382
542
2,225
2,634
915
1,850
14,421 + 3,725
31,666
96,651
541
5
0
481
0
343
0
7,388
1,197
235
1,235
1,118
897
4,575
2016 FEAS
Landings Advice
8,032
0
na
15,652
8,032
1,048
0
na
13,527
1,048
1,048
1,048
1,048
2,878
2,540
2,810
na
na
17,385
42,496
90,849
na
na
8,032
8,032
8,032
21,619
7,973
1,048
1,048
1,048
1,264
8,032
8,032
8,032
4,854
901
1,854
5,029
1,030
1,491
202
63
59
27
36
171
21,619
7,973
5,072
8,342
17,742
13,495
3,176
461
74
135
851
42
382
120
511
46
768
38
Irish Quota
2015
182
1,181
80
1,098
90
TAC 2015
5.2.0
6.3.0
5.2.0
1
6.3.0
3.2.0
1
1
1
4.1.2
na
3.2.0
6.2.0
3.2.0
1
6.2.0
3.2.0
1
4.1.4
1
1
1
3.2.0
3.2.0
1
1
6.2.0
6.2.0
3.2.0
5.2.0
5.2.0
2
3.2.0
2
3.2.0
1
1
1
6.2.0
3.2.0
3.2.0
3.2.0
1
ICES
Category
Table 1.6
Marine Institute Summary on the Status, Scientific Advice for 2016 for those Stocks of Interest to Ireland
West of Scotland & Rockall Stocks
Widely Distributed Highly Migratory
VIa
15
13
0
IVb, IVc and VIId
I II
Northeast Atlantic
North Sea horse mackerel
Spurdog in the NE Atlantic
2,698
2.6
VI, VII, VIII
North Atlantic
North Atlantic
East Atlantic & Mediterranean
Boarfish
Albacore Tuna
Swordfish
Bluefin Tuna
19
34,622
Northeast Atlantic
Northeast Atlantic
Porbeagle in the NE Atlantic
Basking Shark in the NE Atlantic
706
32,667
IIa IVa VI VIIa-c,e-k VIII
21,466
103,178
Northeast Atlantic
Northeast Atlantic
Blue whiting
NEA mackerel
5,565
21
VI
VIaN, VIIaS and VIIbc
Pollock
Herring
660
IV & VI and IIIa
128
30
IIIa, IVa, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XII & X
VI rectangles outside FUs
Nephrops
Saithe
FU13
Nephrops
17
79
38
14
21
230
246
572
88
95
653
12
Ling
FU12
Nephrops
Raja montagui
VI
VI, VIIb,j
Sole
FU11
Vb(EU), VI, XII, XIV
Plaice
Raja clavata
Vb(EU waters), VI, XII, XIV
Megrim
Nephrops
VIa and IV
VIb
Megrim
VI, IIa, IIIa, IVa
Whiting
Anglerfish
IV, IIIa and VIa
VIb
Haddock
VIb
Cod
Stock area
Haddock
VIa
Cod
Species
0%
0%
10%
80%
na
0%
59%
0%
0%
26%
2%
7%
21%
53%
4%
2%
12%
0%
1%
0%
35%
35%
80%
30%
67%
10%
4%
49%
6%
16%
40%
30%
13,243
10,801
26,539
43,418
22
461,306
13,380
127,129
1,155,279
1,388,003
26,946
40
17,024
6,782
245
6,185
3,161
3,235
227
109
17
71
343
2,500
13,283
181
1,675
4,000
15
357
Ireland Ireland's % International

Landings
2014
of 2014
Landings Landings
2014
1,813
na
na
na
1,896
7,500
6,451
~0
na
577
NA
696
233
77
na
na
na
na
na
309
416
932
274
800
1,311
International
Discards
2014
na
na
na
na
F ~ MSY SSB ~ Btrig
ICES Stock Status

2014
18,911
13,700 or 15,000
20,000 - 28,000
42,637
na
na
na
316,876
15,200
126,103
776,391
667,385
na
14,700
7,054
na
6,568
6,163
3,770
na
na
na
na
na
8,567
18,911
13,700 or 15,000
20,000 - 28,000
42,637
316,876
15,200
126,103
776,391
667,385
4,200
14,700
6,448
326
6,568
6,163
3,677
205
53
na
na
341
7,539
17,642
0
18,435
3,225
61,930
17
3,932
74,854
17
2016 ICES/ICCAT 2016 ICES/ICCAT

Catch Advice
Landings Advice
18,911
13,700
20,000 - 28,000
42,637
316,876
15,200
126,103
776,391
667,385
397
14,700
6,448
326
6,568
6,163
3,677
205
53
57
658
341
7,539
17,642
3,932
61,930
15,821
13,700
28,000
53,292
328,000
15,200
97,604
1,260,000
1.24m
22,690
397
17,629
6,848
14,190
8,032
8,032
57
658
4,129
6,212
5,313
263
2,580
47,751
0
74
TAC 2015
17
2016 FEAS
Landings Advice
33 (unalloc.)
144 (unalloc.)
2,510
36,830
1,215
347
21,621
23,313
89,220
3,427
56
623
389
192
1,048
1,048
46
261
535
535
531
79
203
743
16
Irish Quota
2015
4.1.2
3.2.0
6.2.0
3.2.0
3.2.0
3.2.0
3.2.0
6.2.0
ICES
Category
Table1.6continued
PROGRESS TOWARDS THE LANDING OBLIGATION IN EU FISHERIES

The landing obligation for demersal fisheries will be introduced on a phased basis from 1 January 2016 for
species that define the fisheries, and from 1 January 2019 at the latest for all other species, in:
Fisheries for Norway lobster (Nephrops)

Fisheries for hake
Fisheries for cod, haddock, whiting and saithe
Fisheries for common sole and plaice
Other fisheries for species subject to catch limits.
Unlike pelagic species, which became subject to the Landing Obligation in January 2015, the CFP allows for a
degree of phasing-in for demersal stocks between 2016 and 2019, by which time all species subject to TAC
limits (or minimum size limits in the case of the Mediterranean) will be incorporated. Note that the landing
obligation will not apply to other non-TAC species in Western Waters. Once a stock falls under the landing
obligation, all catches must be landed and counted against quota. Catches of fish below minimum size (now
known as Minimum Conservation Reference Size MCRS) cannot be sold for direct human consumption, but
may be sold for other purposes such as bait or fish meal but are still deducted from quota. Here the intention
is to discourage the catches of such fish in the first instance through improved selectivity or avoidance.
In recognition that all catches must be landed, quotas will be topped-up taking into account previous levels
of discards. How this top-up or uplift will be calculated is still being discussed, but ultimately quotas will
still need to adhere to MSY catch advice.
The Landing Obligation is implemented through discard plans developed through joint recommendations which
have been agreed by groups of Member States from the same region or sea basin. While the species and
fisheries covered must be identified in the Demersal discard plans, the plans may also include a number of
other aspects:
specific provisions on fisheries or species covered by the landing obligation;

specification of exemptions to the landing obligation if fisheries or species meet certain criteria
related to high survivability;
provisions for de minimis exemptions;
provisions on documentation of catches, and;
the fixing of minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS).
The process for deciding which fisheries and stocks to be introduced in 2016 has been much more complex
than experienced with pelagic fisheries. For the demersal fisheries in North Western Waters, the joint
recommendation has been developed by all member states with an interest in demersal fisheries in the area:
Ireland, France, Spain, UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. This has involved a series of consultations and
meetings between senior civil servants with responsibility for fisheries policy: the Director Generals North
Western Waters (NWW) Group, which in turn has been supported by a technical group comprised of senior
administrators and scientists from each of the member states. In addition, the CFP also requires that the
Member States groups must also consult the Advisory Councils, in this case the NWW Advisory Council, so
that the views of key constituent stakeholders could be taken into consideration in the development of the
demersal discard plan. At a national level, stakeholder consultations are undertaken through the Discard
Implementation Group which comprises of the main Producer Organisations, the processing sector, fish selling
cooperatives, DAFM, SFPA, BIM and the MI.
Within the Western Waters Region, the Member States Group (NWW High Level Group) has opted to
include Nephrops, haddock, whiting, black sole, and hake in 2016. However, the obligation to land any of these
is dependent on area and fishery. The group defined fisheries based on certain thresholds which have been
based on historic track record of landings during the reference period 2013/2014. For example, if individual
vessels landings comprised more than 30% Nephrops in 2013/2014, then they will be obliged to land all catches
of Nephrops in all areas from 2016 and beyond. Similarly, if vessel landings comprised of more than 25% cod,
haddock, whiting and saithe during the reference period, then they will be obliged to land whiting when
operating in the Celtic Sea. In the Irish Sea and West of Scotland, vessels must land all haddock if their landings
of cod, haddock, whiting and saithe exceeded 10% in the reference period. In practice, almost all vessels fall
16
Landing Obligation in EU Fisheries
into one individual category and within these, over 90% of the fleet will meet the required thresholds. DAFM
are in the process of notifying individual operators of which category they belong to and what their obligations
will be in 2016. While hake and black sole are also included in the plan, these species are not likely to impact
on the Irish fleet in 2016 due to the gear and thresholds specified in the draft discard plans (see appendix VII
for the specific details on the stocks, fleets and thresholds).
Much of the work of the regional group in developing the demersal discard plan has been focussed around the
specific flexibilities and in particular the definition of the fisheries; exemptions on high survivability and de
minimis exemptions. The CFP allows for exemptions where species for which scientific evidence demonstrates
high survival rates, taking into account the characteristics of the gear, of the fishing practices and of the ecosystem
and allows for continued discarding of up to 5 % of total annual catches of all species subject to the landing
obligation, the so called de minimis provisions. The de minimis provisions are permitted when (i) where scientific
evidence indicates that increases in selectivity are very difficult to achieve or (ii) to avoid disproportionate costs of
handling unwanted catches, for those fishing gears where unwanted catches per fishing gear do not represent more
than a certain percentage, to be established in a plan, of total annual catch of that gear.
The delegated act for demersal fisheries is currently being drafted by the European Commission and this will
be published before the end of 2015. The agreed plan contains a number of elements and flexibilities that are
available in various fisheries. These are as follows:
A maximum of 3% for years one (2016), two (2017) and three (2018) for common sole of the total
annual catches of this species by vessels using trammel and gill nets to catch common sole in the
Channel (ICES Areas VIId, e, f and g)
A maximum of 3% for years one (2016), two (2017) and three (2018) ) for common sole of the total
annual catches of this species by vessels using gear with increased selectivity in the Channel (ICES
Areas VIId and e) and the Celtic Sea (VIIf and g)
A maximum of 7% for years one (2016) and two (2017), and 6% for year three (2018) for whiting of
the total annual catches of this species by vessels using bottom trawls < 100 mm to catch whiting in
the Channel (ICES Area VIId and e)
the total annual catches of this species by vessels using bottom trawls 100 mm to catch whiting in
the Celtic Sea and the Channel (ICES Areas VIIb-j)
the total annual catches of this species by vessels using bottom trawls < 100mm to catch whiting in
the Celtic Sea (ICES Area VII (excluding VIIa, d and e)
A maximum of 7% for years one (2016) and two (2017), and 6% for year three (2018) for Norway
lobster (Nephrops) of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land Norway
lobster (Nephrops) in ICES Area VII
A maximum of 7% for years one (2016) and two (2017), and 6% for year three (2018) for Norway
lobster (Nephrops) of the total annual catches of this species by vessels obliged to land Norway
lobster (Nephrops) in ICES Area VIa
In addition, the plan also allows for permitted discarding of Nephrops based on high survivability, but this is only
applicable to fisheries using pots and creels in area VIa and VII.
Next Steps Introduction of additional species from 2017 onwards
In due course, the NWW Group will be submitting further Joint Recommendations for the adaptation of the
North Western Waters discard plan. In addition to the inclusion of additional species, the Group may also
include further exemptions under high survival and de minimis, specific provisions on Minimum Conservation
Reference Size (MCRS) or control measures.
17
Landing Obligation in EU Fisheries
THE IMPORTANCE OF CATCH SAMPLING FOR FISHERIES ADVICE

One of the primary roles of fisheries scientists is to provide estimates of the size of fish stocks and
to provide advice on how much fish can be sustainably caught. These estimates are never exact, but
under circumstances when estimates are very uncertain, the catch advice will err on the side of
caution, even if this results in reduced fishing opportunities. Conversely, if estimates of stock size
and fishing mortality are more precise, the catch advice can be closer to the maximum catch that can
be sustainably taken, because the risk to the stock is more precisely known. Data collected from the
commercial fisheries are fundamental in determining the state of fish stocks and without such data
the vast majority of stocks would be classified as data-limited, resulting in reduced or precautionary
catch limits being set.
How do we know how many fish there are in the sea?

It is impossible to count every single fish in the sea. Instead we collect information from commercial
catches (landings and discards) and from surveys. Because fish do not recognise national boundaries,
scientists from the North Atlantic coordinate their work under the umbrella of the International
Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). ICES acts as a meeting point for a community of more
than 4,000 marine scientists from 20 countries.
Catch sampling
Scientists collect essential data for fish stock assessments when fishers land their catch. Additionally,
sampling at sea allows scientists to quantify the part of the catch that is not landed at the ports.
We estimate the amounts of fish that are landed and discarded and collect age and length data.
The Irish fisheries are very diverse, so we need to sample a large number of fishing trips before we
can estimate the amount of fish that are caught. We typically have observers on around 100 fishing
trips per year and around carry out 300 to 400 port visits per year. In some fisheries, catch samples
are also provided by the fishers themselves. These self-sampling schemes are also a valuable source
of data.
By sampling the commercial catches we collect crucial data on the amount of fish that is caught as
well as their age and length composition of the fish. Many fish species can be aged; this information
allows assessment models to track the abundance of cohorts of fish over time and analyse the age
composition of the catch each year. The models use this information to estimate the size of the fish
stocks.
An otolith from a
4 year old cod
How old is a fish?

Similar to the way that trees lay down
rings every year, most fish also lay
down rings in their otoliths, which are
small bony structures located behind
the brain. Under the microscope, the
rings of an otolith can be counted,
revealing the fishs age.
18
The Importance of Catch Sampling
Surveys
Fisheries scientists have another source of information to help estimate the size of fish stocks:
surveys. These surveys are mainly used to estimate trends over time. They tend to use the same
methods, and operate in the same areas year after year, so any changes in the amount of fish that
these surveys observe are likely to result from changes in the stock. On the other hand, changes in
the catches of commercial fisheries could result from a number of causes, like changes to the gear,
fishing areas etc. Therefore it is important to have survey data as well as commercial catch data:
surveys generally give information on trends over time while commercial catch data gives
information on the amount of fish removed from the stock. The two sources of information
together can tell us the size of the stock and the level of fishing pressure.
Turning data into advice

To estimate the size of fish stocks, scientists combine the international data and use mathematical
models to estimate the size of the stock. This work is done at ICES stock assessment working
groups. These groups also run catch forecasts, based on a number of likely scenarios to evaluate
how changes in fishing intensity will affect the stocks.
The next step is to translate this information into advice. The rules for formulating the advice are
based on the type and quality of the available data. If there is very little data available, the advice is
generally for a precautionary reduction in catch. If the size of the stock is unknown, but we know it
is increasing, then the catch advice may be for a moderate increase. However, this can be offset by a
precautionary decrease to ensure the stock is not over-exploited. Only when all data are available to
assess whether the stock is of a healthy size and can be fished sustainably, can scientists accurately
estimate how much fish can be caught sustainably. In summary, the better the information, the higher
the catch advice can be whilst avoiding the risk of collapse.
The role of ICES is to provide scientific advice based on the principles set out in international
agreements on sustainable fisheries. It is then up to the commissions and governments to weigh the
social and economic implications of this advice and decide on the TACs.
Cooperation between scientists and the fishing industry

Scientists are given access to sampling opportunities at the ports and on-board fishing vessels on a
voluntary basis. Continued cooperation is essential to provide the best possible advice and
deterioration in the quality of the data will likely result in reduced fishing opportunities.
Some of the text above is adapted from the ICES publication Counting the uncountable
http://ipaper.ipapercms.dk/ICESPublications/Countingtheuncountable/Countingtheuncountable/
19
The Importance of Catch Sampling
Ecosystem overview for the Irish Sea

FEAS ECOSYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS
FEAS recommends that the following considerations should be
taken into account when developing ecosystem based
management objectives for Irish Sea fisheries:
Fishing has impacted a number of commercial species,

with some commercial species such as cod and whiting
in the Irish Sea now being considered collapsed. A cod
long term management plan is currently in place.
Demersal fisheries in the Irish Sea are mixed fisheries,

catching a large number of commercial and non
commercial species. Many species are discarded. Mixed
fisheries do not only affect the commercial stocks which
are presented in this Stock Book, but impact on the wider fish community. Discarding rates
are also high on many commercial species. Recently introduced technical measures i.e.
Swedish grids and separator panels have shown to significantly reduce discarding. Certain
demersal quota species will be subject to the demersal landing obligation (LO) from 1
January 2016, which should offer a reduction in discarding particularly for Nephrops, haddock,
and whiting that are covered by the LO in the Irish Sea in 2016.
Demersal trawling impacts on benthic habitats and their communities. The resilience and
recoverability of habitats vary depending on substrate type, biota and fishing gear. The
overall impact of demersal trawling on the Irish Sea seabed needs to be evaluated in relation
to the proportion of different habitats affected.
In order to implement the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAFM), fisheries management

should incentivise fishing behaviour and approaches that are consistent with the EAFM and
introduce management tools which reduce the impact of fishing on the wider ecosystem.
Physical Features
Bathymetry
For the most part the Irish Sea is shallow semi-enclosed shelf sea with a depth range of
between 20m and 100m. A deeper channel running north to south bisects the region. It
connects with the Malin Shelf and Atlantic Ocean through the North Channel and the Celtic
Sea via the St Georges Channel. It reaches a maximum water depth of 315m in the
Beauforts Dyke in the north-central region.
Substrates
In the north and central regions the tidal streams are weakest and sediments are primarily
composed of sublittoral muds, deep sea muds and muddy sands. In the higher energy regions
in the south, the sediments are dominated by sublittoral course sediment and there is little or
no sedimentation (MESH, 2010). A number of sandbanks, including the Kish Bank and
Blackwater Bank, run north to south parallel to the Irish east coast (Roche et al., 2007).
Circulation
The Irish Sea receives waters from the weak but persistent flow of the Irish Coastal Current
(ICC) which originates from the coast of Brittany (Brown et al., 2003, Fernand et al., 2006)
and Atlantic waters through the North Channel. Where these water masses meet at the
southwest of the Isle of Man a standing wave and weak currents are generated (Horsburgh et
al., 1998).
Fronts
A cyclonic, near-surface gyre is found during the spring and summer in the Western Irish Sea
(Simpson, 1971, Hill et al., 1997, Simpson and Hunter, 1974). The tidal Celtic Sea Front is
also created with the onset of stratification. It is located across the St. Georges Channel and
forms the entrance to the Irish Sea (Simpson, 1976). A year-round salinity front also exists in
the Liverpool Bay area (Simpson et al., 1990).
20
Temperature
salinity
(1904-2012)
Seasonal temperatures range from around 7-14C and monthly SSTs in the latter half of
2014 were up to 0.9C higher than the 10 year average (Jan. Jun. 2014 data not
available). Long term time series (off the Isle of Man) indicate an increase in annual SSTs
by approximately 0.7C between 1904 and 2012. No significant long-term salinity trends
have been identified at this location (OBrien et al., 2012). Low salinities, principally due
to freshwater inputs are found in Liverpool Bay (Polton et al., 2011, Hopkins and Polton,
2012). The 2014 global average ocean temperature was a record high, at 0.57C above
the 20th century average of 16.1C , breaking the previous records of 1998 and 2003
(NOAA, 2015).
Biological Features
Phytoplankton
Diatom abundance
Dinoflagellates
(1996-2010)
Zooplankton
Overall Abundance
(19582010)
No significant trends in phytoplankton abundance have been found in time series

between 1996 and 2010 (OBrien et al. 2012), however longer term trends indicate a
decline in diatom and dinoflagellate abundance (OBrien et al. 2012, McGinty et al.,
2012). The spring blooms are generally dominated by diatoms with peak abundances in
April/May while the abundance of dinoflagellates peaks in September. Microflagellated
algae can also contribute significantly to the spring bloom and peak in abundance
between April and September (OBrien et al. 2012).
Longterm times series starting in 1958 show a decline in overall zooplankton abundance
in the Irish Sea (OBrien et al. 2013).Three of the five most common herbivorous
copepod taxa have declined in biomass/abundance (Calanus spp. IIV, Acartia spp. and
Paracalanus spp. and small copepods <2 mm) between 1960-1999 and 2000-2009. C.
helgolandicus and Temora longicornis have increased. All four species/groups of common
carnivorous zooplankton declined in biomass/abundance over the same time period
(Euphausiids, Chaetognaths, Hyperiids and Decapods) (McGinty et al., 2012). Jellyfish are
increasing in abundance in the Irish Sea (Lynam et al., 2011). The common jellyfish Aurelia
aurita is the most widespread and abundant species (Doyle et al., 2007, Lynam et al.,
2011).
Benthos and
reefs
Five biotopes (communities associated with geophysical and hydrographical information)

have been identified in the Irish Sea (IOSEA, 2011). The Brissopsis assemblage, which
includes Nephrops, is associated with sublittoral mud in the western basin below 70m.
The Amphiura community; which includes brittle star, sea urchin and turret shell is found
in shallow muds surrounding the Brissopsis community. The Abra community is found in
localized western areas in shallow (530m) nearshore muddy sands with rich organic
content. The shallow Venus community, which has two sub-communities of Tellina and
Spisula, is widely distributed around the coastline and the deep Venus community,
consisting of urchin and bivalves is strongly associated with course and mixed sediments
in moderate depths (40-100 m). The Irish Sea also contains examples of Habitats
Directive Annex I reef (The Pisces rocky Reef Complex) and submarine structures
made by leaking gases (Croker Carbonate Slabs) (JNCC 2011a, 2011b).
Fish community
The Northern Ireland Groundfish Survey recorded 68 fish species in the Q1 survey and
64 species in the Q4 survey (ICES, 2015). The main commercial species identified in
both surveys were cod, haddock, whiting and plaice. The Irish Sea harbours important
spawning and nursery grounds for demersal species such as cod, whiting, ling, plaice and
sole and pelagic species such as herring (Ellis et al., 2012).
Mammals
Eleven cetacean species have been identified in the Irish Sea between 2000 and 2009
(Berrow et al., 2010). The harbour porpoise, short-beaked common dolphin and
common bottlenose dolphin are the most common sightings. Two species of seal are
found in the Irish Sea. The grey seal is larger and more abundant than the harbor seal.
The largest grey seal populations are found on St.Patricks Island, Lambay Island and
Rockabill Island and Dalkey Island (Co. Dublin) and Wicklow Head (Co. Wicklow) (
Cadhla and Strong, 2007). Harbor seal populations have been identified in Carlingford
Lough, Lambay Island and Skerries (Co. Dublin), Clogherhead and Dundalk Bay (Co.
Louth) and Wexford harbour (Cronin et al., 2004).
21
Seabirds
DraftOSPARECO
QO
(20042012)
Twenty-six species of seabird have been identified in the Irish Sea region. The most
common species found during the breeding season are the Black-legged kittiwake,
Northern guillemot and Manx shearwater. Rockabill Island, Irelands Eye and Lambay
Island are considered to be the most important breeding grounds (Mackey et al., 2004,
Mackey and Gimnez, 2004). The OSPAR draft ECOQO for seabirds in OSPAR region
III (Celtic Seas) which includes the Irish Sea, shows a downward trend since early 2000
(ICES 2013b).
Climate change
effects on finfish
and shellfish
stocks
The northwards shift of both cold-water and warm-water zooplankton Calanus out of and into
the Irish Sea is expected to impact on the distribution of many species (Richardson, 2008). Cod
reductions since the 1990s may be due to a combination of small spawning stock biomass and
poor environmental condition (Drinkwater, 2005). Plaice recruitment appears to have a
negative relationship with sea surface temperature and effects on herring are not known as
there are irregular productivity cycles (ICES, 2013a). It is thought that adult finfish may be
tolerant of changes in pH because CO2 levels are variable as a result of activity, but larvae may
be negatively affected (Ishimatsu et al., 2008). Changes in precipitation patterns, river discharges
and salinity, particularly in coastal areas could also affect inshore species that rely on these areas
for spawning or nursery grounds (Reid and Valds, 2011).
Human pressures and impacts

Fishing effort
(>10m vessels)
Overall fishing
mortality
The main human activities in the Irish Sea are:

Fishing
Transport
Dredging for shipping
Offshore energy
Pressures associated with commercial fisheries are:
The removal of species
Seafloor disturbance
Fishing effort in the Irish Sea has decreased by ca. 40% between 2000 and 2013, the majority
of which occurred between 2003 and 2009 (STECF, 2014). Of the 18.5kt landed from the
Irish Sea in 2014, 47% comes from stocks that are fished above FMSY. Three out of the eleven
Irish Sea stocks are equal to or above Btrigger which corresponds to 78% of the landings,
while two are below Btrigger namely Irish Sea cod and sole. A high level of discarding is linked
to mixed trawl fisheries. Discards of the main commercial demersal stocks by all mtiers in
the Irish Sea between 2003-2009 ranges from 10% (cod and monkfish) to 100% (whiting).
Discarding ratios of100% is common for non-commercial demersal species (Anon., 2011).
Towed bottom fishing gears (trawls, dredges, drags, hydraulic devices) impact on seabed
species and habitats. Gear type, intensity of trawling, sediment hardness (Foden et al., 2010)
and hydrodynamic conditions (Collie et al., 2000, Kaiser et al., 2006) affect a systems ability
to recover.
A full reference list can be found in Appendix VI.
22
Letter code for stocks

A
Cod VIIa
Haddock VIIa
Whiting VIIa
Plaice VIIa
Sole VIIa
Thornback ray VIIafg
Spotted ray VIIafg
Blonde ray VIIafg
Nephrops (FU15) VIIa
Nephrops (FU14) VIIa
Herring VIIaN
Fig. 1 Relative fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) and biomass (SSB/Btrig) for Irish Sea stocks, which have SSB and F related against
reference points (msy where available, otherwise pa or qualitative). This corresponds to 5 out of 11 stocks and 80% of the
landings. Stocks in the green region are exploited below Fmsy and have an SSB that is above Btrigger.
Fig. 2 Stocks of unknown status in relation to reference points. The size of each bubble corresponds to the landings in 2014.
The largest bubble corresponds 8.6kt.
23
Fig. 5 Relative fishing mortality (F to Fmsy ratios) of Irish Sea stocks, demersal F corresponds to Irish Sea cod
and sole, pelagic F corresponds to VIIaN Herring and Shellfish F corresponds to Nephrops FU14 and FU15.
Fig. 6 Relative biomass (SSB to Bmsy trigger ratios) of Irish Sea stocks, demersal SSB corresponds to Irish Sea
cod and sole, pelagic F corresponds to VIIaN Herring and Shellfish F corresponds to Nephrops FU15.
24
Irish Sea Cod

(Division VIIa)
For latest information, see: http://www.ices.dk
FEAS SINGLE STOCK CONSIDERATIONS

The ICES advice remains unchanged for 2015 and 2016 and is that on the
basis of the MSY approach there should be no directed fisheries, and
bycatch and discards should be minimized in 2015 and 2016. FEAS agrees
with this advice and notes that the landing obligation will not apply to this
stock in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 1 as it is an age based analytical assessment.
SSB has declined tenfold since the 1980s and total mortality remains very high.
FEAS agrees with ICES that current landings (i.e. TAC), effort and spatial management of fisheries
catching cod in Division VIIa are not reducing mortality levels sufficiently.
The EU has adopted a long-term management plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those
stocks (Council Regulation (EC) 1342/2008). FEAS agrees with the ICES consideration that the
management plan is not in accordance with the precautionary approach.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
2015 Quota Allocations
IRE 120 t
The TAC Area covers Division VIIa and corresponds to the
assessment area.
BEL 2 t
The 2015 TAC was 182 t with an associated Irish quota of 120 t.
FRA 7 t
A spawning closure was introduced in 2000 for 10 weeks from
mid-February to maximise the reproductive output of the stock
NL 1 t
(EU Regulations 304/2000 and 2549/2000). Conservation
UK 52 t
measures have since been revised annually, involving a continued,
but smaller spawning ground closure, derogations for certain
gears and changes in net design to improve selectivity and
protect juvenile fish. FEAS has previously examined the impact of the closed areas for cod in VIIa using
simulations. The results indicate that closed areas need to be more stringent to have an effect that is detectable
above the assessment uncertainty.
Measures established for the recovery of cod stocks include multi-annual processes for selection of TACs,
restriction of fishing effort, technical measures, control and enforcement, accompanying structural measures and
market measures.
All Irish vessels operating in VIIa must now use species selective gears i.e. an inclined separator panels, large mesh
(300mm) square mesh panels or a sorting grid as a condition of national license obligations.
Further information on this stock can be found in the 2014 Stock Book.
25
Irish Sea Cod
Irish Sea Whiting

(Division VIIa)

The ICES advice is that when the precautionary approach is applied, there
should be no directed fisheries and all catches should be minimized in 2016.
FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that the landing obligation will not
apply to this stock in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 2.1.3 since the analytical assessment is
indicative of trends only. The underlying data do not support the provision of
estimates of FMSY. However, it is likely that current F is above FMSY.
Therefore, catches (which are mainly discards) of whiting in 2016 should be
the lowest possible.
Urgent management action is required to rebuild the whiting stock in this area. FEAS stresses that
the cornerstone of any rebuilding of whiting stocks should be measures that significantly reduce or
eliminate the discarding of whiting in the Nephrops fishery. These might include spatial and
temporal changes in fishing practises or technical measures such as increased cod-end mesh size,
square mesh panels, separator trawls, Swedish grids, and increased top sheet mesh in towed gears.
There is no management plan for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Division VIIa and this corresponds with the
assessment area.
The TAC for Division VIIa in 2015 was 80 t with an associated
Irish quota of 46 t.
The spring closure of the western Irish Sea to whitefish fishing,
designed to protect cod, has been continued, but is unlikely to
have affected whiting catches, which are mainly by-catch in the
derogated Nephrops fishery.
The operation of days-at-sea effort limitations in the Irish Sea since
2004 is not expected to have resulted in a significant reduction in fishing
mortality for whiting.
ICES ADVICE
5.3.64
IRE 46 t
FRA 3 t
UK 31 t
Whiting in Division VIIa (Irish Sea)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be no directed fisheries and all
catches should be minimized in 2016.
26
Irish Sea Whiting
Stock development over time

Historical yield and catch composition indicate that the present stock size is extremely low and likely to be well
below possible reference points. Landings have been declining since the early 1980s, reaching lowest levels in
the 2000s. The survey results indicate a decline in relative spawning stock biomass (SSB).
Catches
20
Discards
Landings
18
16
1000tonnes
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1984
1989
1994
1999
2004
2009
2014
Figure5.3.64.1 Whiting in Division VIIa. Catch reported to the WG (in thousand tonnes, 19912002 estimates include
sampledbasedestimatesoflandingsatanumberofIrishSeaports),andmeanstandardized:SSB,and
recruitmentestimates,fromsinglefleetSURBAanalysis.
Stock and exploitation status

Table 5.3.64.1
Whiting in Division VIIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012
2013
2014
Maximum Sustainable Yield
FMSY
Undefined
Precautionary approach
Management Plan
Qualitative evaluation
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
Stock size
2013
2014
2015
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Below possible reference points
27
Irish Sea Whiting
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks is applied (ICES, 2012). The perception of the stock has not changed; therefore,
the advice given in the recent years is still applicable this year.
Discarding is estimated to be 97% of the catch in weight (average 20122014).
Table 5.3.64.4 Whiting in Division VIIa. For stocks in ICES data categories 3, one catch option is provide.
Recent advised catches
Discard rate
Catch advice*
* [recent advised catch]
0 tonnes
97%
0 tonnes
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.64.5
Whiting in Division VIIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for whiting in this area
Qualityoftheassessment
Discard sampling coverage has improved after a period of incomplete discard information between 2003 and
2006. Discards in recent years have been high and variable relative to landings; mainly between 10002000 t
with landings generally less than 100 t. Survey and catch data are consistent with a high total mortality and low
stock size since the early 2000s.
Issuesrelevantfortheadvice
The majority of whiting caught are discards in the Nephrops fishery and are below the minimum landings size.
Given the continued high discards and low TAC this stock could become a major choke species for the VIIa
Nephrops fishery in the context of the landing obligation.
Table 5.3.64.6
Whiting in Division VIIa. ICES landings and indicative estimates of discards and catches by gear
grouping for 20122014 as reported to ICES (in tonnes). The discard values are indicative because their accuracy and
precision is dependent on sampling intensity and coverage by gear group.
2012
2013
2014
Gear Grouping
Discards Landings
Catch
Discards Landings
Catch
Discards Landings
Catch
Nephrops Otter
1581
5
1586
911
18
929
1975
10
1985
Trawls (TR2)
Fin-fish Otter Trawls
0
0
0
8
12
20
0
6
6
(TR1)
Beam Trawls (BT2)
27
3
30
18
2
20
0
1
1
Other Gears
1
51
56
19
1
22
0
5
5
Total
1609
60
1672
956
33
992
1975
23
1998
Referencepoints
The previous defined reference points are no longer appropriate and no new reference points are defined.
Basisoftheassessment
Table 5.3.64.7
Whiting in Division VIIa. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data category
2.1.3 (ICES 2015b).
Assessment type
Analytical survey-based assessment considered to be indicative of trends only.
Survey indices (NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1 and NIGFS-WIBTS-Q4); fixed maturity ogive from
Input data
surveys; constant natural mortality assumed.
Not needed to be included in the current assessment. Discard estimates are available for the
Discards and bycatch
main fleets (in 2014 covering >95% of the landings).
Indicators
None.
Other information
Commercial catches. This stock is planned to be benchmarked in 2016.
Working group
Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE).
28
Irish Sea Whiting
Informationfromstakeholders
There is no available information.

History of advice, catch and management
Table 5.3.64.8
Whiting in Division VIIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings.
Weights in thousand tonnes.
Predicted
catch
Agreed
Official
ICES
ICES
Year
ICES Advice
33E2&E3 Disc.**
corresp. to
TAC
landings landings***
catch
advice
1987 Reduce F
16.0
18.2
11.7
No increase in F enforce
1988
12.0
18.2
11.5
10.24
1.90
12.14
mesh regulations
F = Fhigh; enforce mesh
1989
11.0
18.2
11.3
11.30
2.00
13.30
regulations
*
1990 No increase in F; TAC
8.3
15.0
8.2
8.21
2.70
10.91
1991 Increase SSB to SSB(89)
6.4*
10.0
7.4
7.35
2.70
10.05
1992 80% of F(90)
9.7*
10.0
7.1
8.59
4.30
12.89
1993 70% of F(91) ~ 6 500 t
6.5
8.5
6.0
6.52
2.70
9.22
1994 Within safe biological limits
9.9
5.6
6.76
1.20
7.96
1995 No increase in F
8.3*
8.0
5.5
4.89
2.20
7.09
9.8*
9.0
5.6
4.33
3.50
7.83
1997 No advice given
7.5
4.5
2.28
1.90
4.18
1998 20% reduction in F
3.8#
5.0
3.4
2.23
1.30
3.53
1999 Reduce F below Fpa
3.5#
4.41
2.0
1.67
1.10
2.77
<1.6#
2.64
1.1
0.76
2.10
2.86
2001 Lowest possible F
~0
1.39
1.1
0.73
1.00
1.73
~0
1.00
0.7
0.75
0.70
1.45
~0
0.50
0.5
0.68
n.a.
2004 zero catch
0
0.514
0.2
0.18
n.a.
2005 zero catch
0
0.514
0.2
0.16
n.a.
2006 lowest possible catch
0
0.437
0.08
0.09
n.a.
0
0.371
0.2
0.20
n.a.
0
0.278
0.08
0.08
1.91
1.68
2009 Same advice as last year
0
0.290
0.1
0.10
1.03
2.01
0
0.157
0.12
0.12
1.03
1.15
2011 See scenarios
0.118
0.11
0.07
1.17
1.25
Lowest possible catch and
0.06
0.032
1.47
1.53
2012
0
0.089
0.07
improve selectivity
Lowest possible catch and
0.03
0.034
0.94
0.97
2013
0
0.084
0.07
improve selectivity
2014 Same advice as for 2013
0
0.080
0.07
0.02
0.049
1.98
2.00
0
0.080
2016
0
(minimize all catches)
* Not including discards from the Nephrops fishery.
** From the Nephrops fishery from 1987 to 2002.
*** Including estimates of misreporting between 19922002 and since 2012 landings from statistical rectangles 33E2, and
33E3 reallocated to Divisions VIIek whiting landings.
#
Landings only, no discards included.
n.a. = not available.
History of catch and landings

Table 5.3.64.9
Catch (2014)
1998 t
Whiting in Division VIIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.

Landings
Discards
23 t (99% of catch and discards is by trawl)
1975 t (almost all trawl)
29
Irish Sea Whiting
Table 5.3.64.10 Whiting in Division VIIa. History of commercial catch, and landings, both official and ICES estimated
values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. The discard values in this table
should be treated as indicative rather than precise estimates; some differences were detected with Table
5.3.64.6 are due to different reporting systems and will be addressed by ICES in the future.
Country
1988
1989
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
Belgium
90
92
142
53
78
50
80
92
80
47
52
France
1063
533
528
611
509
255
163
169
78
86
81
Ireland
4394
3871
2000 2200
2100 1440 1418 1840 1773 1119 1260
Netherlands
17
14
7
UK(Engl. & Wales)*
1202
6652
5202 4250
4089 3859 3724 3125 3557 3152 1900
Spain
UK (Isle of Man)
15
26
75
74
44
55
44
41
28
24
33
UK (N. Ireland)
4621
UK (Scotland)
107
154
236
223
274
318
208
198
48
30
22
UK
Total human consumption
11492 11328
8183 7411
7094 5977 5637 5465 5581 4472 3355
Estimated Nephrops fishery
1611
2103
2444 2598
4203 2707 1173 2151 3631 1928 1304
discards used by ICES**
Estimated Discards from IROTB fleet***
Estimated Discards from NI
Nephrops fishery^
ICES Estimate of Landings
10245 11305
8212 7348
8588 6523 6763 4893 4335 2277 2229
ICES Estimates
11856 13408 10656 9946 12791 9230 7936 7044 7966 4205 3533
Country
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK(Engl. & Wales)*
Spain
UK (Isle of Man)
UK (N.Ireland)
UK (Scotland)
UK
Estimated Nephrops fishery
discards used by ICES
Estimated Discards from
IR-OTB fleetc
Estimated Discards from
NI Nephrops fishery^
ICES Estimates
1999
46
150
509
6
1229
5
44
1989
2000
30
59
353
1
670
2
15
1130
2001
27
25
482
506
1
25
1066
2002
22
33
347
284
1
27
714
2003
13
29
265
130
85
1
31
554
2004
11
8
96
82
1
6
204
2005
10
13
94
47
<0.5
164
2006
4.2
3.7
55.3
21.7
<0.5
84.9
2007
3
3
187
3
1
<0.5
197
2008
2
2
68
11
1
84
2009
2
78
20
100
1092
2118
1012
740
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
524
680
201
223
1545
585
892
1670
2762
762
2880
733
1745
747
1487
676
1200
184
864
158
359
86
309
196
1740
1019
81
666
102
2013
30
Irish Sea Whiting
Table 5.3.64.10
ctd.
Country
2010 2011
Belgium
5
4
France
3
3
Ireland
97
95
Netherlands
UK(Engl. & Wales)*
16
16
Spain
UK (Isle of Man)
<0.5 <0.5
UK (N.Ireland)
UK (Scotland)
UK
121
120
Estimated Nephrops fishery discards used by ICES**
Estimated Discards from IR-OTB fleet***,^^
330
269
Estimated Discards from NI Nephrops fishery^
704
903
Estimated Discards from Belgium fleet
Estimated Discards from UK (E&W) fleet
121
74
ICES Estimates
1154 1246
* 1989-onwards Northern Ireland included with England and Wales.
** Based on UK (N. Ireland) and Ireland data.
*** Based on data from Ireland.
^ Based on data from Northern Ireland.
^^ Preliminary (and rounded).
2012
5
1
58
10
1
11
86
531
922
17
1
60
1531
2013
2
<0.5
44
<0.1
2
20
68
85
832
18
3
33
970
2014*
2
<0.5
59
11
<0.1
72
288
1645
15
28
23
1998
Summary of the assessment

Table 5.3.64.11
Year
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Whiting in Division VIIa. SSB and recruitment from NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1 and Q4 survey relative to the
mean of the time series.
Relative spawning biomass
Relative recruitment
NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1
NIGFS-WIBTS-Q4
NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1
NIGFS-WIBTS-Q4
1.27
1.02
1.32
0.44
0.66
0.98
0.25
0.25
3.10
1.96
0.91
0.39
2.35
1.50
0.83
1.02
1.97
0.94
1.63
0.50
0.82
2.30
1.26
0.48
1.37
1.24
0.89
0.43
1.65
1.48
0.96
1.25
1.02
0.90
0.94
1.05
1.20
1.02
1.33
1.51
2.18
1.22
2.09
2.11
1.34
2.58
0.64
2.29
0.47
1.42
0.35
0.84
0.48
0.51
0.61
0.86
0.33
0.16
0.78
0.68
0.11
0.64
0.56
2.16
0.39
0.26
0.61
0.96
0.19
0.40
0.52
0.47
0.39
0.57
0.46
0.70
0.30
0.52
0.85
1.02
0.34
0.48
2.21
1.02
0.41
0.39
1.22
1.33
0.69
0.52
1.79
1.26
0.21
2.38
Sources and references

ICES 2015a. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, ICES Headquarters,
Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:12.
ICES 2015b. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, Section 1.2. In
preparation.
31
Irish Sea Whiting
Irish Sea Haddock

(Division VIIa)
FEAS - SINGLE STOCK CONSIDERATIONS

The ICES advice is based on the approach for data limited stocks and
states that catches in 2016 should be no more than 1,072 t. FEAS
agrees with this advice and notes that this stock will be subject to the
landing obligation in 2016. Until such time that the approach for
quota uplift is decided upon, it is not possible to determine what the
TAC and resultant Irish quota will be in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 3.2.0 since the survey based
assessment is indicative of trends only. Effort has declined in the main
fisheries catching haddock but the relative total mortality as estimated from surveys shows little
change over the time series. SSB has been fluctuating due to incoming year classes. Recruitment
in 2014 is one of the highest in the time series and has resulted in an increase in SSB in 2015. No
MSY reference points are defined for this stock.
ICES landings for this stock have been adjusted to account for landings taken or reported in the
southern Division VIIa (Rectangles 33E23), resulting in an average of 442 t over the last three
years (20122014). If this is taken into account then the TAC for Division VIIa haddock should be
set at 923 t.
FEAS advises that measures to reduce unwanted catch should be introduced. These might
include spatial and temporal changes in fishing practises or technical measures such as increased
cod-end mesh size, square mesh panels, separator trawls, and Swedish grids.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC Area previously covered Sub-areas VII, VIII, IX and X but
since 2009 a separate TAC is allocated for Division VIIa.
The 2015 TAC for haddock in Division VIIa was 1,181 t with an
Irish quota of 511 t.
Effort reductions as part of the Cod Long Term Management
Plan (EC Reg.1342/2008) will also reduce catch and discarding of
haddock in this area.
FEAS recommends that management objectives be established and
that a management plan be developed and implemented for
fisheries catching haddock.
32
IRE 511 t
BEL 19 t
FRA 85 t
UK 566 t
Irish Sea Haddock
ICES ADVICE
5.3.15 Haddock in Division VIIa (Irish Sea)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 1072
tonnes1. If this stock is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the
average of the last three years (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 481 tonnes.
The assessment is indicative of trends. The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has been fluctuating due to incoming
year classes. The recruitment in 2014 is among the highest in the time-series, resulting in an SSB increase in
2015.
Figure5.3.15.1 HaddockinDivisionVIIa.SummaryoftrendsinICESestimatesoflandings(tonnes),recruitment,andSSB
relative to the mean of the timeseries. The confidence intervals correspond to the 5th and 95th
percentile.ThehorizontallinesintheSSBplotindicatetheaverageoftherespectiveyearrange.Discard
estimatespriorto2010areincompleteandthereforenotincludedintheplot.

Table 5.3.15.1
Haddock in Division VIIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
2014
13
14
MSY
Maximum
Undefined
Sustainable Yield FMSY
Btrigger
Precautionary
Fpa,
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
approach
Flim
Management Plan FMGT
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Qualitative
Unknown
evaluation
2015
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Increasing
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The SSB from the assessment was used
as the index of stock development. The advice is based on a comparison of the two latest index values (index A)
with the three preceding values (index B), multiplied by the recent advised catch.
1
The ICES advice is for the Division VIIa haddock stock. Catches taken or reported in rectangles 33E2 and 33E3 are not
believed to belong to this stock and are not included in this advice.
33
Irish Sea Haddock
The index is estimated to have increased by more than 20% and thus the uncertainty cap was applied. The
indexratiohasincreasedbymorethan50%;therefore,noadditionalprecautionarybufferwasapplied.
The discarding rate (20122014 average) constitutes 55% of the total catch.
Table 5.3.15.2 Haddock in Division VIIa. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch option is provided.
Index A (20142015)
0.98, relative model estimated SSB
Index B (20112013)
0.45, relative model estimated SSB
Index ratio (A/B)
2.18
Uncertainty cap
Applied
1.2
Recent advised catch
893 tonnes
Discard rate
55%
Precautionary buffer
Not applied
Catch advice*
1072 tonnes
Wanted catch** corresponding to the catch advice
481 tonnes
* Recent advice cap.
** Wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.15.3 Haddock in Division VIIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for haddock in this area.
Due to the uncertainty in the mortality estimates for the stock, the advice is based only on the SSB estimated
from the assessment used as indicator of stock size. Recruitment and SSB estimates are relative as survey
catchabilities-at-age are not known.
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks with uncertainty cap of 20 % is considered insufficiently responsive
to the dynamic nature of changes in the stock, i.e. high variability in recruitment.
Landings have been adjusted since 2003 to exclude landings taken from the southern rectangles (33E2 and
33E3) in the Irish Sea as they are not believed to be part of this stock (Table 5.3.15.8). This needs to be
considered when setting catch options for Divisions VIIa and VIIbk haddock.
Referencepoints
No reference points are defined for this stock.
Table 5.3.15.4 Haddock in Division VIIa. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data
3.2.0 (ICES, 2015a).
category
Assessment type
SURBA analysis based on survey information, considered indicative of trends only.
One survey index (NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1); annual maturity and growth data from the NIGFSInput data
WIBTS-Q1 survey and samples of commercial landings in quarter 1.
Used to provide advice, but not included in the assessment. Discard information available since
2010, average discard proportion 20122014 from the main fleets (55% of the landings).
Indicators
Surveys: NIGFS-WIBTS-Q4, NIMIK, UK-FSP, IS-APEM.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2013 (ICES, 2013); a new benchmark is planned for 2016.
Working group
34
Irish Sea Haddock
History of advice, catch, and management

Table 5.3.15.5
Haddock in Division VIIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings,
discards, and catches. Weights in thousand tonnes.
Predicted
Predicted
landings Agreed
Official
ICES
ICES
ICES
Year
ICES advice
catch corresp.
corresp.
TAC*
landings landings discards catches
to advice
to advice
1987 Not dealt with
1.3
1.3
1988 Not dealt with
0.7
0.7
1989 Not dealt with
0.6
0.6
1990 Not dealt with
0.6
0.6
1991 Not dealt with
0.6
0.6
1992 Not dealt with
0.7
0.7
1993 Not dealt with
0.7
0.8
1994 Not dealt with
0.7
1.0
1995 Not dealt with
6*
0.8
1.7
1996 No advice
7*
1.5
3.0
Means of setting catch limits
1997
14*
1.9
3.5
reqd
1998 Catch limit for Division VIIa
3.0
20*
3.0
4.9
No increase in F; catch limit for
1999
7.0
4.99**
2.4
4.1
Division VIIa
< 2.8
3.4**
2.4
1.4
< 1.71
2.7**
2.2
2.2
< 1.20
1.3**
1.1
1.8
2003 No cod catches
0.6**
0.7
0.7^
2004 F< Fpa
< 1.5
1.5**
0.8
1.2
2005 F< Fpa
< 1.37
1.37
0.5
0.7
Substantial reduction in fishing
2006
1.275
0.7
0.6
mortality
Substantial reduction in fishing
2007
1.179
1.1
0.9
mortality
2008 No increase in effort
1.238
0.9
0.8
1.424
0.8
0.6
1.424
0.9
0.7
0.5
1.2
2011 See scenarios
1.317
0.8
0.4
0.3
0.8
Reduce catch and improved
2012
1.215
0.8
0.3
0.6
0.9
selectivity
2013 Decrease catch by 18%
< 0.71
1.189
0.7
0.3
0.3
0.5
2014 Increase catch by 17%
1.120 < 0.572
1.181
1.0***
0.5***
0.4***
1.0***
2015 Increase catch by 20%
< 0.893 < 0.425
1.181
Precautionary approach (increase
2016
1.072 0.481
catch by 20%)
* Precautionary TAC for Subareas VII, VIII, IX, and X up to 1998, and the Division VIIa allocation of precautionary TAC
from 1999.
** Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries, protecting
stocks outside safe biological limits.
*** Preliminary.
^ Underestimate due to inadequate sampling.

Table 5.3.15.6
Catch
(2014)
Haddock in Division VIIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.

Estimated landings
29% otter trawls
1006
tonnes
98% otter trawls
12% Scottish seines 58% mid-water trawl

518 tonnes
Estimated discards
< 1% Scottish
1% mid-water trawl
seines
488 tonnes
35
1% other gear-types
< 1% other gear types
Irish Sea Haddock
Table 5.3.15.7
Haddock in Division VIIa. History of landings; the official landings for each country participating in the
fishery and ICES landings estimates.
Country
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
Belgium
3
4
5
10
12
4
4
1
8
18
France
38
31
39
50
47
n/a
n/a
n/a
73
41
Ireland
199
341
275
797
363
215
80
254
251
252
Netherlands
UK (England & Wales)*
29
28
22
41
74
252
177
204
244
260
UK (Isle of Man)
2
5
4
3
3
3
5
14
13
19
UK (N. Ireland)*
38
215
358
230
196
UK (Scotland)
78
104
23
156
52
86
316
143
114
140
Total
387
728
726
1 287
747
560
582
616
703
730
ICES landings
387
728
726
1 287
747
560
582
616
656
813
Country
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK (Isle of Man)
UK (N. Ireland)*
UK (Scotland)
Total
ICES landings
1994
22
22
246
301
24
1995
32
58
320
294
27
1996
34
105
798
1
463
38
1997
55
74
1005
14
717
9
1998
104
86
1699
10
1023
13
1999
53
n/a
759
5
1479
7
2000
22
49
1238
2
1061
19
2001
68
184
652
1238
1
2002
44
72
401
551
-
2003
20
146
229
248
-
66
681
1042
110
841
1736
14
1453
2981
51
1925
3547
80
3015
4874
67
2370
4095
56
2447
1357
86
2229
2246
47
1115
1817
31
674
n/a
Country
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK (Isle of Man)
UK (N. Ireland)*
UK (Scotland)
United Kingdom
Total
ICES landings
2004
15
20
296
421
-
2005
22
36
139
344
-
2006
23
20
184
2008
15
6
319
521
1
2009
7
3
388
446
1
2010
9
2
333
593
-
2011
16
8
434
355
-
2012
13
3
561
-
419
-
2007
30
11
477
559
-
2013
6
1
492
<.1
17
236*
813*
343
155
656
254
761
1217
547
666
655
633
1 078
886
Country
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK (Isle of Man)
UK (N. Ireland)*
UK (Scotland)
United Kingdom
Total
ICES landings
* Since 1989 Northern Ireland is included with England and Wales.
** Preliminary.
n/a = not available.
36
879
786
846
581
939
679
813
446
2014
7**
0.1
534**
-**
**
< 1**
**
**
412**
953**
518**
Irish Sea Haddock
Table 5.3.15.8
Haddock in Division VIIa. ICES landings, discards, catch, % discards by weight, and landings taken or
reported in rectangles 33E2 and 33E3.
Landings taken or
reported in
Year
ICES landings
ICES discards**
ICES catch
% Discard
rectangles 33E2
and 33E3
1995
1736
780
2516
31%
16
1996
2981
709
3690
19%
33
1997
3547
895
4442
20%
36
1998
4874
1015
5889
17%
28
1999
4095
634
4729
13%
34
2000
1357
802
2159
37%
11
2001
2246
269
2515
11%
74
2002
1817
387
2204
18%
82
2003*
659
64
2004
1217
392
1609
24%
53
2005
666
551
1217
45%
35
2006
633
306
939
33%
26
2007
886
722
1608
45%
222
2008
786
643
1429
45%
194
2009
581
579
1160
50%
285
2010
679
508
1187
43%
267
2011
446
307
753
41%
374
2012
343
599
942
64%
473
2013
254
283
537
53%
410
2014
518
488
1006
49%
444
Average
637
489
1126
43%
253
20042014
* Underestimate or not available due to inadequate sampling.
** Discard estimates prior to 2010 are preliminary.

Table 5.3.15.9
Year
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Haddock in Division VIIa. Stock assessment results relative to the mean of the time-series (high and
low values correspond to the respective 95th and 5th percentiles, also in relation to the time-series).
Relative
Recruitment Age 1
0.043
0.007
0.068
0.877
0.089
2.181
0.159
0.652
1.198
0.255
1.594
0.469
1.55
2.12
1.438
2.383
0.658
0.529
1.213
1.024
0.997
0.592
2.736
1.167
Relative Recruitment
High
0.071
0.011
0.117
1.513
0.142
3.762
0.267
1.071
2.005
0.421
2.619
0.752
2.658
3.437
2.286
3.803
1.11
0.869
2.022
1.682
1.69
1.032
4.864
2.395
Relative
recruitment Low
0.023
0.004
0.035
0.449
0.049
1.128
0.083
0.356
0.648
0.135
0.868
0.249
0.83
1.186
0.774
1.302
0.348
0.277
0.653
0.542
0.535
0.289
1.249
0.416
37
Relative
SSB
0.008
0.128
0.17
0.096
0.886
1.347
1.4
0.96
0.544
0.968
0.707
1.525
1.466
1.078
1.412
1.515
1.715
1.139
0.573
0.709
0.86
1.023
0.837
2.933
Relative SSB
High
0.012
0.199
0.276
0.148
1.409
2.281
2.199
1.576
0.85
1.515
1.121
2.385
2.312
1.66
2.168
2.258
2.588
1.807
0.858
1.09
1.311
1.554
1.277
4.641
Relative SSB
Low
0.005
0.075
0.094
0.057
0.492
0.758
0.808
0.519
0.325
0.592
0.439
0.905
0.864
0.665
0.887
0.976
1.081
0.69
0.367
0.431
0.507
0.627
0.516
1.65
Irish Sea Haddock

ICES. 2012. ICES Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM
2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2013. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Roundfish Stocks, 48 February, Aberdeen, UK. ICES CM
2013/ACOM:47.
ICES. 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015,
38
Irish Sea Haddock
Overview of Nephrops Stocks around

Ireland
(Sub-area VII)
FEAS MULTIPLE STOCKS CONSIDERATIONS

ICES and FEAS advise that all Nephrops fisheries in VII
are managed at an appropriate geographical scale i.e.
Functional Unit (FU). FEAS reiterates that the lack of
management controls at an appropriate geographic
scale could lead to unbalanced exploitation and
possible over exploitation of some stocks. However,
FEAS recognises that implementing FU management
presents serious operational issues and may require a
fundamental redesign of the quota management
system in Ireland and elsewhere. Both ICES and
STECF give advice for individual FUs not for the
whole TAC area.
Red Boxes TAC/Management Area

Shading Functional Unit
This year ICES have based assessments on Underwater Television Surveys (UWTV) for FUs 14, 15,
16, 17, 19, 20-21 and 22. Three stocks are above MSY Btrigger in 2014 the others do not have Btriggers
defined due to short time series of UWTV observations. Five Nephrops stocks in VII are fished
below the FMSY proxy in 2014; FU 14, 16, 19, 20-21 and 22. Two stocks are fished above the FMSY in
2014: FU15 and FU17.
The quantitative catch advice given by ICES for 2016 is summarised below. A comparison with the
advice last year is also shown. The total catch advice for 2016 of 19,932 t given by ICES assume that
all catches will landed in 2016 this implies an 8% decrease on last years catch advice. Assuming
discards continue at current rates, which is analogous to last years advice, implies landings of
17,719 t which is a decrease of 2% on last years landings advice. In the recent past the TAC has
been adapted in line with the ICES landings advice (see Table 1). It is unclear how the ICES advice
will be translated into catch advice in the context of the landing obligation. Fixing a TAC at the
level of the cumulative ICES catch advice of 19,932 t would be unnecessarily restrictive for
countries with full quota uptake, such as Ireland and the UK (Figure 1). This could lead to under
exploitation of some FUs. The TAC has always been set above the cumulative ICES landings advice
for this area. FEAS advise that the large differences in recent quota uptakes between countries
must be taken into account when setting an overall TAC for VII in the context of the landing
obligation.
LastyearsStatus Lastyear'sadvice
Thisyearsstatus LOalldiscardsarelandeddead Discardscontinueatcurrentrate
F<Fmsy SSB>Btrig CatchAdvice LandingsAdvice F<Fmsy SSB>Btrig CatchAdvice LandingsAdvice CatchAdvice LandingsAdvice
FU14
715
662
1272
1197
1289
1213
FU15
9922
8223
8682
7388
8904
7577
FU16
1850
1850
1850
1850
1850
1850
FU17
584
524
991
915
1026
948
FU19
1119
715
793
542
904
618
FU2021
3366
2500
3045
2225
3431
2500
FU22
3797
3409
3027
2634
3194
2778
FU18+other
na
235
na
235
na
235
Total
21353
18118
19660
16986
20598
17719
TotalCatch
including
21630
19932
20871
discard
topupfor
18+others
39
Overview of Nephrops Stocks in VII
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Sub-area VII. ICES and FEAS

recommend that Nephrops should be managed at
IRE 7973 t
Functional Unit level since the current large TAC area
may result in unbalanced exploitation.
FRA 5257 t
Quota uptake by member states has changed over time
UK 7092 t
(Figure 1). Ireland and the UK have fully used their
quota in most recent years. Uptake by France and Spain
SPA 1297 t
is well below the quota.
In 2015 the TAC was 21,619 t and an Irish quota of
7,973 t. The of which clause limits catches from FU16
in 2015 to less than 1,850 t with an associated Irish
quota of 671 t.
There are no explicit management objectives or a management plan for Nephrops stocks in VII. FEAS
recommends that management objectives be established and that a management plans be developed with
stakeholders and implemented for fisheries catching Nephrops.
The following TCMs are in place for Nephrops in Division VIIa after EC 850/98: Minimum Landing Sizes
(MLS); total length >70 mm, carapace length >20 mm, tail length >37 mm; Mesh Size Restrictions; Vessels
targeting Nephrops using towed gears having at least 35% by weight of this species on board will require
70 mm diamond mesh plus an 80 mm square mesh panel as a minimum or having at least 30% by weight of
Nephrops on board will require 80 mm diamond mesh.
The following TCMs are in place for Nephrops in Sub-area VII (excluding Division VIIa) after EC 850/98:
Minimum Landing Sizes (MLS); total length >85 mm, carapace length >25 mm, tail length >46 mm. Mesh
Size Restrictions; Towed gears targeting Nephrops having at least 35% by weight of this species on board
will require 70 mm diamond mesh plus an 80 mm square mesh panel as a minimum or having at least 30%
by weight of Nephrops on board will require 80 mm diamond mesh.
Figure 1. The time series of landings and quotas by member state for VII Nephrops
40
Table 1. The recent history of ICES landings advice and the TACs set in response to that advice.
ICESLandingsAdvice
%ChangeinICES
LandingsAdvice(y/y1)
%ChangeintheTAC
(y/y1)
Year
TACinVII('000st)
2012
21.759
18.11
102%
2013
23.065
19.19
106%
106%
2014
20.989
17.56
92%
91%
2015
21.619
18.12
103%
103%
2016Assumingall
discardsarelanded
16.986
94%
2016Assuming
Discardscontinueat
currentrates
17.719
98%
41
FU14 Nephrops in the Eastern Irish Sea


ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016
(assuming zero discards) should be no more than 1,272 t. If instead discard
rates continue at recent values (average of 20132014) and there is no
change in assumed discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more
than 1,213 t (catches of 1,289 t). FEAS agrees with the ICES advice but
notes that fisheries catching Nephrops in Sub-area VII will be covered by
the EU landing obligation (LO) in 2016.
A De minimis exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight will
apply in 2016. The average discard rate by weight was 6% in the last two
years. Improvements in selectivity in the fishery to reduce catches of small Nephrops will be
beneficial and result in higher long-term yield in the future.
This stock falls in to ICES category 1 for data-rich stocks for which a quantitative assessment is
available.
The current TAC area and the stock assessment areas do not match for Nephrops in VII (see the
overview for Nephrops stocks in Sub-area VII on page 39). FEAS agrees with the ICES and STECF
advice that all Nephrops fisheries should be managed at an appropriate geographical scale i.e.
Functional Unit.
There is no management plan for the FU14 Nephrops stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
For current management see the overview for Nephrops stocks in Sub-area VII on page 39.
Effort control limitations also apply to the main Nephrops catching fleet (TR2) in the Irish Sea under the
cod long term plan (EC 1342/2008).
ICES ADVICE
5.3.27
Nephrops in Irish Sea East (FU14)
ICESstockadvice
ICESadvisesthatwhentheMSYapproachisapplied,catchesin2016(assumingzerodiscards)shouldbeno
morethan1272tonnes.Ifinsteaddiscardratescontinueatrecentvalues(averageof20132014)andthereis
nochangeinassumeddiscardsurvivalrate,thisimplieslandingsofnomorethan1213tonnes.
To ensure that the stock in functional unit (FU) 14 is exploited sustainably, management should be implemented
at the functional unit level.
42
Nephrops in the Eastern Irish Sea

The historical harvest rate, calculated as (landings + dead discards)/(abundance estimate), is below the FMSY
proxy. The stock size has been above MSY Btrigger since 2010.
Figure5.3.27.1 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. Catches (tonnes), UWTV (Underwater TV) survey abundance
(millions; SSB proxy; 95% confidence intervals), and harvest rate (fishing mortality proxy). Discard data
haveonlybeenincludedsince2000(duetopoorsamplingandnoestimatesfordiscardsfor20102012,
noharvestrateestimatesexistfortheseyears).OrangedashedlinesrepresenttheMSYBtriggerandthe
FMSYharvestrateproxy.UWTVabundancewascalculatedwithageostatisticalmethod(20082015).

Table 5.3.27.1
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013 2014
2015
Maximum
sustainable yield FMSY
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Management plan FMGT
Below
MSY Btrigger
Below possible
reference points
Not applicable
Above trigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Above possible
reference points
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.27.2 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
590.5
Stock abundance
ICES (2015a)
UWTV 2015
million
Mean weight in landings
21.27 g
ICES (2015b)
Average 20132014
Mean weight in discards
8.61 g
ICES (2015b)
Average 20132014
Discard proportion
13.41%
ICES (2015b)
Average (proportion by number) 20132014.
Discard survival rate
10%
ICES (2015b)
Only applies in scenarios where discarding is allowed.
Average 20122014 (proportion by number).
Calculated as dead discards divided by dead removals
Dead discard rate
12.24%
ICES (2015b)
(landings + dead discards). Only applies in scenarios
where discarding is allowed.
43
Table 5.3.27.3
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. The catch options. All weights in tonnes.
Catch options assuming zero discards

Basis
Totalcatch
Wantedcatch*
Unwantedcatch*
Harvestrate**
MSY approach
1272
1197
75
11%
(FMSY proxy)
Fcurrent(20132014)
780
734
46
6.7%
F2014
865
814
51
7.5%
F35%SPR
1503
1414
89
13.0%
FMAX
2081
1958
123
18.0%
*WantedandunwantedcatchesareusedtodescribeNephropsthatwouldbelandedanddiscardedintheabsenceof
theEUlandingobligationbasedonthe average estimated discard rates for 20132014.
**Appliedtototalcatch.
Catch options assuming discarding allowed
Total
catches
Basis
L+DD+SD
MSY approach (FMSY
proxy) assuming recent
1289
discard rates
* Applied to dead removals.
Dead
removals
L+DD
Landings
L
1281
1213
Dead
discards
DD
Surviving
discards
SD
68
Harvest
rate*
forL+DD
8
11.0%
All harvest rates are calculated in numbers and refer to the dead removals. The difference in catch weights
between catch options with the same harvest rates is related to the fact that, in the scenario allowing for
discarding, a proportion of the discards are assumed to survive.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.27.4 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
ICES MSY approach.
Management plan
There is no management plan for Norway lobster in this area.
Samplingdatawerereviewedandrevisedduringaninterbenchmarkprocessin2015.Samplinginformation
from2013onwardsisofadequatequalityandusedinthecalculationofcatchoptionsbecausesamplingwas
poorduring20102012.
The revisions made during the benchmark have improved the quality of the assessment.
Fisheries catching Nephrops in Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landing obligation in 2016 (EC, 2015).
While it is not yet clear how the landing obligation will be implemented, there is a possibility for a De minimis
exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight. The average discard rate by weight for FU 14 over the last
two years is 6%.
The density of Nephrops in FU 14 is considered medium (~0.49 burrow m2, average 20112015) compared
with other FUs. Some biological parameters are poorly known and the sampling levels in the recent past have
been low and variable. Harvest rate estimates have been below the combined sex F0.1. Based on these
considerations ICES considers that F0.1 is a suitable FMSY proxy for this stock. At the benchmark in 2015 the
value of F0.1 was updated and MSY Btrigger was set.
There is a single TAC for the entire ICES Subarea VII. Management should be implemented at the functional
unit level to ensure that fishing opportunities are in line with the scale of the resource in each of the stocks.
44
Figure5.3.27.2 NephropsfunctionalunitsinSubareaVII.
Referencepoints
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY
350 million The lowest observed abundance estimate from the
ICES (2015b)
Btrigger
individuals UWTV survey time-series.
MSY
approach
11%
FMSY
ICES (2015b)
FMSY proxy equivalent to F0.1 for combined sexes.
harvest rate
Blim
Not defined.
Not defined.
Precautionary Bpa
approach
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
Not defined.
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Not defined.
Table 5.3.27.5
Table 5.3.27.6 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data 1 (ICES, 2015c).
category
Assessment type
Underwater TV survey and yield-per-recruit analysis from length data.
One survey index (FU14 UWTV); lengthfrequency data from the fishery. Commercial
catches (international landings and length frequencies from English catch sampling Cefas
Input data
Nephrops catch sampling programme and Observer programme); one survey index (Irish Sea
collaborative survey (FU14/FU15). Maturity data collected on irregular basis from commercial
catch sampling. Natural mortalities from Brander and Bennett (1986, 1989).
Included in the assessment, data series from the majority of the fleet/main fleets.
Indicators
Sex ratio, length frequencies.
Latest benchmark was performed in 2015 (ICES, 2015b). The latest UWTV survey (June
Other information
2015) information was used to provide advice.
Working group
45

Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of
landings. Weights are in thousand tonnes.
Recommended
ICES
Total
Catch
Year ICES advice
Landings advice
landings
landings discards (FU
advice
(FUs 14 + 15)
(FU 14)
14)**
1989
0.40
1990
0.56
1991
0.75
1992
8.9
0.43
1993
9.4
0.52
1994
9.4
0.45
1995
9.4
0.58
1996
9.4
0.48
1997
9.4
0.57
1998
9.4
0.39
1999
9.4
0.62
2000
9.4
0.57
2001
9.4
0.53
2002 Set TAC in line with 199599 landings
9.55
0.58
9.55
0.38
0.15
9.55
0.47
0.15
9.55
0.57
0.13
9.55
0.63
0.11
0.96
0.18
2008 As for 2007
0.68
0.14
No increase in effort and landings
2009
< 1.0
0.70
0.03
(2007)
2010 No new advice, same as for 2009
< 1.0
0.58
na
Transition towards the ICES MSY
2011
< 0.68
*
0.56
na
framework
2012 MSY approach
< 0.96
*
0.53
na
2013 MSY approach
< 0.88
*
0.50
0.04
2014 MSY approach
< 0.951
*
0.68
0.03
2015 MSY approach
< 0.662
*
2016 MSY approach

1.272***
* It is not recommended to manage the two stocks as a single unit.
** Dead + surviving discards.
*** Assuming all catches are landed and selection patterns do not change.
Table 5.3.27.7
46

Table 5.3.27.8 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Totalcatch
Landings
Totaldiscards*
AlmostentirelytakeninNephrops
711tonnes
32tonnes
fisheriesTR2(trawls7099mm)
679 tonnes
* Dead + surviving discards.
Table 5.3.27.9
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. History of commercial catch and landings; both the official and
ICES estimated values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are
in tonnes.
Rep. of Ireland
UK
Other countries
Total
Total discards**
114
451
2
567
80
26
506
0
532
42
203
373
1
577
42
69
306
1
376
11
62
409
1
472
28
34
536
0
570
33
34
594
0
628
22
86
873
0
959
47
29
652
0
681
37
16
692
0
708
6
45
538
0
583
31
530
0
561
53
478
0.1
530
35
460
0.2
495
39
31
648
0
679
32
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
* Provisional.

Table 5.3.27.10 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 14. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes).
UWTV
Discardrate
Mean
Mean
N
abundance
Landings
(in
weight
weight
Year
95%CI
removed
estimate
(tonnes)
numbers,
Landings
Discards
(millions)
(millions)*
%)
(g)
(g)
2008
408
63
676
12.73
22.88
8.49
33.42
2009
350
76
707
3.65
36.49
8.58
20.03
2010**
422
103
582
NA
NA
NA
NA
2011**
449
99
561
NA
NA
NA
NA
2012**
694
99
530
NA
NA
NA
NA
2013
487
82
495
16.44
19.94
7.87
29.25
2014
449
92
679
10.76
22.37
9.60
33.62
2015
591
86
* Abundance (millions) including Wigtown Bay (1.9% 20082010; 6.6% 20112015).

** Due to poor sampling no estimates for 20102012.
47
Harvest
rate
8.20%
5.72%
NA
NA
NA
6.01%
7.49%
Figure5.3.27.3 NorwaylobsterinDivisionVIIaFU14.Annuallengthcompositionofcatchoffemales(left)andmales
(right)from1999(bottom)to2014(top).

Brander, K. M., and Bennett, D. B. 1986. Interactions between Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus L.) and
cod (Gadus morhua L.) and their fisheries in the Irish Sea. Canadian Special Publication on Fisheries and
Aquatic Science, 92: 269281.
Brander, K. M., and Bennett, D. B. 1989. Norway lobsters in the Irish Sea: Modelling one component of a
multispecies resource. In Marine Invertebrate Fisheries: Their Assessment and Management. Edited by J. F.
Caddy. Wiley, London.
EC. 2015. COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) of 12.10.2015 establishing a discard plan for
certain demersal fisheries in North-Western waters. C(2015) 6833 final, Brussels.
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/cfp/fishing_rules/discards/doc/c-2015-6833_en.pdf.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015,
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol of Nephrops in FU 17 and 14 (IBPNeph), from June to
September 2015, by correspondence. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:38.
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
Section 1.2.
48
FU15 Nephrops in the Western Irish Sea


ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in
2016 (assuming zero discards) should be no more than 8,682 t. If
instead discards rates continue at recent values (average 2012
2014) and there is no change in assumed discard survival rate, this
implies landings of no more than 7,577 t (catches of 8,904 t). FEAS
agrees with the ICES advice but notes that fisheries catching
Nephrops in Sub-area VII will be covered by the EU landing
obligation (LO) in 2016.
A De minimis exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight
will apply in 2016. The average discard rate by weight was 15% in
the last three years. Improvements in selectivity in the fishery to
reduce catches of small Nephrops will be will be beneficial and
result in higher long-term yield in the future.
available.
advice that all Nephrops fisheries should managed at an appropriate geographical scale i.e.
Functional Unit.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Effort control limitations also apply to the main Nephrops catching fleet (TR2) in the Irish Sea under the
cod long term plan (EC 1342/2008).
ICES ADVICE
5.3.28 Nephrops in Irish Sea West (FU 15)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) should be no
more than 8682 tonnes. If instead discards rates continue at recent values (average 20122014) and there is no
change in assumed discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more than 7577 tonnes.
49
Nephrops in the Western Irish Sea

Since 2003, stock abundance has been above MSY Btrigger. Recent harvest rates, calculated as (landings + dead
discards)/(abundance estimate), are above the FMSY proxy.
Stocksizeindex abundance
Catches
16
Discards
Landings
14
Abundance(billions)
1000tonnes
12
10
8
6
5
4
3
2
4
2
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
0
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
HarvestRate
25
HarvestRate(%)
20
15
10
0
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
Figure5.3.28.1 NorwaylobsterinDivisionVIIaFU15.Catches(tonnes);recentUWTVabundance(inbillions;SSBproxy;
95% confidence intervals); and harvest rate (fishing mortality proxy). Prior to 2007 the harvest rate is
consideredtobeaminimumestimateduetopossibleunderreportingoflandings.Orangedashedlines
representMSYBtrigger(upperpanel)andFMSYharvestrateproxy(lowerpanel).

Table 5.3.28.1
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013 2014
2015
Maximum
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Above
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Above trigger
Above possible
reference points
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.28.2
Variable
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. The basis for the catch options.
Value
Source
Notes
4.259 billion
UWTV survey 2015
Stock abundance
ICES(2015a)
individuals
13.52 g
Average 20122014
ICES(2015a)
7.12 g
Average 20122014
ICES(2015a)
Discard proportion
24.9%
Average (proportion by number) 20122014
ICES(2015a)
10%
ICES(2015a)
Average 20122014 (proportion by number). Calculated as
dead discards divided by dead removals (landings + dead
Dead discard rate
23%
ICES(2015a)
discards). Only applies in scenarios where discarding is
allowed.
50
Table 5.3.28.3
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. The catch options. All weights are in tonnes.

Basis
Total catches
Wanted catches*
Unwanted catches*
Harvest rate**
MSY approach (FMSY proxy)
8682
7388
1294
17.1%
F0.1
5380
4578
802
10.6%
F35&SpR
6799
5786
1013
13.4%
F2014
8880
7557
1323
17.5%
Fcurrent (20122014)
9719
8271
1448
19.1%
* Wanted and unwanted catches are used to describe Nephrops that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the
EU landing obligation, based on the average estimated discard rates for 20122014.
** Applied to total catch.
Basis
Total catches
L+DD+SD

assuming recent discard rates
8904
Dead
removals
L+DD
8771
Landings
L
7577
Dead
discards
DD
Surviving
discards
SD
1194
133
Harvest rate*
for L+DD
17.1%
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.28.4 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
An annual UWTV survey has taken place since 2003 which gives abundance estimates for the FU with high
precision. The quality of input data and level of sampling are good for this stock.
Fisheries catching Nephrops in Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landings obligation in 2016 (EC, 2015).
While it is not yet clear how the landings obligation will be implemented, there is a possibility for a De minimis
consisting of a 7% discard by weight (EC, 2015; Article 3.1.e). The average discard rate by weight (20122014)
for FU 15 is 15%.
The density of Nephrops in FU 15 is considered very high (average density 0.9 individuals m2) compared to
other FUs. Recent harvest rates have been high (around Fmax) and the stock size has been stable at a high level.
The exploitation rate between the sexes is similar. A harvest rate consistent with a combined sex Fmax of 17.1%
is used as the proxy for FMSY.
51
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.28.5
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
3 billion Minimum abundance observed based on a
MSY Btrigger
ICES (2010)
individuals scaled trawl survey index.
MSY approach
17.1% FMSY proxy equivalent to Fmax for combined
FMSY
ICES (2010)
harvest rate sexes in 2010.
Blim
Not defined.
Bpa
Not defined.
Precautionary
approach
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
Not defined.
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Not defined.
Table 5.3.28.6 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
Underwater TV survey combined with yield-per-recruit analysis from length data.
One survey index (UWTV (FUs 1415); commercial catches (international landings, length
Input data
frequencies from catch sampling); fixed maturity ogive based on survey sampling, fixed
natural mortality. Discard survival rate.
Included in the assessment since 2003; data series from the main fleets cover 98% of the
landings.
Indicators
Lengthfrequency distributions of the catches by sex.
Other information
The latest benchmark (based on the UWTV survey) was performed in 2009 (ICES, 2009).
Working group
52

Table 5.3.28.7
Year
1989
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of
landings.
Recommende
Landings
Catch
ICES
Total
ICESadvice
dlandings
advice
advice
landings discards**
(FUs14+15)
8.1
0.7
1990
8.3
0.3
9.6
0.3
1992
8.9
7.5
1.1
1993
9.4
8.1
1.6
1994
9.4
7.6
1.2
1995
9.4
7.8
1.7
1996
9.4
7.3
1.2
1997
9.4
10.0
1.3
1998
9.4
9.1
1.6
1999
9.4
10.8
2.9
2000
9.4
8.4
2.3
2001
9.4
7.4
2.1
2002
Set TAC in line with 199599 landings
9.55
6.8
1.7
2003
9.55
7.1
2.7
2004
9.55
7.3
2.0
2005
9.55
6.5
1.4
2006
No increase in effort
9.55
7.5
2.3
2007
8.4
3.2
2008
10.5
1.4
2009

Harvest rate no greater than the
equivalent to fishing at F0.1
Transition scheme towards the ICES
MSY framework
< 8.5
9.2
2.9
< 5.5
9.0
1.5
< 9.5
10.2
2.7
2012
MSY approach
< 9.8
10.5
1.9
2013
MSY approach
< 9.3
8.7
1.6
2014
MSY approach
< 8.2
8.6
1.4
2015
MSY approach
< 8.223
1991
2010
2011
2016
MSYapproach
8.682*
*Assuming all catches are landed and selection patterns do not change.

Table 5.3.28.8 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Landings
Total discards*
~100% Nephrops otter trawls
< 0.5% pots
(7099 mm)
10 031 tonnes
1418 tonnes
8613 tonnes
53

Table 5.3.28.9
Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. History of commercial catch and landings; ICES estimated
values are presented by country participating in the fishery. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Year
Ireland
UK
UK (E&W)
UK (NI)
UK (Scotland) UK (Isle of Man)
Total
1965
1.018
1.018
1966
1.701
1.701
1967
2.077
2.077
1968
1.987
1.987
1969
1.011
2.803
3.814
1970
1.392
3.001
4.393
1971
1.384
3.190
4.574
1972
1.604
4.120
5.724
1973
1.863
4.031
5.894
1974
982
2.689
3.671
1975
909
4.165
5.074
1976
1.614
3.989
5.603
1977
2.469
4.045
6.514
1978
2.921
4.375
7.296
1979
3.436
5.512
8.948
1980
1.709
2.869
4.578
1981
3.202
4.047
7.249
1982
4.398
4.917
9.315
1983
4.324
5.124
9.448
1984
3.306
4.454
7.760
1985
2.421
4.480
6.901
1986
4.682
5.296
9.978
1987
4.639
5.114
9.753
1988
3.201
5.385
8.586
1989
2.477
5.651
8.128
1990
2.710
5.590
8.300
1991
3.371
6.183
9.554
1992
2.370
5.171
7.541
1993
2.715
5.387
8.102
1994
1.768
5.838
7.606
1995
2.259
5.538
7.796
1996
1.574
5.673
7.247
1997
3.349
6.622
9.971
1998
3.101
6.027
9.128
1999
4.582
6.198
6
10.786
2000
3.433
4.937
0
8.370
2001
2.689
4.749
3
7.441
2002
2.291
4.501
1
6.793
2003
2.709
4.352
4
7.065
2004
2.786
4.470
13
7.270
2005
2.133
4.420
0
6.554
2006
2.051
56
5.429
23
1
7.561
2007
2.767
102
5.585
36
0
8.491
2008
3.132
131
7.166
26
50
10.508
2009
2.343
200
6.622
32
1
9.198
2010
2.578
100
6.251
33
0
8.963
2011
3.575
88
6.444
52
2
10.162
2012
3.794
106
6.586
39
3
10.529
2013
2.465
56
6.069
50
31
8.672
2014*
2.938
88
5.558
29
-**
8.613
* Provisional.
** Included in UK (E&W) landings.
54

Table 5.3.28.10 Norway lobster in Division VIIa FU 15. Assessment summary.
Year
Landings
in
number
Total
discar
dsin
numb
er*
Removals
innumber
UWTV
abundance
estimates
95%
conf.
intervals
Harvest
rate
Landings
Total
discards*
Discard
ofcatch
by
weight
Mean
weightin
landings
Mean
weightin
discards
Mean
weightin
catch
millions
millio
ns
millions
billions
millions
tonnes
tonnes
grammes
grammes
grammes
2003
404
291
666
5.5
0.27
12.1
7.052
2.659
27%
17.5
9.1
14.0
2004
416
218
612
5.5
0.3
11.0
7.267
1.993
22%
17.5
9.1
14.6
2005
346
157
488
5.7
0.44
8.6
6.530
1.412
18%
18.9
9.0
15.8
2006
467
261
701
5.4
0.41
13.0
7.534
2.285
23%
16.1
8.8
13.5
2007
511
375
848
5.1
0.34
16.5
8.424
3.246
28%
16.5
8.7
13.2
2008
755
191
927
4.3
0.25
21.6
10.478
1.421
12%
13.9
7.4
12.6
2009
567
335
868
4.6
0.26
18.8
9.199
2.934
24%
16.2
8.8
13.5
2010
572
180
733
5.0
0.31
14.7
8.963
1.539
15%
15.7
8.6
14.0
2011
644
332
943
4.9
0.23
19.4
10.162
2.683
21%
15.8
8.1
13.2
2012
771
258
1003
5.1
0.29
19.8
10.529
1.871
15%
13.7
7.2
12.1
2013
662
229
867
4.3
0.27
20.1
8.672
1.590
15%
13.1
7.0
11.5
2014
625
198
803
4.6
0.25
17.5
8.613
1.418
14%
13.8
7.2
12.2
4.3
0.25
2015
*Dead + surviving discards.
55
Figure5.3.28.3 NorwaylobsterinDivisionVIIaFU15.Annuallengthcompositionofcatch(dashed)andlanded(solid).
Males(right)andfemales(left)from1986(bottom)to2014(top).Theverticaldashedlineismeanlength
in the catches and the vertical solid line is mean length in the landings. The straight vertical lines
correspondto20mm(MLS)and29mmcarapacelength.
56

ICES. 2009. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Nephrops (WKNEPH), 26 March 2009, Aberdeen, UK.
ICES CM 2009/ACOM:33.
ICES. 2010. Report of the Working Group on the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1220 May 2010,
Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:12. 1435 pp.
ICES. 2015b. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
Section 1.2.
57
Irish Sea Plaice

(Division VIIa)

The ICES advice is based on the approach for data limited stocks. Catches
should be no more than 1,244 t implying landings of 343 t in 2016. FEAS
does not agree with the basis of this advice.
This stock falls into ICES category 3.2.0 since the assessment is indicative of
trends only. The qualitative indicators for this stock show that SSB is still
at a high level and the stock is not thought to be over exploited.
Despite the fact that the current TAC is well above the recent average reported landings reducing
the TAC to the landings advice given by ICES would not be appropriate in this situation as it will
lead to restrictive national quotas and further increase the discard levels for this stock.
Given the favourable status of plaice in the Irish Sea FEAS recommend that the TAC for 2015
should remain unchanged at 1,098 t. This implies an Irish quota of 768 t.
FEAS notes that this stock will not be subject to the Landing Obligation in 2016.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC for 2015 was 1,098 t with an associated Irish quota of 768 t.
The Hague preference agreement enables Ireland to claim an
enhanced share of the TAC.
IRE 768 t
BEL 28 t
The disparity between minimum landing size and mesh size of the
gear being used is evidenced by very high discard rates (up to 80%
by number).
FRA 12 t
NL 9 t
Effort reductions as part of the Cod Long Term Management Plan

(EC Reg.1342/2008) will also reduce catch and discarding of plaice in
this area.
FEAS recommends that management objectives be established and that a management plan be developed and
implemented for fisheries catching plaice.
ICES ADVICE
5.3.35
UK 281 t
Plaice in Division VIIa (Irish Sea)
ICES stock advice

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 1244 tonnes. If
this stock is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of the last
three years (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 343 tonnes.
58
Irish Sea Plaice

The spawning stock biomass (SSB) has been stable since 2003. The recent fishing mortality (F) is likely to be low
because the harvest rate is estimated to be low in recent years.
Figure5.3.35.1 Plaice in Division VIIa. Upper left: Official landings and estimated discards. Discard estimates are not available
before 2004. Upper right: Recruitment trend (mean standardized from Aarts and Poos (AP) (2009) model
estimates).Bottomleft:Harvestratetotalcatch/annualeggproductionSSB(AEB)andtotalcatch/APmodelSSB
scaledbytheeggproductionestimates.Bottomright:SSBtrend(meanstandardizedAPmodelestimates).

Table 5.3.35.1
Plaice in Division VIIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
Maximum Sustainable Yield FMSY
Undefined
Management Plan
2012
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Stock size
2013
Undefined
Not applicable
2014
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Stable
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The relative SSB as estimated by the Aarts and
Poos (2009) model was used as an index of stock development. Considering the stable trend in SSB over the last decade
and the large uncertainty in the annual estimates, this implies no changes in the stock perception. Therefore, the advice
given last year is still applicable this year and is described in the table below.
59
Irish Sea Plaice
The exploitation on the stock is considered to be below possible fishing mortality reference points; therefore, no
additionalprecautionarybufferwasapplied.
Discardingrate(20122014average)is72%oftotalcatchinweight.
Table 5.3.35.2 Plaice in Division VIIa. For stocks in ICES data category 3 one catch option is provided.
Discard rate
Not applied
Catch advice*
* [recent advised catches].
** The wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.
1244 tonnes
72%
1244 (tonnes)
343 (tonnes)
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.35.4
Plaice in Division VIIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Precautionary Approach.
Management plan
There is no management plan for plaice in this area
The assessment model is indicative of the long-term trend in stock development. However, there is high uncertainty in
the annual SSB estimates, making it difficult to detect inter-annual variations of SSB. The discard data are variable and
uncertain. As discards account for the majority of the catch this contributes to the overall uncertainty in the assessment.
The majority of the catch is discarded and recent gear selectivity measures have had little effect for plaice.
Total effort for the mixed demersal and beam trawl fleets in the Irish Sea has declined substantially over the last decade
to the lowest recorded levels.
The regulations affecting plaice and other demersal stocks in Division VIIa remain linked to those implemented under
the Irish Sea cod long-term management plan.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.35.6
Plaice in Division VIIa. The basis of the assessment.
3.2.0 (ICES 2015a).
Assessment type
Age based assessment model (Aarts and Poos, 2009) accepted for trends.
Commercial catches (international landings, ages and length frequencies from catch sampling);
Input data
three survey indices (UK (E&W)-BTS-Q3, NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1, and NIGFS-WIBTS-Q4); fixed
maturity ogive; constant natural mortality.
Included in the assessment, data series from the majority of the fleet (covering 92% of the
landings). Discards estimates only available since 2004. Discards for earlier years estimated by
the assessment model.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Latest benchmark was in 2011 (ICES, 2011) and is planned to be benchmarked in 2016.
Working group
60
Irish Sea Plaice

Table 5.3.35.7 Plaice in Division VIIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings and discards.
Predicted
Predicted
catch
landings
Agreed
Official
ICES
ICES
Year
ICES Advice
corresp. to corresp. to
TAC
landings
landings
discards
advice
advice
1987 F high; no long-term gains in increasing F
5.0
5.0
5.6
6.2
4.8
5.0
4.4
5.0
1989 80% of F(87); TAC
5.8
5.8
4.2
4.4
1990 Halt decline in SSB; TAC
5.1
5.1
4.0
3.3
1991 Rebuild SSB to SSB(90); TAC
3.3
4.5
2.8
2.6
1992 70% of F(90)
3.0
3.8
3.2
3.3
1993 F = 0.55 ~ 2800 t
2.8
2.8
2.0
2.0
1994 Long-term gains in decreasing F
< 3.7
3.1
2.1
2.1
1995 Long-term gains in decreasing F
2.4*
2.8
2.0
1.9
1996 No long-term gain in increasing F
2.5
2.45
1.9
1.7
1997 No advice
2.1
2.0
1.9
2.4
2.4
1.8
1.8
1999 Keep F below Fpa
2.4
2.4
1.6
1.6
< 2.3
2.4
1.4
1.4
< 2.4
2.0
1.5
1.5
< 2.8
2.4
1.5
1.6
1.9
1.675
1.6
1.6
2004 F< Fpa
1.6
1.34
1.1
1.1
0.63
2005 F< Fpa
2.97
1.608
1.3
1.3
1.21
2006 F< Fpa
5.9
1.608
0.9
0.9
1.25
2007 F< Fpa
6.5
1.849
0.8
0.8
1.74
2008 F< Fpa
5.2
1.849
0.5
0.6
1.27
2009 No long-term gains in increasing F above F0.1
1.43
1.43
0.48
0.46
1.13
2010 No long-term gains in increasing F above F0.1
1.63
1.63
0.38
0.38
2.56
Effort should be consistent with no increase in
2011
1.627
0.59
0.59
0.60
catches
2012 Catches should not increase
1.627
0.50
0.50
0.98
Landings should be no more than 2% more
2013
< 0.490
1.627
0.30
0.31
0.72
than recent landings (last 3 years)
Catches should be no more than 1% more
2014
< 1.827
< 0.497
1.22
0.28
0.28
1.196
than recent catches (last 3 years)
Catches should be no more than recent
2015
< 1.244
< 0.394
1.098
catches (last 3 years)
Precautionary approach (same advised catch
2016
1.244 0.343**
value as given for 2015)
* Catch at status quo F.
** Wanted catch.
61
Irish Sea Plaice
<1% other gear

types
62
Total official
landings
UK (Scotland)
63
60
18
25
18
23
21
11
7
9
4
1
0
0
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
2 051
2 024
1 874
1 954
1 803
1 566
1 443
1 488
1 591
1 544
1 134
1 270
937
802
562
457
379
594
496
303
282
Unallocated
14
20
16
11
14
5
6
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0.5
0.25
0.11
0.05
0.08
Discards***
1994
332
13
547
1 082
1995
327
10
557
1 050
1996
344
11
538
69
878
1997
459
8
543
110
798
1998
327
8
730
27
679
1999
275
5
541
30
687
2000
325
14
420
47
610
2001
482
9
378
607
2002
636
8
370
569
2003
628
7
490
409
2004
431
2
328
369
2005
566
9
272
422
2006
343
2
179
413
2007
194
2
194
412
2008
157
2
102
300
2009
197
0.4
73
185
2010
138
0.2
89
148
2011
332
0.28
118
145
2012
236
0.08
106
154
2013
144
0.29
67
91
2014*
100
0.03
123
59
* Provisional.
** Northern Ireland included with England and Wales.
*** Discard data used in the assessment model.
UK (Isle of
Man)
UK
(Eng.&Wales)*
*
Plaice in Division VIIa. History of commercial catch and landings, both official and ICES estimated values are
presented for each country participating in the fishery.
Netherlands
Year
Belgium
Table 5.3.35.9
Ireland
1478 t
Plaice in Division VIIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.

Landings
Discards
44% beam
55% otter
2% other gear
90% otter
10% beam trawl
trawl
trawl
types
trawl
282 t
1196 t
France
Table 5.3.35.8
Catch (2014)
628
1210
1254
1743
1270
1131
2560
604
981
718
1196
15
150
167
83
38
34
72
15
32
15
9
11
3
3
1
0
1
1
7
0
0
ICES
estimates of
catches
2 066
1 874
1 707
1 871
1 765
1 600
1 371
1 473
1 623
1 559
1 771
2 491
2 188
2 548
1 834
1 588
2 938
1 200
1 484
1020
1478
Irish Sea Plaice

Table 5.3.35.10
Plaice in Division VIIa. Assessment summary. Recruitment, and SSB are relative to the average of the timeseries. Landings and discards in tonnes.
Relative
Harvest
Egg Survey
Relative
Landings
Discards
Year
Recruitm
High
Low
High
Low
rate
Biomass
SSB
(tonnes)
(tonnes)
ent Age 1
(HR, %)
(kt)
1993
1.47
2.23
0.93
0.59
1.25
0.37
1996
1994
1.08
1.49
0.76
0.55
0.97
0.36
2066
1995
0.97
1.29
0.72
0.52
0.80
0.38
1874
9.1
1996
1.17
1.48
0.90
0.55
0.77
0.40
1707
1997
1.28
1.62
1.00
0.57
0.77
0.41
1871
1998
0.93
1.14
0.75
0.67
0.91
0.49
1765
1999
0.82
1.00
0.66
0.68
0.95
0.48
1600
2000
1.05
1.28
0.86
0.74
1.07
0.51
1371
13.3
2001
1.04
1.24
0.86
0.89
1.31
0.60
1473
2002
1.14
1.35
0.95
1.04
1.54
0.69
1623
2003
0.84
0.99
0.71
1.24
1.87
0.80
1559
2004
1.06
1.27
0.90
1.12
1.75
0.69
1143
628
13
2005
0.85
1.02
0.71
1.20
1.84
0.73
1281
1210
18
2006
0.90
1.10
0.76
1.25
1.93
0.74
934
1254
15
14.4
2007
1.01
1.21
0.83
1.05
1.63
0.62
805
1743
21
2008
0.62
0.75
0.52
1.21
1.81
0.73
563
1270
13
14.4
2009
0.68
0.83
0.56
1.29
1.91
0.80
457
1131
10
2010
0.86
1.06
0.70
1.27
1.81
0.85
378
2560
20
15.1
2011
1.03
1.29
0.82
1.55
2.17
1.05
595
604
7
2012
1.10
1.41
0.87
1.18
1.63
0.81
503
981
11
2013
0.83
1.10
0.62
1.34
1.84
0.93
303
718
6
2014
1.27
1.76
0.93
1.51
2.05
1.06
282
1196
8

Aarts, G., and Poos, J. J. 2009. Comprehensive discard reconstruction and abundance estimation using flexible
selectivity functions. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 763771.
ICES. 2011. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish (WKFLAT), 18 February 2011, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
ICES 2015a Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015. In preparation.
ICES 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, ICES
Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:12.
63
Irish Sea Plaice
Irish Sea Sole

(Division VIIa)

The ICES advice is that on the basis of the MSY approach there should be no
directed fisheries and that by-catch and discards should be minimised. FEAS
agrees with this advice and notes that this stock will not be subject to the
landing obligation in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 1 data-rich stocks for which a quantitative
assessment is available. SSB has continuously declined since 2001 and
dropped below Blim since 2006.
Fishing mortality has declined since the mid 1980s to a stable level in recent years. Recruitment has
been low in the last decade exacerbating the decline of this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area (Division VIIa) corresponds to the assessment area.
The TAC in 2015 was 90t with an Irish quota of 38t.
FEAS recommends that management objectives be established and

that a management plan be developed and implemented for fisheries
catching sole.
BEL 22 t
Effort reductions as part of the Cod Long Term Management Plan (EC
Reg.1342/2008) will also reduce catch and discarding of sole in this area.
UK 23 t
ICES ADVICE
IRE 38 t
NL 7 t
5.3.48 Sole in Division VIIa (Irish Sea)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, there should be no directed fisheries and all catches should
be minimized in 2016.
64
Irish Sea Sole

Spawning stock biomass (SSB) has continuously declined in the period 20012009 and has been below Blim since
2005. The fishing mortality (F) has shown a declining trend since the late 1980s and is at present below FMSY.
Recent recruitments have been the lowest in the time series.
Figure5.3.48.1 SoleinDivisionVIIa.Summaryofstockassessment(weightsinthousandtonnes).

Table 5.3.48.1
Sole in Division VIIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
FMSY
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
Below
-
Harvested sustainably
Not applicable
Stock size
2013
2014
2015
MSY Btrigger
Below trigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Reduced reproductive capacity

Not applicable
65
Irish Sea Sole
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.48.2
Sole in Division VIIa. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
F ages 4-7 (2015)
0.101
ICES (2015a)
SSB (2016)
1105 t
ICES (2015a)
1437
Rage2 (2015)
ICES (2015a)
thousands
1437
Rage2 (2016)
ICES (2015a)
thousands
Catch (2015)
97 t
ICES (2015a)
Landings (2015)
90 t
ICES (2015a)
Discards (2015)
7t
ICES (2015a)
Table 5.3.48.3
Rationale
Notes
TAC constrained F
GM (20052013)
GM (20052013)
TAC Constraint
Average discard rate 20122014 (7% of catch)
Sole in Division VIIa. The catch options. Weights in tonnes.

F
Total
Wanted
Wanted
catches
catch**
Basis
catch**
(2016) *
(2016)
(2016)
MSY
approach
F=0
SSB
(2017)
0
1351
%SSB
change
***
+22%
%TAC
Change ^
-100%
FMSY SSB(2016)/MSY
0.057
1293
+17%
-35%
Btrigger
73
68 TAC 25% F2015 0.65)
0.066
1285
+16%
-25%
83
77
TAC
15%
(F
0.74)
0.075
1276
+15%
-15%
Other options
2015
97
90 Stable TAC (F2015 0.88)
0.089
1263
+14%
0%
112
104 TAC + 15% (F2015 1.02)
0.103
1249
+13%
+15%
109
101
F2015
0.101
1251
+13%
+12%
* Total catches are calculated from wanted catch (fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation) based
on the average discard rate from 20122014 (7% in weight).
**The wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.
*** SSB 2017 relative to SSB 2016.
^ Wanted catch in 2016 relative to TAC 2015.
62
58
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.48.4
Sole in Division VIIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
There is no management plan for sole in this area
The assessment has shown consistency over the recent years in estimating SSB, fishing mortality, and recruitment.
The forecasted wanted catch in 2016 and SSB in 2017 are robust to the assumptions of the incoming recruitment.
Discards are currently not included in the assessment, but given the low discard rates of sole (in the order of 7% in
20122014) it is unlikely that the inclusion of discards would change the perception of the stock.
Figure 5.3.48.2
Sole in Division VIIa. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
66
Irish Sea Sole
In recent years the TAC has been reduced significantly. A TAC constraint has been used for the intermediate year
(2015) in the forecast to reflect the restrictive management in place for this stock.
Total effort for the mixed demersal and beam trawl fleets in the Irish Sea has declined substantially over the last
decade to the lowest recorded levels.
The regulations affecting sole and other demersal stocks in Division VIIa remain linked to those implemented
under the Irish Sea cod long-term management plan.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.48.5 Sole in Division VIIa. Reference points, values and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
point
MSY Btrigger
3100 t. Default to value of Bpa.
MSY
Provisional proxy based on stochastic simulations,
approach
FMSY
0.16
assuming a Ricker stockrecruitment relationship.
Blim = Bloss. The lowest observed spawning stock, followed
Blim
2200 t.
by an increase in SSB.
Bpa ~ Blim 1.4. The minimum SSB required that ensures a
high probability of maintaining SSB above its lowest
Bpa
3100 t.
observed value, taking into account the uncertainty of
assessments.
Precautionary
approach
Flim = Floss. Although poorly defined, there is evidence that
fishing mortality in excess of 0.4 has led to a general stock
Flim
0.40
decline and is only sustainable during periods of aboveaverage recruitment.
This F is considered to have a high probability of avoiding
Fpa
0.30
Flim.
Undefined
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Undefined
Source
ICES (2010)
ICES (2007)
ICES (2007)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
Table 5.3.48.6
Sole in Division VIIa. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES 2015b).
Age-based analytical assessment (XSA) that uses landings in the model, and discards are
Assessment type
then included to calculate a catch forecast.
Commercial catches (international landings, ages and length frequencies from catch
Input data
sampling); one survey index (UK(E&W)-BTS-Q3); maturity data from UK survey
information; natural mortality is assumed to be constant.
Not included in the assessment. Discard information available since 2011, average discard
proportion 20122014 from the majority of the fleet (covering 5079 % of the landings).
Indicators
None.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2011 (ICES, 2011).
Working group
67
Irish Sea Sole

Table 5.3.48.7
Sole in Division VIIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. Weights
in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch corresp. to Agreed Official
ICES estimated ICES estimated
Year
ICES Advice
advice
TAC landings
Discards
landings*
1.9
2.1
2.0
2.8
1988 80% of F(86); TAC
1.6 1.75
1.9
2.0
1989 80% of F(87); TAC
< 1.48 1.48
1.8
1.8
1990 Interim advice
1.05**
1.5
1.6
1.6
1991 90% of F(89); TAC
1.3
1.5
1.2
1.2
1992 No long-term gains in increased F
1.2* 1.35
1.2
1.3
1993 F = F(91) ~ 920 t
0.92
1.0
1.0
1.0
1994 No long-term gains in increased F
1.51***
1.5
1.4
1.4
0.8
1.3
1.3
1.3
0.8
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.8
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.85
0.9
0.9
0.9
0.83
0.9
0.8
0.9
< 1.08 1.08
0.8
0.8
< 0.93
1.1
1.0
1.1
< 1.10
1.1
1.0
1.1
< 1.01 1.01
1.0
1.0
2004 Maintain SSB above Bpa
< 0.79 0.80
0.6
0.7
2005 F< Fpa
< 1.00 0.96
0.77
0.8
2006 Recent catch levels (20022004)
< 0.93 0.96
0.57
0.57
2007 Maintain SSB above Bpa
0 0.82
0.49
0.49
2008 Zero catch
0 0.669
0.33
0.33
2009 Zero catch and recovery plan
0 0.502
0.34
0.32
2010 Zero catch and recovery plan
0 0.402
0.28
0.28
0.014
2011 See scenarios
- 0.390
0.33
0.33
0.022
2012 MSY transition
< 0.20
0.3
0.29
0.29
No directed fisheries, bycatch and
0.011
2013
0 0.14
0.15
0.15
discards should be minimized
0.007
2014
0 0.095
0.096^
0.099
2015
0 0.090
2016 MSY approach (minimize all catches)
0
* Not including misreporting.
** Revised in 1990 to 1.5.
*** Catch at status quo F.
^ Preliminary
68
Irish Sea Sole

Table 5.3.48.8
Sole in Division VIIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch (2014)
Landings
80% beam trawlers
18% otter trawlers
< 2% other gears
106 t
99 t
1
3
1
2
10
44
14
4
5
12
4
5
3
1
1
+
+
+
+
+
+
<1
n/a
1
<1
<1
<1
<1
<1
46
23
24
49
49
57
47
44
41
31
33
38
36
50
72
47
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
-
11
15
18
21
30
42
68
45
44
29
17
28
46
63
38
38
39
26
37
28
14
8
5
7
9
8
8
4
3
3
1
1
2
4
n/a
1
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
1428
1307
1442
1463
1146
1098
1587
1920
1647
1329
1255
1020
1657
1916
2041
1885
1823
1576
1223
1234
971
1367
1300
1023
1027
895
810
833
1012
1085
1014
712
854
576
491
320
325
277
330
294
148
96
0
0
1
0
1
8
27
21
20
9
86
38
511
79
767
114
10
7
11
25
52
7
34
21
24
16
53
15
41
5
0
3
1
7
1
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
1428
1307
1441
1463
1147
1106
1614
1941
1667
1338
1169
1058
1146
1995
2808
1999
1833
1583
1212
1259
1023
1374
1266
1002
1003
911
863
818
1053
1090
1014
709
855
569
492
332
325
277
330
294
148
99
TAC
UK (Scotland)
UK (N. Ireland)*
UK (Isle of Man)
UK (E+W)
258
218
281
195
160
189
290
367
311
277
219
230
269
637
599
507
613
569
581
477
338
409
424
194
189
161
165
133
195
165
217
106
103
69
66
37
19
12
31
21
12
10
Total used by ICES
281
320
234
381
227
177
247
169
186
138
224
113
546
149
123
60
46
60
-
Unallocated
27
28
24
74
84
127
134
229
167
161
203
187
180
235
312
366
155
170
198
164
98
226
176
133
130
134
120
135
135
96
103
77
85
85
115
66
47
47
48
51
40
43
Officially reported
12
54
59
72
39
65
48
41
13
9
3
10
9
17
5
11
5
2
3
11
8
7
5
5
3
3
<1
3
4
4
4
1
3
1
1
1
n/a
<1
<1
<1
<1
n/a
Netherlands
793
664
805
674
566
453
779
1002
884
669
544
425
589
930
987
915
1010
786
371
531
495
706
675
533
570
525
469
493
674
817
687
527
662
419
305
216
257
217
250
222
96
43
Ireland
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014^
7t
Sole in Division VIIa. History of commercial catch and landings, both official and ICES estimated values are
presented by each country participating in the fishery.
France
Year
Belgium
Table 5.3.48.9
Discards
2100
1750
1480
1500
1500
1350
1000
1500
1300
1000
1000
900
900
1080
1100
1100
1010
800
960
960
820
669
502
402
390
300
140
95
* 1989 onwards: N. Ireland included with England & Wales.

^ Preliminary.
69
Irish Sea Sole

Table 5.3.48.10
Year
Sole in Division VIIa. Assessment summary. Weights are in tonnes and recruitment in thousand.
Recruitment Age 2
SSB tonnes
Landings tonnes
Mean F Ages 4-7
thousands
1970
3695
6437
1785
0.39
1971
10178
6222
1882
0.441
1972
3186
5010
1450
0.451
1973
13136
5123
1428
0.43
1974
5872
5068
1307
0.444
1975
6681
5360
1441
0.395
1976
3857
4890
1463
0.427
1977
15772
4491
1147
0.37
1978
9041
5092
1106
0.358
1979
8851
5685
1614
0.475
1980
5072
5513
1941
0.637
1981
4502
5168
1667
0.481
1982
2466
4334
1338
0.441
1983
5566
4101
1169
0.436
1984
15516
4612
1058
0.351
1985
16299
5654
1146
0.336
1986
23848
6976
1995
0.436
1987
3470
7193
2808
0.857
1988
3512
5551
1999
0.682
1989
4389
4669
1833
0.568
1990
5592
3667
1583
0.644
1991
12744
3226
1212
0.495
1992
4976
3482
1259
0.52
1993
6219
3265
1023
0.542
1994
5279
4095
1374
0.482
1995
2008
3566
1266
0.497
1996
2507
2747
1002
0.512
1997
8463
2533
1003
0.58
1998
6970
3074
911
0.486
1999
5301
3371
863
0.461
2000
6991
3170
818
0.446
2001
4572
3617
1053
0.339
2002
2330
3639
1090
0.372
2003
3051
3274
1014
0.352
2004
3654
2335
709
0.302
2005
3005
2107
855
0.543
2006
1331
1669
569
0.455
2007
1848
1426
492
0.327
2008
1981
1360
332
0.305
2009
2316
1098
325
0.377
2010
1688
1242
277
0.284
2011
695
1126
330
0.343
2012
960
1187
298
0.291
2013
686
1159
148
0.152
2014
634
942
99
0.106
2015
1437*
992
Average
5699
3707
1144
0.436
* GM (20052013).
70
Irish Sea Sole

ICES. 1998. Report of the Study Group on the Precautionary Approach to Fisheries Management. 3-6 February
1998, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 1998/ACFM:10.
ICES 2007 Sole in Division VIIa (Irish Sea). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2007. ICES Advice
2007, Book 5, Section 5.4.12.
ICES. 2011. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish (WKFLAT), 18 February 2011, Copenhagen,
Denmark. ICES CM 2011/ACOM:39. 257 pp.
ICES 2015a. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, ICES
ICES 2015b Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, Section
1.2. In preparation.
STECF. 2013. Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) 44th Plenary Meeting
Report. (eds. J. Casey and H. Doerner). Office for Official Publications of the European Communities,
Luxembourg, ISBN 978-92-79-34654-5, JRC86069. 127 pp.
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/111111111/29996.
71
Irish Sea Sole
Irish Sea Herring

(Division VIIa North)

ICES advice states that, based on the MSY approach, landings in 2016 should
be no more than 4,575 t. FEAS agrees with the ICES advice. This stock has
been subject to the landing obligation since 1 January 2015. There is no
proposed quota uplift as ICES considers discards to be negligible.
This stock has a quantitative assessment and forecast, and is placed in ICES
category I. The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has been above MSY Btrigger
since 2006. Fishing mortality (F) has decreased since 2003 to the lowest in
the time-series and is now around FMSY. Recruitment (R) is relatively high and
stable; estimated above the average of the time-series since 2006.
FEAS and ICES advise, under precautionary considerations, that activities having a negative impact
on spawning habitat of herring should not occur, unless the effects of these activities have been
assessed and shown not to be detrimental.
Management of the Irish Sea herring fishery should ensure that catches of Celtic Sea juveniles are
avoided.
There is currently no management plan for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC for this stock is set by EU and was 4,854 t for 2015. The Irish
share of the TAC was 1,264 t (26%).
There are two closed areas in operation to protect the spawning stock
during part of the spawning season and to prevent exploitation of
juveniles. These measures were introduced during the period of the
industrial fishery in the Irish Sea (1969 1979). The area off Counties
Louth and Down is closed from the 21st September 31st December
and the Douglas Bank area, east of the Isle of Man is closed from 21st
September until 15th November.
IRE 1264 t
UK 3590 t
Vessels of less than 40 feet in length may fish within the Down-Louth seasonal closed box, but only using
driftnets of mesh size 54 mm.
Republic of Ireland vessels are not permitted to fish herring in any part of the 0-12 mile limits off England,
Wales, Scotland or the Isle of Man. This was established under the terms of the London Fisheries Agreement,
1964.
Republic of Ireland vessels are permitted to fish within the territorial limits of Northern Ireland under the
Voisinage understanding. The Voisinage understanding provides a mechanism for reciprocal access to
territorial limits by vessels from each jurisdiction within Ireland.
72
Irish Sea Herring
ICES ADVICE 5.3.17
Irish Sea Herring (Division VIIa

North of 52 30N)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 4575 tonnes.
ICES advises, under precautionary considerations, that activities that have a negative impact on the spawning
habitat of herring should not occur, unless the effects of these activities have been assessed and shown not to be
detrimental.
The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has been above MSY Btrigger since 2006. Fishing mortality (F) has decreased
since 2003 to the lowest in the time-series and is now around FMSY. Recruitment (R) is relatively high and
stable; estimated above the average of the time-series since 2006.
Figure5.3.17.1 Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. Commercial catch, and R, F, and SSB from the summary of
stockassessmentPredictedRvaluesarenotshadedandpredictedSSBisshownwithadiamondshape.

Table 5.3.17.1
and fishery.
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. State of the stock, relative to reference points, of the stock
Fishing pressure
2012
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
Management Plan
2013
Stock size
2014
2013
FMSY
Appropriate
Fpa,
Flim
Below possible
reference points
MSY
Btrigger
Bpa,
Blim
Not applicable
SSBMGT -
FMGT
73
2014
2015
Above trigger
Full reproductive
capacity
-
Not applicable
Irish Sea Herring
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.17.2
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
Fages (wr) 4-6 (2015)
0.25 ICES (2015a)
TAC constraint
SSB (2015)*
17634 ICES (2015a)
SSB in advice year, for autumn spawning stock
Rage(wr) 1 (2015/2016)
160 million ICES (2015a)
GM 1998-2012
Catch (2015)
4854 tonnes ICES (2015a)
Human consumption landings; discards are negligible.
* For autumn-spawning stocks, the SSB is determined at spawning time and is influenced by fisheries between 01 January
and spawning.
Table 5.3.17.3
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. The catch options. All weights are in tonnes.
Catch
F
SSB
%SSB
%TAC
Rationale
Basis
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)*
change**
change***
MSY approach
4575
FMSY
0.26
16083
-9
-6
Zero catch
0
F=0
0
19447
+10
-100
4126
TAC 15% (F2015 0.940)
0.2321
16413
-7
-15
Other options
4854
Stable TAC (F2015 1.13)
0.2776
15878
-10
0
5582
TAC +15% (F2015 1.32)
0.3247
15343
-13
+15
* For autumn-spawning stocks, the SSB is determined at spawning time and is influenced by fisheries between 01 January
and spawning.
** SSB 2016 relative to SSB 2015.
*** Catch 2016 relative to TAC 2015.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.17.4
Advice basis
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. The basis of the advice.

MSY approach
There is no management plan for herring in this area. A management plan has been under
Management plan
review by the Pelagic Advisory Committee for Division VIIa (North).
The interannual variation in herring migration patterns affects the selectivity of both the fishery and the acoustic
survey. The assessment is performed on a mixed stock (including juveniles from the Celtic Sea), which affects
the estimates of the younger ages. The acoustic survey data are uncertain and the timing of the survey is
occasionally mismatched with the migration pattern of the spawning-stock biomass. Input data quality and
sampling coverage is appropriate for this stock.
No catch information was included for in the assessment for 2014 due to inaccurate age information. This
reduced the quality of the assessment, but a sensitivity analysis of the assessment model was conducted and it
was found that the resulting estimates of population parameters are robust to this change.
Figure 5.3.17.2 Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. Historical assessment results (final-year SSB and R estimates
included).
74
Irish Sea Herring
Future inter-species quota transfers (e.g. under Article 15 of EU, 2013) were not considered in this advice. If
such transfers occur, they should be monitored closely to ensure that catches by species are reported correctly.
ICES notes that there is a risk that, under a transfer system, exploitation on some stocks could be increased
significantly. This is especially the case when a stock from which these transfers are taken (the donor stock) are
much larger than the stocks that receive the transfer (the receiving stocks). When setting the TACs for fish
stocks, any transfer should be accounted for to prevent that the resulting total fishing mortality for these stocks
exceeds the intended one.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.17.5 Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. Reference points, values and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY Btrigger
9500 t Provisional based on Bpa.
ICES (2000; 2010)
MSY approach
FMSY
0.26 Based on stochastic simulations
ICES (2012)
6000 t Lowest observed SSB of ICA assessment
ICES (1998)
Blim
Bpa
9500 t Bpa = Blim 1.58.
ICES (1998)
Precautionary
approach
Flim
Not defined
Fpa
Not defined
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Management
plan
FMGT
Not applicable
Table 5.3.17.6
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
1 (ICES, 2015b)
category
Age-based analytical assessment (FLSAM; ICES, 2015a) that uses catches in the model and in the
Assessment type
forecast.
Two survey indices (Northern Ireland Acoustic Surveys: AC(VIIaN)) and larvae survey NINEL);
Input data
commercial catch-at-age data and annual maturity ogives, annual stock weights from AC(VIIaN).
Discards and
Discards are considered to be negligible.
bycatch
Indicators
None
Other information Benchmarked in WKPELA (ICES, 2012)
Working group
Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62N (HAWG)
75
Irish Sea Herring

Table 5.3.17.7
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES
estimates of catch. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch
Agreed
ICES estimated
Year
ICES Advice
corresponding to advice
TAC
catch
1987
TAC
4.3
4.5
5.8
1988
TAC (Revised advice in 1988)
10.5 (5.6)
10.5
10.2
1989
TAC
5.5
6.0
5.0
1990
Precautionary TAC
5.7
7.0
6.3
1991
TAC
5.6
6.0
4.4
1992
TAC
6.6
7.0
5.3
1993
TAC
4.97.4
7.0
4.4
1994
Precautionary TAC
5.3
7.0
4.8
1995
Precautionary TAC
5.1
7.0
5.1
1996
If required, precautionary TAC
5.0
7.0
5.3
1997
No advice given
9.0
6.6
1998
Status quo F
6.5
9.0
4.9
1999
F = Proposed Fpa = 0.36
4.9
6.6
4.1
2000
F = 90% F(98) = 0.31
3.9
5.4
2.0
2001
Status quo F = 0.26
5.1
6.9
5.5
2002
Average catch of 19962000
4.8
4.8
2.4
2003
2002 TAC
4.8
4.8
2.4
2004
Advice 2003 catch
4.8
4.8
2.5
2005
Status quo TAC
4.8
4.8
4.4
2006
Status quo TAC
4.8
4.8
4.4
2007
Status quo TAC
4.8
4.8
4.6
2008
Recent catches
4.4
4.8
4.9
2009
Same advice as last year
4.4
4.8
4.6
2010
Recent TAC
4.8
4.8
4.9
2011
No increase in catch
< 4.8
5.2
5.2
2012
5.280
5.7
2013
MSY approach
< 5.1
4.993
4.8
2014
MSY approach
< 5.251
5.251
5.2
2015
MSY approach
< 4.854
2016
MSY approach
< 4.575

Table 5.3.17.8
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch (2014)

5.2 kt
Landings
99% pelagic trawlers
<1% gillnet
5.2 kt
76
Discards
Negligible
Irish Sea Herring
Table 5.3.17.9
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. History of commercial catch as estimated by ICES for each
country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
Year
Country
UK
Ireland
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1200
2579
1430
1699
80
406
0
0
0
100
0
0
0
0
862
286
0
749
1153
581
0
0
0
0
0
18
0
119
Total
3290
7593
3532
4613
4318
4864
4408
4828
5076
5180
6651
4905
4127
2002
4599
2107
2399
1782
3234
3821
4629
4895
4594
4894
5202
5675
4828
5089
77
Unallocated
1333
22
-
5823
10172
4962
6312
4398
5270
4408
4828
5076
5302
6651
4905
4127
2002
5461
2393
2399
2531
4387
4402
4629
4895
4594
4894
5202
5693
4828
5208
Irish Sea Herring

Table 5.3.17.10
Year
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Average
Herring in Division VIIa North of 52 30N. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes).
Recruitment at
Age (wr) 1
(thousands)
80821638
85476777
127516366
169566422
183872893
269682333
331373030
385385727
386930357
441088141
448202313
431921872
466960523
374370040
331704569
278173417
261712015
217075392
172473693
166541532
177726299
184609858
174555845
162754791
176133939
189472656
194075008
147856871
142486138
125492340
109644654
128412113
99111425
118776636
112420322
100911583
104297221
109535064
84372770
85220731
92410880
94750273
120813100
141068378
166874949
216858425
262760960
246471094
263550426
271848444
243287707
233748259
197205182
194658107
159712936*
204449717
High
128504140
130537889
183521958
245681878
265492853
400523612
493893705
579587545
562157197
638596705
641737615
614343809
671116485
530599299
469613268
395900264
370477206
308557410
250158801
239705892
259373711
274822304
259011153
237617425
256546496
278632670
292634246
215342874
207573672
181350336
158918314
186152591
142245028
169157244
158391263
142936364
147024247
156384532
121182288
122731706
132740211
137740230
172307233
201211687
238824440
311724293
383819166
360702356
384580189
399083042
362081716
359508967
337180475
388465173
Low
50832114
55970565
88602061
117032529
127345201
181583703
222331413
256254918
266322484
304666069
313033408
303667915
324909513
264140807
234294746
195454403
184878254
152716234
118913165
115708804
121780412
124010312
117638730
111478029
120926089
128843066
128710529
101520213
97807682
86839251
75648614
88581472
69057419
83401035
79791830
71242526
73987186
76720697
58744264
59174383
64334467
65177865
84708023
98902243
116601335
150862726
179885029
168415867
180609478
185178444
163468371
151980211
115338481
97542280
301087133
140325312
SSB**
(tonnes)
7943
5935
5182
5181
7669
9101
10817
25135
31288
40660
43565
38677
32080
38025
28424
18968
13990
12240
11003
11044
10843
12189
14308
16228
16002
17962
15881
17689
14206
13804
9450
8890
8772
9778
9085
7167
6897
7110
6944
7275
5625
5754
5438
7689
9127
9578
13377
16413
17452
19438
20135
19602
18820
18854
17633*
15133
High
12762
9168
7945
7632
10716
12617
14655
34511
41859
53251
55471
49186
40433
48900
36208
24951
18563
16256
14947
14744
14481
16800
20082
22220
20717
22882
20551
23124
18673
17922
12259
11168
11100
12262
11415
9056
8731
8861
8880
9235
7200
7382
6942
10021
11882
12411
17584
21778
23271
25874
27019
26752
26459
28142
Low
4943
3842
3379
3517
5489
6564
7984
18306
23387
31046
34214
30414
25453
29569
22314
14419
10544
9217
8099
8272
8119
8844
10194
11852
12361
14100
12273
13531
10807
10632
7285
7077
6932
7798
7231
5671
5448
5705
5430
5731
4395
4484
4260
5900
7011
7391
10177
12369
13088
14603
15004
14364
13387
12632
Catches
(tonnes)
5710
4343
3947
3593
5923
5666
8721
8660
14141
20622
26807
27350
22600
38640
24500
21250
15410
11080
12338
10613
4377
4855
3933
4066
9187
7440
5823
10172
4949
6312
4398
5270
4409
4828
5076
5301
6651
4905
4127
2002
5461
2393
2399
2531
4387
4402
4629
4895
4594
4894
5202
5693
4828
5208
19961
11427
8547
Mean F at
Ages (wr) 46
0.313
0.301
0.315
0.293
0.307
0.276
0.281
0.282
0.318
0.375
0.408
0.455
0.486
0.581
0.631
0.67
0.646
0.602
0.564
0.51
0.413
0.328
0.277
0.269
0.311
0.316
0.324
0.367
0.344
0.344
0.325
0.343
0.339
0.352
0.36
0.38
0.434
0.468
0.428
0.386
0.454
0.452
0.481
0.432
0.432
0.389
0.295
0.283
0.27
0.258
0.258
0.264
0.248
0.247
High
0.497
0.466
0.483
0.458
0.476
0.422
0.413
0.4
0.432
0.496
0.534
0.592
0.629
0.753
0.827
0.893
0.865
0.813
0.772
0.709
0.582
0.472
0.405
0.383
0.418
0.423
0.435
0.496
0.467
0.465
0.438
0.454
0.45
0.467
0.475
0.5
0.565
0.616
0.561
0.508
0.592
0.594
0.646
0.58
0.589
0.536
0.413
0.399
0.393
0.374
0.376
0.392
0.385
0.416
Low
0.197
0.195
0.205
0.188
0.198
0.18
0.191
0.198
0.234
0.284
0.312
0.349
0.376
0.448
0.482
0.503
0.482
0.445
0.411
0.367
0.292
0.228
0.19
0.189
0.231
0.236
0.241
0.271
0.254
0.254
0.242
0.259
0.255
0.266
0.272
0.289
0.333
0.356
0.326
0.293
0.349
0.343
0.359
0.322
0.318
0.282
0.211
0.201
0.186
0.178
0.177
0.177
0.159
0.146
0.379
0.522
0.276
* Geometric mean recruitment 19982012 and SSB from assessment model.

** For autumn-spawning stocks, the SSB is determined at spawning time and is influenced by fisheries between 01 January
and spawning.
78
Irish Sea Herring

EU. 2013. Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013
on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009
and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision
2004/585/EC. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32013R1380 .
ICES. 1998. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62N, 1019 March 2015.
ICES CM 2015/ACFM:14. 388 pp.
ICES. 2000. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the area south of 62N. ICES, C. M.
2000/ACFM:10.
ICES. 2010. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62n (HAWG), 15 - 23
March 2010, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. 688 pp.
ICES. 2012. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Pelagic Stocks (WKPELA 2012), 1317 February 2012,
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62N, 1019 March
2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:06.
Section 1.2. In preparation.
79
Irish Sea Herring
Ecosystem overview for the West of Scotland

FEAS advises that the following considerations should be taken
into account when developing ecosystem based management
objectives for fisheries in the West of Scotland and Rockall:
Fishing has adversely impacted on commercial species,

with cod in the west of Scotland now considered
collapsed; a long term management plan is currently in
place for cod.
Demersal fisheries in the west of Scotland are mixed

fisheries, catching a large number of commercial and non-commercial species. Many species
are discarded. Mixed fisheries do not only affect the commercial stocks which are presented
in this Stock Book, but impact on the wider fish community. Certain demersal quota species
will be subject to the demersal landing obligation (LO) from 1 January 2016, which should
offer a reduction in discarding particularly for Nephrops, haddock, and whiting that are
covered by the LO in 2016.
recoverability of habitats vary depending on substrate type, biota and fishing gear. The
overall impact of demersal trawling on the seabed west of Scotland needs to be evaluated in
relation to the proportion of different habitats affected.
This ecoregion harbours extensive populations of grey and harbour seals. The contribution
of seal predation to total cod mortality is likely to be significant, but data are limited.

should incentivise fishing behaviour and approaches that are consistent with the EAFM, and
introduce management tools which reduce the impact of fishing on the wider ecosystem.
Physical Features
Bathymetry
Water depth at the Hebrides and Malin Shelves vary but are generally less than 250 m. The
area is bordered to the north by the Wyville-Thompson Ridge at a depth of 500-660m and
the entrance to the Rockall Trough at ~1,000m depth and the Porcupine Bank at a depth of
~3,500m to the southwest (New and Smythe-Wright, 2001). To the west of the shelf break
is the Rockall Plateau with depths of less than 200m. The area contains several volcanic
seamounts: the Rosemary Bank, the Anton Dohrn and Hebrides Seamounts, which have soft
sediments on top and rocky slopes (Jacobs, 2006).
Substrates
The north-western shelf area consists primarily of sublittoral muds and sands and
infralittoral rock (Ellwood et al., 2011). Canyons, slides, gas seeps and pock marks, iceberg
plough marks, exposed rock, carbonate mounds and cold-water reefs are features of the
slope (Jacobs, 2006).
Circulation
The shelf circulation is influenced by the poleward flowing European Slope Current. This
persists throughout the year north of the Porcupine Bank, but is stronger in the summer
(Hill and Mitchelson-Jacob, 1993). This mixes with the Irish and Clyde Sea waters flowing
from the North Channel to form the Scottish Coastal Current. As this flows northwards it
mixes with less saline, terrestrially influenced coastal waters and more saline shelf and slope
waters (Inall and Sherwin, 2006).
Fronts
The Islay Front extends between the Scottish island of Islay and Malin Head in Northern
Ireland (Hill and Simpson, 1989, Simpson et al., 1979). It persists year-round at
approximately the 50 m isobath.
Mean annual temperature in the upper 800 m of the Rockall Trough increased from ~9.2C
Temperature
80
Salinity
(19752011)
in 2000 to 10C in 2006. A decrease of 0.4C has been noted since then. Salinity has shown
a constant increase from the early nineties onwards until its highest values in 2010
(Beszczynska-Mller and Dye 2013). The 2014 global average ocean temperature was a
record high, at 0.57C above the 20th century average of 16.1C , breaking the previous
records of 1998 and 2003 (NOAA, 2015).
Biological Features
Phytoplankton
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
(19582010)
Zooplankton
Overall Abundance
(19582010)
Benthos and reef
Diatom and dinoflagellate abundances have increased since 2004 (OBrien et al. 2012) but
show a decline in the longterm using time series from1958 (OBrien et al. 2013). The five
common dinoflagellate species found along the Malin Shelf and in the Rockall Trough region
are Ceratium fusus, C. furca, C. tripos and Protoperidinium spp. and Dactyliosolen mediterraneus.
The eight diatom species identified in the region are Thalassionema nitzschioides, Hyalochaete
spp., Rhizosolenia alata alata, Rhizosolenia imbrica shrubsolei, Thalassiosira spp. and Phaeoceros
spp.
Longterm time series starting in 1958 have shown a decline in overall zooplankton
abundance (OBrien et al. 2013). Four carnivorous zooplankton taxa are common to the
Malin Shelf and Rockall Trough region. All of these (Euphausiids, Chaetognaths, Hyperiids
and Pleuromamma spp.) have declined in abundance/biomass between 1960-1999 and 20002009. Five out of the six common herbivorous copepods (Calanus spp. IIV, Acartia spp., the
cold-water Calanus finmarchicus, Paracalanus spp. and small copepods <2 mm and Metridia
lucens) have also decreased in abundance/biomass over the same period. The warm-water C.
helgolandicus however has increased (McGinty et al., 2012).
The shelf megafauna are dominated by echinodermata and arthropoda, with some porifera
and cnidaria. The macrofaunal community includes polychaetes, peracarid crustaceans,
molluscs and nemertea and the meiofauna are dominated numerically by nematodes and
harpacticoid copepods (Davies et al., 2006). Cold-water reef forming Lophelia pertusa is
found on the north, south and west flanks of the Rockall Bank (Wilson, 1979), the Wyville
Thomson Ridge, Lousy Bank and Hatton Bank (Roberts et al., 2003), in the Sea of the
Hebrides between the Outer Hebrides and Scottish mainland (Roberts et al., 2005) and
George Bligh Bank (Davies et al., 2006).
Fish community
The large fish indicator which measures the proportion of fish >45cm and the mean
maximum length (MML) of the fish community have shown strong declines in the early
Proportion of large fish, nineties with a further decline for the MML in the last 5 years (ICES, 2013e). The West of
Scotland bottom trawl survey records around 100 fish species per year with high numbers of
Mean maximum length blue whiting, grey gurnard, silvery pout and haddock (ICES, 2014b). Important commercial
fisheries exist for haddock, megrim, anglerfish, saithe, ling and herring (ICES, 2014). Herring
(19852011)
have known spawning grounds in the area.
Mammals
Grey seals
Harbourseals
(20052010)
Sea Birds
Draft OSPAR ECO QO
(20042012)
Climate change
effects on finfish
and shellfish
stocks
There are around ten cetacean species recorded in this area including Rockall (Berrow et al.,
2010, Hebridean W&D trust, 2012). The harbour porpoise, minke whale and common
dolphin are the most common. Current grey and harbour seal estimates for western
Scotland are both ~16,000, grey seal populations are stable since 2005, and harbour seals
have declined (Thomas, 2011).
The OSPAR draft ECOQO for seabirds in OSPAR region III (Celtic Seas which includes west
of Scotland) shows a downward trend since early 2000 (ICES 2013b). Thirty five species of
seabirds have been sighted in the north-western shelf region (Mackey et al., 2004). The most
common were the common guillemot, razorbill, Atlantic puffin, Northern fulmar, Manx
shearwater, northern gannet and gulls.
Surface waters in western shelf waters and the Rockall Trough have displayed a general
warming trend since the mid 1970s. When paired with abundance reductions in the copepod
and general zooplankton communities there is cause for concern given the key role they play
in marine food webs. A negative impact on recruitment with rising SST has been shown for
cod in the west of Scotland (ICES, 2013a). Large grey seal populations are known to feed on
this and other species and are likely contribute to total cod mortality. Productivity of the
herring stock has reduced since the late 1980s. Again, there is a possible link to increasing
SST (ICES, 2013a). Between 1991-2010 the subsurface waters of the Rockall Trough
81
acidified by 0.03 pH units (McGrath et al., 2012). It is thought that adult finfish may be
tolerant of changes in pH because CO2 levels are variable as a result of activity, but larvae
may be negatively affected (Ishimatsu et al., 2008). Changes in precipitation patterns, river
discharges and salinity, particularly in coastal areas could also affect inshore species that rely
on these areas for spawning or nursery grounds (Reid and Valds, 2011).

Fishing effort
(>10m vessels)
Overall fishing
mortality
The main human activities in the West of Scotland and Rockall region are:
Fishing
Aquaculture
Transport
Dredging for shipping
Offshore energy

Fishing effort west of Scotland has decreased by more than 40% from peak levels in 2004
to 2013 (STECF, 2014). Of the 86 kt* landed from the area 55% comes from stocks that
are fished at or below FMSY. Six out of 20 stocks are equal to or above Btrigger, while two
stocks are below. There are unsustainably high levels of discarding of cod, haddock and
whiting (ICES, 2014a).Towed bottom fishing gears (trawls, dredges, drags, hydraulic
devices) impact on seabed species and habitats. Gear type, intensity of trawling, sediment
hardness (Foden et al., 2010) and hydrodynamic conditions (Collie et al., 2000, Kaiser et al.,
2006) affect a systems ability to recover. Due to the presence of vulnerable deep water
habitats in the region, large areas on the Rockall and Hatton Banks and in the Rockall
region are closed to fishing. New records of VME indicators species have been found in
unprotected areas of Rockall bank, the Wyville Thomson Ridge (ICES, 2014c&d).
A full reference list can be found in Appendix VI. *includes landings from other areas for some stocks.
Letter code for stock

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
Fig. 1 Relative fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) and biomass (SSB/Btrig) for stocks west
of Scotland, which have SSB and F related against reference points (msy where
available, otherwise pa). This corresponds to 10 out of 20 stocks and 83 % of
the landings. Stocks in the green region are exploited below Fmsy and have an
SSB that is above Btrigger.
P
Q
R
S
T
Cod
VIa
Cod
VIb
Haddock VIa
Haddock VIb
Whiting VIa
Anglerfish VI, IIa, IIIa, IVa
Megrim VIa and IV
Megrim VIb
Saithe
IV & VI and IIIa
Ling
NEA (exc.V)
Plaice
Sole
Nephrops (FU11) VIa
Nephrops (FU12) VIa
Nephrops (FU13) VIa
Nephrops (VI outside) VIa
Thornback ray VI
Spotted ray VI, VIIbj
Herring VIaN
Whiting VIb
Fig. 2 Stocks of unknown status in relation to reference points. The size of

each bubble corresponds to the landings in 2014. The largest bubble
corresponds to 75kt.
82
Fig. 3 Proportion of west of

Scotland stocks fished at or
below Fmsy (green), above Fmsy
(red) and of unknown status in
relation to fishing mortality
reference points.
Fig. 4 Proportion of west of
Scotland stocks with biomass
above B trigger (green), below B
trigger (red) and of unknown
status in relation to biomass
reference points.
Fig. 5 Relative fishing mortality (F to Fmsy ratios) of West of Scotland stocks, demersal F corresponds to VIa cod
and whiting, VIb haddock, IVa and VIa megrim and haddock and saithe IIIa, IV,VI; pelagic F corresponds to VIaN
herring and shellfish F corresponds to Nephrops FU11,FU12 and FU13C and FU13J.
Fig. 6 Relative biomass (SSB to Bmsy trigger ratios) of West of Scotland stocks, demersal SSB corresponds to VIa
cod, haddock and whiting, VIb haddock, IVa and VIa megrim and saithe in IIIa, IV,VI; pelagic SSB corresponds to
VIaN herring and shellfish B corresponds to Nephrops FU11,FU12 and FU13C.
83
West of Scotland Cod

(Division VIa)

ICES advises on the basis of the MSY approach that there should be no
directed fisheries and that by-catch and discards should be minimized
in 2016 and 2017. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that the
landing obligation will not apply to this stock in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 data-rich stocks with full analytical
assessments. Fishing mortality remains well above FMSY. SSB is stable at
a very low level (less than 25% of the Blim).
The EU has adopted a long-term management plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting
those stocks (Council Regulation (EC) 1342/2008). FEAS agrees with the ICES consideration
that the management plan is not in accordance with the precautionary approach. FEAS notes
that current management of fisheries catching cod in Division VIa is not reducing mortality
levels. Despite a zero TAC in 2014, total catches were estimated to be 1,668 t, which includes
reported landings, area misreported landings and 78% discards. Irish catches are less than 3% of
the total.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
EU has adopted a long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks Council
Regulation (EC) 1342/2008.
The TAC Area covers Division VIa, EU and international waters of Vb east of 12 00 W. The assessment
covers Division VIa only. FEAS considers that the management area should correspond to the assessment
area.
The 2015 TAC was 0 t. By-catch of cod in the area covered by this TAC may be landed provided that it
does not comprise more than 1.5 % of the live weight of the total catch retained on board per fishing trip
and therefore does not constrain catches.
ICES ADVICE
5.3.7 Cod in Division VIa (West of Scotland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, there should be no directed fisheries and all catches
should be minimized in 2016 and 2017.
Fishing mortality (F) is high and has been above Flim for most of the time-series. The spawning-stock biomass
(SSB) has been below Blim since 1997 and has remained very low, well below Blim since 2006. Recruitment has
been low since 2001 and is considered impaired.
84
Figure5.3.7.1
CodinDivisionVIa.CatchesasobservedbyICESandsummaryofstockassessment(weightsinthousand
tonnes). The shaded areas in the bottom panels correspond to two standard error for estimates of
mortalityandSSB.Predictedvaluesintherecruitmentplotarenotshaded.

Table 5.3.7.1
Cod in Division VIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012
2013
2014
FMSY
Above
Fpa, Flim
Harvest unsustainable
Management Plan
FMGT
Above
Stock size
2013
2014
2015
MSY Btrigger
Below trigger
Bpa, Blim
Reduced reproductive capacity
SSBMGT
Below SSBMP-lower
85
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.7.2
Cod in Division VIa. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
F ages 25 (2015)
0.88
ICES (2015a)
SSB (2016)
3487 t
ICES (2015a)
Rage1 (2015)
4.139 million
ICES (2015a)
Rage1 (2016)
2.848 million
ICES (2015a)
Catch (2015)
2137 t
ICES (2015a)
Landings (2015)
443 t
ICES (2015a)
Discards (2015)
1694 t
ICES (2015a)
Table 5.3.7.3
Rationale
MSY
approach
Managemen
t plan***
Notes
F(20122014)
Assessment model estimate.
GM (20042013)
Cod in Division VIa. The catch options. Weights in thousand tonnes. Note: no information on % TAC
change can be shown as a zero TAC was set in 2014.
Catch
F
Wanted
Unwante
F wanted
SSB
%SSB
Total
F Total
unwanted
catch
d catch
Basis
catch*
(2017 change
(2016
(2016)
catch*
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
)
**
)
(2016)
0.00
0.00
0.00
Zero catch
0.00
0.00
0.00
6.34
+82%
F = F2015
0.66
0.23
0.43
3.86
+11%
0.75
FMSY
SSB2016 /
0.03
0.01
0.02
6.19
+78%
0.11
0.03
0.08
MSY Btrigger
0.58
F2015 0.2
0.18
+59%
0.15
0.44
0.06
0.11
5.53
0.55
F
0.19
+60%
0.14
0.42
0.06
0.11
5.57
MSY
Other
1.08
F2015 0.4
0.35
+39%
0.26
0.81
0.13
0.23
4.84
options
1.51
F2015 0.6
0.53
+22%
0.36
1.14
0.19
0.34
4.25
1.88
F2015 0.8
0.71
+7%
0.44
1.43
0.25
0.46
3.73
2.20
F2015 1.0
0.88
6%
0.51
1.69
0.31
0.57
3.29
2.47
F2015 1.2
1.06
17%
0.57
1.91
0.38
0.68
2.91
* The wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation. The
unwanted catch refers to the component of commercial catch that was previously discarded.
*** Given the 0 TAC in 2015, the 20% constraint on inter-year TAC changes (Article 7.5 of the management plan) has not
been applied in the calculation of this catch option.
1.79
0.43
1.36
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.7.4
Cod in Division VIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
EU cod long-term management plan (EU, 2008). ICES has not evaluated whether the
Management plan
management plan is in accordance with the precautionary approach.
Recent catch estimates included in the assessment are adjusted for area misreporting and include estimates of
discards which now account for the majority of the catch. In the past (between 1991 and 2005) catches were
considered unreliable and are estimated within the assessment. Natural mortality is uncertain and seal predation
on cod may be significant. In addition stock structure is complex and at least two subpopulations occur within
this area. Despite these uncertainties it is clear from the assessment and additional information (catch age
structure and survey data) that the stock remains extremely low and total mortality rates remain very high.
86
Figure 5.3.7.2
Cod in Division VIa. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
Management measures taken thus far have not recovered the stock. The zero TAC for this area and 1.5%
bycatch by live weight limit implemented since 2012 applies to the retained part of the catches; neither of these
measures constrains catches. The proportion of the total catch that is discarded has increased since 2006 and
discards now account for around 80% of the total catch. Estimated mortality is increasingly attributed to
discarding. It is necessary to reduce all sources of fishing mortality to recover the stock above Bpa as quickly as
possible.
The EU cod management plan (EC 1342/2008) is based on setting TACs complemented with an effort regime.
Following Article 12 of the plan, the maximum allowable effort for the relevant effort groups would be adjusted
by the same percentage as the fishing mortality. The adjustment in F according to the EU cod management plan
catch option (calculated without taking into account the 20% constraint in inter-year TAC changes because of
the 0 TAC in 2015) from 2015 to 2016 is a 25% reduction.
The basis of ICES advice for this stock is the MSY approach. Because of the low SSB and recruitment, it is not
possible to identify any non-zero catch that would be compatible with the MSY approach.
Grey seal abundance is significant west of Scotland and they are known to feed on cod, among other species.
Cook et al. (2015) suggests that seal predation may be impairing the recovery of this stock.
Measures to reduce area misreporting should also be introduced.
87
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.7.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Cod in Division VIa. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
point
22 000 t Bpa
MSY Btrigger
0.19 Provisional proxy.
FMSY
14 000 t
Blim
22 000 t
Precautionary
approach
Bpa
0.8
Flim
0.6
Fpa
Management
plan
Source
ICES (2010)
ICES (2010)
Blim = Bloss, the lowest observed spawning stock estimated

in previous assessments.
Considered to be the minimum SSB required to ensure a
high probability of maintaining SSB above Blim, taking into
account the uncertainty of assessments. This also
corresponds with the lowest range of SSB during the
earlier, more productive historical period.
Fishing mortalities above this have historically led to stock
decline.
This F is considered to have a high probability of avoiding
Flim.
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
SSBMP-lower
14 000 t
EU (2008)
SSBMP-upper
22 000 t
EU (2008)
0.4
EU (2008)
FMGT
Table 5.3.7.6
Cod in Division VIa. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data
1 (ICES, 2015c).
category
Assessment type
Analytical age-based assessment (TSA) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast.
sampling); two survey indexes (ScoGFS-WIBTS-Q1 and UKSGFS-WIBTS-Q1); maturity
Input data
data from surveys; natural mortalities (M) at mean weight model (Lorenzen, 1996), using
mean weight data from market sampling and discard observations.
Included in the assessment, data series from the main fleets (covering 86% of the landings).
Indicators
Other information
Working group
Surveys: ScoGFS-WIBTS-Q4, IGFS-WIBTS-Q4, and UKSGFS-WIBTS-Q4.

The stock was benchmarked in 2012 (WKROUND; ICES, 2012) and in 2015
(IBPWSROUND; ICES, 2015c).
Since 2014, there has been effort to improve coverage by the Scottish industry/science observer sampling
scheme in Subareas IV and VI. The sampling coverage now is more likely to reflect fishing patterns. The
Scottish Industry-Science partnership survey was initiated in 2013 and conducted throughout 2014 to provide
information on a quarterly basis on the distribution and abundance of cod and other demersal species in Division
VIa. The results of the survey will be available in the near future.
88

Cod in Division VIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. Weights in
thousand tonnes.
Predicted
catch
Agreed Agreed Official
ICES Misreporting ICES
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to TAC* TAC** landings landings adjustment discards catch
advice
1987 Reduce F towards Fmax
18.0
22.0
19.2 19.0***
2.39
21.39
16.0
18.4
19.2 20.4***
0.37
20.77
1989 80% of F(87); TAC
16.0
18.4
15.4 17.2***
2.08
19.28
1990 80% of F(88); TAC
15.0
16.0
11.8 12.2***
0.57
12.77
1991 70% of effort (89)
16.0
10.6 10.9***
0.62
11.52
1992 70% of effort (89)
13.5
9.0
9.7^
1.78
11.48
0.14
11.94
1993 70% of effort (89)
14.0
10.5
11.8^
1994 30% reduction in effort
13.0
9.1
10.8^
0.66
11.46
0.14
9.74
1995 Significant reduction in effort
13.0
9.7
9.6^
13.0
9.6
9.4
0.06
9.46
14.0
7.0
7.0
0.50
7.5
9.5^^
11.0
5.7
5.7
0.54
6.24
1999 F reduced to below Fpa
< 9.7^^
11.8
4.3
4.2
0.07
4.27
Recovery plan, 60% reduction
^^^
2000
< 4.2
7.48
2.8
3.0
0.82
3.82
in F
Lowest possible F, recovery
2001
3.7
2.4
2.3
0.09
2.39
plan
Recovery plan or lowest
2002
4.6
2.2
2.2
0.48
2.68
possible F
2003 Closure
1.81
1.3
1.2
0.03
1.23
2004 Zero catch +
0
0.85
0.6
0.5
0.07
0.57
2005 Zero catch +
0
0.72
0.4
0.5
0.04
0.54
2006 Zero catch +
0 0.613
0.5 0.49+++
0.025
0.47
0.96
2007 Zero catch +
0
0.49
0.5 0.60+++
0.07
1.88
2.48
+
2008 Zero catch
0 0.402
0.4 0.68+++
0.231
0.70
1.38
2009 Zero catch +
0 0.302
0.240
0.23 0.41+++
0.186
0.95
1.36
2010 Zero catch +
0
0.240
0.25 0.56+++
0.32
0.79
1.35
2011 Zero catch +
0
0.182
0.22 0.45+++
0.248
1.67
2.12
2012 Zero catch +
0
0++
0.22 0.47+++
0.306
1.17
1.64
No directed fisheries,
2013 minimize by-catch and
0
0++
0.17 0.30+++
0.123
1.20
1.50
discards
0
0++
0.16 0.36+++
0.205
1.31
1.67
discards
0
0++
discards
MSY approach (minimize all
2016
0
catches)
MSY approach (same
2017 advised catch value as
0
provided for 2016)
*TAC is for the whole of Subdivision Vb1 and Subareas VI, XII, and XIV.
**TAC is for Subdivision Vb1 and Division VIa.
*** Not including misreporting.
^
Including ICES estimates of misreporting.
^^
For Division VIa only.
^^^
Incomplete data.
+
Single-stock boundaries and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries, protecting
stocks outside safe biological limits.
++
Bycatch of cod in the area covered by this TAC may be landed, provided that it does not contain more than 1.5% of the
live weight of the total catch retained on board per fishing trip.
+++
Includes an adjustment for misreporting.
Table 5.3.7.7
89

Table 5.3.7.8
Cod in Division VIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Landings
Discards
(2014)
96% otter trawl gear vessels
2.6% Nephrops
92% otter-trawl gear vessels targeting
1.4% others
targeting finfish (TR1)
fleet (TR2)
finfish (TR1) and 8% Nephrops fleet
1668 t
(TR2)
357 t
1311 t
Cod in Division VIa. History of the official and ICES estimated landings for each country participating in
the fishery. Weights in tonnes.
Weights in tonnes.
Table 5.3.7.9
Country
Belgium
Denmark
Faroe
Islands
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
UK (E. W.
N.I.)
UK
(Scotland)
UK
Total
landings
Country
Belgium
Denmark
Faroe
Islands
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
UK (E. W.
N.I.)
UK
(Scotland)
UK
Total
landings
1985
48
-
1986
88
-
1987
33
4
1988
44
1
1989
28
3
1990
2
1991
6
2
1992
3
1993
22
2
1994
1
+
1995
2
4
1996
+
2
1997
11
-
1998
1
-
1999
+
+
11
26
7411
66
2564
204
28
5096
53
1704
174
-
5044
12
2442
77
-
7669
25
2551
186
-
3640
281
1642
207
85
2220
586
1200
150
-
2503
60
761
40
-
1957
5
761
171
-
3047
94
645
72
-
2488
100
825
51
-
2533
18
1054
61
16
2253
63
1286
137
+
956
5
708
2
36
6
714*
6
478
1
36
42
842*
8
223
79
45
260
160
444
230
278
230
511
577
524
419
450
457
779
474
381
8032
4251
11143
8465
9236
7389
6751
5543
6069
5247
5522
5382
4489
3919
2711
18613
11526
19199
19182
15426
11777
10634
9017
10475
9131
9660
9580
6992
5671
4289
2000
+
-
2001
2
-
2002
+
-
2003
-
2004
-
2005
-
2006
-
2007
-
2008
-
2009
-
2010
0
-
2011
0
-
2012
0
-
2013
2014*
0
-
0.8
12
0.2
236
6
357
114*
14
391
4
319
40*
3
208
+
210
88
11
172
+
120
45
3
91
107
34
10
-
27.9
17
-
100.7
2
18
30
-
92
2
70
30
-
82
1
58.2
65
-
74
0
24.4
0
18
-
60.3
0
48.7
20.7
-
46
0
41.3
0
8.3
-
4.21
0.04
17.8
0
56.2
-
3.36
0
13.7
0
24.017
-
11.68
13.848
-
280
138
195
79
46
25
21
14
2057
1544
1519
879
413
243
260
232
332.1
104
118.6
110
137.2
131.266
129.995
2767
2439
2231
1298
596
419.9
483.6
487
445.2
234.4
248.5
205.6
215.5
172.343
155.523
*Preliminary
90
91
Recruit.
Age 1
11158
26040
14880
26535
14089
22416
63081
6803
24136
7827
12965
24444
9977
20282
16454
7192
25909
7670
5543
20038
4555
9075
2245
3262
1687
6015
1848
1539
3666
3976
1748
3031
4838
3359
4139^
11159
26042
14881
26536
14090
22418
63088
6804
24138
7829
12966
24446
9978
20284
16456
7193
25911
7671
5544
20040
4556
9077
2245
3263
1688
6016
1848
1539
3666
3976
1749
3031
4839
3359
4141
High
11157
26039
14879
26533
14088
22415
63074
6802
24134
7826
12963
24441
9977
20280
16453
7192
25906
7669
5542
20035
4554
9074
2244
3262
1687
6014
1847
1538
3665
3975
1748
3030
4837
3358
4138
Low
40536
38598
34277
31645
25231
19945
21052
27549
23963
19470
15980
13739
17406
18576
19057
19076
13827
11837
10605
7542
7926
7441
5440
3360
2264
1646
2428
2518
2013
2334
2856
2647
2277
2905
3363
SSB
40537
38599
34278
31646
25232
19946
21053
27550
23965
19471
15982
13740
17408
18577
19058
19077
13828
11838
10606
7543
7927
7441
5441
3361
2265
1646
2428
2518
2013
2334
2856
2647
2277
2906
3364
High
40534
38596
34276
31643
25230
19944
21051
27547
23962
19468
15979
13738
17405
18574
19055
19074
13825
11836
10604
7541
7925
7440
5440
3360
2264
1646
2427
2517
2013
2334
2856
2647
2277
2905
3363
Low
Land.
Obs.
23865
21511
21305
21272
18607
11820
18971
20413
17169
12175
10927
9086
10314
8928
9439
9427
7034
5714
4201
2977
2347
2243
1241
540
511
488
595
682
408
559
454
466
299
357
Land.
Pred.
23837
20571
20878
20645
17928
11789
17407
20011
16750
12175
10011
8849
11037
11117
12120
12994
10494
10017
7754
5945
6276
5849
4236
2397
1765
469
545
597
434
536
413
460
347
453
572
Land.
SE
1.463
1.313
1.084
1.153
1.040
0.734
1.250
1.639
1.373
0.822
1.052
1.044
1.176
1.232
1.348
1.490
1.366
1.254
1.082
0.803
0.824
0.836
0.678
0.497
0.377
0.054
0.058
0.070
0.062
0.047
0.039
0.054
0.050
0.063
0.219
Disc.
Obs.
303
571
197
329
963
263
2388
368
2076
571
622
1779
139
661
141
63
499
538
69
821
92
480
34
72
41
465
1880
695
945
785
1670
1166
1202
1311
Disc.
Pred.
178
648
240
595
691
736
1994
330
1368
196
453
794
431
726
452
283
1074
349
294
1242
262
552
163
199
123
989
1399
1100
995
1007
1652
1209
1144
1379
1581
Disc.
SE
0.106
0.199
0.113
0.224
0.153
0.208
0.730
0.146
0.446
0.071
0.171
0.259
0.137
0.229
0.142
0.091
0.377
0.125
0.100
0.350
0.083
0.187
0.070
0.079
0.053
0.190
0.235
0.194
0.161
0.177
0.216
0.178
0.175
0.267
0.364
Catch
Obs.
24168
22082
21503
21601
19570
12083
21358
20781
19246
12746
11549
10865
10453
9588
9580
9489
7533
6252
4270
3798
2439
2722
1275
612
552
954
2474
1377
1353
1344
2124
1632
1501
1668
Catch
Pred.
24015
21219
21118
21240
18619
12524
19402
20341
18117
12371
10464
9643
11468
11843
12572
13277
11568
10365
8047
7187
6539
6401
4399
2596
1887
1458
1944
1696
1429
1543
2065
1669
1490
1832
2153
Catch
SE
1.465
1.296
1.089
1.136
1.038
0.779
1.472
1.659
1.449
0.831
1.097
1.108
1.206
1.296
1.386
1.517
1.476
1.286
1.116
0.921
0.852
0.902
0.710
0.534
0.401
0.213
0.237
0.190
0.154
0.190
0.212
0.184
0.169
0.279
0.396
Mean F
Ages 2-5
0.731
0.683
0.781
0.88
1.003
0.791
0.921
0.882
0.939
0.792
0.804
0.823
0.813
0.787
0.816
0.934
0.996
0.989
1.053
1.023
1.058
1.126
1.117
1.052
1.181
0.948
1.105
1.035
0.874
0.815
1.098
0.879
0.879
0.891
0.775
0.723
0.824
0.928
1.055
0.84
0.975
0.929
0.991
0.848
0.869
0.892
0.882
0.854
0.884
1.01
1.078
1.071
1.141
1.112
1.145
1.221
1.209
1.142
1.3
1.031
1.181
1.114
0.942
0.876
1.173
0.956
0.981
1.058
High
0.687
0.644
0.738
0.831
0.951
0.742
0.867
0.835
0.888
0.735
0.739
0.754
0.743
0.719
0.748
0.858
0.913
0.906
0.965
0.933
0.971
1.031
1.025
0.961
1.062
0.865
1.029
0.955
0.807
0.754
1.023
0.802
0.776
0.723
Low
Cod in Division VIa. Assessment summary. Weights in tonnes and recruitment in thousands. Recruit. = recruitment; Land. = Landings; Disc. = Discards; Obs. = observed;
Pred. = predicted (model estimates); SE = standard error.
^ Model estimate.
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Year
Table 5.3.7.10

Cook, R. M., Holmes, S. J., and Fryer, R. J. 2015. Grey seal predation impairs recovery of an over-exploited
fish stock. Journal of Applied Ecology. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12439.
EU. 2008. COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No. 1342/2008 of 18 December 2008 establishing a long-term plan
for cod stocks and the fisheries exploiting those stocks and repealing Regulation (EC) No. 423/2004. Official
Journal of the European Union, L 348/21. http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:348:0020:0033:EN:PDF.
ICES. 1998. Report of the Study Group on Precautionary Approach to Fisheries Management, 36 February
1998, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 1998/ACFM: 10.
ICES. 2010. Cod in Division VIa (West of Scotland). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2010. ICES
Advice 2010, Book 5, Section 5.4.21.
ICES. 2012. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Western Waters Roundfish (WKROUND), 2229 February
2012, Aberdeen, UK. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:49. 283 pp.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, ICES
Section 1.2.
ICES. 2015c. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol of West of Scotland Roundfish (IBPWSRound),
FebruaryApril 2015. By correspondence. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:37.
Lorenzen, K. 1996. The relationship between body weight and natural mortality in juvenile and adult fish: a
comparison of natural ecosystems and aquaculture. Journal of Fish Biology, 49(4): 627642.
92
Rockall Cod
(Division VIb)
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches

should be no more than 17 t in each of the years 2016 and 2017. FEAS
agrees with this advice and notes that the landing obligation will not apply
to this stock in 2016.
The joint statement by the Fisheries Council and European Commission
states it would be desirable if the TAC for this stock be maintained for
5 years (subject to scientific advice). This implies that the 2015 TAC should
be rolled over for 2016. This implies a TAC of 74 t and an Irish Quota of 16 t.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area now covers Sub-areas VIb, EU and international waters
of Vb west of 12 00 W and of XII and XIV. The TAC applies to EU
vessels only and not the international fishery at Rockall.
The TAC in 2015 is 74 t, with an associated Irish quota of 16 t.
IRE 16 t
GER 1 t
FRA 12 t
UK 45 t
60.00
50.00
40.00
30.00
20.00
10.00
2013
2011
2009
2007
2005
2003
2001
1999
1997
1995
Figure 1. Cod in Division VIb. Lpue (kg/hr) from Irish

Otter-trawl fleet, 19952014.
93
Rockall Cod
ICES ADVICE
5.3.8 Cod in Division VIb (Rockall)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches should be no more than 17 tonnes in each
of the years 2016 and 2017.
Landings were on average over 1000 tonnes for most years earlier in the time-series and have declined to less
than 100 tonnes since 2002. The available information is insufficient to evaluate the stock trends and
exploitation but suggests that the stock may be depleted.
Landings
2500
Landings
2000
tonnes
1500
1000
500
0
1983
Figure5.3.8.1
1988
1993
1998
2003
2008
2013
CodinDivisionVIb.Officiallandings(tonnes).

Table 5.3.8.1
Cod in Division VIb. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
FMSY
Undefined
Fpa, Flim
Undefined
Management Plan
FMGT
2013
Stock size
2014
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
Not applicable
2015
Undefined
Unknown
MSY Btrigger
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Unknown
94
Rockall Cod
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 6 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). For stocks without information on
abundanceorexploitation,ICESconsidersthataprecautionaryreductionofcatchesshouldbeimplemented.
Giventhatrecentlandingscontinuedtodeclineandothersources(lpueforScottishandIrishtrawlfisheries)
alsosuggestlowstocksize,theICESadviceisupdatedbasedonthemostrecentthreeyearaveragelandings
(20122014).Theprecautionarybufferwaspreviouslyappliedin2012.Theadvicethisyear(basedonrecent
landings)impliesa76%reductionwithrespecttothepreviouscatchadviceandnoadditionalprecautionary
bufferisconsiderednecessary.
Table 5.3.8.2
Cod in Division VIb. ICES framework for category 6 applied.
Recent landings (20122014)
17 tonnes
Discard rate
Negligible
Not applied
Catch advice*
17 tonnes
* = recent landings.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.8.3
Cod in Division VIb. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Precautionary approach.
Management plan
There is no management plan for cod in this area.
There is limited information available on cod at Rockall and the stock identity is unknown. The advice is based
on landings only, which have shown a dramatic decline and have been well below the TAC since 2012.
Commercial lpue series also show declines. Therefore, ICES has updated the advice to a more recent average of
landings.
Cod is a minor bycatch in fisheries at Rockall.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.8.4
Cod in Division VIb. The basis of the assessment.
6.2.0 (ICES, 2015a).
Assessment type
No assessment.
Input data
Official landings statistics.
Not included and considered negligible.
Indicators
Lpue from Irish and Scottish vessels.
Other information
None.
Working group
95
Rockall Cod
scheme in Subareas IV and VI. The sampling coverage now is more likely to reflect fishing patterns.
Cod in Division VIb. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. Weights in
tonnes.
Predicted catch
Year
ICES advice
Agreed TAC
Official landings
corresp. to advice
2001 No advice
3700*
334
Table 5.3.8.5
2002 No advice
4600*
115
2003 No advice
1808*
102
2004 No advice
848*
75
2005 No advice
721*
62
2006 No advice
613*
58
2007 No advice
490*
62
2008 No advice
402*
96
2009 No advice
302*
97
2010 No advice
80**
61
2011 No advice
78**
98
2012 No increase in catch
78**
23
2013 Reduce catch by 20%
< 70
74**
14
< 70
74**
15***

< 70
74**
Precautionary approach (catch should not
2016
17
exceed the average landings of 20122014)
Precautionary approach (same advised catch
2017
17
value as provided for 2016)
* Subarea VI; EU waters of Division Vb; EU and international waters of Subareas XII and XIV.
** Division VIb; EU and international waters of Division Vb west of 1200W and of Subareas XII and XIV.
*** Preliminary.

Table 5.3.8.6
Cod in Division VIb. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Commercial discards
97% otter trawl
3% longline
~17 tonnes
Negligible (~1 tonne)
16 tonnes
96
Rockall Cod
Table 5.3.8.7
Country
Cod in Division VIb. History of official landings for each country participating in the fishery (in tonnes).
Faroe
Islands
1984
18
1985
1986
1
1987
1988
31
1989
5
1990
1991
1992
1993
1
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
3
2010
5
2011
+
2012
2013
2014*
* Preliminary.
France
Germany
Ireland
Norway
Portugal
Russia
Spain
9
17
5
7
2
+
+
+
3
3
126
2
10
22
3
11
1
-
400
236
235
472
280
477
436
153
227
148
119
40
18
11
7
12
23
24
41
20
6
12
1
2
6
373
202
95
130
195
148
119
312
199
199
120
92
91
55
51
85
152
89
28
25
23
7
7
12
12
25
27
49
11
3
+
5
-
7
26
-
241
1200
1219
808
1345
64
70
2
5
1
6
4
3
1
UK (E.
& W. &
N.I.)
161
114
93
69
56
131
8
23
26
103
25
90
23
20
32
22
4
2
2
3
UK
(Scotland)
UK
Total
10
1023
1973
1600
1298
1886
549
1349
1596
1176
1097
661
1031
775
962
660
659
572
334
115
102
75
62
58
62
94
97
61
98
23
14
15
221
437
187
284
254
265
758
829
714
322
236
370
210
706
341
389
286
176
67
57
45
43
29
26
41
47.8
23
37
11
9

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
prepararion.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, ICES
97
Rockall Cod

There is no assessment for this stock. Some indicators are presented below.
Figure5.3.8.2
CodinDivisionVIb.Landings,effort,andlpue(kghr1)fromtheIrishottertrawlfleet.
Figure5.3.8.3
CodinDivisionVIb.Landings,effort,andlpue(kgkWday1)fromtheScottishTR1fleet.
98
Rockall Cod
West of Scotland, North Sea and Skagerrak

Haddock
(Division VIa Subarea IV and Division IIIa)

West of Scotland haddock is now considered by ICES to be part of a wider
Northern Shelf Stock which includes haddock in the North Sea and
Skagerrak. ICES catch advice is for the combined (VIa, IV and IIIa) haddock
stock. The ICES advice, based on the MSY approach, is that catches should
be no more than 74,854 t. FEAS agrees with this advice. FEAS notes that
this stock will be subject to the Landing Obligation in 2016 in both the west
of Scotland and the North Sea.
At this stage it is not possible to determine what the corresponding Irish
quota will be as the basis of allocating of fishing opportunities from the combined stock has not been
agreed and is subject to EU Norway negotiations. Furthermore, no method to determine the level
of quota uplift has been agreed. As yet, there is no scientific basis to distribute fishing opportunities
between the two management areas. FEAS advises that an approach similar to that of megrim in
VIa and IVa be considered as this protects relative stability.
Previously, TAC setting for VIa and IVa/IIIa haddock was based on two separate management plans
with the North Sea component under an agreed EU-Norway plan. A new management plan
therefore needs to be developed that considers the merging of the IV/IIIa component with VIa.
Effective technical measures should be introduced to reduce discards rates in the TR2 fleet. FEAS
agree with this advice.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 data-rich stocks with full analytical assessments. Fishing
mortality is below Fmsy and SSB is above MSY Btrigger , recent recruitment is higher than the recent
poor recruitment years, but is still below the long term average.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The current management plan for VIa haddock is now obsolete

given the merging of haddock in VIa with IV and IIIa. A new
IRE 743 t
management plan needs to be developed and this will require
BEL 5 t
cooperation with Norway.
GER 6 t
EU has adopted a long-term plan for cod stocks and the fisheries
FRA 250 t
exploiting those stocks Council Regulation (EC) 1342/2008. This
continues to have a large impact on fleets catching haddock in VIa.
UK 3532 t
The 2015 TAC allocated to this stock in VIa and VIb was 4,536 t,
with an Irish quota of 743 t.
A conservation credits scheme (see ICES summary) has been in place in Scotland since January 2007.
99
West of Scotland Haddock
ICES ADVICE 6.3.10 Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West (North
Sea, West of Scotland, Skagerrak)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 74 854 tonnes. If this stock
is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average (20122014), this implies
landings of no more than 61 930 tonnes.
Fishing mortality (F) has been below FMSY since 2008 and spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has been above MSY Btrigger
since 2008. Recruitment is characterized by occasional large year classes, the last of which was the strong 1999 year class.
The 2014 recruitment estimate is higher than recent poor recruitment years, but is still below the long-term average.
Figure6.3.10.1 HaddockinSubareaIVandDivisionsVIaandIIIaWest.Summaryofstockassessment(weightsinthousandtonnes),
lastyearsrecruitmentestimateisshaded.

Table 6.3.10.1
Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
2013
2014
2013
FMSY
Appropriate
Fpa,
Flim
FMGT
Below possible
reference points
Not applicable
2014
2015
MSY
Btrigger
Above trigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Full reproductive
capacity
Not applicable
100
Catchoptions
Table 6.3.10.2 Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 24 (2015)
0.233
ICES (2015a)
Assessment model forecast
SSB (2016)
121964 t
ICES (2015a)
Short term forecast (STF)
Rage0 (20152016)
1207 million
ICES (2015a)
Assessment model forecast
Total catch (2015)
39939 t
ICES (2015a)
STF
Commercial landings
32581 t
ICES (2015a)
STF, Relative contribution to total catch = average 20122014
(2015)
Discards (2015)
7358 t
ICES (2015a)
Industrial bycatch (2015)
0t
ICES (2015a)
Table 6.3.10.3 Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. The catch options. All weights in thousand tonnes.
Rationale
Total
catch
2016
Wante
d
catch*
2016
Unwante
d catch*
2016
IBC**
2016
Basis
MSY
approach
74.854
61.930
12.924
0.000
0.000
Previous
managem
ent
strategy
^^
61.233
50.691
10.543
Total F
2016
F(want
ed)
2016
F(unwa
nted)
2016
F(IBC)
2016
FMSY
0.370
0.308
0.062
0.000
FMGT
from
previous
MS
0.300
0.249
0.051
0.000
%
SSB
chan
ge**
*
%
TAC
Change
wanted
catch^
195.868
61
30
209.606
72
SSB
2017
No HC
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
271.864
123
fishery
0.75
36.862
30.580
6.282
0.000
0.175
0.145
0.029
0.000
234.189
92
F(2015)
49.784
41.331
8.453
0.000
F(2015)
0.233
0.194
0.039
0.000
220.888
81
1.25
59.531
49.286
10.245
0.000
0.291
0.242
0.049
0.000
211.324
73
F(2015)
15%
Other
48.990
40.588
8.402
0.000
TAC
0.237
0.197
0.040
0.000
221.955
82
options
decrease
Rollover
57.669
47.751
9.918
0.000
0.282
0.234
0.048
0.000
213.197
75
TAC
15%
66.347
54.914
11.434
0.000
TAC
0.326
0.271
0.055
0.000
204.439
68
increase
Mixed-fisheries options minor differences with calculation above can occur because of the different methodology used (ICES, 2015b).
Maximum
102.907
A
0.55
164.911
35
Minimum
23.760
B
0.11
243.610
100
Cod
42.903
C
0.20
224.129
84
SQ effort
51.330
D
0.24
215.637
77
Value
60.086
E
0.29
206.868
70
Effort_Mgt
40.751
F
0.19
226.307
86
IBC only
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
-100
-36
-13
3
-15
0
15
* Wanted and unwanted catch are used to described fish that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the EU landing
obligation based on discard rates estimates for 20122014.
** Industrial bycatch (IBC) also based on average proportion of the total catch for 20122014.
^ Wanted catch 2016 relative to the combined TACs 2015 (TAC IV = 40.711; TAC IIIa = 2.504; TAC VIa = 4.536; Total = 47.751).
^^ EUNorway management strategy for Subarea IV and Division IIIa-West applied to whole stock area.
Mixed-fisheries assumptions
(note:fleets stock share is used to describe the share of the fishing opportunities for each particular fleet, which has been
calculated based on the single-stock advice for 2016 and the historical proportion of the stock landings taken by the fleet):
A. Maximum scenario: Each fleet stops fishing when its last stock share is exhausted.
B. Minimum scenario: Each fleet stops fishing when its first stock share is exhausted.
C. Cod scenario: Each fleet stops fishing when its cod stock share is exhausted.
D. SQ (status quo) effort scenario: The effort of each fleet in 2015 and 2016 is as in 2014.
E. Value scenario: The effort of each fleet is equal to the weighted average of the efforts required to catch the fleets quota share of
each of the stocks, where the weights are the relative catch values of each stock in the fleets portfolio.
F. Effort management scenario: Effort reductions according to cod and flatfish management plans.
101
Basisoftheadvice
Table 6.3.10.4 Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach
Management plan
There is currently no agreed management plan for haddock for the stock area.
The overall reporting of catch data provided to ICES has improved during 20122014 through such aspects as the fully
documented fisheries (FDF) programme and increased coverage by the Scottish industry/science observer sampling
scheme.
The assessment is based on the North Sea (Subarea IV and Division IIIaW) survey indices which are considered to be
sufficiently representative of the whole stock. No combined survey index for the whole area is available. Some of the
differences from the previous assessment are due to changes in the estimates of natural mortality used in the assessment
(ICES, 2014a).
Figure 6.3.10.2 Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment
estimates included). Horizontal lines show FMSY (solid), Blim (dashed), and the MSY Btrigger (dotted).
This is the second year in which advice has been provided for the haddock stock in Subarea IV, Division IIIaW, and
Division VIa. Up to and including 2013, separate advice was provided for haddock in the North Sea and Skagerrak
(Subarea IV and Division IIIaW) and West of Scotland (Division VIa). For this reason the EUNorway management
strategy is no longer considered appropriate.
Results from a North Sea mixed-fisheries analysis are presented in ICES (2015c). Assuming fishing patterns and
catchability in 2015 and 2016 are unchanged from those in 2014, and in the case of a strictly implemented discard ban,
North Sea whiting and Nephrops FU 6 (if it was managed with an own TAC for the FU) would be the most limiting stocks,
constraining 46% and 34% of the 2014 effort, respectively. Results for the haddock stock are also included as additional
rows in the catch options table of this advice sheet.
102
Referencepoints
Table 6.3.10.5
Framework
Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY
approach
Precautionary
approach
Previous IV
and IIIaW
management
strategy
88000 t
MSY Btrigger
FMSY
0.37
Bpa
ICES (2014b)
Estimated by application of EqSIM evaluation.
ICES (2014b)
Blim
63000 t
Segmented regression changepoint estimate.
ICES (2014c)
Bpa
88000 t
Bpa ~ 1.4 Blim.
ICES (2014c)
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
0.3
FMGT
SSBMGT
100000 t, 140000 t
Management strategy evaluation.
EUNorway
management strategy
Trigger values Blim and Bpa.
EUNorway
management strategy
Table 6.3.10.6 Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data 1. (ICES, 2015d).
category
Assessment type
Age-based analytical assessment (TSA; ICES, 2015a) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast.
Input data
Commercial catches (international landings, ages from catch sampling), two survey indices: IBTS Q1,
IBTS Q3. Maturity data are assumed fixed over time and knife-edged at age 3, while natural mortality data
vary with age and over time (estimates updated ICES, 2015a).
Included in the assessment, data series from the main fleets (covering around 90% of the landings).
Indicators
None.
Other information
Last benchmarked in 2014 (ICES, 2014d), at which it was decided that the previously separate stocks in
the North Sea and Skagerrak, and West of Scotland, should be assessed as one stock. WKHAD (ICES,
2014d) also updated biological parameters and selected a new assessment model.
Working group
Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak (WGNSSK),
Working Group on Mixed Fisheries Advice (WGMIXFISH-NS).
103
The proportions reporting a greater abundance of haddock tended to be highest in the northern part of the North Sea
(including areas 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9; Figure 6.3.10.3). The highest proportion reporting a lower abundance was in the west
(area 4) while no change was most commonly reported in the south (Napier, 2014).
Figure 6.3.10.3 Cumulative time-series of index of perceptions of abundance of haddock, by area (see page 14 of Napier (2014) for an
explanation of the index).
104

Table 6.3.10.7a Haddock in Subarea IV. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. All weights in
thousand tonnes.
Predicted
Predicted
landings
catch
Agreed
Off.
Hum. Disc. Indust.
Year ICES advice
Total
corresp. to corresponding TAC
lndgs. cons. Slip. bycatch
advice
to advice ^
1987 80% of F(85)
105
140
109
108
59
4
172
1988 77% of F(86); TAC
185
185
105
105
62
171
1989 Reduce decline in SSB; TAC; protect juveniles
68
68
64
76
26
104
1990 80% of F(88); TAC
50
50
43
51
33
87
1991 70% of effort (89)
50
45
45
40
90
1992 70% of effort (89)
60
51
70
48
11
129
1993 70% of effort (89)
133
80
80
80
11
170
1994 Significant reduction in effort; mixed fishery
160
87
81
65
150
1995 Significant reduction in effort; mixed fishery
120
75
75
57
140
1996 Mixed fishery to be taken into account
120
75
76
73
154
1997 Mixed fishery to be taken into account
114
73
79
52
138
115
72
77
45
128
1999 Reduction of 10% F(9597)
100.3
72
88.6
64
64
43
111
2000 F less than Fpa
< 51.7
73.0
47
45
47
100
< 58.0
61
40
39
118
165
< 94.0
104.0
54
53
45
101
No forecast
*
52
42
42
23
76
85
48
47
17
65
92 *
66
31
48
10
57
2003 No cod catches

Mixed-fisheries considerations / F should be
2004
below Fpa
Mixed-fisheries considerations / F should be
2005
below Fpa
2006 Mixed-fisheries considerations / F < 0.3
2007 Mixed-fisheries considerations / F < 0.3
Mixed-fisheries considerations / 15% TAC
2008
reduction
Mixed-fisheries considerations / Apply
2009
management plan
Mixed-fisheries considerations / Apply
2010
management plan
2011 See scenarios
39 *
52
36
36
17
55
55.4 *
55
31
31
30
61
49.3 *,**
46
30
29
13
42
44.7 *,**
42
31
31
10
41
38 *,**
36
28
28
10
38
34
26
34
11
46
2012 Apply management plan
41.575 *,**
39
30
30
35
47.811 *,**
45.041
37 *** 39 *** 2 ***
41 ***
38.201 *
38.284
0 ***
0.065
***
68.690
2015 (November update) MSY approach
35
35
40.711
< 74.854
2016 MSY approach

* The exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries, protecting stocks outside safe biological limits.
** Including industrial bycatch.
*** Subarea IV and Division IIIaW combined.
^ Catch advice since 2015 corresponds to Subarea IV and Divisions IIIa-West and VIa.
105
39
Table 6.3.10.7b Haddock in Division IIIa West. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. All weights
in thousand tonnes.
Predicted
Predicted
ICES estimates
landings
catch
Agreed Official
Year ICES advice
Hum. Disc.
Indust.
TAC
landings
Total
cons.
Slip.
bycatch
advice
advice **
1987 Precautionary TAC
11.5
3.8
1.4
5.3
10.0
2.9
1.5
4.3
10.0
4.1
0.4
4.5
10.0
4.1
2.0
6.1
4.6
4.6
4.1
2.6
6.7
1992 TAC
4.6
4.6
4.4
4.6
9.0
4.6
2.0
2.4
4.4
10.0
1.8
2.2
4.0
If required, precautionary TAC; link to
1995
10.0
2.2
2.2
4.4
North Sea
If required, precautionary TAC; link to
1996
10.0
3.1
2.9
6.1
North Sea
1997 Combined advice with North Sea
7.0
3.4
0.6
4.0
4.7
7.0
3.8
0.3
4.0
3.4
5.4
1.4
0.3
1.7
< 1.8
4.5
1.5
0.6
2.1
< 2.0
4.0
1.9
0.2
2.1
< 3.0
6.3
4.1
0.06
4.1
3.2
1.8
0.2
n/a
1.8
Combined advice with North Sea / F
No
2004
4.9
1.4
0.1
n/a
1.4
should be below Fpa
forecast
Combined advice with North Sea / F
4.0
0.8
0.2
0
0.8
2005
should be below Fpa
2006 Combined advice with North Sea / F < 0.3
3.2
1.5
1.0
0
1.5
2007 Combined advice with North Sea / F < 0.3
3.4
1.6
0.8
0
2.5
Combined advice with North Sea / 15%
2008
2.9
2.9
1.4
0.6
0
2.0
TAC reduction
Combined advice with North Sea / Apply
2009
2.6
1.5
0.6
0
2.1
management plan
Combined advice with North Sea / Apply
2010
2.2
1.3
0.6
0
1.9
management plan
2011 See scenarios
2.1
9.9
1.7
0 11.6
2012 Apply management plan North Sea
2.095
2.5
2.6
0.7
0
3.3
2.770
2
*
*
*
*
2.438
2.355
2.1
2.3
0.1
*
2.4
68.690
2.504
2016 MSY approach
< 74.854
* Combined in Table 6.3.7.2.
** Catch advice since 2015 corresponds to Subarea IV and Divisions IIIa-West and VIa.
106
107
Table 6.3.10.7c Haddock in Division VIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. All weights in thousand tonnes.
Predicted
ICES estimates
Predicted
ICES advice/ Single-stock exploitation boundaries
catch
Agreed
Year
landings corresp.
Official landings
Disc.
from 2004 onwards *
corresp. to
TAC
Hum. cons.
Total
to advice
Slip.
advice^^^
1987 Reduce F towards Fmax
20.0
32.0
27
27.0
16.2
43.2
25.0
35.0
21
21.2
9.5
30.7
1989 80% of F(87); TAC
15.0
35.0
24
16.7
3.0
19.7
1990 80% of F(88); TAC
14.0
24.0
13
10.1
5.4
15.5
1991 70% of effort (89)
15.2
10
10.6
8.7
19.2
1992 70% of effort (89)
12.5
7
11.4 **
9.3 **
20.5 **
1993 70% of effort (89)
17.6
13
19.1 **
16.8 **
35.9 **
16.0
9
14.2 **
11.1 **
25.3 **
21.0
13
12.4
8.6
20.9
22.9
13
13.5
11.4
24.8
20.0
13
12.9
6.5
19.3
20.8 ***
25.7
14
14.4
5.5
19.9
1999 F reduced to Fpa
14.3 ***
19.0
11
10.5
4.9
15.3
2000 Maintain F below Fpa
< 14.9 ***
19.0
7
7.0
7.9
14.9
< 11.2 ***
13.9
7
687
6.6
13.4
< 14.1 ***
14.1
7
7.1
8.9
16.0
2003 No cod catches
8.7
4.9
5.3
4.1
9.4
2004 Fpa*
12.2
6.5
3.0
3.9
3.7
7.6
2005 Fpa*
7.6
7.6
3.2
3.8
2.9
6.7
2006 0.7 Fpa*
8.0
7.81
5.7
6.3
4.6
10.9
2007 0.87 Fpa*
7.2
7.2
3.7
3.8
4.0
7.7
2008 SSB >Bpa*
4.2
6.12
2.8
2.8
1.2
4.1
2009 No fishing and recovery plan*
0
3.52
2.8
2.9
1.6
4.5
2010 No fishing and recovery plan
0
2.67
2.9
3.0
2.8
5.8
2011 See scenarios
0
2.005
1.7
1.7
1.5
3.3
2012 MSY framework ^^
5.6 ^
6.015
5.0
5.1
0.5
5.6
2013 MSY framework
3.1
4.211
4.7
4.6
1.0
5.6
2014 MSY approach
6.432 ^^
3.988
4.0
4.0
0.8
4.8
68.690
4.536
2016 MSY approach
< 74.854
* Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries, protecting stocks outside safe biological limits.
** Adjusted for misreporting.
*** For Division VIa only.
^ An error in this advice was detected in 2012 (the previous value of 10.2 thousand tonnes was incorrect).
^^ This value (6.432) refers to total catch, including discards. Therefore, it is not directly comparable to the value advised for 2013 (3.1), which referred only to landings.
^^^ Catch advice since 2015 corresponds to Subarea IV and Divisions IIIa-West and VIa.

Table 6.3.10.8
Catch (2014)
46.298 kt
Table 6.3.10.9
Division IIIa
Country
DE
DK
NL
NO
PT
SE
UK
Subarea IV
Country
BE
DE
DK
ES
FO
FR
GL
IE
IS
NL
NO
PL
PT
SE
UK
Division VIa
Country
DE
ES
FO
FR
IE
NO
UK
Northern Shelf
Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Industrial
Landings
Discards
bycatch
96% demersal trawl and seine
2% trawl 7099 mm
2% others
>100 mm
5.090 kt discards
0.065 kt
41.143 kt
Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. History of commercial catch and landings; both the
official and ICES estimated values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights
in tonnes.
2006
186
1001
0
113
30
246
0
2007
206
1054
0
152
37
278
0
2008
2009
105
1263
0
121
0
166
0
2010
87
1052
0
170
0
276
0
2006
106
726
759
0
4
444
5
0
0
33
1798
8
76
100
32390
2007
178
727
645
0
0
498
8
0
0
55
1706
8
0
130
26717
2008
112
393
501
0
3
448
0
0
0
29
1482
16
0
83
27365
2009
108
657
552
0
32
135
4
0
0
24
1278
0
0
141
28393
2010
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
7
44
1
291
526
17
4947
2006
Official
landings
ICES landings
ICES discards
ICES IBC
ICES total catch
TAC IV
TAC IIIa
TAC VIa
Total TAC
0
5
2
211
759
16
2780
2007
1
10
0
151
879
28
1776
2008
0
21
0
136
297
18
2380
2009
65
1139
1
81
0
126
0
78
634
725
0
5
276
0
0
0
41
1126
0
0
90
24983
1
28
0
89
396
9
2415
2010
2011
102
1661
0
125
0
198
0
2012
120
1916
0
239
0
210
0
2013
90
1456
5
223
0
217
3
2014
114
1763
6
81
0
219
0
2011
106
575
697
0
0
320
0
0
0
71
1195
0
0
128
23343
2012
2013
78
677
1283
0
0
177
0
0
0
172
1661
0
0
113
32993
2014
2011
2012
2013
2014
0
36
0
73
290
4
1364
2011
78
548
947
0
0
175
0
0
0
191
1069
0
0
103
0
0
15
0
32
845
0
0
2012
0
0
0
51
746
6
3878
2013
43858
36172
34862
35831
32308
30288
6488
43830
43334
23094
535
66962
51850
3189
7810
62849
34672
32651
48
67371
54640
3360
7200
65200
33058
14503
199
47759
46444
2856
6120
55420
35590
12326
52
47968
42110
2590
3520
48220
31940
13071
431
45442
35794
2201
2670
40665
36570
13067
24
49661
34057
2100
2005
38162
38162
5032
1
43195
39000
2095
6015
47110
43681
3038
54
46772
45041
2770
4211
52022
98
677
1079
0
0
209
0
0
0
99
2705
0
0
154
29758
0
19
0
67
653
15
3230
2014
40945
41143
5090
65
46298
40711
2504
4536
47751
108

Table 6.3.10.10 Haddock in Subarea IV and Divisions VIa and IIIa West. Assessment summary (weights in tonnes).
Recruitment
Year
Age 0
High
Low
thousands
SSB
High
Low
tonnes
Landings
Discards
Industrial
Mean F
bycatch
Ages (24)
High
Low
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
1972
9850450
14487250
9850450
296040
361620
230460
233290
144366
29585
0.828
0.974
0.682
1973
31957960
40635280
31957960
265670
313190
218150
206810
126105
11267
0.752
0.898
0.606
1974
77446140
104989420
77446140
324960
387200
262720
167410
181802
47505
0.725
0.871
0.579
1975
5240370
8691050
5240370
157180
181720
132640
159640
293321
41487
0.816
0.982
0.65
1976
5644780
10425940
5644780
186530
224810
148250
181760
169776
48163
0.814
0.986
0.642
1977
14401250
19451670
14401250
362170
459610
264730
155750
48732
35022
0.824
1.006
0.642
1978
31438050
36747350
31438050
154460
192820
116100
102220
32860
10903
0.872
1.05
0.694
1979
63843850
75659330
63843850
92180
115980
68380
97390
35054
16240
0.901
1.079
0.723
1980
11995690
14766290
11995690
101750
125390
78110
110830
68831
22472
0.826
0.982
0.67
1981
20178410
23971590
20178410
190770
219410
162130
147670
61683
17041
0.674
0.8
0.548
1982
11801110
14068570
11801110
407480
458320
356640
195360
41297
19383
0.595
0.699
0.491
1983
35114880
39936460
35114880
264260
296740
231780
187960
51584
12898
0.719
0.839
0.599
1984
8472810
10282330
8472810
224760
255060
194460
157630
79012
10080
0.833
0.967
0.699
1985
12378730
14731850
12378730
156530
175330
137730
182550
58373
5998
0.807
0.939
0.675
1986
22601880
25640360
22601880
248670
282610
214730
184520
36063
2643
0.841
0.975
0.707
1987
1932260
3090120
1932260
152430
173850
131010
133890
55674
4410
0.903
1.047
0.759
1988
2501900
5378900
2501900
120750
139530
101970
124800
49833
4002
0.926
1.076
0.776
1989
3301230
4636170
3301230
173600
197740
149460
91930
32453
2410
0.94
1.092
0.788
1990
11247700
12871020
11247700
78690
91450
65930
61190
22548
2589
0.908
1.058
0.758
1991
12444430
14275350
12444430
50330
59050
41610
54730
36610
5386
0.938
1.094
0.782
1992
17575500
20462400
17575500
49490
56530
42450
80480
42477
10927
0.869
0.999
0.739
1993
5366240
6472320
5366240
110520
125820
95220
97870
70748
10766
0.955
1.093
0.817
1994
21074800
23961260
21074800
131330
153630
109030
94710
70668
3576
0.916
1.054
0.778
1995
5864840
6878100
5864840
176340
202920
149760
89580
71262
7695
0.841
0.973
0.709
1996
7716400
9137200
7716400
114660
129060
100260
92420
107207
5000
0.834
0.964
0.704
1997
4231180
5095160
4231180
242200
273860
210540
95340
67879
6684
0.711
0.831
0.591
1998
3156890
3822630
3156890
165760
187640
143880
95390
61399
5101
0.771
0.903
0.639
1999
49738050
56588790
49738050
128010
147670
108350
75870
43562
3835
0.887
1.035
0.739
2000
9566690
10785010
9566690
77330
90990
63670
54360
64185
8134
0.9
1.054
0.746
2001
907690
1806530
907690
51980
60180
43780
47380
117882
7879
0.646
0.766
0.526
2002
1396200
1647060
1396200
496780
559320
434240
64780
86051
3717
0.427
0.515
0.339
2003
1358990
1974150
1358990
416060
463100
369020
46990
25975
1150
0.286
0.348
0.224
2004
1427250
1696110
1427250
271350
305830
236870
51760
20020
554
0.29
0.354
0.226
2005
15115250
17055450
15115250
189090
220030
158150
51440
12389
168
0.364
0.44
0.288
2006
2950210
3320030
2950210
117390
142470
92310
43190
23094
535
0.525
0.625
0.425
2007
2007210
2269430
2007210
79630
101490
57770
34570
32651
48
0.474
0.568
0.38
2008
1482790
1701250
1482790
222290
253450
191130
30750
14503
199
0.321
0.391
0.251
2009
10478090
11726630
10478090
163340
186320
140360
34610
12326
52
0.242
0.296
0.188
2010
1117440
1395340
1117440
147200
167620
126780
31460
13071
431
0.245
0.301
0.189
2011
506610
644650
506610
111240
127760
94720
36390
13067
24
0.286
0.352
0.22
2012
1417660
1679340
1417660
281000
316100
245900
37620
5032
0.203
0.255
0.151
2013
660910
1021930
660910
225250
255750
194750
43630
3305
54
0.184
0.234
0.134
2014
4992530
9385290
4992530
155910
181570
130250
39760
5090
65
0.241
0.315
0.167
2015
1207230
2515010
1207230
145650
175570
115730
Average
12843421
15858577
12843421
188159
218093
158225
100179
60694
9909
0.793
0.55
109
0.671

ICES. 2014a. Interim Report of the Working Group on Multispecies Assessment Methods (WGSAM), 2024 October
2014, London, UK. ICES CM 2014/SSGSUE:11. 104 pp.
ICES. 2014b. Report of the Joint ICESMYFISH Workshop to consider the basis for FMSY ranges for all stocks
(WKMSYREF3), 1721 November 2014, Charlottenlund, Denmark. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:64. 147 pp.
ICES. 2014c. Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak
(WGNSSK), 30 April7 May 2014. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:13.
ICES. 2014d. Report of the ICES Benchmark Workshop for Northern Haddock Stocks (WKHAD), FebruaryMarch
2014, Aberdeen and Copenhagen. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:41.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak
(WGNSSK), 28 April7 May 2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:13.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group on Mixed-Fisheries Advice for the North Sea (WGMIXFISH-Advice), 25
29 May 2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:22.
ICES. 2015c. Mixed-fisheries advice for Subarea IV (North Sea) and Divisions IIIa North (Skagerrak) and VIId
(Eastern Channel). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 6, Section 6.2.2.2.
ICES. 2015d. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
Napier, I. R. 2014. Fishers North Sea stock survey 2014. NAFC Marine Centre, Shetland, Scotland. http://nsss.eu.
110
Rockall Haddock
(Division VIb)

The ICES advice, based on the MSY approach is that catches should be no
more than 3,932 t in 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that
this stock will be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. Until such time
that the approach for quota uplift is decided upon, it is not possible to
determine what the TAC and resultant Irish quota will be in 2016.
This stock falls into category 1 for data-rich stocks with full analytical
assessments. FEAS notes that this stock has suffered from extremely low
recruitment in recent years, but recruitment since 2013 has improved.
Spawning-stock biomass has increased from the lowest observed in 2014 and is estimated to be
above MSY Btrigger however fishing mortality is above Fmsy. FEAS advises that measures should be
introduced to reduce catches of small haddock and to protect the incoming recruitment.
Part of the fishery lies in international waters where catches are unregulated. FEAS notes that
attempts have been made to develop a joint EC-Russian Federation management which would
require all nationalities to adhere to the agreed TAC, but this has not yet been agreed.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Since 2004 an autonomous TAC has been set for EU fleets operating
in Divisions VIb, and Sub areas XII and XIV.
The 2015 TAC was 2,580 t. The associated Irish quota was 203 t.
Part of Division VIb falls (since 1999) within international waters
fished by non EU vessels (mainly Russian) which are not subject to a
TAC. This allows for an unregulated fishery in the Rockall area.
Following the NEAFC agreement in March 2001, NEAFC has
maintained an area closure to all fishing (except long-lining) in the SW
corner of the Rockall Bank. Data are inadequate to fully evaluate the
impact of this measure on the stock status.
IRE 203 t
BEL 6 t
GER 7 t
FRA 285 t
UK 2079 t
ICES ADVICE 5.3.14 Haddock in Division VIb (Rockall)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 3932 tonnes. If this stock
is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of the recent nine years
(20062014), this implies landings of no more than 3225 tonnes.
The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has increased from the lowest observed in 2014 and is estimated to be above MSY
Btrigger in 2015. Fishing mortality (F) has declined over time but increased to above the FMSY and Fpa in 2014.
Recruitment during 20082012 is estimated to be extremely weak. Recruitment has improved since then but is still
lower than the values estimated at the beginning of the time-series.
111
Rockall Haddock
Figure5.3.14.1 HaddockinDivisionVIb.Summaryofstockassessment(weightsinthousandtonnes).

Table 5.3.14.1
Haddock in Division VIb. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
2012
Fishing pressure
2013
2014
FMSY
Above
Fpa, Flim
Increased risk
Management plan
FMGT
2013
Stock size
2014
MSY Btrigger
Not applicable
2015
Above trigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Fullreproductivecapacity
-
Not applicable
112
Rockall Haddock
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.14.2 Haddock in Division VIb. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 25 (2015)
0.21
ICES (2015a)
Total catch constraint
SSB (2016)
17098
ICES (2015a)
Rage 1 (2015)
14377
ICES (2015a)
RCT3 estimate
Rage 1 (2016)
10545
ICES (2015a)
Rank of 25% percentile of the recruitment time-series
Catch (2015)
4052
ICES (2015a)
Landings (2015)
2988
ICES (2015a)
EU TAC 2580 t + estimated Russian catch 408 t
EU discards, based on mean discard rate-at-age for the
Discards (2015)
1064
ICES (2015a)
period 20062014
Table 5.3.14.3
Rationale
MSY approach
Precautionary
approach
Proposed
management
strategy
Zero catch
Haddock in Division VIb. The catch options. Weights in tonnes.
3932
3225
707
FMSY
0.20
F
%TAC
unwanted SSB
%SSB
change
catch* (2017) change**
***
(2016)
+5%
+8%
0.14
0.06 17871
7013
5740
1273
Fpa = 0.4
0.40
0.29
0.11
14294
16%
+92%
4007
3287
720
FHCR^
0.21
0.15
0.06
17779
+4%
+10%
Catch
(2016)
Wanted
catch*
(2016)
Unwanted
catch*
(2016)
F total
(2016)
Basis
F wanted
catch*
(2016)
+32% 100%
F=0
0.00
0.00
0.00 22496
15% catch advice
+6%
+1%
3664
3006
658
0.18
0.13
0.05 18181
change^^
Stable catch
+2% +18%
4310
3534
776
0.22
0.16
0.06 17426
advice^^
Other options
+2% +18%
4312
3536
776 average F20102014
0.22
0.16
0.06 17424
+15% catch advice
2% +36%
4956
4063
893
0.26
0.19
0.07 16673
change^^
* Wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation. The unwanted catch
refers to the component that was previously discarded (ICES, 2015b). The split into wanted and unwanted catch is based on the
average ratio (at age) of discards to catches over the period 20062014.
*** Wanted catch in 2016 relative to the EU 2015 + Russian catches in 2015.
^ FHCR derived from a two-step process: F = 0.2 followed by the TAC constraint, where the TAC2016 = TACF=0.2 + 0.2 (TAC2015
TACF=0.2). To calculate the catch option of the proposed management strategy, ICES uses the advised catches for 2015 as the
TAC2015; therefore, the formula for TAC2016 corresponds to catches of 3932 + 0.2 x (4310 3932) = 4007 t.
^^ Relative to the ICES catch advice for this stock given in 2014 for 2015.
0
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.14.4 Haddock in Division VIb. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach
There is no agreed management plan for haddock in this area. A management strategy is under
consideration and not yet adopted. The strategy was evaluated by ICES in 2013 (ICES, 2013). ICES
Management plan
concluded that a maximum F value of 0.2 in the HCR was required to ensure consistency with the
precautionary approach under low recruitment conditions.
113
Rockall Haddock
The current assessment is consistent with last years, but the final estimate of fishing mortality is very uncertain. The
number of sampled discard trips in the last years has been very low. Haddock at age 3 years and older are rare in
samples because the year classes were very weak. This also increases the uncertainty in F. Therefore, in the catch
options five-year average values were used and a catch constraint applied in the intermediate year (2015). The catch
constraint value is close to the ICES advice for 2015.
Figure 5.3.14.2 Haddock in Division VIb. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
A discards ban has been in place in the NEAFC regulatory area since 2009.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.14.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Precautionary
approach
Management
plan
Haddock in Division VIb. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
point
MSY Btrigger
9000 t Bpa.
FMSY
0.2 Based on stochastic simulations (ICES, 2013).
Blim = Bloss, the lowest observed spawning stock
Blim
6000 t
estimated in previous assessments.
Bpa = Blim 1.5. This is considered to be the minimum
SSB required to obtain a high probability of maintaining
Bpa
9000 t
SSB above Blim, taking into account the uncertainty of
assessments.
Flim
Not defined. Not defined due to uninformative stock recruitment data.
This F is adopted by analogy with other haddock stocks
Fpa
0.4 as the F that provides a small probability that SSB will
fall below Bpa in the long term.
Not defined.
SSBMGT
FMGT
Not defined.
Source
ICES (2010)
ICES (2014)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
Table 5.3.14.6 Haddock in Division VIb. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
1 (ICES, 2015b).
category
Assessment type
Analytical age-based assessment (XSA) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast.
Input data
Commercial catches (international landings, ages and length frequencies from catch and landing
samplings); one survey index (Rock-WIBTS-Q3); fixed maturity ogive (knife-edge at age 3), fixed
natural mortality (0.2).
Discards were included in the assessment, based on the main fleets.
Indicators
Russian trawl-acoustic survey and the trawl survey-based assessment, statistical catch-at-age analysis
(StatCam analytical model).
Other information
None.
Working group
Since 2014, there has been effort to improve coverage by the Scottish industry/science observer sampling scheme in
Subareas IV and VI. The sampling coverage now is more likely to reflect fishing patterns.
114
Rockall Haddock

Table 5.3.14.7
Haddock in Division VIb. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. Weights in
thousand tonnes.
Predicted
ICES advice
Predicted catch
landings
Official
ICES
Year
Single-stock exploitation
Agreed TAC
Discards
corresp.to advice corresp. to
landings
landings
boundaries from 2004 onwards
advice
10.0
8.0
8.4
n/a
10.0
7.6
7.9
n/a
1989 Status quo F; TAC
18.0
6.6
6.7
n/a
5.5
8.2
3.9
n/a
5.5
5.9
5.7
13.23
3.8
4.5
5.3
11.87
1993 80% of F(91)
3.0
4.1
4.8
9.85
1994 If required, precautionary TAC
3.7
5.7*
11.02
5.1**
5.5
5.6
9.17
1996 No long-term gains in increasing F
6.9**
6.8
7.1
9.36
1997 No advice given
4.9**
5.2
5.2
5.89
4.9
5.1
4.5
10.86
3.8
6.0
5.1
11.06
< 3.5
5.7***
5.3^
6.61
< 2.7
2.3***
2.0^
1.54
2002 Reduce F below 0.2
< 1.3
3.0
3.3
4.15
6.1
6.2
5.52
2004 Lowest possible catch ^^
0.702^^^
6.3
6.4
0.88
0.702^^^
5.2
5.2
0.51
0.597^^^
2.8
2.8
0.39
< 7.11
4.615^^^
3.3
3.3
2.24
2007 Reduce F below Fpa ^^
2008 Keep F below Fpa ^^
< 10.6
6.916^^^
4.2
4.2
2.10
No long-term gains in increasing F
2009
< 4.3
5.879^^^
3.8
3.8
1.56
^^
No long-term gains in increasing F
2010
< 3.3
4.997^^^
3.4
3.4
0.31
^^
2011 See scenarios
3.748^^^
1.9
1.9
0.15
2012 MSY approach
< 3.3
3.300^^^
0.7
0.7
0.02
No directed fisheries, minimize
2013
0
0
0.99^^^
0.8
0.8
1.1
bycatch and discards
2014 MSY approach
< 1.62
< 0.98
1.21^^^
1.7
1.7
0.3
2015 MSY approach
< 4.31
< 2.93
2.580^^^
2016 MSY approach
3.932
3.225#
* Including misreporting.
** Landings at status quo F.
*** Incomplete data.
^ Discards are not taken into account for the assessment, and data of the Russian fleet that lands the whole catch were adjusted to
exclude fish below MLS of 30 cm.
^^^ Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries, protecting stocks
outside safe biological limits.
^^^ Agreed EU TAC for Division VIb and Subareas XII and XIV.
n/a = Not available.
#
Wanted catch.

Table 5.3.14.8 Haddock in Division VIb. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
98% trawl
2% longline
1949 t
274 t (16% by weight and 48% by numbers), all trawl
1675 t
115
Rockall Haddock
+
167
-
747
895
704
1021
824
357
206
169
19
105
41
24
24
40
61
152
70
49
60
32
33
123
4
-
458
2154
630
1630
4237
5844
4708
2154
1
22
21
25
47
51
7
19
5
293
165
561
288
36
56
-
2007
338
84
1282
2008
16
721
36
1669
2009
16
352
71
55
2010
42
169
65
198
2011
<1
123
40
1
4
388
--
2012
53
31
48
2013
-105
121
2014*
1
2
95
38
* Preliminary.
** Included in Division VIa.
*** Includes UK England, Wales, and N. Ireland landings.
^ Includes the total Russian catch.
^^ Non-official.
n/a = not available.
116
ICES
landings
estimate
-**
5
2
1
-
Unalloca
ted catch
n/a
n/a
2
Total
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
UK
(Scot.)
UK
(E,W&N
I)
Spain
Russian
Federatio
n
Portugal
Norway
Ireland
France
Iceland
Haddock in Division VIb. History of commercial catch and landings; both the official and ICES estimated values
are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery.
Faroe
Islands
Year
Table 5.3.14.9
5753
4114
3768
3970
2470
1205
11453
1607
411***
332***
440***
1643**
*
1779**
*
2951**
*
2931**
*
1738**
*
577***
596
1152
6818
5220
5098
5990
5688
2315
3037
6148
6306
5178
2765
543
591
599
851
357
279
299
94^^
139^^
1
0
6275
4629
4499
5139
5331^
2036^
3336^
6242^
6445
5179
2765
3349
3349
4221
4221
3445
3445
3405
3405
1903
1903
710
826
1675
0
0
0
710
826
1675
Rockall Haddock

Table 5.3.14.10 Haddock in Division VIb. Assessment summary.
Year
Recruitment age 1 thousands
SSB (tonnes)
Landings (tonnes)
Discards (tonnes)
110072
109691
123125
68776
61462
62546
71810
72670
48789
28303
80232
107607
49463
14220
15637
94216
10545
3179
1082
1343
414
1209
52430
25564
14377*
50599
15833
19224
20082
24440
29525
25453
21876
20918
16520
11743
6778
7126
13932
17317
17316
15168
12411
25480
16236
13837
8918
9430
5924
3763
13052
15802
5655
5320
4784
5733
5587
7075
5166
4984
5221
4558
1918
2571
5961
6400
5191
2759
3348
4205
3237
3404
1905
710
825
1675
13228
11871
9853
11023
9168
9356
5894
10862
11062
6609
1535
4152
5521
883
505
386
2242
2100
1557
306
152
16
1143
274
Mean F
Age range (25)
0.71
0.80
0.61
0.57
0.59
0.56
0.39
0.59
0.86
1.09
0.41
0.47
0.66
0.62
0.37
0.25
0.48
0.48
0.39
0.27
0.22
0.14
0.06
0.42
4091
4987
0.5008
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Average
*RCT3 estimate.

ICES. 1998. Report of the Study Group on the Precautionary Approach to Fisheries Management, 36 February 1998,
Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 1998/ACFM:10.
ICES. 2010. Haddock in Division VIb (Rockall). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2010. ICES Advice 2010,
Book 5, Section 5.4.24.
ICES. 2013. Request from NEAFC to evaluate the proposals for the harvest control components of the management
plan for Rockall haddock fisheries. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2013. ICES Advice 2013, Book 5,
Section 5.3.3.2.
ICES. 2014. Haddock in Division VIb (Rockall). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014,
Book 5, Section 5.3.9.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, Copenhagen,
Denmark. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:12.
ICES. 2015b. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
117
Rockall Haddock
West of Scotland Whiting

(Division VIa)

ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary approach that there should
be no directed fishery and by-catch should be minimized in 2016. ICES
considers that this stock has collapsed and FEAS agrees with this advice.
FEAS also notes that the landing obligation will not apply to this stock in
2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 (data-rich stocks with full analytical
assessments). Fmsy is not defined for this stock and advice is based on the
precautionary approach. Fishing mortality is well below Fpa, however, due to
continued weak recruitment SSB is below Blim.
The introduction of square mesh panels is likely to have contributed to a reduction in fishing
mortality demonstrated in the reduction of catch numbers at age in proportion to stock numbers at
age for younger fish.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers EC waters in Division Vb and Sub-areas

VI, XII and XIV.
The assessment area covers Division VIa only but landings from
IRE 79 t
other areas have been negligible in recent years.
GER 2 t
The TAC in 2015 was 263 t with an associated Irish quota of
FRA 32 t
79 t.
There are no explicit management objectives or management
UK 150 t
plans for this stock.
Whiting is taken with cod and haddock in mixed demersal
fisheries and management advice should be considered in that
context.
There are strong indications that management control is not effective in limiting the catch. The whiting catches in
2014 were nearly four times the TAC and over 80% of the catch is discarded.
Effort reductions as part of the Cod Long Term Management Plan (EC Reg.1342/2008) have reduced catch and
discarding of whiting in this area.
ICES ADVICE
5.3.62 Whiting in Division VIa (West of Scotland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be no directed fisheries and all catches
should be minimized in 2016.
118

The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has been increasing since 2006 but remains very low compared to the historical
estimates and is below Blim. Fishing mortality (F) has declined continuously since around 2000 and is now very low.
Recruitment is estimated to have been very low since 2002. The 2009, 2011, and 2013 year classes are estimated to be
above the recent average.
Figure 5.3.62.1 Whiting in Division VIa. Observed catches and summary of stock assessment (weights in thousand tonnes).
Predicted recruitment values are not shaded.

Table 5.3.62.1
Whiting in Division VIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
14
13
14
MSY
Maximum
Undefined
FMSY
Sustainable Yield
Btrigger
Precautionary
approach
Fpa,
Flim
Management Plan
FMGT
Qualitative
evaluation
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Below possible
reference points
119
15
Undefined
Reduced
reproductive
capacity
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.62.2 Whiting in Division VIa. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
F ages 24 (2015)
0.04
ICES (2015a)
SSB (2016)
28900 t
ICES (2015a)
Rage1 (2015)
144.0 million
ICES (2015a)
Rage1 (2016)
43.6 million
ICES (2015a)
Catch (2015)
1051 t
ICES (2015a)
Landings (2015)
388 t
ICES (2015a)
Discards (2015)
663 t
ICES (2015a)
Table 5.3.62.3
Rationale
Precautionar
y approach
Notes
F (20122014)
Assessment model estimate.
GM (20052014).
Average discard rates at age of 20122014.
Whiting in Division VIa. The catch options. Weight in tonnes.

Catch
F
Wanted Unwante
total
F Total
wanted
catch*
d catch*
Basis
(2016
(2016)
catch
(2016)
(2016)
)
(2016)
0
zero catch
0.000
0.000
F
unwanted
catch
(2016)
SSB
(2017)
% TAC
change**
%
SSB
chang
e ***
0.000
26192
100%
9%
64%
28%
7%
42%
77%
112%
10%
11%
11%
12%
13%
14%
15%
11%
0%
11%
15%
12%
0.008
0.004
0.004
25968
F2015 0.2
F2015 0.4
0.017
0.008
0.009
25746
F2015 0.6
0.025
0.012
0.013
25525
F2015 0.8
0.034
0.016
0.017
25308
F2015 1.0
0.042
0.020
0.022
25092
Other options
F2015 1.2
0.051
0.024
0.026
24878
TAC
452
224
229
0.020
0.010
0.010
25663
15%
531
263
269
TAC
0.024
0.011
0.012
25570
TAC
611
302
310
0.027
0.013
0.014
25477
+ 15%
* Wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation. The
refers to the component that was previously discarded.
** Wanted catch in 2016 compared with the TAC of Subarea VI, whereas the stock area is only Division VIa.
191
381
569
756
941
1125
95
189
282
374
466
556
97
193
289
384
478
571
unwanted catch
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.62.4 Whiting in Division VIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for whiting in this area.
The assessment indicates an increasing mismatch between the survey catchability and the fishery. This may lead to
underestimation of stock size, but the magnitude of the possible underestimation is unknown. The majority of catches
have been discarded in recent years. Discard information is imprecise compared to landings data due to low sampling
levels. The mean weights-at-age in the catch have also been quite variable in recent years because of low and patchy
sampling. This implies that the catch information of recent years in the assessment is less certain.
The inclusion of the two new Scottish survey time-series increased the precision of the assessment of this stock (ICES,
2015b).
120
Figure 5.3.62.2 Whiting in Division VIa. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
The increase in mesh size, from 100 mm to 120 mm, under the emergency measures since 2010 and the introduction of
large square mesh panels in the Nephrops fishery are likely to have contributed to the observed reductions in fishing
mortality. The catch numbers-at-age expressed as the proportion of stock numbers-at-age generally show a decline after
2010, especially for whiting at age 2+.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.62.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Precautionary
approach
Management
plan
Whiting in Division VIa. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference point
Value
Technical basis
Not defined.
MSY Btrigger
FMSY
Not defined.
Blim = SSB value at the change point in the
Blim
28500 t
segmented regression stockrecruit function.
Bpa = Blim 1.4. This is considered to be the
minimum SSB required to have a high probability of
Bpa
39900 t
maintaining SSB above Blim, taking into account the
uncertainty of assessments.
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
Not defined.
SSBMGT
FMGT
Not defined.
Source
ICES (2015b)
ICES (2015b)
Table 5.3.62.6
Whiting in Division VIa. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015c).
Assessment type
Age-based analytic assessment (TSA) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast.
Commercial catches (international landings, ages and length frequencies from catch sampling);
five survey indices (ScoGFS-WIBTS-Q1, ScoGFS-WIBTS-Q4, IGFS-WIBTS-Q4, UKS-WIBTSInput data
Q1 and UKS-WIBTS-Q4); fixed maturity data from surveys; natural mortalities estimated from
mean weight-at-age (Lorenzens model (Lorenzen, 1996) using mean weight data from market
sampling and discard observations).
Included in the assessment, data series from the main fleets (covering 95% of the landings).
Indicators
None.
The stock was benchmarked in 2012 (WKROUND; ICES, 2012) and in 2015 (IBPWSRound;
Other information
ICES, 2015b).
Working group
Since 2014, effort has been made to improve coverage by the Scottish industry/science observer sampling scheme in
Subareas IV and VI. The sampling coverage now is more likely to reflect fishing patterns. The Scottish Industry
Science partnership survey was initiated in 2013 and conducted throughout 2014 to provide information on a quarterly
basis on the distribution and abundance of cod and other demersal species in Division VIa. Preliminary results from the
survey confirm the relatively high 2014 recruitment.
121

Table 5.3.62.7
Whiting in Division VIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, ICES estimates of landings and discards.
ICES
advice
/ Predicted catch
Agreed
Official
ICES
Year
Discards ICES catch
Single-stock exploitation boundaries since 2004 corresp. to advice
TAC*
landings
landings
15.0
16.4
12.4
11.5
6.9
18.4
15.0
16.4
11.9
11.4
11.8
23.1
13.0
16.4
7.7
7.5
4.1
11.6
11.0
11.0
6.0
5.6
4.4
10.0
1991 70% of effort (89)
9.0
6.9
6.7
5.3
12.0
1992 70% of effort (89)
7.5
6.0
6.0
9.4
15.4
1993 70% of effort (89)
8.7
6.8
6.9
8.5
15.4
6.8
5.8
5.9
8.9
14.8
6.8
6.3
6.1
7.6
13.7
10.0
6.6
7.2
6.9
14.1
13.0
6.2
6.3
4.9
11.2
6.5
9.0
4.7
4.6
5.8
10.5
4.3
6.3
4.7
4.6
3.1
7.7
< 4.3
4.3
3.2
3.0
6.7
9.7
< 4.2
4.0
2.5
2.4
2.4
4.9
2002 SSB >Bpa in the short term
< 2.0
3.5
1.7
1.7
2.1
3.8
2003 No cod catches
2.0
1.3
1.3
1.6
2.9
2004 SSB >Bpa in the short term **
< 2.1***
1.6
0.8
0.8
2.6
3.4
2005 Exploitation not allowed to increase
< 1.6
1.6
0.29
0.3
0.9
1.2
2006 Lowest possible level
0
1.36
0.38
0.4
0.9
1.3
0
1.02
0.48
0.5
0.3
0.8
0
0.765
0.44
0.4
0.2
0.4
0
0.574
0.49
0.5
0.4
0.9
0
0.431
0.35
0.3
0.9
1.2
2011 See scenarios
0.323
0.23
0.2
0.3
0.6
2012 Reduce catches
0.307*
0.30
0.3
0.7
1.0
2013 Lowest possible catch, improve selectivity
0
0.292*
0.21
0.2
1.0
1.2
2014 Lowest possible catch, improve selectivity
0
0.292*
0.17
0.2
0.6
0.8
2015 Lowest possible catch
0
0.263*
2016 Precautionary approach (minimize all catches)
0
* TAC is set for Divisions VIa and VIb combined.
** TAC is set for Division Vb and Subareas VI, XII, and XIV.
*** Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries, protecting stocks
outside safe biological limits.
122

Table 5.3.62.8 Whiting in Division VIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards*
93% large-meshed trawl
4% smaller-meshed trawl (TR2) 3% other gear
932 tonnes
(TR1)
1113 tonnes
(TR1 40% and TR2 58%)
181 tonnes
* All discards, including the 0-group (note that discard estimates in Tables 5.3.62.7 and 5.3.62.10 are for 1+ discards).
1
+
3
1
1
+
+
+
+
+
+
-
+
+
+
+
1
-
+
+
+
1
1
+
+
+
+
1
-
1315
977
1200
1377
1192
1213
1448
1182
977
952
1121
793
764
577
568
356
172
196
56
69
125
99
149
96
116
88
123
2
-
1
1
2
+
2
-
44
50
218
196
184
233
204
237
453
251
210
104
71
73
35
13
5
2
1
-
UK (Scot.)
UK (E W &
NI)
Spain
Norway
Netherlands
Ireland
Germany
France
199
180
352
105
149
191
362
202
108
82
300
48
52
21
11
6
9
7
1
3
1
3
4
+
1
1
6109
4819
5135
4330
5224
4149
4263
5021
4638
3369
3046
2258
1654
1064
751
444
103
178
424
-
Total
official
landings
1
+
+
+
+
1
1
+
+
-
UK (total)
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
* Preliminary.
Faroe
Islands
Denmark
Whiting in Division VIa. History of official landings by countries participating in the fishery.
Belgium
Year
Table 5.3.62.9
369
354
247
77
204
97
83
7669
6026
6908
6010
6751
5786
6278
6642
6178
4657
4677
3203
2543
1735
1365
819
289
383
484
441
482
349
230
300
215
173

Table 5.3.62.10 Whiting in Division VIa. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes).
Year
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Average
Recruit-ment
Age 1
thousands
198263
167419
196955
334852
311073
282039
399475
109995
319188
178898
242758
326997
258228
273126
284951
183386
178863
236124
170639
267631
112461
42993
69835
43821
24516
32582
20464
23123
37067
101034
32028
92017
39174
151631
143998*
168217
High
Low
236492
200678
236430
389077
356777
324131
465473
137928
362747
216951
287563
381169
305341
324068
331626
222501
225103
300908
228324
347886
151768
64099
98050
61056
33459
38342
25292
27662
42927
117626
38032
115386
59715
205290
226495*
205325
160035
134159
157481
280627
265369
239946
333476
82062
275628
140844
197953
272826
211115
222183
238275
144271
132623
171340
112954
187376
73155
21887
41620
26586
15574
26822
15636
18583
31207
84443
26025
68648
18633
97973
61502*
131110
SSB
tonnes
129883
89174
62199
46042
42582
39730
41728
42017
23911
34105
27991
30718
43124
38322
38478
41539
32872
24122
22585
17166
19862
14078
8730
6196
4139
3948
4186
4110
5278
4679
10746
10926
15380
15342
23058
29113
High
Low
144756
99069
69355
51788
47765
44267
46236
46604
27176
38146
31635
34717
49020
44422
45555
48588
38799
29951
29163
23192
26243
19033
12128
8795
5475
4513
4717
4722
6160
5373
12289
12482
18104
18661
28845
33650
115009
79279
55042
40296
37399
35192
37219
37431
20645
30064
24346
26719
37228
32222
31402
34490
26945
18294
16007
11140
13482
9123
5331
3596
2802
3383
3655
3498
4397
3986
9203
9371
12655
12023
17271
24576
Landin
gs
Discards
tonnes
12194
13880
15962
16459
12879
8458
11542
11349
7523
5642
6658
6005
6872
5901
6078
7158
6290
4627
4613
3011
2439
1767
1355
811
341
380
427
445
488
307
230
313
222
184
tonnes
2132
5485
6294
4017
4840
2669
11918
8132
5876
4530
4883
9249
4759
3455
5771
7940
5251
9216
3975
13285
4263
2851
719
2159
629
946
317
314
419
893
339
727
951
583
5377
4111
Mean F
Ages 24
High
Low
0.234
0.249
0.421
0.553
0.648
0.507
0.613
0.721
0.652
0.453
0.461
0.416
0.448
0.408
0.454
0.565
0.621
0.667
0.84
0.828
0.71
0.522
0.543
0.542
0.458
0.348
0.248
0.262
0.2
0.128
0.073
0.059
0.038
0.029
0.28
0.299
0.498
0.652
0.756
0.596
0.713
0.837
0.766
0.545
0.557
0.506
0.547
0.503
0.573
0.72
0.79
0.835
1.03
1.015
0.881
0.662
0.686
0.712
0.63
0.425
0.31
0.327
0.251
0.161
0.093
0.076
0.05
0.039
0.187
0.199
0.344
0.454
0.541
0.417
0.512
0.606
0.537
0.361
0.365
0.326
0.349
0.313
0.335
0.41
0.451
0.5
0.65
0.641
0.539
0.383
0.4
0.371
0.287
0.271
0.186
0.197
0.15
0.094
0.053
0.042
0.027
0.02
0.439
0.539
0.339
* Model estimate.

ICES. 2012. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Western Waters Roundfish (WKROUND), 2229 February 2012,
Aberdeen, UK. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:49. 283 pp.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol of West of Scotland Roundfish (IBPWSRound), FebruaryApril
2015. By correspondence. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:37. 99 pp.
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, Section 1.2.
In preparation.
Lorenzen, K. 1996. The relationship between body weight and natural mortality in juvenile and adult fish: a comparison
of natural ecosystems and aquaculture. Journal of Fish Biology, 49: 627647.
124
Rockall Whiting
(Division VIb)

should be no more than 11 t in each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
FEAS does not agree with this advice
This stock falls into ICES category 6.2.0, landings data only and there is no
indication of where F is relative to proxies and no marked positive trends
in stock indicators. As the TAC area covers both Divisions VIa and VIb,
the TAC cannot be effective in limiting catches in VIb and FEAS has no
basis on which to recommend a TAC specific to VIb.
This stock will be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. Until such time that the approach for
quota uplift is decided upon, it is not possible to determine what the TAC and resultant Irish
quota will be in 2016.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC is for the combined Divisions VIa and VIb; therefore,
the TAC cannot be effective in limiting catches in Division VIb
(Rockall).
The Division VI TAC in 2015 is 263 t, with an associated Irish
quota of 79 t.
IRE 79 t
GER 2 t
FRA 32 t
UK 150 t
ICES ADVICE 5.3.63 Whiting in Division VIb (Rockall)
ICESstockadvice
of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The available information is insufficient to evaluate the stock trends and exploitation. Landings of whiting from
Division VIb are negligible.
125
Rockall Whiting
Landings
3500
Landings
3000
2500
tonnes
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1961
1966
1971
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
2016
Figure5.3.63.1 WhitinginDivisionVIb.Officiallandingsintonnes.

Table 5.3.63.1
Whiting in Division VIb. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
2012
Fishing pressure
2013
2014
FMSY
Undefined
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
2013
MSY
Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Stock size
2014
2015
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 6 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). For stocks without information on abundance or
exploitation, ICES considers that a precautionary reduction of catches should be implemented. The precautionary buffer was
last applied in 2012.
Theperceptionofthestockhasnotchanged;therefore,theadvicegiveninthethreemostrecentyearsisstill
applicablethisyearandisdescribedinthetablebelow.
Table 5.3.63.2
Whiting in Division VIb. ICES framework for category 6 applied.
Discard
Not applied
Catch advice*
*
recent advice catch.
126
11 (tonnes)
Negligible
11 (tonnes)
Rockall Whiting
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.63.4
Whiting in Division VIb. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
Available data provides information on landings only. There is uncertainty on the accuracy of the reported
landings.
It is unlikely that there is a self-sustaining population of whiting at Rockall.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.63.6
Whiting in Division VIb. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
6.2.0. (ICES 2015a).
category
Assessment type
No assessment.
Input data
Indicators
None.
Other information
None.
Working group
scheme in Subareas IV and VI. The sampling coverage now is more likely to reflect fishing patterns.
Table 5.3.63.7
tonnes.
Whiting in Division VIb. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and official landings. Weights in
Predicted
Agreed Official
catch corresp.
TAC * landings
to advice
2001 No advice
4000
14
2002 No advice
3500
7
2003 No advice
2000
13
2004 No advice
1600
4
2005 No advice
1600
4
2006 No advice
1360
105
2007 No advice
1020
17
2008 No advice
765
31
2009 No advice
547
16
2010 No advice
431
18
2011 No advice
323
9
2012 No increase in catch
307
1
2013 20% reduction in catches (last 3-year average)
11
292
3
11
292
28
11
263
2016 Precautionary approach (same advised catch value as provided for 2015)
11
11
11
*
SubareaVI; EC waters of Division Vb; EC and international waters of Subareas XII and XIV.
Year
ICES Advice
127
Rockall Whiting

Table 5.3.63.8
Whiting in Division VIb. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
30 t
28 t
2t
Table 5.3.63.9
Year
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
*Preliminary.
Whiting in Division VIb. History of official landings for each country participating in the fishery.
Faroe
UK (E.&
UK
France
Ireland
Spain
UK (all)
Total
Islands
W, NI)
(Scotland)
16
18
34
6
482
488
1
459
460
5
283
288
32
10
86
128
10
2
68
80
4
5
53
62
23
26
36
85
3
49
65
117
1
20
23
44
+
+
44
44
+
58
58
10
4
14
7
7
2
11
13
+
3
1
4
3
1
4
104
1
105
16
1
17
23
8
31
4
12
16
2
16
18
3
6
9
1
1
+
3
3
6
22
28

There is no assessment for this stock.

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.)
ICES. 2015a. General context of ICES advice. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book
1, Section 1.2.
ICES 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, ICES Headquarters,
128
Rockall Whiting
West of Scotland and North Sea

Megrim
(Sub-areas IVa & VIa)

The advice for this stock is biennial and valid for 2016 and 2017. The ICES
advice, based on the MSY approach, is that catches in 2016 and 2017 should
be no more than 8,567 t and if discard rates do not change from the
average of the last three years this corresponds to landings of no more than
7,539 t. FEAS agrees with this advice. The Landing Obligation will not apply
to this stock in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 for data-rich stocks with full analytical
assessments. Fishing mortality is well below FMSY and biomass is well above
MSY Btrigger.
FEAS notes that there are major inconsistencies between the assessment and management area
and there is a separate ICES advice for Rockall (VIb) megrim which is part of the current TAC
area. The TACs in Sub-areas VI and IV include an additional allocation for VIb and is based on
historical TAC splits between VI and IV. FEAS supports these proposals which retain relative
stability.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are two TAC areas covering this stock: (i) Sub-areas VI,
XII, XIV and Division Vb and (ii) EU waters of IIa and IV.
Genetic studies suggest that megrim in VIa and IVa consist of a

single stock and that there is a separate stock in VIb (Rockall).
As a consequence the assessment area is incompatible with the
TAC areas.

Vb,VI,XII,XIV
IRE 535 t
FRA 1830 t
UK 1295 t
SPA 469 t
Recent reductions in effort in Scotland and Ireland are considered

to have contributed to the decline of landings in Sub-area VI. In
2009 new mesh regulations introduced in Division VIa have
increased the mesh size from 100 to 120 mm (vessels >15 m); this
has resulted in an increase in the length of first capture.
Landings in are well below the TAC. Uptake by France, who account for 44% of the TAC, is particularly
low (7%). Official landings in Sub-area IV and Division IIa in recent years are close to the TAC.
The 2015 TAC in ICES Sub-areas VI, XII, XIV and Division Vb was set at 4,129 t with an Irish quota of
535 t.
The 2015 TAC in EU waters of IIa and IV was set at 2,083 t, Ireland has no quota in this area.
129
West of Scotland and North Sea Megrim
ICES ADVICE 5.3.22
Megrim in Subarea IVa (North Sea) and VIa (West of Scotland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in each of the years 2016 and 2017 should be no
more than 8567 tonnes. If discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years (20122014), this
implies landings of no more than 7539 tonnes.
Fishing mortality has been below FMSY for almost the full time-series and has an overall declining trend since
the late 1990s. Biomass has consistently been above MSY Btrigger and has steadily increased since 2005.
Figure5.3.22.1 Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. Summary of the stock assessment. Landings and discards are in
thousandtonnes.Theavailableobserveddiscarddataisincludedintheplot.

Table 5.3.22.1
Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12 13
2014
13 14
2015
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
FMSY
Below
Fpa,
Flim
FMGT
Below possible
reference points
Not applicable
MSY Btrigger
130
Above trigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Above possible
reference points
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.22.2 Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F2015/FMSY
ICES (2015a)
F (average 20122014)
0.33
B2016/BMSY
ICES (2015a)
1.81
Catch (2015)
3019
ICES (2015a)
F (average 20122014)
Assuming discard rate of 12% in total weight of
Landings (2015)
2655
ICES (2015a)
catch (average 20122014)
Assuming discard rate of 12% in total weight of
Discards (2015)
363
ICES (2015a)
catch (average 20122014)
Table 5.3.22.3
Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. The catch options. Weights in tonnes.
Rationale
Catch Landings Discards
Basis
Fishing
Stock size Probability** of Probability**
(2016) (2016)*
(2016)*
mortality (B2017/BMSY)
Biomass2017
of Biomass2017
(F2016/FMSY)
falling below
falling below
MSY Btrigger
Blim
MSY
1
1.41
0.6%
0.2%
8567
7539
1028 FMSY
approach
Zero catch
0
0
0 F=0
0
0
0%
0%
Long-term
5666
4986
680
0.66
1.55
0.4%
0.2%
MSY
Other
7776
6843
933 TAC^+15%
0.90
1.46
0.6%
0.2%
options
6761
5950
811 TAC^
0.78
1.50
0.5%
0.2%
5747
5058
690 TAC^15%
0.66
1.54
0.4%
0.2%
* Assuming discard rate of 12% in total weight of catch (average 20122014).
** Probabilities are based on bootstrap sampling and based on a two- and three-year projection of F and B, respectively.
^ The TAC is for Subareas IV and VI and includes Division VIb, for which the advice is given separately. The value used as
TAC was 5950 tonnes, which corresponds to the 2015 TAC for Subareas IV and VI, subtracted by the ICES advice for
megrim in Division VIb given in 2014 for 2015 (262 tonnes).
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.22.4 Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach
Management plan
There is no management plan for megrim in this area.
Inaccurate and missing age data prevents the development of an age-based assessment for this stock. In order to
undertake an age-based approach in the future, depth- and sex-stratified age data from the surveys and catch
data used in the current assessment model would be required.
Due to incomplete discards data, historical discard levels (19852012) have been assumed to have declined,
from 30% at the beginning of the time-series to the current estimate of 15%. Estimates since 2013 are based on
observed discards.
The IBTS survey input data was revised in 2014; this led to a moderate revision in the trends in F/FMSY and
B/BMSY in the 2015 assessment.
131
Figure 5.3.22.2 Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. Historical assessment results.
Megrim is a bycatch species in the mixed demersal trawl in Divisions IVa and VIa, which is subject to effort
management under the EU cod management plan.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.22.5
Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. Reference points, values, and their technical basis
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
0.5BMSY= Relative value. BMSY is estimated directly from the
ICES (2015a,
MSY Btrigger
0.25K* assessment surplus production model and changes
2015b)
when the assessment is updated.
MSY
approach
1 = r/2 * Relative value. FMSY is estimated directly from the
ICES (2015a,
assessment surplus production model and changes
FMSY
2015b)
when the assessment is updated.
0.3 BMSY * Relativevalue.
Blim
ICES (2015a)
Precautionary Bpa
Not defined.
approach
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
SSBMGT
Not defined.
Management
plan
FMGT
Not defined.
* Fishing mortality is estimated only in relation to FMSY and total stock biomass is estimated only in relation to BMSY. K is the
carrying capacity and r is the intrinsic biomass growth rate.
Table 5.3.22.6 Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
1 (ICES, 2015c).
category
Bayesian statespace biomass dynamic model that uses catches in the model and in the
Assessment type
forecast.
Commercial sampling of landings and discards; six survey indices (SAMISS-Q2, IAMISS-Q2,
Input data
Sco-IBTS-Q1, ScoIBTS-Q3, ScoWIBTS-Q1 until 2010, and Sco-WIBTS-Q4 until 2010).
Discards have been included in the assessment, from bottom otter trawl fleets. Discard
estimates since 2013 are based on observed discards. Discard estimates prior to 2013 are
modelled based on limited sampling information.
Indicators
None.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked at WKFLAT (ICES, 2011) and at IBPMEG (ICES, 2012).
Working group
The two surveys used (SAMISS-Q2 and IAMISS-Q2) are fisheriesscience partnership surveys, since 2005.
Since 2014 there has been increasing coverage by the Scottish industry/science observer sampling scheme in
Divisions IVa and VIa.
132

Table 5.3.22.7
Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of
landings.
Agreed Agreed TAC
Predicted Predicted
TAC
in Div.
Official
ICES landings ICES discards
catches landings in Div. IIa Vb(EC) and landings in
Year ICES advice
** in Divisions in Divisions
and
Subareas VI, Subareas
IVa and VIa IVa and VIa
advice* advice* Subarea
XII, and IV and VI
IV
XIV
1991 No advice
4.84
4.42
3.31
1992 No advice
4.84
4.69
3.57
No long-term gain in
1993
4.84
4.79
3.80
increased F
No long-term gain in
1994
4.84
5.03
3.90
increased F
1995 No advice
4.84
5.57
4.67
1996 No advice
4.84
6.15
5.25
1997 No advice
4.84
5.94
4.86
1998 Adequate catch controls
3.0
4.84
5.42
4.25
1999 Maintain current TAC
4.84
3.0
4.84
4.44
3.76
4.84
3.0
4.84
4.50
3.49
4.84
3.0
4.36
4.38
3.57
4.36
3.0
4.36
3.27
2.80
4.36
3.0
4.36
3.01
2.37
Reduce TAC to recent
2004
3.6
1.89
3.6
2.55
2.07
landings
2005
2.3
1.74
2.88
1.92
1.55
landings
2006
2.3
1.74
2.88
2.40
2.05
landings
2007
2.1
1.48
2.88
2.60
2.35
landings
2008
1.4
1.59
2.59
3.18
2.89
landings
1.4
1.59
2.79
3.10
2.87
1.75
3.07
3.34
3.20
2011 No increase in catches
1.845
3.387
2.87
2.71
1.845
3.387
2.81
2.59
2013 MSY framework
4.7
1.937
3.387
3.01
2.73
0.327
2014 MSY approach
7.0
5.95
2.083
4.074
2.84
2.50
0.309
7.0
5.95
2.083
4.129
2016 MSY approach
8.567 7.539
Same advised values as for
2017
8.567 7.539
2016
* Before 2011 advice was given for megrim in Divisions IVa, VIa, and VIb combined.
** Landings in Divisions IVa and VIa and unallocated landings from Subarea IV. Landings in Division Vb (EC) and
Subareas XII and XIV are negligible.
133

Table 5.3.22.8
Total catch
(2014)
Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Landings
87% bottom otter trawl >100
mm
2809 t
Table 5.3.22.9
Discards
2% bottom otter trawl

< 100 mm
2500 t
11% others
309 t
Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. History of official landings by country participating in the fishery and
ICES estimated landings (weights in tonnes). Values are presented for Divisions VIa (upper table) and IVa
(lower table).
ICES
landings**
Official
Total
UK
UK
Scotland
UK Eng,
Wales &
N.Irl.
Spain
Netherlands
Ireland
France
Denmark
Belgium
Year
Division VIa
1990
0
0
398
317
0
91
25
1093
1924
1991
1
0
455
260
0
48
167
1223
2154
1992
0
0
504
317
0
25
392
887
2125
1993
0
0
517
329
0
7
298
896
2047
1994
1
0
408
304
0
1
327
866
1907
1995
0
0
618
535
0
24
322
952
2451
1996
0
0
462
460
0
22
156
944
2044
1997
0
0
192
438
1
87
123
954
1795
1998
0
0
172
433
0
111
65
841
1622
1999
0
0
0
438
0
83
42
831
1394
2000
0
0
135
417
0
98
20
754
1424
2001
0
0
252
509
0
92
7
770
1630
2002
0
0
79
280
0
89
14
643
1105
2003
0
0
92
344
0
98
13
558
1105
2004
0
0
50
278
0
45
17
469
859
2005
0
0
48
156
0
69
10
269
552
2006
0
0
53
221
0
52
0
336
662
2007
0
0
104
191
0
5
8
658
966
2008
0
0
92
172
0
149
6
868
1287
2009
0
0
134
188
0
112
953
1387
2010
0
0
270
318
0
288
822
1698
2011
0
0
139
226
0
227
705
1297
2012
0
0
140
214
0
189
589
1132
2013
0
0
104
202
0
174
469
949
2014*
0
0
127
246
0
111
464
948
* Preliminary.
** Historical landings data have been adjusted for area misreporting, mainly from Division VIa to Division IVa.
134
2210
2432
2549
2721
2693
3498
4054
3272
2705
2648
2247
2473
1828
1642
1328
561
875
1301
1545
1387
1698
1297
1132
949
948
135
ICES
landings**
1990
4
2
3
- 24
17
1126
1991
3
1
6
- 28
9
1169
1992
2
4 36
3
- 27
47
1372
1993
7
6 25
4
- 30
8
1736
1994
2
1 27
1
- 28
19
2000
1995
7
2 24
2
- 26
44
2193
1996
5
7 14
1
9
4
3221
1997
3
5 16
2
- 20
3
3091
1998
5 18 14
4
- 30
5
2628
1999
4 21
.
1
- 26
4
2121
2000
10 29
7
3
- 20
2
2044
2001
2 52
5
1
- 11
2
1854
2002
5
8
6
9
3
1675
2003
3 11 11
2
1
7 <0.5
1
1235
2004
7
9
2
- 11 <0.5
1
1130
2005
1
3
4
- 19 <0.5
1
958
2006
2
6
4
7
- 22
1
9
1340
2007
6 11 18 16
. 20
1
17
1436
2008
3 31 21
5
3
4
6
1526
2009 1.6
4
2
- 1476
2010
22
5
1
2
- 1469
2011 1.6 25
6
5
- 16
1
- 1367
2012 0.2 36
5
4
- 16
0.6
- 1397
2013 0.4 48
8
4
19
0.6
1692
2014
10 35
6
2
9
12
1477
* Preliminary.
** Historical landings data have been adjusted for area misreporting, mainly from Division VIa to Division IVa.
Official total
UK
UK Scotland
UK
N. Ireland
UK England
& Wales
UK Eng,
Wales & N.Irl.
Sweden
Spain
Norway
Netherlands
Ireland
Germany, Fed.
Rep. of
Germany
France
Denmark
Belgium
Country
Division IVa
1176
1216
1491
1816
2078
2298
3261
3140
2704
2177
2115
1927
1706
1271
1160
986
1391
1525
1599
1484
1499
1421
1458
1788
1551
837
878
1025
1081
1207
1172
1199
1584
1548
1111
1247
1098
975
727
739
n/a
1179
1047
1349
1484
1499
1421
1458
1788
1551

Table 5.3.22.10 Megrim in Divisions IVa and VIa. Assessment summary. Catches, discards, and landings are in in tonnes.
Discard estimates prior to 2013 are modelled, based on limited sampling information.
Year
B/BMSY
F/FMSY
Catches
Discards
Landings
1985
0.57
6427
1928
4499
2.61
1986
0.47
4051
1193
2858
1.75
1987
0.86
6488
1874
4614
1.57
1988
0.98
7273
2061
5212
1.60
1989
0.77
4778
1327
3451
1.24
1990
0.74
4187
1140
3047
1.11
1991
0.91
4514
1204
3310
0.98
1992
0.92
4837
1263
3574
1.05
1993
0.88
5107
1305
3802
1.18
1994
0.76
5200
1300
3900
1.41
1995
0.90
6181
1511
4670
1.43
1996
1.03
6902
1649
5253
1.43
1997
1.15
6334
1478
4856
1.14
1998
0.96
5507
1254
4253
1.16
1999
0.77
4833
1074
3759
1.28
2000
0.69
4460
966
3494
1.33
2001
0.76
4527
956
3571
1.20
2002
0.60
3528
725
2803
1.17
2003
0.54
2961
592
2369
1.07
2004
0.49
2566
499
2067
1.00
2005
0.38
1883
356
1527
0.90
2006
0.45
2515
461
2054
1.04
2007
0.46
2856
508
2348
1.18
2008
0.53
3496
602
2894
1.29
2009
0.46
3445
574
2871
1.48
2010
0.52
3811
614
3197
1.43
2011
0.44
3208
500
2708
1.43
2012
0.37
3186
478
2545
1.63
2013
0.32
3064
327
2737
1.95
2014
0.30
2809
309
2500
1.84

ICES. 2012. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol for Megrim in Subarea IV and Division IVa (IBPMeg), 2
6 April 2012, by correspondence. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:67. 23 pp.
ICES. 2015b. EU request to ICES to provide FMSY ranges for selected North Sea and Baltic Sea stocks. In
Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 6, Section 6.2.3.1.
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, In
preparation.
136
Rockall Megrim
(Division VIb)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings
in 2016 should be no more than 314 t. ICES cannot quantify the
corresponding catches. FEAS agrees with this advice. The landing
obligation will not apply to this stock in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 3.2.0 as there is a biomass index
available from a fishery independent survey. The index is estimated to
have increased by more than 20% and thus the uncertainty cap was
applied. The exploitation on the stock is considered to be very low;
therefore, no additional precautionary buffer was applied. FEAS notes
that the recent harvest rate of <5% indicates that the stock is likely to
be exploited at levels below Fmsy.
FEAS notes that there are major inconsistencies between the assessment and management area.
The TACs in Sub-areas VI and IV usually include an allocation for VIb and is based on historical
TAC splits between VI and IV. FEAS supports this approach which retains relative stability.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC covers Sub-areas VI, XII, XIV and Division Vb.
However, landings only occur in sub-area VI.
The assessment area covers Division VIb only.
The 2015 TAC in VIb, VI, XII and XIV was set at 4,129 t with
an Irish quota of 535 t.
Landings in VI are well below the TAC.
ICES ADVICE 5.3.21

Vb,VI,XII,XIV
IRE 535 t
FRA 1830 t
UK 1295 t
SPA 469 t
Megrim in ICES Sub-division VIb (Rockall)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings in 2016 should be no more than 314
tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catches.
The biomass has increased in the last decade. The harvest rate has been low and relatively stable since 2007.
137
Rockall Megrim

Figure5.3.21.1 MegriminDivisionVIb.Upperleft:Officiallandings(inthousandtonnes).Upperright:stocksizeindicator
(biomass from survey SCOIVVIAMISSQ2 in thousand tonnes) with 95% confidence intervals. The
dashedhorizontallinesindicatetheaverageoftherespectiveyearrange.Bottom:Harvestrate:landings
(biomass)1,assuming0.3catchabilityforthebiomassindex(inpercentage).

Megrim in Division VIb. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013 2014
MSY
Maximum
Undefined
Btrigger
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
approach
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Qualitative
Below possible
evaluation
reference points
Table 5.3.21.1
2015
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Increasing
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The SCO-IV-VI-AMISS-Q2 survey
biomass index was used as an indicator of stock development. The advice is based on a comparison of the two
latest index values (index A) with the three preceding values (index B), multiplied by the recent advised
landings.
The index is estimated to have increased by more than 20% and thus the uncertainty cap was applied. The
exploitation on the stock is considered to be very low; therefore, no additional precautionary buffer was applied.
Discarding is known to take place, but ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catch.
138
Rockall Megrim
Table 5.3.21.2 Megrim in Division VIb. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch option is provided.
Index A (20142015)
3641 t
Index B (20112013)
2745 t
Index ratio (A/B)
1.33
Uncertainty cap
Applied
1.2
Recent advised landings for 2015
262 t
Discard rate
Unknown
Not applied
Landings advice*
314 t
* (recent advised landings) (uncertainty cap).
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.21.3 Megrim in Division VIb. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for megrim in this area.
The advice is based on survey cpue (SCO-IV-VI-AMISS-Q2), used as an indicator of stock size.
The harvest rate was computed based on the available landings data and assuming a survey catchability of 0.3.
There is some uncertainty concerning this catchability value, but it is believed to be in the range of 0.20.3
(ICES, 2015b).
There is no information to present for this stock.
R ef e re n c ep o in ts
Table 5.3.21.4 Megrim in Division VIb. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data category 3.2.0 (ICES, 2015a).
Assessment type
Survey trends-based assessment.
Input data
Commercial landings; one survey index (SCO-IV-VI-AMISS-Q2).
Discarding is known to take place but cannot be quantified.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Last benchmarked in 2011 (WKFLAT; ICES, 2011).
Working group
scheme in Subareas IV and VI.
Table 5.3.21.5
Year
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Megrim in Division VIb. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and official landings. Weights in
thousand tonnes.
Agreed TAC
Predicted landings
Official landings
ICES advice *
Vb(EC) VI, XII,
corresp. to advice
VIb
XIV
Not assessed
4.84
0.804
No advice
4.84
1.045
No advice
4.84
1.073
No long-term gain in increased F
4.84
0.925
No long-term gain in increased F
4.84
1.046
No advice
4.84
0.816
No advice
4.84
0.843
139
Rockall Megrim
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
No advice
Adequate catch controls
Maintain current TAC
4.84
4.84
4.84
4.36
4.36
Reduce TAC to recent landings
3.6
2.3
2.3
2.1
1.4
1.4
No increase in catches
Catch decrease by 7%
< 0.160
Landings increase of no more than 20%
< 0.207
Landings increase of no more than 20%
< 0.262
Precautionary approach (no more than
2016
0.314
20% increase of recent advised landings)
* Prior to 2011 advice was given for megrim in Divisions IVa, VIa, and VIb combined.
4.84
4.84
4.84
4.84
4.36
4.36
4.36
3.6
2.88
2.88
2.88
2.59
2.79
3.079
3.387
3.387
3.387
4.074
4.129
1.009
1.091
0.866
0.964
0.824
0.455
0.632
0.528
0.382
0.344
0.106
0.294
0.226
0.139
0.155
0.224
0.278
0.343

Table 5.3.21.6 Megrim in Division VIb. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
100% otter trawl
Discarding is known to take place but
Unknown
cannot be quantified
343 tonnes
Megrim in Division VIb. History of official landings (in tonnes) presented by each country participating in
the fishery.
UK
UK
UK
Official
Belgium France
Ireland
Spain
England
UK
Eng+Wales+N.Irl.
Scotland
total
& Wales
196
363
19
226
804
240
587
14
204
1045
139
683
53
198
1073
128
594
56
147
925
176
574
38
258
1046
117
520
27
152
816
124
515
92
112
843
141
628
76
164
1009
218
549
116
208
1091
127
404
57
278
866
4
167
427
57
309
964
< 0.5
176
370
42
236
824
< 0.5
87
120
41
207
455
83
93
74
382
632
43
71
42
372
528
68
88
19
207
382
95
59
9
181
344
87
19
106
68
84
1
141
294
48
0
178
226
47
0
92
139
72
17
66
155
120
15
89
224
181
39
58
278
230
18
95
343
Table 5.3.21.7
Year
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
140
Rockall Megrim

Table 5.3.21.8
Megrim in Division VIb. Assessment summary. Biomass from the SCO-IV-VI-AMISS-Q2 survey (in
tonnes) and harvest rate = landings (biomass)1, assuming 0.3 catchability for the biomass index.
Biomass index
Harvest rate, assuming
Year
95% confidence intervals
0.3 catchability for the
biomass index
(tonnes)
lower
upper
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
679
910
1289
1728
1507
1911
885
4321
3030
3317
3965
197
485
968
908
1149
1330
658
2107
2244
1822
2654
1161
1334
1610
2547
1865
2493
1112
6577
3816
4547
5276
17%
11%
2%
5%
4%
2%
5%
1%
3%
3%
NA

2012/ACOM 68. 42 pp.
ICES 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
Section 1.2.
ICES 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015,
141
Rockall Megrim
West of Scotland Rockall and North Sea

Anglerfish
(Sub-area IV and VI and Divisions IIIa )

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in
2016 should be no more than 18,435 t. If discard rates do not change from
the average of the last three years (20122014), this implies landings of no
more than 17,642 t. FEAS agrees with this advice. The Landing Obligation
will not apply to this stock in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 3.2.0 for data-limited stocks for which
a biomass index is available. For L piscatorius and L. budegassa the biomass
index estimates for the most recent two years was more than 20% higher
than the previous three years.
Considering the economic importance of anglerfish in VI (and VII) FEAS considers that the basis
for advice should be improved by developing a reliable assessment method and harvest control
rule to generate catch advice.
2015 Quota Allocations in

Vb,VI,XII,XIV
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are two TACs covering the stock. A TAC for Division
IIa (EC waters) & North Sea IV(EC waters) and a TAC for
Sub-areas VI, XII, XIV and Division Vb (EC Waters).
The TAC for Vb, VI, XII and XIV in 2015 was 5313 t,
Irelands quota for this stock was 531 t. This quota is taken
exclusively from Sub-Area VI.
Two species occur in these areas, Lophius piscatorius and L.
budegassa, although catches are almost exclusively of the
former.
IRE 531 t
BEL 191 t
GER 218 t
FRA 2350 t
NL 184 t
UK 1635 t
SPA 204 t
ICES ADVICE 5.3.1 Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) in

Division IIIa, Subareas IV and VI
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than
18 435 tonnes. If discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years (20122014), this implies
landings of no more than 17 642 tonnes.
142
West of Scotland and Rockall Anglerfish

The stock size indicator shows an increase in the last two years (20142015).
Figure5.3.1.1
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Left: Official and ICES landings, and ICES discards
(thousand tonnes). Right: Stock biomass (thousand tonnes) from SCOIVVIAMISSQ2. The dashed
horizontal lines indicate the average of the respective year range. Grey linesmark the 95% confidence
interval.

Table 5.3.1.1
Maximum
sustainable yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
Qualitative
evaluation
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference
points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013 2014
2015
FMSY
Undefined
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Fpa, Flim
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Unknown
FMGT
Not applicable
Increasing
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The SCO-IV-VI-AMISS-Q2 survey was
used as the index of stock development. The advice is based on a comparison of the two latest index values
(index A) with the three preceding values (index B), multiplied by the recent advised catch.
The index is estimated to have increased by more than 20% and thus the uncertainty cap was applied. The stock
status relative to candidate reference points is unknown. The index ratio has increased by more than 50%;
therefore, no additional precautionary buffer was applied.
The discard rate is 4.3% of the total catch.
Table 5.3.1.2
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch
option is possible.
Index A (2014, 2015)
60400 t
Index B (2011, 2012, 2013)
35991 t
Index ratio (A/B)
1.678
Uncertainty cap
Applied
1.2
14702 t
Discard rate (average 20122014)
0.043
Not applied
Catch advice*
18435 t
Landings corresponding to the catch advice
17642 t
* [(recent advised landings) (uncertainty cap)]/(1 discard rate).
143
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.1.3
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for anglerfish in this area.
Discard data are available for most of the fleets except the gillnet fishery, which is not adequately sampled. This
fishery accounts for 20% of the landings. The SCO-AMISS-IV-VI survey does not cover Divisions IIIa, IVb,
and IVc; collectively these areas account for approximately 13% of landings in the North Sea and Skagerrak. It
is uncertain to what extent these affect the quality of the assessment.
The dedicated survey for this stock indicated a strong 2013 year class that will be entering the fishery in 2016.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.1.4
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data
3.2.0 (ICES, 2015a).
category
Assessment type
Survey trends (ICES, 2015b).
International catch and dedicated anglerfish surveys in Subarea VI and Division IVa
Input data
(Scotland/Ireland SCO-IV-VI-AMISS-Q2).
Discard estimates are available from 2012.
Indicators
Length distribution from survey.
Last benchmarked in 2013 (WKROUND; ICES, 2013), which did not result in a revision
Other information
of the assessment method.
Working group
scheme in Subareas IV and VI.
Table 5.3.1.5
Year
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES
estimates of landings.
Predicted Predicted catch
Predicted
Predicted
catch corresp.
corresp. to
landings
catch corresp. Agreed Official ICES
ICES advice
to advice
advice for
corresp. to
to advice for TAC* landings landings
Division IIIa
advice
Subarea VI
and Subarea IV
Not assessed
8.6
17.6
16.6
Not assessed
8.6
18.4
17.4
Not assessed
8.6
20.8
21.9
No long-term gain in increased
8.6
22.6
24.0
F**
No long-term gain in increased
8.6
25.0
25.1
F**
A precautionary TAC not
exceeding recent catch
8.6
28.9
28.9
levels**
A precautionary TAC not
exceeding recent catch
8.6
35.0
35.1
levels**
Reduction in fishing effort**
8.6
32.8
32.7
144
1998 Reduction in fishing effort**

30.7
25.1
25.3
Reduce fishing effort, effective
1999
30.7
21.2
21.9
implementation of the TAC**
2000 40% reduction in catches
< 9.7
< 7.4
25.7
19.0
19.7
2/3 of the catches in 1973
2001
5.7
4.3
20.5
19.3
19.2
1990
2/3 of the catches in 1973
2002
5.7
4.3
15.3
16.0
15.8
1990
< 6.7***
10.2
13.0
13.0
< 8.8
10.2
13.5
14.7
2005 No effort increase
15.0
13.6
n.a.
15.0
15.2
n.a.
16.5
16.4
n.a.
16.5
17.3
n.a.
16.9
16.4
n.a.
16.9
13.4
n.a.
2011 Decrease effort
15.1^
13.5
n.a.
2012 Reduce catch
- 14.344^
12.3.
12.5
2013 Decrease catches by 20%
- 13.627^
12.1
12.1
2014 Decrease catches by 20%
10.231
- 12.265^ 13.2^^ 13.3^^
2015 Increase landings by 20%
14.702
- 16.203^
2016 (increase recent advised catch
18.435
by no more than 20%)
* TAC for Subarea IV and Division IIa (EC) plus TAC for Division Vb (EC) and Subareas VI, XII, and XIV. Prior to 1998
TAC covered only Division Vb (EC) and Subareas VI, XII, and XIV.
** For Subarea VI.
*** Advice for Division IIIa, Subarea IV, and Division VIa.
^ An additional quota of 1500 tonnes is also available for EU vessels fishing in the Norwegian zone of Subarea IV.
^^ Preliminary.
n.a. = not available.

Table 5.3.1.6
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by
ICES.
Total
catch
(2014)
13698
tonnes
Landings
60%
demersal
trawls
26%
gillnets
9%
Nephrops
trawl
5% other
gears or not
specified
58%
demersal
trawls
8955 tonnes in Division IIIa and Subarea IV

13284 tonnes
145
Discards
20%
gillnets
2%
Nephrops
trawls
20% other
gears or
not
specified
415
tonnes
4329 tonnes in Subarea VI
146
Year
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Table 5.3.1.7
IIIa
140
202
291
641
643
509
687
652
549
529
506
568
578
524
589
347
334
570
595
938
843
811
823
702
776
626
660
602
621
667
478
519
458
423
433
486
479
434
406
422
408
480
IVa
2085
2737
2887
3624
3264
3111
2972
3450
2472
2214
2465
3874
4569
5594
7705
7737
7868
8387
9235
10209
12309
14505
17891
25176
23425
16860
13344
12338
12861
11048
8523
8987
8424
10338
10632
11038
10096
8117
7751
6460
6392
7609
IVb
575
1171
1864
1252
1278
1260
1578
1374
752
654
1540
1803
1798
1762
1768
2061
2121
2177
2522
3053
3144
3445
2627
1847
2172
2088
1517
1617
1832
1244
847
851
688
685
749
769
653
614
766
714
546
821
41
39
59
49
54
72
112
175
132
99
181
188
77
47
66
95
86
34
26
39
66
210
402
304
160
78
24
31
21
21
20
15
5
3
4
5
8
11
9
3
4
27
IVc
VIa
9221
3217
3122
3383
3457
3117
2745
2634
1387
3154
3417
3935
4043
3090
3955
6003
5729
5615
5061
5479
5553
5273
6354
6408
5330
4506
4284
3311
2660
2280
2493
2453
3019
2785
3352
3373
3029
2797
2724
2834
2666
2539
127
435
76
72
78
103
29
200
331
454
433
707
1013
1326
1294
1730
313
822
923
1089
681
777
830
602
899
900
1401
1074
1309
718
643
671
958
916
1260
1630
2119
1423
1878
1831
2124
1727
VIb
IV
2701
3947
4810
4925
4596
4443
4662
4999
3356
2967
4186
5865
6444
7403
9539
9893
10075
10598
11783
13301
15519
18160
20920
27327
25757
19026
14885
13986
14714
12313
9390
9853
9117
11026
11385
11812
10757
8742
8526
7177
6942
8457
VI
9348
3652
3198
3455
3535
3220
2774
2834
1718
3608
3850
4642
5056
4416
5249
7733
6042
6437
5984
6568
6234
6050
7184
7010
6229
5406
5685
4385
3969
2998
3136
3124
3977
3701
4612
5003
5148
4220
4602
4665
4790
4266
Total (IIIa, IV, VI)

12189
7801
8299
9021
8774
8172
8123
8485
5623
7104
8542
11075
12078
12343
15377
17973
16451
17605
18362
20807
22596
25021
28927
35039
32762
25058
21230
18973
19304
15978
13004
13496
13552
15150
16430
17300
16384
13396
13534
12264
12140
13203
12499
12054
13283
17441
21872
23971
25057
28913
35100
32728
25293
21854
19682
19157
15834
13017
14729
ICES landings
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Official landings by ICES area and ICES estimates of landings and discards.
498
787
416
ICES discards

Table 5.3.1.8
Year
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Assessment summary (weights in tonnes).
Survey
Survey index,
Survey index,
Official landings
ICES landings ICES discards
index
High
Low
12189
7801
8299
9021
8774
8172
8123
8485
5623
7104
8542
11075
12078
12343
15377
17973
16451
17605
18362
17441
20807
21879
22596
23966
25021
25049
28927
28897
35039
35102
32762
40258
25058
30293
21230
25026
18973
22185
19304
21238
15978
17868
13004
14141
13496
15551
13552
38617
23479
53755
15150
40985
34478
47492
16430
50392
43676
57108
17300
53546
42421
64671
16384
3806
32987
43133
13396
42279
30429
54129
13534
33254
24846
41662
12264
12499
498
36325
29704
42946
12140
12054
787
38395
3102
4577
13203
13283
415
52884
42769
62999
67915
58782
77047
147
Figure5.3.1.2
Anglerfish in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Estimates of total numbers (millions) atlength (cm)
fromsurvey(SCOIVVIAMISSQ2)coveringSubareasIVandVI(20072015).

2012/ACOM 68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2013. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Roundfish Stocks, 48 February, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
ICES. 2015a. Advice basis In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
Section 1.2.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015,
148
FU 11-13 Nephrops Northwest of

Ireland and West of Scotland
FEAS MULTIPLE STOCK CONSIDERATIONS

The ICES advice is mainly based on the ICES MSY approach and
implies fishing stocks at sustainable harvest ratios. FEAS agrees with
the ICES advice. This stock will be subject to the Landing Obligation
in 2016. Until such time that the approach for quota uplift is
decided upon, it is not possible to determine what the TAC and
resultant Irish quota will be in 2016.
The advised catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) from Nephrops
FUs in Sub-area VI are as follows:
Stock Area
(Functional Unit)
North Minch (FU11)
South Minch (FU12)
Firth of Clyde (FU13)
Sound of Jura (FU13)
Other rectangles
ICES
Category
1
1
1
1
6.2.0
Catches
(Tonnes)
< 3,770
< 6,073
< 5,554
< 1,014
< 326
The current TAC area and the stock assessment area do not match. FEAS agrees with the ICES and
STECF advice that all Nephrops fisheries should be managed at an appropriate geographical scale i.e.
Functional Unit. The cumulative catch advice for the Sub-area VI TAC area in 2016 is 16,737 t.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Sub-area VI and Division Vb. Division VIa
contains three main fisheries, the North Minch (FU 11), South
Minch (FU 12) and Firth of Clyde (FU 13). The assessment is based
on a time series of UWTV surveys in these FUs.
Irish landings mainly come from the component of this stock that is
not currently assessed using UWTV surveys.
The TAC in 2015 was 14,190 t with an Irish quota of 192 t.
There are no explicit management objectives or management plan for
these stocks but Nephrops fisheries in this area are affected by the
cod long-term management plan.
ICES ADVICE

IRE 192 t
FRA 115 t
UK 13854 t
SPA 29 t
Nephrops in Division VIa
See: http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/2015/nep-11.pdf
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/2015/nep-12.pdf
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/2015/nep-13.pdf
149
Nephrops NW of Ireland and West of Scotland
West of Scotland and Rockall Plaice

(Sub-area VI)
The status of this stock is unknown and there is no ICES advice. The EU
Commission has proposed that such stocks should have status quo TAC
(COM 2014 388 final). FEAS advise that the 2015 TAC should be rolled
over for 2016. This implies a TAC of 658 t and an Irish quota of 261 t.
FEAS notes that this stock will not be subject to the Landing Obligation
in 2016.
LPUE for the Irish fleet has increased in recent years suggesting an
improvement in stock status (Figure 1). The TAC in recent years far
exceeded recent landings. Technical measures and effort reduction (Council Regulation
43/2009) have significantly reduced mortality on plaice in Division VIa. The Irish Groundfish
Survey indicates an increase in abundance in recent years.
There is no management plan in place for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Sub-areas VI and XII and XIV and Division Vb.
The TAC in 2015 was 658 t with an associated Irish quota of 261 t.
The Joint statement by the Council and the Commission" states it
would be desirable if the TAC set in 2014 for Plaice in VI be
maintained for 3 years (subject to scientific advice).
There are no explicit management objectives or plans for this stock.

The Emergency Measures (EC 43/2009) limits the mesh size of
bottom trawls (TR1) in this area to >120 mm.
IRE 261 t
FRA 9 t
UK 388 t
Figure 1. Irish LPUE (Kg/Hour) from ICES Sub-area VI
150
Plaice Division VIa Landings (Source ICES Statlant database)

Country
Belgium
Denmark
Faeroe Islands
France
Germany
Germany, Fed. Rep. of
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
UK - Eng+Wales+N.Irl.
UK - England & Wales
UK - N. Ireland
UK - Scotland
Un. Sov. Soc. Rep.
Total
1978
66
.
352
<0.5
.
123
4
731
1,276
1979
67
.
338
1
.
88
2
864
1,360
1980
58
.
392
.
65
1
1,049
1,565
1981
50
.
464
.
58
4
1,065
1,641
1982
44
.
425
.
65
2
947
1,483
1983
55
.
565
1
.
38
2
967
1,628
1984
40
.
<0.5
649
.
41
4
1,070
1,804
1985
57
.
<0.5
660
.
31
1,065
1,813
1986
57
.
<0.5
403
204
.
34
4
1,046
1,748
1987
3
<0.5
49
.
<0.5
516
.
19
7
1,149
1,743
1988
1
<0.5
44
.
<0.5
649
.
9
24
1,000
1,727
1989
1
<0.5
24
.
579
27
.
.
1,185
1,816
Country
Belgium
Denmark
Faeroe Islands
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
UK - N. Ireland
UK - Scotland
Un. Sov. Soc. Rep.
Total
1990
7
62
.
670
11
.
.
1,097
1,847
1991
<0.5
23
.
560
37
.
.
1,433
2,053
1992
<0.5
19
<0.5
.
357
<0.5
61
.
.
1,292
.
1,729
1993
25
16
.
339
80
.
.
1,095
.
1,555
1994
8
<0.5
4
.
360
135
.
.
1,181
.
1,688
1995
30
<0.5
6
.
401
77
.
.
1,344
.
1,858
1996
13
<0.5
1
.
499
62
.
.
1,266
.
1,841
1997
19
2
.
528
19
67
.
.
1,052
.
1,687
1998
19
<0.5
1
.
418
11
39
.
.
973
.
1,461
1999
18
.
.
309
34
.
.
657
.
1,018
2000
19
1
.
233
18
.
.
387
.
658
2001
9
<0.5
<0.5
.
187
10
.
.
491
.
697
Country
Belgium
Denmark
Faeroe Islands
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
UK - N. Ireland
UK - Scotland
Un. Sov. Soc. Rep.
Total
2002
<0.5
.
146
18
.
.
323
.
487
2003
<0.5
<0.5
.
150
6
.
.
243
.
399
2004
<0.5
.
62
5
.
.
130
.
197
2005
.
46
1
.
.
15
.
62
2006
.
28
1
.
.
44
.
73
2007
.
<0.5
.
32
.
3
.
.
44
.
79
2008
.
<0.5
.
.
.
17
.
.
<0.5
.
.
32
.
49
2009
.
.
.
.
.
13
.
.
.
.
.
34
.
47
2010
.
.
.
0
.
.
28
.
.
.
.
.
30
.
59
2011
.
.
.
0
.
.
17
.
.
.
.
.
.
29
.
41
2012
0
.
.
0.9
.
.
13
0
0.1
.
.
.
.
39
.
53.7
2013
.
.
.
0.0
.
.
24.0
.
.
.
.
.
.
40.0
.
65.1
2014*
.
.
.
.
.
21.2
.
.
.
.
.
.
49.8
.
71.0
* Data are preliminary for 2014
151
West of Scotland and Rockall Sole

(Sub-area VI)
The status of this stock is unknown and there is no ICES advice. The EU
Commission has proposed that such stocks should have status quo TAC
(COM 2014 388 final). FEAS advise that the information remains the same
and the 2015 TAC should be rolled over for 2016. This implies a TAC of 57 t
and an Irish quota of 46 t. This stock will not be subject to the Landing
Obligation in 2016.
Landings reached a peak of around 110 t in the late nineties, with rapid
decline since then to the present value of 19.5 t for 2013. The combination of
technical measures (Council Regulation 43/2009) and effort reduction are
expected to have significantly reduced mortality on sole in Division VIa.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Sub-areas VI, XII, XIV and Division Vb0.
The TAC in 2015 was 57 t with an associated Irish quota of 46 t.
There are no explicit management objectives or plans for this

stock.
The Emergency Measures (EC 43/2009) limits the mesh size of

bottom trawls (TR1) in this area to >120 mm.
152
IRE 46 t
UK 11 t
Sole Division VIa Landings (Source ICES Statlant database)

Country
Belgium
Denmark
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK - N. Ireland
UK - Scotland
Total
Country
Belgium
Denmark
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK - N. Ireland
UK - Scotland
Total
Country
Belgium
Denmark
France
Ireland
Netherlands
UK - N. Ireland
UK - Scotland
Total
* Preliminary data for 2014
1978
7
20
1
.
2
8
1979
<0.5
24
.
1
9
1980
1
23
.
1
10
1981
1
35
.
1
10
1982
1
57
.
2
12
1983
54
.
1
2
8
1984
48
.
9
<0.5
7
1985
1
39
.
13
9
1986
33
1
.
4
<0.5
14
1987
42
.
2
<0.5
17
1988
71
.
1
18
1989
89
2
.
.
17
38
34
35
47
72
65
64
62
52
61
90
108
1990
80
1
.
.
11
1991
53
4
.
.
15
1992
<0.5
40
20
.
.
15
1993
1
1
40
22
.
.
13
1994
4
65
19
.
.
10
1995
11
1
63
21
.
.
8
1996
2
74
20
.
.
8
1997
9
71
7
19
.
.
7
1998
8
79
13
.
.
9
1999
3
.
45
12
.
.
4
2000
3
1
36
6
.
.
3
2001
1
27
5
.
.
3
92
72
75
77
98
104
104
113
109
64
49
36
2002
26
4
.
.
2
2003
<0.5
26
6
.
.
2
2004
<0.5
22
2
.
.
2
2005
15
.
.
1
2006
12
<0.5
.
.
1
2007
.
19
1
.
.
1
2008
.
15
<0.5
.
.
2
2009
.
.
.
4
.
.
.
2
2010
.
.
.
23
.
1
.
.
1
2011
2012
2013
*2014
0
12
0
9.2
17.6
13.7
4.2
3.4
32
34
26
16
13
21
17
25
15
13.4
19.6
17.1
153
North Sea and West of Scotland Saithe

(Sub-areas IV & VI and Division IIIa)

ICES advises on the basis of the EUNorway management plan that catches
should be no more than 75,049 t. If discard rates do not change from the
average of the last two years (2012-2014), this implies commercial landings
of no more than 68,601 t for the whole assessment area. This implies an
Irish quota of 389 t. FEAS agrees with this advice. This stock will not be
subject to the Landing Obligation in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 for data-rich stocks for which a
quantitative assessment is available.
This stock is managed under an EUNorway management strategy.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The assessment area comprises two TAC areas; the first

TAC area comprises Divisions IIa, IIIabcd, and Sub-area IV,
the second TAC area covers Division Vb as well as Subareas VI, XII and XIV.
The total EC TAC for Division Vb and Sub-areas VI, XII and
XIV in 2015 was 6,848 t, with an Irish quota of 389 t.
There is a long-term management plan for this stock based

on the EU-Norway agreement that states that every effort
should be made to maintain SSB above 199,270 t (Blim) and
a TAC consistent with F = 0.3. Should SSB fall below Bpa
this fishing mortality will be adapted in the light of the
prevailing conditions (see ACOM advice for detailed
description of the management plan).
ICES ADVICE
6.3.35
2015 Quota Allocations in

Vb,VI,XII,XIV
IRE 389 t
GER 269 t
FRA 2668 t
UK 3022 t
Saithe in IV, IIa and VI and Division IIIa
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the EUNorway management strategy is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more
than 75 049 tonnes. If this stock is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change
from the average (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 68 601 tonnes.
Recruitment has been below the long-term average since 2006. Fishing mortality (F) has fluctuated around FMSY
since 1997. Spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has declined and has been fluctuating around MSY Btrigger since
2011.
154

Figure6.3.35.1 Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Summary of stock assessment (weights in thousand
tonnes).Topright:SSBandFforthetimeseriesusedintheassessment.

Table 6.3.35.1
Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012
2013
2014
2013
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
FMSY
Appropriate
Fpa,
Flim
Management plan
FMGT
Harvested
sustainably
Above FMS-upper
2014
2015
MSY
Btrigger
Below trigger
Bpa, Blim
Increased risk
SSBMGT
Below SSBMS-upper
Catchoptions
Since SSB is marginally below 200 000 tonnes in 2015, paragraph 3 of the EUNorway management strategy
applies, resulting in an F of 0.298.
Table 6.3.35.2 Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 35 (2015)
0.325
ICES (2015a)
TAC constraint
SSB (2015)
199270 t
ICES (2015a)
SSB in the intermediate year
SSB (2016)
173473 t
ICES (2015a)
SSB at the beginning of the TAC year
76.092
ICES (2015a)
Rage3 (2015)
Geometric mean 20052014
million
76.092
ICES (2015a)
Rage3 (2016)
million
Total catch (2015)
79702 t
ICES (2015a)
Commercial landings (2015)
72854 t
ICES (2015a)
TAC 2015
Discards (2015)
6848 t
ICES (2015a)
8.6% discard rate in weight (average 20122014)
155
Table 6.3.35.3
Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. The catch options. All weights in tonnes.
Wanted
F
%
Wanted
Total
Wanted
catch
(wante
SSB
% TAC
catch IIIa
SSB
Rationale
catches
catch
VI
Basis
d
chang
change
& IV
2017
2016 *
2016 *
2016
catch)
e
wanted catch^
2016 **
**
2016
***
Paragraph 3
EUNorway
of
management
management
strategy
68601
62153
6448
0.298
168129
3
6
75049
strategy
FMSY
MSY approach
(SSB2016/MS
64450
58392
6058
0.28
171892
1
12
70508
Y Btrigger)
Precautionary
SSB = Bpa in
33693
30526
3167
0.14
200001
15
54
approach
36860
2017
Zero catch
F=0
0
0
0
0
231173
33
100
0
FMSY
72792
65950
6842
0.32
164337
5
0.1
79634
Other options
F2015
0.33
163470
6
1
73751
66818
6933
80684
TAC2015
72854
66006
6848
0.32
164280
5
0
79702
Mixed fisheries options minor differences with calculation above can occur due to different methodology used (ICES,
2015b)
36
Maximum
A
136251^^
0.71
111205
10
Minimum
B
47078^^
0.19
191047
2
Cod
C
62243^^
0.26
177186
3
SQ Effort
D
71446^^
0.31
168821
6
Value
E
77836^^
0.34
163035
1
Effort_Mgt
F
64889^^
0.28
174777
* Wanted catch is used to described fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation. Total catches
are calculated based on predicted wanted catch and the average discard rate (20122014; average discard rate 8.6%).
** Wanted catch split according to the average in 19931998, i.e. 90.6% in Subarea IV and Division IIIa West and 9.4% in
Subarea VI.
^ Wanted catch 2016 relative to TAC 2015.
^^For mixed fisheries catch options, the raising from wanted catch to total catch done for the saithe single-stock advice has
not been undertaken; therefore, for this stock, the catch values resulting from mixed fisheries options are more directly
comparable to the wanted catch single stock advice values.
Mixed-fisheries assumptions
(note:fleets stock share is used to describe the share of the fishing opportunities for each particular fleet, which has been
calculated based on the single-stock advice for 2016 and the historical proportion of the stock landings taken by the fleet):
A. Maximum scenario: Each fleet stops fishing when its last stock share is exhausted.
B. Minimum scenario: Each fleet stops fishing when its first stock share is exhausted.
C. Cod scenario: Each fleet stops fishing when its cod stock share is exhausted.
D. SQ (status quo) effort scenario: The effort of each fleet in 2015 and 2016 is as in 2014.
E. Value scenario: The effort of each fleet is equal to the weighted average of the efforts required to catch the fleets quota
share of each of the stocks, where the weights are the relative catch values of each stock in the fleets portfolio.
F. Effort management scenario: Effort reductions according to cod and flatfish management plans.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 6.3.35.4 Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
EUNorway management strategy (Annex 2 in ICES, 2012)
Management plan
EUNorway management strategy
156
In 2014, modifications to the design and target identification of the NORACU survey showed that what had
been identified as saithe in the acoustic signal in the past was most likely incorrect. Therefore, it has been
removedfromtheassessment,whichonlyslightlyinfluencedassessmentresults.
The overall reporting of catch data provided to ICES has improved during 20122014 through such aspects as
the fully documented fisheries (FDF) programme and increased coverage by the Scottish industry/science
observer sampling scheme.
RecruitmentispoorlyestimatedwiththeIBTSQ3surveybecausefishofage3arepoorlyrepresented.Catches
from older age classes in the surveys are not representative and commercial lpue indices are also used for
tuningandarehighlyinfluentialonassessmentresults.Therefore,theassessmentisdependentoncommercial
indices,whichmaynotfullyreflectchangesinstocksizeforaschoolingspecieslikesaithe.
Figure 6.3.35.2 Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment
estimates included).
In2012,anEUNorwayrequestwasmadetoICESonoptionstorevisethelongtermmanagementstrategyfor
saithe(ICES,2012).Basedupontheevaluations,theEUandNorwayagreedtokeeptheexistingmanagement
strategy. Because the longterm performance was not clear, ICES advised that the strategy should be re
evaluatedwithinfouryears(i.e.nolaterthan2016)andrevisedifnecessary.
In 2013, the effects of interannual quota flexibility in the management strategy for saithe were evaluated
(ICES, 2013). ICES concluded that the management strategy evaluated is robust to inclusion of interannual
quotaflexibilityintermsoftheprobabilityofthestockbiomassfallingbelowBlim.Thisconclusionisconditional
ontheinterannualquotaflexibilitybeingsuspendedwhenthestockisestimatedtobeoutsidesafebiological
limits.SSBisestimatedtobe199270tonnesfor2015,whichisbelowBpa(200000tonnes).
Results from a North Sea mixed fisheries analysis are presented in ICES (2015c). Assuming fishing patterns and
catchability in 2015 and 2016 are unchanged from those in 2014, and in the case of a strictly implemented
discard ban, North Sea whiting and Nephrops FU 6 (if it was managed with an own TAC for the FU) would be
the most limiting stocks, constraining 46% and 34% of the 2014 effort, respectively. Results for the saithe stock
are also included as additional rows in the catch options table of this advice sheet.
157
Referencepoints
Table 6.3.35.5
Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
200000 t Default value Bpa
ICES (2014)
MSY Btrigger
MSY
0.32 Stochastic simulation using hockey-stick stock
approach
FMSY
ICES (2014)
recruitment.
Blim
106000 t Bloss = 106 000 t (estimated in 1998).
Bpa
200000 t Affords a high probability of maintaining SSB above Blim.
ICES (2006)
Precautionary
0.6 Floss is the fishing mortality estimated to lead to the stock
approach
Flim
ICES (2006)
falling below Blim in the long term.
Fpa
0.4 Implies that Beq >Bpa and P(SSB< Bpa)< 10%.
ICES (2006)
SSBMS-lower
106000 t Blim
EUNorway
SSBMS-upper
200000 t Bpa
Annex 2 in
management
ICES (2012)
FMS-lower
0.1 Fishing mortality when SSB < SSBMS-lower
strategy
FMS-upper
0.3 Fishing mortality when SSB > SSBMS-upper
Table 6.3.35.6 Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015d).
Age-based analytical assessment (XSA; ICES, 2015a) that uses landings in the model, and
Assessment type
discards are then included to calculate a catch forecast.
Commercial catches (international landings and discards, age and length frequencies from
catch sampling); survey index (IBTS Q3); 3 commercial indices (FRATRB_IV,
Input data
GER_OTB_IV, NORTR_IV2). Maturity-at-age and natural mortality are assumed to be
constant.
Used to provide advice, but not included in the assessment. Discard information 20122014
(covers 90% of the landings).
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmarked in 2011 (ICES, 2011). NORACU survey index removed in 2015.
Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak
Working group
(WGNSSK). Working Group on Mixed-Fisheries Advice (WGMIXFISH-NS).
Across individual areas the proportions reporting higher abundances of saithe in 2014 tended to be greater in
more northern areas (areas 1, 2, 3, and 8), while the proportions reporting lower abundances tended to be higher
in more southerly areas (areas 4, 6a, and 7; Figure 6.3.35.3; Napier, 2014).
Figure 6.3.35.3
Cumulative time-series of index of perceptions of abundance of saithe, by area (see page 14 in Napier
(2014) for an explanation of the index).
158

Table 6.3.35.7
Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES
estimates of landings. All weights in thousand tonnes.
Subarea IV and Division IIIa
Predicted
Predicted landings
catches
Agreed
Official
ICES
ICES
Year ICES advice
corresp. to advice
corresp. to
TAC
landings landings discards
advice
1987 Reduce F
< 198
173
154
149
1988 60% of F(86); TAC
156
165
113
107
170
170
92
92
120
120
85
88
125
125
93
99
102
110
92
92
1993 70% of F(91) ~ 93 000 t
93
93
99
105
1994 Reduce F by 30%
72
97
90
102
107
107
97
113
111
111
96
110
113
115
86
103
97
97
88
100
1999 Reduce F to Fpa
104
110
108
107
75
85
85
87
87
87
88
90
2002 F < Fpa
< 135
135
115
116
2003 F < Fpa
< 176
165
107.47
101.66
2004 F < Fpa*
< 211
190
103.61
99.96
2005 F according to man. plan*
< 137
145
110.58
111.54
2006 F according to man. plan (< Fpa) *
< 123
123
109.80
117.11
< 124
123
87.38
93.62
< 137
136
114.52
111.43
< 126
126
100.68
105.53
< 107
107
91.07
95.10
2011 See scenarios
93
89.28
89.70
2012** F according to man. plan (< Fpa) *
< 79.320
79
68.93
69.89
4913
2013 Management plan (TAC +15%)*
< 91.219
91.220
71.60
71.83
6517
2014 Management plan (TAC15%)*
< 77.536
77.536
68.318
68.637
5701
2015 Management plan
< 66.006
< 72.211
66.006
EUNorway management
2016
< 62.153
< 67.995
strategy
* Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries.
** The June advice in 2012 was updated in November 2012.
159
Subarea VI
Year
ICES advice
Predicted
landings
corresp. to
advice
19
35
20
24
21
< 19
6.3
Predicted
catches
corresp. to
advice
Agreed
TAC^^
Official
landings
ICES
ICES
landings discards
1987 F reduced towards Fmax

27.8
32.5
31.4
1988 80% of F(86); TAC
35
32.8
34.2
1989 F < 0.3; TAC
30
22.4
25.6
1990 80% of F(88); TAC
29
18.0
19.9
1991 Stop SSB decline; TAC
22
17.9
17.0
1992 Avoid further reduction in SSB
17
10.8
11.8
1993 F = 0.21
14
14.5
13.9
14
13.0**
12.8
16
10.6**
11.8
10.2*
13
9.4**
9.4
1997 Significant reduction in F
12
8.6**
9.4
4.8
10.9
7.4**
8.4
4.8
7.5
6.8
7.3
6.0
7
6.4
5.9
9.0
9
8.7
8.4
2002 F < Fpa
< 13
14
5.6
5.2
2003 F < Fpa
< 17
17.1
5.22
5.25
2004 F < Fpa^
< 21
20
4.81
4.51
2005 F according to man. plan (< Fpa) ^
< 14
15
8.70
5.74
< 12
13
9.42
8.57
< 12
13
6.69
6.79
< 14
14
6.01
7.23
< 13
13
6.17
6.96
< 11
11
6.22
6.84
2011 See scenarios
10
7.31
7.40
2012*** F according to man. plan (< Fpa) ^
< 8.230
8
7.56
7.21
2536
2013 Management plan (TAC +15%)^
< 9.464
9.464
8.47
8.06
1555
2014 Management plan (TAC15%)^
< 8.045
8.045
6.842
6.782
577
2015 Management plan
< 6.848
< 7.492
6.848
2016 EU-Norway management strategy
< 6.448
< 7.054
* Status quo catch.
** Incomplete data.
*** The June advice in 2012 was updated in November 2012.
^ Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries.
^^ Since 1996, the saithe in this area has been assessed together with North Sea/Skagerrak saithe, with allocation of TAC
based on historical landings. In recent years TACs in Subarea VI have been included in a total TAC for Divisions VIIb and
VIIc, but it is unclear if anything is added. The areas were combined shortly after the Saithe Study Group meeting in 1995.
Presumably the assessment was merged in 1996, and used in the advice for 1997.

Table 6.3.35.8 Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
91% bottom trawl fleets
4% by gillnetters
5% other gears
81.697 kt
Discards 6.278 kt
75.419 kt
160
Table 6.3.35.9
Saithe in Subareas IV and VI and Division IIIa. History of commercial catch and landings; both the
official and ICES estimated values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery.
Weights are in tonnes.
Subarea IV and Division IIIa
Country
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
Belgium
22
28
4
15
18
7
27
15
2
1
3
Denmark
7991
7498
5056
7470 5443
8066
8802
8018
6331
5171
5691
Faroe Isl.
558
463
0
60
15
108
841
146
2
8
3
France
13628
11830
7906
16953 15083
15881
7203 4582* 13856* 14093*
8475
Germany
9589
12401
8562
14397 12791
14140 13410 11193 10234
8052
9687
Greenland
403
1042
0
924
564
888
927
0
0
0
0
Ireland
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Lithuania
0
149
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Netherlands
3
40
0
28
5
3
16
3
24
34
168
Norway
62783
68122
37463
61318 45396
61464 57708 52712 46809 33288
35701
Poland
0
1100
0
1084 1384
1407
988
654
584
0
0
Russia
0
35
0
2
5
5
13
0
0
0
0
Sweden
2249
2132
1272
1745 1381
1639
1363
1545
1335
1306
1401
UK
457
960
687
(E/W/NI)
9625* 11804* 12584* 11887* 10250*
10379*
9128**
7287**
UK
*
*
*
*
*
*
5924
6170
7686
(Scotland)
Total
103608 111970 113124 91710 115412 103883 90755 89427 69240
71508
68318
reported
Unallocated
3646
427
3988
1908
3979
1646
4345
277
645
317
319
ICES
99962 111543 117112 93618 111433 105529 95100 89704 70510
71825
68637
estimate
13590
TAC
190000 145000 123250
135900 125934 107000 93600 79320
91220
77536
0
*Preliminary.
**Scotland+E/W/NI combined.
Subarea VI
Country
2004
Denmark
Faroe Islands
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Norway
Russia
Spain
UK
(E/W/NI)
UK
(Scotland)
Total
reported
Unallocated
ICES
estimate
0
34
3053
4
95
0
16
6
2
0
25
3954
373
168
0
20
25
3
37
133
TAC
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
0
76
6092
532
267
3
28
7
6
0
32
4327
580
322
36
377
2
3
0
23
4170
148
288
1
78
50
4
0
60
2102
298
407
0
68
4
8
0
24
2008
257
520
0
121
2
18
2748**
1424**
2955**
3491**
3168**
2011
0
5
2357
0
359
0
240
0
31
2012
2013
0
6
2612
9
364
0
5
0
13
0
25
3814
0
313
0
715
0
21
4500** 4549**
3646**
2014
*
20
0
2904
0
128
0
442
0
0
97
1563
2922
3191
4810
7623
9759
7103
7717
6438
6118
7492
7558
8534
6842
296
1884
1191
317
483
525
722
92
351
472
60
4514
5739
8568
6786
7234
6963
6840
7400
7162
8062
6782
2000
0
15044
12787
14100
14100
13066
11000
9570
8230
9464
8045
*Preliminary.
**Scotland+E/W/NI combined.
161
Subarea IV, Division IIIa, and Subarea VI

SAITHE Subarea IV, Division IIIa, and Subarea VI
2004
2005
2006
2007
ICES
10040
108418 119593 125680
estimate
4
15000
TAC
210000 160044 136037
0
2008
118667
150000
2009
11249
2
13900
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
101940
97104
77672
79887
75419
118000
10317
0
87550
100684
85581

Table 6.3.35.10
Saithe in Subarea IV, VI and Division IIIa. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes).
Year
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Average
Recruitment at age 3
thousands
127456
114114
300689
291836
327932
171373
152852
148741
181240
384114
118019
92456
77657
67153
172858
109995
118273
205300
312017
288646
113892
116418
78480
118812
138530
93719
152795
103877
226143
112940
162978
71108
142599
95854
225383
192574
127879
100458
189512
63520
111034
66210
56407
122173
55060
118842
60184
27097
76092*
144557
SSB
tonnes
194228
164413
263979
311949
429606
474022
534466
554917
472030
351617
263129
268133
241084
235196
241264
210527
214392
176855
161193
152339
154312
150007
117896
107623
107204
109023
113905
126367
140099
150095
201345
202185
212029
210912
226066
227408
256981
316991
321863
308854
301555
288251
252897
237132
200745
182951
189420
217654
199270
239722
Landings
tonnes
113751
88326
130588
234962
265381
261877
242499
298351
271584
343967
216395
155141
128360
131908
132278
174351
180044
200834
220869
198596
167514
135172
108877
103800
108048
99742
111491
109622
121810
114997
107327
106123
110716
91322
95042
115395
105569
104237
124532
125681
101202
119305
115747
101940
96217
77447
79684
75176
Mean F
Ages
0.322
0.291
0.262
0.408
0.329
0.395
0.416
0.556
0.482
0.76
0.615
0.477
0.396
0.443
0.306
0.469
0.547
0.677
0.714
0.818
0.644
0.619
0.668
0.592
0.571
0.629
0.534
0.509
0.412
0.405
0.287
0.345
0.359
0.314
0.278
0.247
0.226
0.192
0.251
0.268
0.255
0.359
0.414
0.32
0.313
0.309
0.274
0.308
146329
0.429
* GM 20052014.
162

ICES. 2006. Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and Skagerrak
(WGNSSK), 615 September 2005, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2006/ACFM:09.
971 pp.
ICES. 2011. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Roundfish and Pelagic Stocks (WKBENCH 2011), 2431
January 2011, Lisbon, Portugal. ICES CM 2011/ACOM:38.
ICES. 2012. Joint EUNorway request to ICES on options to revise the Long-Term Management Plan for saithe
in the North Sea. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2012. ICES Advice 2012, Book 6, Section
6.3.3.5.
ICES. 2013. EU request on interannual quota flexibility for saithe in the North Sea. In Report of the ICES
Advisory Committee, 2013. ICES Advice 2013, Book 6, Section 6.3.5.4.
ICES. 2014. Report of the Joint ICESMYFISH Workshop to consider the basis for FMSY ranges for all stocks
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Demersal Stocks in the North Sea and
Skagerrak (WGNSSK), 28 April7 May 2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:13.
preparation.
ICES. 2015c. Mixed-fisheries advice for Subarea IV (North Sea) and Divisions IIIa North (Skagerrak) and VIId
(Eastern Channel). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 6, Section
6.2.2.2.
ICES. 2015d. Report of the Working Group on Mixed-Fisheries Advice for the North Sea (WGMIXFISHAdvice), 2529 May 2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:22.
163
Ling (Molva molva)

(Divisions IIIa and IVa, and in Sub-areas VI,VII,VIII, IX, XII,
and XIV (other areas)

ICES provides advice on ling on a biennial basis. In 2015 ICES advises that
when the precautionary approach is applied, catches should be no more
than 14,746 t in each of the years 2016 and 2017. Discarding is considered
to be negligible. This stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in
2016.
Catches have been stable since 2003. A standardised CPUE, based on data
from the Norwegian longline fleet, show an increasing trend from 2003 to
present.
There is no management plan in place for ling in this area.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC areas do not correspond to the assessment area.
BEL 30 t
Since 2003, the EU has set TACs for EU vessels fishing in
DEN 5 t
community waters and waters not under the control of third
GER 109 t
countries. Between 2003 and 2007, Ling was covered by the
FRA 2357 t
biennial regulations for deep-water species; however, from 2008 it
UK 2716 t
has been included in annual TAC regulation covering other species.
POR 5 t
EU TACs for Ling in 2015 were: 2,428 t for EU waters of Sub-area
SPA 2211 t
IV and 8,464 t for Sub-area VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII, XIV with an Irish
quota of 623 t. There is no species-specific regulation in the
Norwegian EEZ, but a TAC is negotiated for Norwegian vessels fishing in EU waters. In 2015, the
Norwegian and Faroese quota for Ling in the EU zone remained the same as 2014 at 5,500 t, and 200 t
respectively. The quota for the EU in Norwegian waters in Area IV also remained the same at 950 t.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 623 t
Ling (Molva molva) in Subareas VI-IX, XII, and XIV, and in

Divisions IIIa and IVa (other areas)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches should be no more than 14 746 tonnes in
each of the years 2016 and 2017. Discarding is considered to be negligible.
Catches have been stable since 2003. A standardized cpue based on data from the Norwegian longline fleet
show an increasing trend since 2003 to present.
164
Ling
Catches
45
Discards
Landings
40
1000tonnes
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1987
1992
1997
2002
2007
2012
Figure9.3.24.1 Ling in other areas. Standardized cpue from the Norwegian longline fleet targeting ling for all areas
1
combined ([kg hook ] 1000). Red horizontal lines indicate the average cpue index of the respective
yearrangeusedtocalculatetheadvice.

Table 9.3.24.1
Ling in the other areas. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012
2013
2014
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
FMSY
Undefined
Fpa,
Flim
Undefined
Management Plan
FMGT
Qualitative
evaluation
2012
Stock size
2013
2014
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
-
Not applicable
Undefined
MSY
Btrigger
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Increasing
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The standardized cpue series from the
Norwegian longline reference fleet was applied as index for the stock development. The advice is based on a
comparison of the two latest index values (index A) with the three preceding values (index B), combined with
the revised 2012 catch advice. The index is estimated to have increased by more than 20%, which means that the
uncertainty cap was applied in estimating the catch advice. The stock status relative to candidate reference
points is unknown. The precautionary buffer was applied for the revised 2012 advice. Discarding is considered
to be negligible.
165
Ling
Table 9.3.24.2 Ling in other areas. For stocks in ICES categories 3-6, one catch option is provided.
Index A (20132014)
133.3
Index B (20102012)
104.9
Index ratio (A/B)
1.27
Uncertainty cap
Applied
1.2
Revised previous advice (20122015)**
12 288 t
Discard rate
Negligible
Not applied
Catch advice*
14 746 t
* (Revised previous advice cap).
** The 2012 advice was based on a qualitative evaluation of multiple indices and gave catch advice of 10 800 tonnes. A
combined index (Table 9.3.24.8) is now available. This has been used to re-calculate the 2012 catch advice of 12 288 tonnes
which is now used as a baseline for the present advice [average catch 20092011 (13 601) Index ratio (1.13) PA buffer
(0.8) = 12 288 tonnes].
Basisoftheadvice
Table 9.3.24.3 Ling in other areas. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for ling in this area.
The advice is based on a standardized cpue series from the Norwegian longline reference fleet which shows an
increasing trend. Other time-series covering smaller areas of the stock distribution show a similar trend.
LingIVaTarget
LingVIa Target
180
120
180
80
60
40
CPUE (kg/hooks)1000
100
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
2002
2004
2006 2008
Year
2010
2012
2014
140
120
100
80
60
40
0
2000
160
20
20
LingVIbTarget
200
160
CPUE (kg/hooks)1000
CPUE (kg/hooks)1000
220
200
140
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
Year
2010
2012
2014
2000
2002
2004
2006 2008
Year
2010
2012
2014
Figure 9.3.24.2 Ling in other areas. Cpue series for ling for the period 20002014 based on data when ling appeared to
have been targeted (>30% of total catch). The bars denote the 95% confidence intervals.
There is no information available for this stock.
Referencepoints
Table 9.3.24.4 Ling in other areas. The basis of the assessment.
3.2 (ICES, 2015a).
Assessment type
Cpue trends-based assessment (ICES, 2015b).
Input data
Standardized cpue series from the Norwegian longline reference fleet.
Discards are estimated at < 5% of the catch and are considered negligible.
Indicators
None.
Other information
None.
Working Group on the Biology and Assessment of Deep-Sea Fisheries Resources
Working group
(WGDEEP).
166
Ling

Table 9.3.24.5 Ling in other areas. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. Weights in
thousand tonnes.
TAC
TAC
Faroe
Norway
TAC
TAC EU
Subareas Subareas
Predicted
TAC
EU
TAC EU
Subareas
ICES
VI, VII,
VI, VII,
catch
EU
Subare Subarea IV
VI, VII,
landing
Year ICES advice
VIII, IX, VIII, IX,
corresp.
Subare
a IV
(Norwegia VIII, IX,
s Other
X, XII,
X, XII,
to advice
a III
(EU
n waters)
X, XII,
areas*
and XIV and XIV
waters)
and XIV
(EU
(EU
waters)
waters)
30% reduction on
2003
0.136
4.666
14.966
0.8
9.5
16.2
fishing effort**
2004 Biennial**
0.136
4.666
14.966
0.8
9.5
15.5
Effort reduced by
2005
8.136
3.966
1
14.966
0.8
5.78
15.3
30%
2006 Biennial
0.136
4.666
1
14.966
15.4
Reduce about 30%
2007
10
0.119
3.173
1
11.976
0.25
5.78
13.9
in catches
2008 Biennial
10
0.100
2.856
0.85
10.776
0.25
5.638
15.0
2009 Constrain catches
10
0.100
2.856
0.85
10.776
0.25
5.638
14.4
2010 Biennial
10
0.092
2.428
0
7.003
6.140
14.1
Constrain catches
to 20032008
average, and a
2011
15
0.092
2.428
NA
7.804
NA
6.360
13.1
reduction in
catches should be
considered
No new advice,
2012
15
0.092
2.428
NA
7.824
NA
6.340 16.1***
same as 2011
Reduce catches by
2013
10.8
2.428
0.85
8.024
0.33
6.140 18.8***
20%
No new advice,
2014
10.8
0.087
1.942
0.95
7.300
5.500 17.5***
same as 2013
No new advice,
2015
10.8
0.087
2.428
0.95
8.464
0.2
5.500
same as 2013
Precautionary
2016
14.7
approach
2017 Biennial
14.7
* Divisions IIIa and IVa, and in Subareas VI, VII, VIII, IX, XII, and XIV.
** Advice for ling in the Northeast Atlantic (not split in several assessment units).
*** Includes discards.
167
Ling

Table 9.3.24.6 Ling in other areas. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Commercial landings
Longline and trawl
17.5 kt
17.0 kt
Table 9.3.24.7
Year III
1988 331
1989 422
1990 543
1991 484
1992 549
1993 642
1994 469
1995 412
1996 402
1997 311
1998 214
1999 216
2000 228
2001 262
2002 263
2003 261
2004 232
2005 210
2006 188
2007 174
2008 168
2009 149
2010 142
2011 140
2012 145
2013 130
2014* 134
* Preliminary.
Commercial discards
0.5 kt
Ling in other areas. History of total international official landings (tonnes) by area.
IVa
IVbc VIa
VIb
VII VIIa VIIbc VIIde VIIf VIIg-k VIII IX XII XIV All areas
11 223 379 14 556 1 765 5 057 211
865
779 444 4 415 1 028
0
3
41 056
11 677 387 8 631 3 743 5 261 311
577
700 310 1 012 1 221
0
1
34 253
10 027 455 6 730 1 505 4 575 169
678
799 233 1 077 1 372
3
9
28 175
9969 490 4 795 2 662 3 977 125
749
680 302 1 394 1 139
10
1
26 777
10 763 842 4 588 1 891 2 552 105 1 286
519 137 1 593
802
0
17
25 644
12 810 797 5 301 1 522 2 294 219 1 434
436 223 2 334
510
0
9
28 531
11 496 323 6 730 2 540 2 185 284 1 595
451 400 3 254
85
5
6
29 823
13 041 659 8 847 1 638
305 1 944 1 389 602 6 131
845
50
17
35 880
12 705 569 8 577 1 124
210 2 201 1 477 399 6 850 1 041
2
0
35 557
11 315 699 6 746
814
264 1 780 1 472 547 5 045 1 034 0
9
61
30 097
13 631 627 7 362 1 394
198 1 034 1 500 561 7 814 1 797 2
2
6
36 142
9 810 446 6 899 1 175
84 1 366 1 060 312 4 189
452 1
2
1
26 013
9 246 384 6 909 1 879
73 1 182
846 218 3 578
339 1
7
26
24 916
7 854 284 5 143
788
87 1 226
807 220 3 360
594 0 59
36
20 720
9 072 309 4 127
533
119
964
891 453 3 526
467 0
8
23
20 756
6 433 234 3 246
660
112
524
787 176 2 940
436
19
83
15 912
6 306 241 2 769 1 064
97
640
801 161 2 427
492
0
10
15 240
6 449 149 3 028 1 142
61
429
786 184 2 053
450
1
0
14 942
6 719 144 2 573 1 411
88
668
687 130 2 407
398
1
0
15 414
5 858 159 3 119 1 314
43
358
710 125 1 749
312
0
5
13 927
7 259 200 2 950 1 545
14
255
569 187 1 503
345
0
1
14 996
7 412 193 1 423 2 756
11
131
348 52
691
182
1
3
13 352
6 398 201 3 256 2 691
16
326
294 69
848
134
0
3
14 378
208
6 508 211 2 999 1 259
28
425 155
936
201
0
3
13 073
7 018 192 3 655 1 390
14 1 013
436 167 1 520
552
0 106
16 208
7 197 176 4 660
795
30 1 010
482 224 1 608
459
0
0
16 771
7 746 148 4 761
774
29
532
605 334 1 557
395
0
9
17 024
168
Ling

Table 9.3.24.8 Ling in other areas. Combined cpue from all areas (Norwegian standardized cpue).
Year
cpue
Upper
2000
64.5426
69.9121
2001
53.6055
59.0598
2002
57.6624
63.3505
2003
54.0599
59.709
2004
76.5455
82.3682
2005
82.4
88.2535
2006
86.6567
92.2256
2007
81.4064
87.1106
2008
93.2877
99.4986
2009
88.9355
95.2096
2010
93.2985
140.083
2011
105.188
110.944
2012
116.116
121.616
2013
122.14
127.676
2014
144.473
149.989
Lower
59.173
48.1512
51.9742
48.4108
70.7227
76.5465
81.0878
75.7023
87.0768
82.6614
46.5142
99.4314
110.615
116.604
138.958

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
preparation.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group on the Biology and Assessment of Deep-Sea Fisheries Resources
(WGDEEP), 2027 March 2015, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:17.
169
Ling
West of Scotland and Northwest

Ireland Herring
(Divisions VIaN,VIaS and VIIbc)
In previous years ICES gave separate advice for herring in VIaN and in VIaS/VIIbc. A new benchmark in 2015 was
unable to differentiate the two stocks in the assessment procedure. It is recognised that these stocks are separate,
but until better information is available FEAS and ICES provides advice for combined stocks in VIa and VIIbc.

ICES advises that, when the MSY approach is applied, there should be zero
catch in 2016 and that a rebuilding plan be developed for this stock. FEAS
agrees with this advice, and stresses that a rebuilding plan is required for
2016 onwards. In order to meet with EC policies (COM 2015 239) and the
EU CFP, such a plan must contain timelines for achieving MSY conditions
by 2020. If this is not possible, FEAS considers that it should be attained as
soon as possible thereafter. These stocks have been subject to the Landing
Obligation since Jan 1st 2015.
This stock has a quantitative assessment and forecast, and is placed in ICES category I. The
information presented by ICES represents two stocks assessed in combination. It shows that the
combined stocks spawning biomass (SSB) has been declining since 2004 and is currently below
Blim. The fishing mortality (F) has been below FMSY since the late 1990s. The three lowest estimates
in the recruitment (R) time series have occurred in the last three years.
FEAS is working towards separate assessments for each stock in the medium term.
FEAS is concerned that catches in Sub-division VIaN may include fish belonging to the VIaS/VIIbc
stock. This leads to additional mortality on that stock.
FEAS and ICES advise, under precautionary considerations, that activities having a negative
impact on spawning habitat of herring should not occur, unless the effects of these activities have
been assessed and shown not to be detrimental.
There is no management plan for the combined stocks of herring in this area.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The EU TAC for VIaN in 2015 is 22,690 t. The Irish share of the
EU quota was 3,427 t. The EU TAC for VIaS and VIIbc is 0 t in
2015.
The EU adopted a management plan for VIaN in December 2008. In
VIaS/VIIbc the EC Council followed a proposed long term plan for
TAC setting for 2014 and 2015.
Irish and Dutch vessels are not allowed to fish herring inside the
UK (Scottish) 6-12 mile limits, including the outlying Hebridean
Islands. German and French vessels have access to herring fishing
between 6 and 12 miles in Scottish waters, in most areas, though
not the mainland limits east of the Butt of Lewis.
170

for Vb, VIb and VIaN
IRE 3427 t
GER 2536 t
FRA 480 t
NL 2536 t
UK 13711 t
West of Scotland and Northwest Ireland Herring
There is an annual seasonal closure of the Butt of Lewis spawning area from the 15th August to the 15th
September each year.
It is noted that the proposed rebuilding plan for northwest Ireland herring contains an exclusion zone
between 56oN and 57o30 N for Irish vessels only.
The Irish herring fishery in VIa opens on the 1st October each season. This is an appropriate opening date for
the VIaS/VIIbc stock, but not for the VIaN stock, where the main fishing season begins in August. The 1st
October opening date incentivises Irish vessels to target fish along the 56oN boundary with VIaS, with a high
risk of catching of VIaS/VIIbc herring against the VIaN quota (see also West of Scotland Herring).
The 56oN boundary between this stock unit and herring in VIaN is not biologically meaningful. It was created
in 1981, and corresponds roughly to the boundary of the Irish and UK fishery patrol zones, or EEZs. The
boundary cuts through both the summer feeding grounds and the winter spawning grounds, and thus the
fishing grounds too.
ICES ADVICE 5.3.19

Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c (West of
Scotland, West of Ireland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, there should be zero catch in 2016. ICES advises that a
rebuilding plan be developed for this stock.
detrimental.
The information presented here represents two stocks assessed in combination. The spawning biomass (SSB) for
the combined stocks has been declining since 2004 and is currently below Blim. The fishing mortality (F) has been
below FMSY since the late 1990s. Recruitment (R) has been at the lowest in the series for the past three years.
Figure 5.3.19.1 Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. ICES estimated catches, and the R, F, and SSB from the summary of
stock assessment (weights in thousand tonnes). Estimated values for recruitment are unshaded and a diamond
shape designates the estimated SSB.
171

Table 5.3.19.1
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
2014
13
14
2015
Maximum
FMS
MSY
Appropriate
Below trigger
Sustainable Yield Y
Btrigger
Reduced
Below possible
Precautionary
Fpa,
Bpa, Blim
reproductive
reference points
approach
Flim
capacity
Management
FMG
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Not applicable
Plan
T
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.19.2
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages (wr) 3-6 (2015)
0.11
ICES (2015a; 2015b)
Catch constraint, TAC VIaN
Total catch (2015)
22690 t
ICES (2015a; 2015b)
TAC, VIaN = 22,690 t; TAC VIaS = 0 t
Wanted catch (2015)*
22690 t
ICES (2015a; 2015b)
TAC, VIaN = 22,690 t; TAC VIaS = 0 t
Unwanted catch (2015)*
ICES (2015a; 2015b)
Considered to be negligible
ICES (2015a; 2015b)
Geometric mean 2012-2014
R age (wr) 1 (2015-2016)
623435
ICES (2015a; 2015b)
SSB in advice year for an autumn spawning stock
SSB (2015)
194194t
*The term wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.The
unwantedcatchreferstothecomponentthatwaspreviouslydiscarded.
Table 5.3.19.3
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. The catch options. All weights are in tonnes.
Catch
(2016)
Rationale
F
(2016)
Basis
SSB(2016)*
%SSB
change**
%TAC
change***
MSYapproach
Zerocatch
166670
14%
100%
12762
FMSY SSB2015 / MSY Btrigger
0.08
159452
18%
44%
17797
F2015
0.11
156570
19%
22%
22690
TAC2015
0.14
153750
21%
0%
26049
FMSY
0.16
151803
22%
15%
17018
TAC201525%
0.10
157017
19%
25%
Otheroptions
8509
F=0.05
0.05
161870
17%
62%
* For this autumn-spawning stock, the SSB is determined at spawning time and is influenced by fisheries between 1st January
and spawning.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.19.4
Advice basis
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. The basis of the advice.

MSY approach
There is no agreed management plan for the combined stocks. There was a management plan
Management plan
for herring in VIa North; this plan is not appropriate for the combined stocks.
A combined assessment of VIaN and of VIaS/VIIbc herring was benchmarked in 2015 (ICES, 2015a). The stocks
are combined because it is not possible to segregate them in commercial catches or surveys. ICES still considers
that separate stocks exist.
172
The assessment estimates an average F for the combined stocks. The estimated F is not indicative of F on either
stock, and the smaller component stock may suffer a much higher F than the larger stock. The estimations of SSB
and R reflect the combined stocks.
Historic assessment results are not presented because this is the first time that advice is presented for the combined
stocks in recent past.
This is the first time since 1981 that combined advice has been given for these two stocks.
Considering the low SSB and low recruitment in recent years, it is not possible to identify any non-zero catch that
would be compatible with the MSY and precautionary approach. There is no catch option for 2016 that is consistent
with the combined stocks recovering to above Blim.
Fishing should not proceed unless accompanied by a rebuilding plan. Such a plan should include rebuilding targets
and time lines as well as protections for each stock.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.19.5 Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. Reference points, values and their technical basis.
Framework
Reference
point
Value
410000 t
MSY Btrigger
MSY approach
FMSY
0.16
Blim
Precautionary
approach
Management
plan
Bpa
Flim
Fpa
SSBMGT
FMGT
Technical basis
250000 t
410000 t
Not defined
Not defined
Not applicable
Not applicable
Source
Bpa
Stochastic simulations from segmented regression
stockrecruitment relationship.
Breakpoint in segmented regression stockrecruitment relationship
Blim raised by assessment uncertainty
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2015a)
Table 5.3.19.6
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015c)
Age-based analytical assessment (SAM; ICES, 2015b) that uses catches in the model and in
Assessment type
the forecast.
Commercial catches, (weights, ages and length frequencies from catch sampling); Malin Shelf
Input data
Herring Acoustic Survey data (MSHAS), west of Scotland herring acoustic survey
(MSHAS_N), Scottish west coast IBTS surveys (quarters 1 and 4).
Discards and by-catch
Not included, considered negligible.
Indicators
None
Benchmarked in WKWEST (ICES, 2015a), updated with corrected natural mortalities by
Other information
ICES (2015a). This is an autumn/winter spawning stock. Age is given in winter rings, so for
example: a 2-year-old fish is termed 1-winter ring.
Working group
Information from stakeholders (Scottish Pelagic Fishermens Association and the Pelagic Freezer Trawler
Association) indicate that fishing patterns have been stable in Division VIa north for the last eight years, since the
implementation of the West of Scotland herring management plan. Over the last three years (2012-2014), Scottish
pelagic skippers reported observations of herring marks/shoals over a wide area of the northern part of Division VIa
north, and fishable aggregations were easily located.
173

Table 5.3.19.7
Year
2015
*
2016
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of catch.
Weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch Sum of
Discards / ICES estimated
ICES Advice
corresponding to agreed
Slippage
catches
advice
TACs
Prior to the advice for 2016, ICES advised separately for herring in Division VIa North and
herring in Division VIa South and VIIb,c. See ICES
2014a and 2014b for the history of ICES advice on
these individual stocks
MSY approach
0
* See Table 5.3.12.1 Herring in Division VIa (North) and Table 5.3.13.1 in Herring in Divisions VIaS and VIIb,c for the full
histories of ICES advice, management, landings, and catches.

Table 5.3.19.10
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
26 kt
Landings
99% pelagic trawl
Discards
Ringnets negligible
26 kt
174
Negligible
175
Netherlands
84013
Total landings
unallocated/area
12844
Ireland
* Unraised discards
ICES estimate
Corrected
for
misreported
VIaN
area
40286
40286
27123
47623
47171
Corrected for VIaN unallocated
27123
47623
43681
Corrected for
misreported
44743
40868
Total catch
772
43971
123
40745
Total landings
17494
5132
16231
2691
613
1810
2005
68578
68578
92975
Discards*
17706
Norway
UK
Lithuania
8296
1046
Germany
Netherlands
228
625
France
2004
60835
Faroe Islands
Country
ICES estimate
60835
area
83428
VIaN
Corrected
for
misreported
90478
96728
84313
250
90228
32802
7447
8632
35836
4693
818
1993
88913
Corrected for VIaN unallocated
Total catch
Corrected
for
VIaS/VIIbc
unallocated/ area misreported
300
32730
UK
Discards*
2389
Norway
8900
Ireland
Lithuania
5890
33985
Germany
119
1992
France
Faroe Islands
Country
30360
30360
54135
54135
49429
163
49266
18290
7361
19192
3152
701
570
2006
58330
58330
88564
87864
81614
700
80914
4237
30676
10683
30493
7938
5087
274
1994
47251
47251
51552
51552
46410
46410
17618
8065
17791
1749
703
484
2007
57367
57367
89513
94054
92954
92954
42685
4840
9015
28998
3744
3672
1995
47433
47433
38556
38556
35453
35453
13963
4133
13340
2526
564
927
2008
58605
58605
96859
114612
107712
107712
46639
6223
11196
33521
7836
2297
1996
29394
29394
31774
31774
29839
29839
11076
5675
10468
27
1049
1544
2009
63780
63780
93546
101561
100861
112
100749
44273
4962
13273
26275
8873
3093
1997
28976
28976
32846
32846
30118
95
30023
12018
3600
10241
3583
511
70
2010
72253
72253
104699
116447
105247
90
105157
42302
5317
10983
36399
8253
1903
1998
30118
30118
28277
28277
25605
25605
11696
1684
8203
3518
504
2011
55846
55846
79469
87624
79708
79708
36446
2695
9112
24240
6752
463
1999
24678
24678
27803
27803
25023
25023
12249
3523
7178
1829
244
2012
43008
43008
57635
57635
49187
49187
22816
5881
15005
4615
870
2000
25023
25023
29414
29414
26946
30
26916
15906
1815
4584
4025
586
2013
40007
40007
50444
50167
48777
48777
21862
6622
15589
3944
760
2001
26946
26946
31211
31211
29048
29048
16769
770
1641
5565
3354
589
360
2014
50740
50740
59475
53231
49358
49358
20604
4978
17311
3810
1855
800
2002
44 583
44 583
48 164
45 344
41 763
41 763
16 947
3 609
16 502
2 935
1 370
400
2003
Table 5.3.19.11a Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb,c. History of commercial catch and landings, both official and ICES estimated values are presented by area for each country
participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
176
ICES estimate
Country
Faroes Islands
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
Lithuania
Norway
UK
Unallocated
Discards*
Total
Area misreported
ICES estimate
* Unraised discards
17706
3490
123
33344
-6885
26459
28985
2004
228
625
1046
1894
8232
18284
163
34230
-6884
27346
772
31392
-17263
14129
24430
2006
570
701
3152
4352
7008
17494
31778
2005
1810
613
2691
2880
5132
33735
-4119
29616
17618
29575
2007
484
703
1749
5129
8052
25216
-9162
16054
13963
26105
2008
927
564
2526
3103
4133
21306
-2798
18508
11076
35233
2009
1544
1049
27
1935
5675
95
22510
-2728
19877
12018
33353
2010
70
511
3583
2728
3600
21358
-3599
17759
21296
-2780
18516
12249
244
1829
3451
3523
504
3518
3956
1684
11696
23162
2012
29736
2011
30
25446
-2468
22978
15906
586
4025
3124
1775
25251
2013
26115
-4088
22027
16769
32914
2014
360
589
3354
2632
1641
770
28081
Table 5.3.19.11b Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb c. The Division VIaN component of the stock. History of commercial catch and landings, both official and ICES estimated values are
presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
Country
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Faroe Islands
274
800
400
France
119
818
5087
3672
2297
3093
1903
463
870
760
1340
1370
Germany
5640
4693
7938
3733
7836
8873
8253
6752
4615
3944
3810
2935
Ireland
7985
8236
6093
3548
9721
1875
11199
7915
4841
4311
4239
3581
Netherlands
8000
6132
8183
7808
9396
9873
8483
7244
4647
4534
4612
3609
Lithuania
Norway
2389
7447
30676
4840
6223
4962
5317
2695
UK
32730
32602
-4287
42661
46639
44273
42302
36446
22816
21862
20604 16947
Unallocated
-5485
-3753
700
-4541
-17753
-8015
-11748
-8155
277
6244
2820
Discards*
200
62
90
Total
51578
56175
54664
61271
64359
64995
65799
61514
37789
35688
41649 31622
Area misreported
-22593
-24397
-30234
-32146
-38254
-29766
-32446
-23623
-14627
-10437
-8735 -3581
177
Discards*
ICES estimate
* Unraised discards
19193
4706
Unallocated/
misreported
area
6
15199
UK Scotland
Total landings
17791
5142
12675
13340
3103
10237
10468
1935
8533
10241
2728
7513
6919
2672
4247
6571
2780
3791
3968
2468
1500
5096
2163
2933
Table 5.3.19.11c Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb c. The Divisions VIaS/VIIbc component of the stock. History
values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
Country
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
France
Germany
250
11
Ireland
26000
27600
24400
25450
23800
24400
25200
16325
10164
Netherlands
900
2500
2500
1207
1800
3400
2500
1868
1234
UK (N.Ireland)
UK
(England
+
50
24
UK Scotland
200
Total landings
27150
30300
26950
26692
25600
27800
27700
18193
11398
Unallocated/
area 4600
6250
6250
1100
6900
700
11200
7916
8448
i
d
Discards
100
250
700
50
ICES estimated catch
31850
36800
33900
27792
32500
28550
38900
26109
19846
Country
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
France
Germany
Ireland
14840
12662
10237
8533
7513
4247
3727
1460
2933
Netherlands
353
13
40
UK (N.Ireland)
UK
(England
+
2002
515
13072
366
13953
3873
17826
2001
11278
2088
13366
1390
14756
16502
12921
3581
12921
2003
13827
11014
2813
10950
64
2004
16231
13351
2880
13351
2005
of commercial catch and landings, both official and ICES estimated
178
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Year
2159685
3739070
5820705
3653187
5199934
6284573
5797084
3637259
14798465
3583809
6330420
7008442
6124737
8230683
14560708
6439926
3437648
4182011
4797905
2973390
2975127
3556848
3153413
3238332
4811174
3664749
7426292
4355594
5778517
4755028
6799549
3126081
3404358
3539258
3332933
4833542
4637448
5527948
3402938
4091211
High
673691
1238798
1891854
1198870
1765322
2144446
2000954
1211366
4448004
1193097
2315469
2611340
2336474
3199869
5305013
2515475
1315467
1639164
1834550
1102165
1079710
1289306
1160085
1216430
1811287
1347457
2627288
1564424
2072658
1678291
2248184
1046236
1147887
1181827
1082341
1579960
1490057
1824238
1116657
1382838
Low
(tonnes)
356112
357182
338405
398714
432354
434087
467895
515555
479261
733806
782305
758426
718557
678066
606828
701517
739700
454521
285501
241832
210029
203822
218600
276233
314897
315527
264871
348363
422523
470711
427624
487966
559053
565237
536596
462314
520216
407991
326766
334703
SSB#
515519
524499
501723
587464
629076
623760
664689
722061
663368
1019646
1083506
1019960
933302
858334
764432
895851
948694
575404
360038
316820
283031
276817
293412
363180
408485
411797
352818
475485
582273
646915
596765
690990
805570
827854
797669
696086
793543
622560
499038
503849
High
245996
243239
228250
270609
297150
302089
329366
368109
346249
528096
564834
563953
553223
535658
481717
549339
576747
359034
226394
184594
155856
150075
162863
210101
242751
241763
198847
255227
306602
342501
306423
344593
387975
385929
360970
307052
341034
267374
213964
222341
Low
Fishing
Mortalityat
Ages(wr)
36
0.14
0.184
0.18
0.133
0.099
0.133
0.101
0.098
0.107
0.149
0.141
0.118
0.165
0.238
0.391
0.274
0.365
0.493
0.485
0.479
0.292
0.2
0.111
0.131
0.245
0.33
0.348
0.232
0.196
0.224
0.252
0.175
0.145
0.169
0.14
0.132
0.14
0.131
0.14
0.163
Herring in Divisions VIa and VIIb c. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes).
Recruitment
atAge
(wr)1
(thousands)
1206218
2152198
3318422
2092772
3029778
3671093
3405833
2099060
8113176
2067809
3828563
4278016
3782894
5131969
8788899
4024857
2126526
2618206
2966816
1810294
1792282
2141463
1912649
1984743
2952019
2222182
4417127
2610363
3460764
2824947
3909813
1808485
1976820
2045187
1899308
2763476
2628700
3175577
1949337
2378546
Table 5.3.19.14
0.207
0.272
0.269
0.199
0.146
0.193
0.146
0.139
0.15
0.206
0.192
0.158
0.216
0.304
0.495
0.347
0.455
0.612
0.609
0.619
0.392
0.273
0.151
0.174
0.319
0.43
0.463
0.316
0.268
0.308
0.353
0.251
0.209
0.246
0.209
0.197
0.213
0.2
0.212
0.246
High
0.094
0.125
0.12
0.088
0.067
0.092
0.07
0.069
0.077
0.108
0.103
0.088
0.126
0.186
0.309
0.216
0.292
0.397
0.386
0.37
0.218
0.147
0.081
0.098
0.189
0.253
0.261
0.17
0.143
0.163
0.179
0.123
0.101
0.117
0.094
0.088
0.092
0.086
0.092
0.107
Low
(tonnes)
37086.192
51021.378
49861.279
41731.019
33456.454
49069.846
39458.312
41439.922
46258.476
88521.435
81797.34
72838.504
98125.25
136080.241
227294.088
158895.177
240626.207
219037.888
147266.625
119372.006
58279.169
38599.708
22833.865
32663.058
69563.828
108336.781
99111.425
81389.374
62692.682
97733.533
96278.47
65972.944
64344.066
81961.098
66836.191
58279.169
64215.507
54176.364
55326.097
56840.251
Modelcatch
43114.398
59856.347
58779.928
48572.166
38924.404
57008.054
45661.116
47790.5
54836.125
105538.553
98129.838
87428.273
115584.372
159355.01
276834.74
188573.521
287825.226
260212.686
175056.518
140612.601
67990.191
44966.376
26620.285
37956.006
81141.209
125880.58
115613.61
96106.659
74445.998
114604.928
111893.477
76203.891
75150.767
95762.641
77386.136
67179.902
73726.044
62526.428
63991.56
66058.678
High
31900.843
43490.476
42295.851
35853.414
28756.621
42237.011
34098.124
35933.232
39022.572
74248.169
68183.184
60683.433
83303.343
116204.894
186618.928
133887.712
201167.119
184378.391
123888.326
101339.964
49955.17
33134.48
19586.018
28108.209
59638.33
93238.037
84964.69
68925.819
52794.945
83345.835
82842.575
57115.579
55091.372
70148.667
57724.506
50557.703
55931.813
46941.405
47834.074
48908.247
Low
179
2706678
Recruitment
atAge
(wr)1
(thousands)
3081725
2681803
2530684
4151582
3197884
3295274
1982759
2169484
1762070
1835817
1257958
1412681
1806677
2746945
1741052
1102400
538208
408399
623435*
4743408
5327688
4762671
4570782
7359887
5663739
5844124
3552558
3875706
3135867
3308675
2352259
2680590
3509243
5483385
3513733
2298044
1217345
1491401
High
1592800
1782579
1510091
1401152
2341834
1805603
1858077
1106621
1214401
990122
1018602
672739
744488
930139
1376104
862690
528835
237950
111834
Low
(tonnes)
270763
343520
361132
331705
470711
529136
545250
480701
438888
461852
486991
460469
416233
372503
305896
346972
280127
229808
194194
**
431890
SSB#
630681
406702
519906
558364
513387
722785
811892
840003
742696
673815
714694
762928
740532
690472
632785
532390
618628
516562
444697
High
303848
180261
226975
233569
214318
306549
344854
353925
311128
285869
298460
310855
286323
250915
219282
175759
194608
151911
118759
Low
0.177
Fishing
Mortalityat
Ages(wr)
36
0.221
0.232
0.135
0.108
0.099
0.113
0.088
0.081
0.063
0.096
0.101
0.072
0.077
0.09
0.076
0.068
0.086
0.093
0.249
0.334
0.353
0.21
0.168
0.154
0.176
0.138
0.128
0.099
0.15
0.16
0.116
0.128
0.155
0.133
0.122
0.158
0.177
High
0.127
0.147
0.152
0.087
0.069
0.063
0.072
0.056
0.052
0.041
0.062
0.064
0.044
0.046
0.052
0.043
0.038
0.047
0.049
Low
69430.966
(tonnes)
66436.375
72330.415
49861.279
39894.749
40174.992
48922.858
43782.961
41439.922
28825.048
44622.79
44756.86
29732.619
30607.489
29085.644
24809.948
24612.261
26502.65
25925.958
Modelcatch
* Geometric mean 2012-2014.

** Output from short-term forecast.
#
For this autumn-spawning stock, the SSB is determined at spawning time and is influenced by fisheries between 1st January and spawning.
Avg.
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Year
81566.252
76731.368
83989.417
58425.811
46299.82
46617.38
57206.101
50745.499
48021.954
33256.174
51161.037
51263.884
34106.094
35220.619
33488.367
28683.779
28935.924
31173.488
30616.136
High
59114.787
57522.653
62289.859
42552.205
34375.75
34622.924
41838.998
37775.718
35760.043
24984.334
38920.115
39075.785
25919.961
26598.578
25261.748
21459.291
20934.647
22531.66
21954.283
Low
ICES. 2014a. Herring in Division VIa (North). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee 2015. ICES Advice
2015 Book 5 Section 5.3.12. http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2014/2014/hervian.pdf
ICES. 2014b. Herring in Divisions VIa (South) and VIIb,c. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee 2015.
ICES Advice 2015 Book 5 Section 5.3.13.
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2014/2014/her-irlw.pdf
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on West of Scotland Herring (WKWEST), 2-6 February,
Dublin, Ireland. ICES CM 2015\ACOM:34. 299 pp.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62N 1019 March 2015.
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee 2015. ICES Advice 2015 Book 1. In
preparation.
180
West of Scotland and Ireland Sea bass

Divisions VIa,VIIb, and VIIj

There is no assessment for this stock. FEAS agree with ICES advice that
when the precautionary approach is applied, commercial landings should
be no more than 5 t in each of the years 2016 and 2017. ICES cannot
quantify total catches. This stock is not subject to the Landing
Obligation in 2016.
FEAS agree with ICES advice that a management plan is urgently
needed to develop and implement measures to substantially reduce
fishing mortality throughout the range of the stock.
Stock identity remains poorly understood and tagging studies are ongoing. A new stock
definition was considered in 2013, however, it is not clear if sea bass in Divisions IVbc, VIIa and
VIId-h constitute a separate stock. It is possible that sea bass in the area has a connection with
sea bass in Division VIIj and Sub-area VIII.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Given the concerns about the state of sea bass, the EU took several actions in 2015 that are of relevance
in this area:
o
On 25 March 2015 the EU set a catch limit of three fish per day per angler. Recreational fishing
accounts for 25% of sea bass catches
On 19 June 2015 the EU set catch limits for particular fishing gears in order to protect sea bass
for the remainder of 2015. The decision also comprises an area closure around Ireland for
commercial fishing, namely the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, south of Ireland and west of Ireland (ICES
areas VIIa,b,c,g,j,k outside the UK 12 mile zone), thereby extending a national measure, that
Ireland has had in place for Irish vessels only, to protect sea bass since 1990 to cover all EU
vessels active in the area.
On 2 July 2015 the EU increased the minimum size for northern sea bass from 36 to 42 cm. The
new rule applies to both commercial and recreational fishermen. This aims to further improve
protection and give more chance for reproduction.
There is no TAC for sea bass anywhere in Europe, at present.

The Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Order, 1990 prohibits the retention on board or transhipment of sea
bass by Irish registered vessels. Incidental commercial catches of sea bass by Irish vessels must, by law, be
discarded.
The Bass (Restrictions on Sale) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 367/2007) prohibits the sale of sea bass in Ireland
except for fish that have been imported.
The Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-law No. 826 of 2007 (SI 386/2007) imposes an angling bag limit of 2
fish per 24 hour period and bans angling from the 15 May to 15 June.
181
ICES ADVICE 5.3.44 Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj (West
of Scotland and Ireland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, commercial landings should be no more than
5 tonnes in each of the years 2016 and 2017. ICES cannot quantify total catches.
Official reported landings are higher than one tonne after 2000, but still low. Most of the official landings are
reported from Division VIIj.
Officiallandings
10
Landings
9
8
7
tonnes
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1995
2000
2005
2010
Figure5.3.44.1 SeabassinDivisionsVIa,VIIb,andVIIj.Officiallandings(tonnes),commercial.

Table 5.3.44.1
Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
Undefined
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
Stock size
2013
2014
2015
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
182
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 6 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012a). For stocks without information on
abundanceorexploitation,ICESconsidersthataprecautionaryreductionofcatchesshouldbeimplemented.
Theprecautionarybufferwasappliedin2013(advicefor2014),hencethereisnoneedtoapplyitthisyear
again.
Table 5.3.44.2
Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. For stocks in ICES data category 6 one catch option is
provided.
Recent advised commercial landings
5 tonnes
Discard rate
Unknown
Not applied
Commercial landings advice*
5 tonnes
* = recent advice commercial landings.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.44.3
Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for sea bass in this area.
A series of official commercial landings data are available but the quality of this is unknown. Discarding of sea
bass on Irish observer trips since 1990 has been negligible. Sea bass landings by shore anglers in Ireland were
available, and estimated at 30 t in 2010 and 44 t in 2011 (this includes some landings from Divisions VIIa and
VIIg). Therefore an accurate time-series of total catches cannot be calculated.
A moratorium on the landings of sea bass in commercial fisheries has been in place in Ireland since 1990. The
industry reports high sporadic catches which are discarded due to the moratorium. Recreational fisheries in
Ireland are subject to bag limits of 2 fish/24 hrs, a 40 cm minimum size limit, and a closed season from 15th
May to 15th June annually.
Stock identity remains poorly understood and tagging studies are ongoing. Sea bass in Divisions VIIa and VIIg
around the southern and eastern coasts of Ireland is currently included in the sea bass assessment in Divisions
IVbc, VIIa, and VIIdh, but may be more associated with the stock in Divisions Via, VIIb, and VIIj.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.44.4 Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. The basis of the assessment.
6.2.0 (ICES, 2015a).
Assessment type
No assessment.
Input data
Official landings.
Unknown.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmarked in 2012 (ICES, 2012b).
Working group
183

Table 5.3.44.5
Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and official landings.
Weights in tonnes.
Predicted catch
Official
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to
Agreed TAC
landings*
advice
2000
none
1
2001
none
4
2002
No increase in effort or F**
none
4
2003
none
2
2004
none
8
2005
none
4
2006
none
2
2007
none
5
2008
none
5
2009
none
4
2010
none
9
2011
none
7
2012
No increase in catch**
none
1
2013
20% reduction in catches (last 3 years average) **
< 6.0**
none
0
20% reduction in commercial landings (last 3 years
2014
< 18
none
2***
average 20092011)
20% reduction in commercial landings (average 2009
2015
<5
none
2011)
Precautionary approach (same advised commercial landings
2016
5
Precautionary approach (same advised commercial landings
2017
5
* Landings between 20072011 were revised.
** Advice for the European sea bass in the Northeast Atlantic (combined stock).
*** Preliminary.

Table 5.3.44.6 Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch (2014)
Commercial catch
Recreational catch
Commercial landings
Discards
Unknown
Unknown
2t
Not available, but known to occur
Table 5.3.44.7
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
*Preliminary.
Sea bass in Divisions VIa, VIIb, and VIIj. History of official landings for each country participating in the
fishery. Weights in tonnes.
Belgium
Spain
France
UK
Ireland
Total
+
0
0
0
+
0
0
1
1
4
4
0
4
4
2
2
0
2
6
0
8
4
4
2
2
5
5
5
5
3
1
4
9
9
7
7
1
1
0
2
< 0.5
2
184

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2012. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol on New Species (Turbot and Sea bass; IBPNew 2012), 15
October 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:45. 239 pp.
ICES 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
185
Ecosystem overview for the

Celtic Sea
FEAS advises that the following considerations should be taken
into account when developing ecosystem based management
objectives for Celtic Sea fisheries:
Demersal fisheries in the Celtic Sea are mixed fisheries,

catching a large number of commercial and non
commercial species. Many of the species caught are
discarded. Mixed fisheries do not only affect the
commercial stocks which are presented in this Stock
Book, but impact on the wider fish community.
Discarding rates are also high on many commercial species. Recently introduced technical
measures such as increased cod-end mesh size and square mesh panels need to be
monitored in order to evaluate their effectiveness. Certain demersal quota species will be
subject to the demersal landing obligation (LO) from 1 January 2016, which should offer a
reduction in discarding particularly for Nephrops and whiting that are covered by the LO in
the Celtic Sea in 2016.
recoverability of habitats varies depending on substrate type, biota and type of fishing gear.
The overall impact of demersal trawling on the Celtic Sea seabed needs to be evaluated in
relation to the proportion of different habitats impacted.
A number of rare endangered and/or vulnerable species of cetaceans, seals, seabirds and
elasmobranchs are resident or transient in the Celtic Sea. The management of fisheries
needs to ensure that the conservation of these species is not compromised.

should incentivise fishing behaviour and introduce management tools that reduce the
impact of fishing on the wider ecosystem.
Physical Features
Bathymetry
The Celtic Sea region is an extended shelf south of Ireland, limited to the west by the
slope of the Porcupine Seabight and Goban Spur. The topography drops to 80100 m
within 20 km of the coast and extends to the shelf edge (up to 500 km from the coast) as
a relatively flat plateau. Coastal areas consist of shallow bays in the south and sites fully
exposed to the Northeast Atlantic Ocean in the west (OSPAR, 2000).
Substrates
Deep circalittoral (below low water mark) sand (EUNIS Habitat A5.27) is dominant in the
Celtic Sea (MESH, 2010). A deep circalittoral mud habitat (A5.37) is found below 70 m in
the Celtic Deep and deep circalittoral coarse sediments (A5.15) are found south of the
Waterford and Cork coastlines. The net movement of sediment is in a southwest
direction towards the Celtic Sea from the St Georges and Bristol Channels resulting in
deposition in the central Celtic Sea region (Nairn et al., 1995).
Circulation
The poleward flowing Shelf Edge Current (SEC) runs from south to north from the Iberian
margin to the Norwegian Sea (White & Bowyer, 1997). Thermal stratification and tidal
mixing generates the seasonal Irish Coastal Current (ICC) (Horsburgh et al., 1998, Brown
et al., 2003, Fernand et al., 2006). This flows westwards from the northern Cornish coast
along the south and west of Ireland and northwards towards Malin Head and Scotland.
186
Ecosystem overview for the Celtic Sea
Fronts
The year-round tidally mixed Irish Shelf Front is located to the south and west of Ireland
at 11W (Huang et al., 1991). The Ushant Front runs between Northern France and the
mouth of the English Channel (Le Boyer et al., 2009) and the Celtic Sea Front marks the
ecological boundary between the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea (Simpson, 1976).
Temperature
Mean annual SSTs in the Celtic Sea are around 12.5 to 13C with a range of 8 to 20C.
SSTs at M5 weather buoy, in 2014, were below 10 year average for the first 3 months
rising up to 1C above average for the remainder of the year (Aug-Oct 2014 data not
available). Mean salinity is ca 35 PSU with a range of 32.7 to 35.5 (recorded at MI weather
buoys M3 and M5). Longterm datasets from the Malin shelf (1959+) indicate a steady
increase in SSTs with mid-2000s values being the highest on record (Beszczynska-Mller,
A. and Dye, S. R. (Eds.) 2013).
1959-2012
Biological Features
Phytoplankton
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
(19902010)
Zooplankton
Overall Abundance
(19582010)
Benthos and
biogenic habitats
Fish community
LFI
MML
(1995-2012)
Mammals
Greysealpup
production
(19782005)
Harboursealpop.
(19782003)
Diatom and dinoflagellate species abundances are increasing in coastal waters, south and
southwest off Ireland based on time series from 1990 to 2010 (OBrien et al. 2012). Along
the south coast diatom abundance generally peaks in July/August and dinoflagellates in
October. In the southwest diatom abundance peaks in May and July and dinoflagellates in
September (OBrien et al., 2012). The ICC is thought to be a mechanism that transports
blooms around the coast in a clockwise direction (Silke et al., 2005, Fernand et al., 2006).
Longterm times series starting in 1958 show a decline in overall zooplankton abundance in
the Celtic Sea (OBrien et al. 2013). Common carnivorous zooplankton Euphausiids,
Chaetognaths, Hyperiids, Decapod, Candacia spp., Euchaeta spp. and Corycaeus spp. have
all decreased in abundance in the Celtic Sea between 1960-1999 and 2000-2009.
Herbivorous copepods Calanus spp. IIV, Acartia spp., Paracalanus spp., Centropages
typicus and Pseudocalanus spp. have also decreased in abundance while the warm-water
copepod Calanus helgolandicus has increased (McGinty et al., 2012) and shifted
northwards in response to ocean warming (Beaugrand et al., 2002). Gelatinous nonexploited jellyfish species (Cnidaria) have also increased in abundance since 2002 (Licandro
et al., 2010).
Bivalve mollusc (Abra) and brittle star (Amphiura) communities have been identified with
the deep circalittoral sand and deep circalittoral mud habitat (Ellis et al. 2001). Dublin Bay
prawn Nephrops norvegicus and seapen Virgularia mirabilis are also associated with this
habitat (Doyle et al., 2011). The dominant species associated with the shelf edge are the
hermit crab Pagurus prideaux and anemone Actinauge richardii (Ellis et al., 2001). Two types
of reef have been identified: biogenic reef (Belgica Mound Province) comprising Lophelia
pertusa and Madrepora oculata (NPWS, 2006) and rocky reef (Haig Fras) dominated by the
jewel anemone Corynactis viridis (Rees, 2000).
The most abundant demersal species identified in Irish Groundfish Surveys (2005-2011)
were Norway pout, haddock, poor cod and whiting and the pelagic species were blue
whiting, mackerel, sprat and horse mackerel (Marine Institute, 2012). The size based fish
community indicators proportion of large fish and mean maximum length are variable
but without trends in the Celtic Sea (ICES, 2013e). The Celtic Sea harbours important
spawning grounds for demersal species (hake, megrim, anglerfish, cod, whiting and
haddock) and pelagic species such as herring, mackerel, horse mackerel, blue whiting,
boarfish and sprat.
Fourteen cetacean species have been identified in the Celtic Sea between 2000 and 2009
(Berrow et al., 2010). The harbour porpoise, short-beaked common dolphin, common
bottlenose dolphin and minke whales are the most common sighting. Two species of seal
are found in the Celtic Sea. The grey seal is more abundant than the harbour seal. The
largest grey seal populations are found at Great Blasket Island (Co. Kerry), Western Calf
Island, Low Island and Carbery Island (Co. Cork), Great Saltee Island and Raven Point (Co.
Wexford) and an increase in pup production has been noted between 1995 and 2005(
Cadhla and Strong, 2007). Harbour seal populations are found in Bantry Bay, Dunmanus
Bay, Roaringwater Bay and Kenmare River (Co. Kerry) (Cronin et al., 2007) and have
increased in abundance since late seventies.
187
Seabirds
DraftOSPARECO
QO
(20042012)
Climate change
effects on finfish
and shellfish
stocks
Ireland provides essential habitat and prey for internationally important breeding and
passage migrant seabirds. Twenty-eight species have been identified in the Celtic Sea
region. The most common species found during the breeding season are the Black-legged
kittiwake, Northern gannet, Manx shearwater and European storm-petrel. Ladys Island
Lake, the Saltee Islands and Keeragh Island (Co. Wexford), Sovereign Island (Co. Cork),
Scariff Island, Little Skellig and Skellig Michael and Puffin Island (Co. Kerry) are considered
to be the most important breeding and overwintering areas (Mackey and Gimnez, 2004).
The OSPAR draft ECOQO for seabirds in OSPAR region III (Celtic Seas) shows a
downward trend since early 2000 (ICES 2013b).
The northwards shift of warm-water zooplankton Calanus into the Celtic Sea is expected
to impact on the distribution of many species (Richardson, 2008). Lusitanian fish species
such as boarfish, sardine, anchovy, bib, poor cod and sea bass have been increasing on the
shelf to the north and west of Ireland (Lynam et al., 2010). Boreal species such as cod are
at the southern limit of their range in the Northeast Atlantic and it is known that
recruitment tends to decrease in warmer waters (ICES, 2013a). It is not yet known
whether ocean acidification will affect Celtic Sea finfish and shellfish stocks. Adult finfish
may be tolerant of changes in pH because CO2 levels are variable as a result of activity,
but larvae may be negatively affected (Ishimatsu et al., 2008). Changes in precipitation
patterns, river discharges and salinity, particularly in coastal areas could affect inshore
species that rely on these areas for spawning or nursery grounds (Reid and Valds, 2011).

The main human activities in the Celtic Sea are:
Fishing effort
(>10m vessels)
Overall fishing
mortality
Fishing
Aquaculture
Transport
Dredging for shipping and aggregates
Offshore energy

About 69% of landings in the Celtic Seas region come from stocks which have an analytical
assessment. Four stocks are considered to be fished at or below Fmsy, five above and 20 are
unknown. A high level of discarding is linked to trawl mixed fisheries. Discards of the main
commercial demersal stocks by all mtiers in the Celtic Sea between 2003-2009 ranges
from 11% (cod) to 73% (plaice). 100% discarding is common for non-commercial demersal
species (Anon., 2011). Towed bottom fishing gears (trawls, dredges, drags, hydraulic
devices) impact on seabed species and habitats. Gear type, intensity of trawling, sediment
hardness (Foden et al., 2010) and hydrodynamic conditions (Collie et al., 2000, Kaiser et
al., 2006) affect a systems ability to recover. Gerritsen et al. (2013) estimated that 68% of
their study area, in the Irish EEZ of the Celtic Sea, was impacted at least once by trawling
during 2011. A considerable portion of the area (46%) was impacted at least twice, and
13% of the area was impacted at least five times. Some of these regions were even
impacted ten times or more, although this occurred in <2% of the area. Biota removal
could lead to shifts in fish community structures as predator-prey relationships are altered
(Kaiser and Jennings, 1998).
188
Letter code for stock
Fig. 1 Relative fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) and biomass (SSB/Btrig) for Celtic Sea
stocks, which have SSB and F related against reference points (msy where
available, otherwise pa or qualitative). This corresponds to 7 out of 29 stocks and
69 % of the landings. Stocks in the green region are exploited below Fmsy and
have an SSB that is above Btrigger.
Fig. 2 Stocks of unknown status in relation to reference points. The size of each
bubble corresponds to the landings in 2014. The largest bubble corresponds to
90kt.
Cod VIIe-k
Haddock VIIb-k
Whiting VIIe-k
Pollock VII
Saithe VII, VIII, IX, X,
Plaice VIIfg
Plaice VIIbc
Plaice VIIhjk
Sole VIIfg
Sole VIIbc
K
L
Sole VIIhjk
Nephrops (FU19) VIIjg
Nephrops (FU20-21) VIIgh
Nephrops (FU22) VIIg
Cuckoo ray VI,VII,VIIIabc
Shagreen ray VI,VII
Sandy ray VI,VII
Undulate ray VIIb,j
Small eyed ray VIIf,j
Common skate VI,VII
Seabass IV,VIIa,d,h
Seabass VI,VIb,j
Nephrops (FU17) VIIb
Nephrops (FU16) VIIck
Megrim VIIb-k & VIIIabe
Anglerfish VII & VIII
AA
Hake II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII
AB
Other Skates & Rays VI & VII
AC
Sprat VI and VII (excl. VIId and VIIe)
AD
Herring VIIaS VIIg,j
Fig. 3 Proportion of Celtic Sea stocks fished at or below Fmsy (green), above
Fmsy (red) and of unknown status in relation to fishing mortality reference
points.
Fig. 4 Proportion of Celtic Sea stocks with biomass above Bmsy trigger (green),
below Bmsy trigger (red) and of unknown status in relation to biomass reference
points.
189
Fig. 5 Relative fishing mortality (F to Fmsy ratios) of Celtic Sea stocks, demersal F corresponds to cod 7e-k,
haddock 7b-k, northern hake, Celtic Sea sole and whiting 7e-k, pelagic F corresponds to herring VIaS and Celtic
Sea herring, shellfish F corresponds to Nephrops FU16,17, 19 and 22.
Fig. 6 Relative biomass (SSB to Bmsy trigger ratios) of Celtic Sea stocks, demersal SSB corresponds to cod 7e-k,
haddock 7b-k, Celtic Sea sole and whiting 7e-k and pelagic SSB corresponds to herring VIaS and Celtic Sea
herring.
190
Northern Hake
(Division IIa, IIIa-d, Vb, VIIIabde and Sub-areas IV, VI, VII, XII & XIV)

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be
no more than 109,592 t. If discard rates do not change from the average of the
last three years (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 96,651 t.
FEAS agrees with this advice. FEAS notes that the landing obligation will apply
to some fleets catching this stock in 2016 but this will not be relevant to Irish
vessels as they do not land significant quantities of this stock.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 with full analytical assessments. Fishing
mortality has declined since 2005 and has been close to Fmsy since 2010. Stock
biomass is the highest observed. The assessment was benchmarked in 2014,
which resulted in a downward revision in SSB and an upward revision in fishing
mortality for recent years.
The rebuilding plan is complete as the targets have been met, the proposed management plan was
not implemented (see Table 1.1, page 9 for an overview of management plans).
2015 TAC
IIIa; EC waters
of Subdivisions
22-32
EC
waters of
IIa and IV
VI and VII; EC
waters of Vb;
international
waters of XII
and XIV
VIIIa, VIIIb,
VIIId and
VIIIe
All Areas
Combined
2015 Irish
Quota
2,738
3,190
50,944
33,977
90,849
2,810
FEAS Advice Options For 2016 disaggregated by TAC area
Corresponding
2016 Irish
quota
% Change
relative to
2015
2016
Landings
Advice
2,913
3,394
54,197
36,147
96,651
2,989
+6%
2016 EC
proposal
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The Northern hake was managed for several years by

means of a recovery plan in 2004 (EC 811/2004). The
stock has recovered and a new stock assessment
methodology is in place so there is a need to develop a new multiannual plan with new reference points and targets for this stock.
The current assessment area covers IIIa, IV, VI, VII and VIIIa,b,d. This
overlaps with four TAC areas (see Table above). Ireland only has a
quota for the TAC area VIb, VI, VII, XII, XIV. In 2015 the TAC in
this area was 50,944 t with an associated Irish quota of 2,810 t
The combined TAC has been overshot considerably in recent years.
191

For VI and VII; Vb;
XII and XIV
IRE 2810 t
BEL 468 t
FRA 23192 t
NL 302 t
UK 9155 t
SPA 15017 t
Northern Hake
ICES ADVICE
9.3.14 Hake Northern Stock (Division IIIa, Subareas IV,

VI, and VII, and Divisions VIIIa,b,d)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 109 592 tonnes. If this
stock is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of the last three
years (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 96 651 tonnes.
The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has increased significantly since 2006 and it is above recent historical estimates.
Fishing mortality (F) has decreased significantly over the last decade and is currently still above FMSY. Recruitment (R) in
2012 and 2013 are among the highest in the time-series.
Figure9.3.14.1 HakeinSubareasIV,VI,andVIIandDivisionsIIIa,VIIIa,b,d(Northernstock).ICESestimatedlandingsanddiscards(for
the years with available discard data); R, F, and SSB from the summary of stock assessment (weights in thousand
tonnes).EstimatedRvaluesareunshaded.

Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). State of the stock and fishery relative
to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012
2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
Maximum
MSY
FMSY
Above
Abovetrigger
Sustainable Yield
Btrigger
Full reproductive
Precautionary
Fpa,
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
approach
Flim
capacity
Table 9.3.14.1
Management plan
FMGT
Not applicable
192
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Northern Hake
Catchoptions
Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). The basis for the catch options.
Value
Source
Notes
0.33
ICES (2015a)
Mean F20122014
287177 t
ICES (2015a)
319 million
ICES (2015a)
GM 19782012
Forecasted catch from the assessment model (based on F(2015)
Total catch (2015)
124467 t
ICES (2015a)
= Mean F20122014) plus additional discards **
According to 20122014 average discard rates at length
Landings (2015)
105877 t
ICES (2015a)
estimated by the assessment.
According to 20122014 average discard rates at length
Partial discards (2015)*
15837 t
ICES (2015a)
estimated by the assessment.
Mean of the last three years of discards that are not included in
Additional discards (2015)**
2753 t
the assessment (20122014), equal to 2.6% of the stock
landings.
* Corresponding to discards included in the assessment and forecast.
** Corresponding to discards not included in the assessment, but used to top up the catch advice.
Table 9.3.14.2
Variable
F (2015)
SSB (2016)
R(2015/2016)
Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). The catch options. All weights are in
thousand tonnes.
Addi
From the forecast***
tiona
l
Total unwa
F
F
catch^ nted Wanted Unwan
F
%SSB
ted
wanted
unwanted
SSB
%TAC
(2016) catch catch
Basis
total
change
catch
catch
catch
(2017)
change*
^^
(2016)
(2016)
**
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
(201
6)
FMSY
109592 2513
96651 10428
0.27
0.21
0.06
291799
+6%
+2%
(Fsq 0.82)
Frecovery-plan
102455 2350
90385
9720
0.25
0.19
0.06
298739
1%
+4%
(Fsq 0.76)
Table 9.3.14.3
Rational
e
MSY
approach
Recover
y plan
Zero
catch
Other
options
15346
44273
70997
353
1018
1631
13583
39147
62713
1410
4108
6653
87480
2008
77222
8250
95686
2195
84438
9053
102983
2362
90849
9772
118511
2716
104476
11319
F=0
398305
100%
+39%
Fsq 0.1
Fsq 0.3
Fsq 0.5
15% TAC
(Fsq 0.632)
Fsq 0.7
0% TAC
change
+15% TAC
(Fsq 0.9)
Fsq 0.9
Fsq 1
Fsq 1.2
0.03
0.10
0.17
0.03
0.08
0.13
0.01
0.02
0.04
383396
355292
329322
85%
57%
31%
+34%
+24%
+15%
0.21
0.16
0.05
313299
15%
+9%
0.23
0.25
0.18
0.19
0.05
0.06
305320
7%
+6%
298225
0%
+4%
0.30
0.23
0.07
283133
+15%
1%
118503 2716 104468 11319

0.30
0.23
0.07
283133
+15%
1%
129252 2961 113888 12403
0.33
0.25
0.08
272675
+25%
5%
149522 3422 131619 14481
0.40
0.30
0.09
252950
+45%
12%
* Wanted catch 2016 relative to TAC 2015.
*** Wanted and unwanted catch are used to describe fish that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the EU landing
obligation, based on discarding ogives estimated by the assessment model.
^ Total catch = forecasted wanted catch + forecasted unwanted catch + additional unwanted catch (from the discards not included in the
assessment). See ^^ footnote for a description of the additional unwanted catch.
^^ Additional unwanted catch = 0.026 forecasted wanted catch.
Basisoftheadvice
Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). The basis of the advice.
MSY approach
The current recovery plan (EU, 2004) is based on precautionary reference points that are no
Management plan
longer appropriate. ICES has not evaluated this plan.
Table 9.3.14.4
Advice basis
193
Northern Hake
Assessment data arrived after the ICES data call deadline, thus reducing time to review and audit the assessment
results. Although the data were used, the delay may reduce ICES quality assurance.
The assessment suffers from some shortage of tuning data, particularly in relation to earlier years, for areas
outside of Subareas VII and VIII, and for the larger individuals in the population. Discards of large fish have
increased sharply in the last years for some gears in Subareas IV, VI, VII, and VIII, but not all discards are
included in the assessment. Model growth estimates are uncertain, but they are in accordance with the tagging
information.
Not all discards are included in the assessment. Discard estimates for non-Spanish trawlers in Subareas VII and
VIII are not included in the assessment. They represent 2195 tonnes on average during the last three years,
which is 2.6% of the total stock landings (approximately 2.2% - 2.3% of the total stock catches).
Figure 9.3.14.2 Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). Historical assessment
results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
To produce a total catch advice for 2016, accounting also for the discards not included in the assessment, an
additional unwanted catch was calculated multiplying the wanted catch forecasted by the model (96 651
tonnes) by 0.026; this results in 2513 tonnes of additional unwanted catch. The additional unwanted catch was
then added to the forecasted catch (96 651 + 10 428 = 107 079 tonnes) to produce the total catch advice for 2016
(109 592 tonnes).
Discards of juvenile hake can be substantial in some areas and fleets. The spawning-stock biomass and the longterm yield can be substantially improved by reducing mortality of small fish. This could be achieved through
measures to shift the selection pattern towards larger fish. TACs have been ineffective in regulating the fishery
in recent years as landings greatly exceeded the TACs. Discards of large individuals have increased in recent
years because of quota restrictions in certain fleets.
Hake in the ICES area is managed and assessed as two separate stocks. There is no biological basis for the
current ICES stock definition of northern and southern hake. These stocks have similar biology with an
unknown degree of mixing.
194
Northern Hake
Referencepoints
Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). Reference points, values,
and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
46200 t Bpa
ICES (2014a)
MSY Btrigger
MSY approach
Stochastic simulations on a combined stock
FMSY
0.27
ICES (2014a)
recruitment relationship.
A low biomass which was followed by a quick
33000 t
Blim
ICES (2014a)
recovery.
Precautionary
Bpa
46200 t 1.4 Blim
ICES (2014a)
approach
Flim
Not defined
Fpa
Not defined
Not defined
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Not defined
Table 9.3.14.5
Table 9.3.14.6
Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). The basis of the
assessment.
ICES stock data

category
Assessment type
Input data
Indicators
Other information
Working group
1 (ICES, 2015b).
Length-based model (SS3; ICES, 2015a) that uses landings and some discards in the model,
and additional discards are then included to calculate a catch forecast.
Commercial landings; four survey indices (EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4, SpPGFS-WIBTS-Q3, IGFSWIBTS-Q4, and RESSGASC); maturity data: constant maturity (Martin, 1991); natural
mortality: constant value (0.4).
Data series from most fleets are available; 75% of the observed discards are included in the
assessment (ICES, 2014a). Additional discards (2.6% of landings) are used to top up the
advice.
None.
Benchmarked in WKSOUTH (ICES, 2014b).
Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE).
195
Northern Hake

Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). History of ICES advice,
the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch Predicted landings
Agreed
ICES
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresponding to corresponding to
Discards**
TAC* landings
catch
advice
advice
Precautionary TAC; juvenile
1987
63.5
63.4
protection
#
1988
54
66.2
64.8
protection
#
1989
54
59.7
66.5
protection
1990
59
65.1
60.0
protection
1991
59
67.0
58.1
protection
61.5
69.0
56.6
Enforce juvenile protection
1993
71.5
52.1
legislation
#
1994 F significantly reduced
< 46
60.0
51.3
31
55.1
57.6
39
51.1
47.2
54
60.1
42.6
45
59.1
35.0
#
< 36
55.1
39.8
#
< 20
42.1
42.0
Lowest possible catch, recovery
2001
22.6
36.7
plan
Lowest possible catch / recovery
2002
27.0
40.0
plan
Lowest possible catch / recovery
2003
30.0
43.2
1.4
44.6
plan
70% reduction in F or recovery
2004
< 13.8
39.1
46.4
2.6
49.0
plan#
2005 F = 0.19
33
42.6
46. 6
4.6
51.1
2006 F = 0.25
44
43.9
41.5
1.2
42.7
2007 Recovery plan limits
50.5
52.7
45.1
2.2
47.3
2008 Recovery plan limits
54
54
47.8
3.4
51.2
2009 F = 0.25 = Fpa
51.5
51.5
59.0
11.0
69.8
2010 F = 0.25 = Fpa
55.2
55.1
73.1
12.1
84.9
2011 See scenarios
50.6
55.1
87.5
13.9
101.4
2012 MSY transition
51.9
55.1
85.6
14.9
100.5
2013 MSY transition
45.4
69.4
77.7
15.8
93.5
2014 MSY approach
81.846
81.8
91.5
9.1
100.6
2015 MSY approach
78.457
90.849
2016 MSY approach
< 109.592
< 96.651
* Sum of area TACs, corresponding to northern stock plus Division IIa (EC zone only).
** In years marked with #, partial discard estimates are available and used in the assessment. For remaining years for which
no values are presented, some estimates are available but not considered valid and thus not used in the assessment.
#
See ** footnote.
Table 9.3.14.7
196
Northern Hake

Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). Catch distribution by
fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
Table 9.3.14.8
98.9 kt
11% unspecified gear
39% longline
27% gillnet
23% trawl
9.1 kt
89.8 kt
Table 9.3.14.9
Year
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). History of commercial
catch, discards, and landings as estimated by ICES. All weights are in thousand tonnes. Estimated landings
are presented by area.
ICES
ICES
ICES estimated landings*
estimated
estimated
discards**
catches***
Division IVa +
Subarea
Divisions
Unallocate
Total
Total
Total
Subarea VI
VII
VIIIa,b
d
95.6
95.6
95.6
86.3
86.3
86.3
86.2
86.2
86.2
76.8
76.8
76.8
64.7
64.7
64.7
60.9
60.9
60.9
62.1
62.1
62.1
62.0
62.0
62.0
54.9
54.9
54.9
64.9
64.9
64.9
8.5
19.4
23.4
0
51.3
51.3
9.4
14.9
41.2
0
65.5
65.5
9.5
31.2
37.6
0
78.3
78.3
9.7
28.9
34.5
0
73.1
73.1
11.0
29.2
32.5
0
72.7
72.7
12.9
26.7
28.5
0
68.1
68.1
8.5
21.0
24.7
0
54.2
54.2
8.0
20.3
24.5
-2.2
50.6
50.6
8.7
17.6
27.2
-2.4
51.1
51.1
9.7
22.0
28.4
-2.8
57.3
57.3
8.8
25.6
22.3
-2.8
53.9
53.9
5.9
25.2
26.2
-2.3
55.0
55.0
6.2
26.3
27.1
-2.1
57.5
57.5
9.5
33.0
22.9
-2.1
63.3
63.3
9.2
27.5
21.0
-1.6
56.1
56.1
7.3
27.4
23.9
-1.5
57.1
57.1
7.8
32.9
24.7
-2.0
63.4
63.4
#
8.8
30.9
26.6
-1.5
64.8
64.8
#
7.4
26.9
32.0
0.2
66.5
66.5
6.7
23.0
34.4
-4.2
60.0
60.0
8.3
21.5
31.6
-3.4
58.1
58.1
8.6
22.5
23.5
2.1
56.6
56.6
8.5
20.5
19.8
3.3
52.1
52.1
#
5.4
21.1
24.7
0.0
51.3
51.3
5.3
24.1
28.1
0.1
57.6
57.6
4.4
24.7
18.0
0.0
47.2
47.2
3.3
18.9
20.3
-0.1
42.5
42.5
197
Northern Hake
Table 9.3.14.9
ctd..
ICES estimated landings*
Year
2012
Division IVa +
Subarea VI
3.2
4.3
4.0
4.4
2.9
3.3
4.4
5.5
6.1
7.0
10.7
13.1
14.2
19.4
24.2
Subarea
VII
18.7
24.0
26.0
23.1
21.2
25.4
27.5
26.6
24.7
27.5
22.8
25.3
33.5
19.1
23.9
Divisions
VIIIa,b
13.1
11.6
12.0
9.2
15.9
14.4
14.5
14.5
10.6
10.6
14.3
20.4
25.1
17.1
18.1
2013
17.6
31.0
21.6
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Unallocated
Total
ICES
estimated
discards**
ICES
estimated
catches***
Total
Total
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
32.0
19.3
35.1
39.8
42.0
36.7
40.1
43.2
46.4
46.6
41.5
45.1
47.8
58.8
72.8
87.5
85.6
1.4
2.6
4.6
1.2
2.2
3.4
11.0
12.1
13.9
14.9
35.1
39.8
42.0
36.7
40.1
44.6
49.0
51.1
42.7
47.3
51.2
69.8
84.9
101.4
100.5
13.1
77.7
15.8
93.5
#
#
23.8
39.6
23.7
2.7
91.5
9.1
100.6
2014
* Spanish data for 19611972 not revised, data for Subarea VIII for 19731978 include data for Divisions VIIIa,b only. Data
for 19791981 are revised based on French surveillance data. Divisions IIIa and IVb,c are included in column "IIIa, IV and
VI" only after 1976. There are some unallocated landings (moreover for the period 19611970).
** In years marked with #, partial discard estimates are available and included in the assessment. For years for which no
values are presented, some estimates are available but not considered valid and thus not used in the assessment. In the years
with data presented, only discards from Spanish trawlers, French Nephrops trawlers in Subarea VIII, and the other fleet
category are included in the assessment.
*** From 1978 total catches used by ICES.
198
Northern Hake

Table 9.3.14.10 Hake in Subareas IV, VI, and VII and Divisions IIIa, VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock). Assessment summary
with weights (in tonnes).
Recruitment
Landings
Discards**
SSB
Mean F
Year
Age 0
tonnes
(1580 cm)
tonnes
tonnes
thousands
1978
278207
78348
0.5
50551
1979
260879
98288
0.53
51096
1980
291624
100026
0.64
57265
1981
560384
85396
0.66
53918
1982
395575
69192
0.69
54994
1983
140176
67545
0.62
57507
1984
274256
81486
0.65
63286
1985
641019
78178
0.79
56099
1986
388654
59039
0.92
57092
1987
455759
45471
0.99
63369
1988
499560
48394
1.01
64823
2
1989
477088
46630
1.09
66473
73
1990
518776
43215
1.02
59954
1991
306863
42817
0.96
58129
1992
313837
42780
1.02
56617
1993
569747
41317
1.08
52144
1994
310500
32095
1.11
51259
356
1995
158246
31143
1.13
57621
1996
376608
36259
1
47210
1997
254237
30892
1.08
42465
1998
412616
25087
0.99
35060
1999
209695
28356
0.98
39814
349
2000
180639
31192
0.91
42026
83
2001
313920
36645
0.76
36675
2002
248984
37233
0.82
40107
2003
148106
36863
0.81
43162
2110
2004
300555
41090
0.83
46417
2552
2005
210359
39033
0.97
46550
4676
2006
284384
31772
0.86
41467
1816
2007
449482
38250
0.73
45028
2191
2008
703128
46257
0.58
47739
3248
2009
222405
72260
0.46
58818
9871
2010
211925
133658
0.35
72799
9415
2011
231134
211670
0.33
87540
13775
2012
594886
218747
0.31
85677
12225
2013
616422
202374
0.33
77753
11637
2014
240888
203296
0.34
91525
6548
2015
319133*
249017
Average
351859
74771
0.78
55676
4760
* GM (19782012).
** Discards used in the assessment. In years with (-) discards are not available or are considered unreliable.
199
Northern Hake

EU. 2004. COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No. 811/2004 of 21.4.2004 establishing measures for the recovery
of the Northern hake stock. Official Journal of the European Union, L 150/1.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:150:0001:0011:EN:PDF.
ICES. 2014a. Report of the Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE),
713 May 2014, Lisbon, Portugal. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:11. 714 pp.
ICES. 2014b. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Southern Megrim and Hake (WKSOUTH), 37 February
2014, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:40.
612 May 2015, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:11.
preparation.
Martn, I. 1991. A preliminary analysis of some biological aspects of hake (Merluccius merluccius L. 1758) in
the Bay of Biscay. ICES CM 1991/G:54.
200
Northern Hake
Celtic Sea and Western Channel Cod

(Divisions VIIe-k & VIIbc)

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, wanted catch in 2016
should be no more than 3,569 t. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding
total catches because of variable discard rates in the recent past. FEAS
agrees with this advice and notes that the landing obligation will not apply to
this stock in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 1 (data-rich stocks for which a
quantitative assessment is available). The Fmsy reference point was reduced
this year from 0.4 to 0.32 based on a new estimation procedure used by ICES
to derive MSY ranges. The new Fmsy range is 0.20 to 0.45.
The TAC area includes VIIbc. There is no ICES advice for Divisions VIIbc where recent landings
have been around 78 t. Including recent average landings for VIIbc, would result in total landings of
3,647 t for the entire TAC area. This implies an Irish quota of 648 t.
There is no management plan that applies to Celtic Sea cod.
FEAS - MIXED SPECIES CONSIDERATIONS

Celtic sea cod are caught with haddock and whiting in mixed fisheries. ICES has evaluated a number
of mixed fisheries scenarios. These indicate that that only the minimum and cod options would
result in cod being fished below the new point estimate of Fmsy (see footnote to table 5.3.10.3 of the
ICES advice for an explanation of the scenarios). The haddock scenario results in a cod fishing
mortality of 0.39 which is within the Fmsy range of cod 0.2-0.45.
ICES mixed fishery scenarios and their predicted catches of cod haddock and whiting and implied Fs in
2016.
Mixed species, cod MSY
Mixed species, haddock MSY
F/Fmsy
Catch
2016
F/Fmsy
Catch
2016
F/Fmsy
Catch
2016
Cod
0.97
0.31
3,747
1.22
0.39
4,644
1.72
0.55
6,092
Haddock
0.80
0.32
7,108
1.00
0.40
8,553
1.50
0.60
11,941
Whiting
0.53
0.17
10,398
0.66
0.21
12,693
1.00
0.32
18,070
Total
Catch
21,253
25,890
36,103
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIb,c,e-k, and Sub-areas VIII,

IX and X. Prior to 2009 the TAC area also included VIId.
The assessment area covers Divisions VIIe-k.
The 2015 TAC was 5 072 t with an associated Irish quota of

901 t.
Mixed species, whiting MSY
Since 2005 a temporary area closure in February - March has
201
IRE 901 t
BEL 218 t
FRA 3568 t
NL 1 t
UK 384 t
CelticSeaCod
ICES ADVICE
3322 E
E 22
3322E
E 33
3322 E
E 55
E 44 33 22 E
52
3 22 E 00 3322 E
E 11
3311 E
E 22
3 11 E 00 3311 E
E 11
VIIg
3311E
E 33
3311 E
E 44 33 11 E
E 55
51
Technical Measures initially proposed and developed through

the NWWRAC were introduced since September 2012 in
the Celtic Sea. Further measures have been introduced in
2015. The aim of these measures was to improve selection
and reducing discards of gadoids. Because of the fast growth
rate and behaviour of juvenile cod these measures are
expected to have minimal impact on improving selection for
cod.
3333 E
E 44 33 33 E
E 55
3300 E
E 44
3
E 11
3 00 E
E 00 3300 E
3300 E
E 22
3300E
E 33
VIIf3300 EE55
2 99 E 00 2299 E
E 11
2299 E
E 22
2299E
E 33
2299 E
E 44 22 99 E
E 55
2
E 11
2 88 E
E 00 2288 E
-9
2288 E
E 22
VIIh
-8
2288 E
E 44
VIIe
2288E
E 33
-7
-6
50
3333E
E 33
51
There is a management plan in development by the

NWWRAC for mixed demersal fisheries catching cod in
VIIfg. FEAS supports the development of this plan.
3333 E
E 22
50
3
E 11
3 33 E
E 00 3333 E
52
been in place for most vessels and gears in the rectangles

highlighted in yellow in the map to the right.
22 88 E
E 55
-5
First quarter cod area closures
5.3.10 Cod in Divisions VIIek (Celtic Sea Cod)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, wanted catch1 in 2016 should be no more than 3569
tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding total catches because of variable discard rates in the recent past.
Recruitment has been highly variable over time with occasional very high recruitment. The 2011 and 2012 year
classes are estimated well below the average of the time-series, but the 2013 year class is above average.
Spawning-stock biomass (SSB) is close to Blim in 2014 and 2015. Fishing mortality (F) has declined since
2005and fluctuated in recent years. Fishing mortality remains above FMSY.
Figure5.3.10.1 Cod in Divisions VIIek. Summary of stock assessment (weights in thousand tonnes).The assumed
recruitmentvalueisunshaded.Discardsduetohighgradingareincludedintheassessmentaslandingsin
theperiod20032011.Otherdiscardsestimatesareavailableandplottedsince2011butnotusedinthe
assessment.
1
WantedcatchisusedtodescribefishthatwouldbelandedintheabsenceoftheEUlandingobligation.
202
CelticSeaCod

Table 5.3.10.1
Cod in Divisions VIIek. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
2014
13
14
MSY
Maximum
FMSY
Above
Sustainable Yield
Btrigger
Precautionary
Fpa,
Bpa, Blim
Increased risk
approach
Flim
Management Plan FMGT
Not applicable
SSBMGT
-
2015
Below trigger
Increased risk
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.10.2 Cod in Divisions VIIek. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 25 (2015)
0.66
ICES (2015a)
F(20122014)
SSB (2016)
9894
ICES (2015a)
R age1(2015/2016)
4599
ICES (2015a)
Geometric mean (19712012)
Catch (2015)
Unknown
Landings (2015)
6005
ICES (2015a)
Assuming F = F(20122014)
Not quantified because of variable discard rates in the
Discards (2015)
recent past.
Table 5.3.10.3
Cod in Divisions VIIek. The catch options. Weights in tonnes.

Wanted
F (wanted
%SSB
% TAC
Rationale
Basis
SSB
catch (2016)
catch*)
change**
change***
FMSY
MSY approach
3569
SSB2016/MSY
0.31
13682
+38%
30%
Btrigger
Zero catch
0
F=0
0
17985
+82%
100%
3668
FMSY
0.32
13565
+37%
28%
6593
F2015
0.66
10141
+3%
+30%
4304
TAC15%
0.39
12811
+29%
15%
Other options
Stable TAC (TAC
5080
0.47
11899
+20%
0
2015)
5827
TAC+15%
0.56
11027
+12%
+15%
Mixed fisheries options (ICES, 2015b)
Maximum
6362
A
0.58
11313
+14%
+25%
Minimum
3622
B
0.3
14538
+47%
28%
Cod^
3747
C
0.31
14389
+45%
26%
Haddock
4644
D
0.39
13325
+35%
8%
Whiting
6092
E
0.55
11627
+18%
+20%
Status quo effort
6253
F
0.57
11440
+16%
+23%
* Wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.
***Wantedcatch2016relativetoTAC2015.
^ The Cod mixed-fisheries option results in a slightly different catch to the single-stock advice due to a different assumption
in the intermediate year, viz. that effort is the same as in 2014.
Mixed-fisheries assumptions:
(note: fleets stock share is used to describe the share of the fishing opportunities for each particular fleet, which has been
calculated based on the single-stock advice for 2016 and the historical proportion of the stock landings taken by the fleet)
A. Maximum: Each fleet stops fishing when its last stock share is exhausted.
B. Minimum: Each fleet stops fishing when its first stock share is exhausted.
C. Cod: Each fleet stops fishing when its cod stock share is exhausted.
D. Haddock: Each fleet stops fishing when its haddock stock share is exhausted.
E. Whiting: Each fleet stops fishing when its whiting stock share is exhausted.
F. Status quo effort: The effort of each fleet is as in 2014.
203
CelticSeaCod
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.10.4
Cod in Divisions VIIek. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach
Management plan
There is no management plan for cod in this area.
This years assessment shows strong upward revision in F and downward revision in SSB in recent years. The
upward revision in F is likely due to strong recruitment dynamics. The downward revision in SSB is linked to
non-inclusion of discards in the assessment.
Correction of the 2013 French weights-at-age resulted in a downward revision of the number at ages 5 and
older.
Landings have been adjusted to include highgrading estimates (20032011) and landings taken or reported in
33E23 since 2004, following the usual procedure for this stock.
Figure 5.3.10.2 Cod in Divisions VIIek. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
The advice is based on a new value of FMSY which has been estimated using the agreed ICES guidelines (ICES,
2015c). Because the stock size in 2016 is below MSY Btrigger the advice is for an F below FMSY. The stock size is
expected to increase in 2017, at or below current fishing rates, because the 2013 year class will reach full
maturity.
The forecast is highly dependent on the incoming recruitment assumptions. Discards normally constitute about
10% of the total catch, but discard rates in recent years have fluctuated substantially due to variable recruitment.
This prevents the forecast of a discard rate for 2016 with any certainty. Therefore, ICES cannot present catch
advice for this stock.
The recent technical measures introduced in the Celtic Sea (square mesh panels) are not expected to
significantly reduce discards of Celtic Sea cod because they pass through the selection window quickly due to
their fast growth rate.
Cod are caught in mixed fisheries in the Celtic Sea. Assuming fishing patterns and catchability in 2015 and 2016
are unchanged from those in 2014, cod, haddock, and whiting are the limiting species in the mixed-fisheries
scenarios for 83% (12 fleets), 12% (2 fleets), and 5% (2 fleets), respectively, of the fishing effort in the Celtic
Sea gadoid fisheries in 2014 (see mixed fisheries analysis presented in Section 5.2.2.1).
The mixed-fishery scenarios max and status quo effort result in cod being fished above Fpa, which is
considered not precautionary. All mixed-fisheries scenarios except min and cod result in cod being fished
above FMSY in 2016.
204
CelticSeaCod
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.10.5
Cod in Divisions VIIek. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
point
MSY Btrigger
10 300 t Bpa
MSY
Median point estimates of multiple stock recruitment
approach
FMSY
0.32
model using Eqsim.
Blim
7 300 t SSB in 1976 (former Bloss calculated in 2012).
Bpa = Blim 1.4. Default proxy in the absence of
Bpa
10 300 t
specific quantification of assessment uncertainty.
Precautionary
Flim
0.78 F with 50% probability of SSB< Blim.
approach
Fpa = Flim/1.4. Default proxy in the absence of specific
Fpa
0.56 quantification of assessment uncertainty (ICES,
2003).
Undefined.
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Undefined.
Source
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2012a)
ICES (2012a)
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2015a)
Table 5.3.10.6 Cod in Divisions VIIek. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data category 1 (ICES, 2015d).
Assessment type
Age-based analytical assessment (XSA) that uses landings in the model and in the forecast.
Commercial landings, ages, and length frequencies from sampling by metier; one combined
survey index (EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4; IGFS-WIBTS-Q4); one commercial index (FRInput data
OTDEF Q2+3+4 trawlers in Division VIIek); fixed maturity ogive derived from data from
UK-WCGFS survey-Q1; age-dependent natural mortalities from Lorenzen (1996).
Not included in the assessment and the advice. Discards are normally composed of
undersized fish in the order of 10% by weight, but this fluctuates when large year classes
recruit to the fishery or when quotas are restrictive.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmarked at WKROUND 2012 (ICES, 2012b).
Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE); Working Group on Mixed
Working group
Fisheries Advice (WGMIXFISH-Advice).
The above average recruitment reported last year by the fishing industry has been confirmed by fisheryindependent surveys.
205
CelticSeaCod

Table 5.3.10.7
Cod in Divisions VIIek. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings and
discards. Weights in thousand tonnes.
Predicted
ICES discard
Year
ICES advice
landings corresp. Agreed TAC*
ICES landings^^^
estimates
to advice
1987
Reduce F
< 6.4**
10.2
1988
No increase in F; TAC
7.0**
17.2
1989
8.6**
19.8
1990
9.2**
12.8
1991
4.5**
9.3
TAC; SSB = mean
1992
Appropriate to reduce F
9.7
1993
20% reduction in F
6.5**
19.0
10.4
1994
20% reduction in F
5.6**
17.0
10.6
1995
20% reduction in F
4.7***
17.0
11.7
1996
20% reduction in F
4.7***
20.0
12.7
1997
20% reduction in F
7.4***
20.0
12
1998
10% reduction in F
8.8^
20.0
11.4
1999
Reduce F below Fpa
9.2^
19.0
8.6
2000
Reduce F below Fpa
< 7.6^^
16.0
6.5
2001
40% reduction in F
< 4.3^^
10.5
8.3
2002
45% reduction in F
< 5.3^^
8.7
9.2
2003
60% reduction in F
< 3.8^^
6.7
6.4
90% reduction in F or management
2004
< 0.7
5.7
3.7
plan
2005
17% reduction in F
< 5.2
6.2
3.1
No increase in effort [should have
Cannot be
2006
5.6
3.8
been reduce effort]
estimated
2007
Zero catch
0
4.7
4.8
2008
Zero catch
0
4.3
4
2009
50% reduction in F
< 2.6
4.023
3.3
2010
Substantial catch reduction
4.023
3.2
2011
Catch and effort reduction
5.379
7.3
0.7
2012
MSY framework
< 10.0
10.059
7.7
1.0
2013
MSY framework
< 10.2
10.200
6.3
0.6
2014
MSY approach
< 6.848
6.848
3.9
0.7
2015
MSY approach
< 4.024
5.072
2016
MSY approach
3.569
*TAC covers Subareas VII (except Division VIIa) and VIII. From 2009 onwards the TAC covers Divisions VIIb,c,ek,
Subareas VIII, IX, and X, and EU waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (with a separate TAC established for Division VIId).
**For the Divisions VIIf,g stock component.
***For the Divisions VIIfh stock component.
^
For the Divisions VIIeh stock component.
^^
For the Divisions VIIek stock component.
^^^
Landings have been adjusted to include highgrading estimates (20032011) and landings taken or reported in 33E23
since 2004.

Table 5.3.10.8 Cod in Divisions VIIek. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch
Landings
Discards
(2014)
75%
9%
64 %
17%
6%
5%
5%
16%
otter
beam
otter
beam
seine
gillnets
other
seine
4620 t
trawl
trawl
trawl
trawl
3879 t
741 t
206
0%
gillnets
2%
other
CelticSeaCod
Table 5.3.10.9
Cod in Divisions VIIek. History of commercial landings and discards; the official and ICES estimates of
landings. na means not available. Weights are in tonnes.
Landings
Highgraded
Other discard
taken or
Year
Belgium
France
Ireland
UK
Others
discard
estimates
reported in
estimates
33E2+33E3
1988
554
13863
1480
1292
2
1989
910
15801
1860
1223
15
1990
621
9383
1241
1346
158
1991
303
6260
1659
1094
20
1992
195
7120
1212
1207
13
1993
391
8317
766
945
6
1994
398
7692
1616
906
8
1995
400
8321
1946
1034
8
1996
552
8981
1982
1166
0
1997
694
8662
1513
1166
0
1998
528
8096
1718
1089
0
1999
326
5488
1883
897
0
2000
208
4281
1302
744
0
2001
347
6033
1091
838
0
2002
555
7368
694
618
0
2003
136
5222
517
346
0
210*
na
2004
153
2425
663
282
0
148*
na
108
2005
186
1623
870
309
0
74*
na
54
2006
103
1896
959
368
0
432*
na
103
2007
108
2509
1210
412
0
592*
na
527
2008
65
2064
1221
289
0
322*
na
558
2009
49
2080
870
264
0
25*
na
193
2010
51
1853
1034
289
2
7*
na
143
2011
124
3171
1011
414
17
1828**
696
147
2012
290
5166
1536
701
0
na
952
85
2013
202
4064
1478
546
0
na
597
76
2080
1159
2014
141
464
1
na
741
24
*French highgrading estimates from self-sampling programme.
**International highgrading estimate.
207
CelticSeaCod

Table 5.3.10.10 Cod in Divisions VIIek. Assessment summary (weights in tonnes).
Year
Recruitment Age 1
thousands
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Average
*Geometric mean (19712012).
4769
928
2810
889
6031
1986
2871
2741
6630
12254
5179
2117
6923
6696
5892
5000
25361
12239
3648
4042
11365
11743
3702
13720
9683
7443
10023
5032
2356
10665
8846
2187
1302
2937
4169
4597
3896
1630
3026
14261
5251
926
1363
8445
4599*
6048
SSB tonnes
10093
9298
8617
8327
7526
7316
8841
9689
9848
10347
11212
13547
13008
9568
13103
13692
11364
16607
26324
19126
10846
9074
12283
14363
13034
15932
14131
12647
11080
7796
8745
11004
8958
4689
3436
3801
5157
5512
5186
5089
9439
14856
11610
7270
7676
10468
Landings tonnes
Discards tonnes
Mean F
Ages 25
5782
4737
4015
2898
3993
4818
3059
3647
4650
7243
10597
8766
9641
6631
8317
10475
10228
17191
19809
12749
9336
9747
10425
10620
11709
12681
12035
11431
8594
6536
8308
9236
6420
3672
3062
3776
4830
3961
3292
3229
7261
7692
6290
3879
696
952
597
740
0.557
0.517
0.541
0.375
0.678
0.554
0.349
0.361
0.467
0.694
0.808
0.64
0.834
0.531
0.539
0.787
0.811
0.639
0.817
0.855
0.981
0.851
0.749
0.749
0.725
0.852
0.804
0.949
0.858
0.746
0.738
0.843
0.932
0.944
0.979
0.82
0.823
0.746
0.755
0.538
0.465
0.629
0.775
0.572
7665
746
0.709

ICES2003.ReportoftheStudyGrouponPrecautionaryReferencePointsforAdviceonFisheriesManagement,
2426February2003,Copenhagen,Denmark.ICESCM2003/ACFM:15.
ICES. 2009. Report of the Benchmark and Data Compilation Workshop for Roundfish (WKROUND), 1623
January 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2009/ACOM:32.
208
CelticSeaCod
ICES 2012a. Cod in Divisions VIIek (Celtic Sea cod). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES
Advice 2012, Book 5, Section 5.4.2.
ICES. 2012b. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Western Waters Roundfish (WKROUND), 2229
February 2012, Aberdeen, UK. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:49. 283 pp.
ICES. 2014. Report of the Joint ICESMYFISH Workshop to consider the basis for FMSY ranges for all stocks
ICES. 2015b. Mixed-fisheries advice for Divisions VIIbc,ek (Celtic Sea). In Report of the ICES Advisory
Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 5, Section 5.2.2.1.
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
ICES. 2015d. EU request to ICES to provide FMSY ranges for selected North Sea and Baltic Sea stocks. In
Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 6, Section 6.2.3.1.
STECF. 2007. Evaluation of closed area schemes (SGMOS-07-03). Subgroup on management of stocks
(SGMOS), of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
209
CelticSeaCod
West of Ireland and Celtic Sea Haddock

(Divisions VIIb,c,e-k)

The ICES advice, based on the MSY approach, is that catches should be no
more than 8,590 t in 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that this
stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. If discard rates do
not change from the average of the assessment time-series, this implies
landings of no more than 6,078 t. This would result an Irish landings quota of
1,351 t. In a single species context FEAS agrees with ICES. However, a
reduction in F from 0.58 to 0.40 in a single year is unlikely to be achievable
and a plan to gradual reduce F would be more appropriate (see mixed
fisheries considerations, below).
This stock falls into ICES category 1 for data-rich stocks with full analytical assessment. SSB has
decreased rapidly since 2011 after three consecutive years of poor recruitment. However the 2014
cohort was above average and SSB is expected to increase in 2016, when this cohort reaches maturity.
The sporadic nature of strong year classes in this stock should be taken into account in the
management of this stock.
Over the last 10 years >40% of the catch has been discarded (>70% by numbers). Discard volumes
have decreased significantly in recent years due to weak recruitment and introduction of technical
measures (square mesh panels, etc.). These measures are expected to reduce fishing mortality on
young fish; however it is not possible to quantify how this change in discarding patterns will affect the
implied landings from the ICES catch advice.
There is no management plan applying to Celtic Sea Haddock.

Celtic sea haddock are caught with whiting and cod in mixed fisheries. ICES has evaluated a number
of mixed fisheries scenarios. These indicate that cod is the most limiting stock for Celtic Sea fleets
followed by haddock. The haddock scenario results in a cod fishing mortality of 0.39 which would be
within the Fmsy range of cod 0.2-0.45.
ICES mixed fishery scenarios and their predicted catch and implied Fs in 2016.
F/Fmsy
Cod
1.22
0.39
Haddock
Whiting
0.66
Total Catch
Catch

F/Fmsy
4,644
1.72
0.55
0.4
8,553
1.5
0.21
12,693
2016
25,890
Catch
Catch
F/Fmsy
6,092
0.97
0.31
3,747
0.6
11,941
0.8
0.32
7,108
0.32
18,070
0.53
0.17
10,398
2016
36,103
210

2016
21,253
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIb-k, and Sub-areas VIII, IX

and X and EU waters of CECAF 34.1.1. The assessment area
covers Divisions VIIb,c,e-k
The TAC for 2015 was 8,342 t with an Irish quota of 1,854 t
(22%).
This stock is taken in a mixed fishery, mainly by otter trawlers

from France and Ireland.
There is a management plan in development by the NWWRAC for

mixed demersal fisheries catching haddock in VIIfg. FEAS supports the
development of this plan.
Technical Measures initially proposed and developed through the NWWRAC have been introduced since
mid-2012 in the Celtic Sea in with the aim of improving selection and reducing discards of haddock and
other gadoids. A further voluntary scheme was put into place in 2014.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 1854 t
BEL 93 t
FRA 5561 t
UK 834 t
5.3.16 Haddock in Divisions VIIbk
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 8590 tonnes. If
this stock is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of the
full time-series (19932014), this implies landings of no more than 6078 tonnes.
The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) peaked in 2011 as the very strong 2009 year class matured; this was
followed by three years of below-average recruitment which led to a rapid decline in SSB after 2011.
Recruitment in 2013 was above average. Fishing mortality (F) has been above FMSY for the entire time-series.
Figure5.3.16.1 HaddockinDivisionsVIIbk.Summaryofstockassessment(weightsinthousandtonnes).Recruitment,F,
andSSBhaveuncertaintyboundaries(1standarddeviation)intheplot.Recruitmentpredictedvalueis
notshaded.
211

Table 5.3.16.1
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012
2013
2014
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
Management Plan
2013
FMSY
Above
Fpa,
Flim
FMGT
Harvested
sustainably
Not applicable
Stock size
2014
MSY
Btrigger
2015
Above trigger
Full reproductive
capacity
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.16.2 Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 35 (2015)
0.58
ICES (2015a)
Average F (20122014)
SSB (2016)
22776
ICES (2015a)
Rage 0 (2015 and 2016)
256272
ICES (2015a)
Geometric mean (19932012)
Catch (2015)
15209
ICES (2015a)
Average F (20122014)
Average F (20122014); average
Landings (2015)
9885
ICES (2015a)
pattern (19932014)
Average F (20122014); average
Discards (2015)
5324
ICES (2015a)
pattern (19932014)
212
discard
discard
Table 5.3.16.3
Rationale
MSY
approach
Zero
catch
Other
options
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. The catch options. Weights in thousand tonnes.

Wanted
catch*
(2016)
Catch
(2016)
Unwante
d catch*
(2016)
Basis
FMSY
8590
6078
2513
10052
7091
2961
11872
8342
3530
13713
9593
4120
Mixed fisheries options (ICES,

Maximu
12196
m
Minimum
6964
Cod
7108
Haddock
8553
^^
Whiting
11941
Status
quo
11869
effort
F
Wanted
catch
(2016)**
F
Unwante
d catch
(2016)
0.4
0.36
0.04
F catch
(2016)
F=0
%SSB
change**
*
%TAC
change
^
25203
0.11
27%
33883
0.49
100%
SSB
(2017)
15%
TAC
Stable
TAC
+15%
TAC
0.48
0.44
0.05
23748
0.04
15%
0.59
0.54
0.06
21946
4%
0.72
0.65
0.07
20138
12%
0.15
0.62
21519
6%
B
C
0.32
0.32
26721
26577
0.17
0.17
0.4
25131
0.1
0.6
21769
4%
0.6
21841
4%
2015b)
* Wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation. The unwanted
catch refers to the component that was previously discarded.
** Total F was split into a wanted and unwanted catch component based on the average ratio of landings and discards-at-age
over the full time-series (see Issues relevant for the advice for more detail).
^ Wanted catch 2016 relative to TAC 2015.
^^ The haddock mixed-fisheries option results in a slightly different catch to the single-stock advice due to a different
assumption in the intermediate year, viz. that effort is the same as in 2014.
(note: fleets stock share is used to describe the share of the fishing opportunities for each particular fleet, which has been
calculated based on the single-stock advice for 2016 and the historical proportion of the stock landings taken by the fleet)
F. Status quo effort: The effort of each fleet is as in 2014.
213
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.16.4 Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
There is no management plan for haddock in this area.
There is considerable uncertainty around the historical discard estimates, but the stock trends in the assessment
are quite robust to this uncertainty.
As a consequence of the introduction of square mesh panels during 2012 the selectivity might be expected to
change. However, the assumption of a constant selectivity pattern in the model still appears to be valid.
Fishing mortality for 2012 and 2013 was overestimated by the assessments performed in 2013 and 2014 (Figure
5.3.16.2).
Figure 5.3.16.2 Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
Overall discard volumes have decreased significantly in recent years (mainly due to weaker incoming
recruitments). Discards in 2015 are expected to be high, but the square mesh panels and increased mesh sizes
may reduce this.
Haddock are caught in mixed fisheries with cod and whiting and management should take this into account.
Assuming fishing patterns and catchability in 2015 and 2016 are unchanged from those in 2014, cod, haddock,
and whiting are the limiting species in the mixed-fisheries scenarios for 83% (12 fleets), 12% (2 fleets), and 5%
(2 fleets) of the fishing effort in the Celtic Sea gadoid fisheries in 2014 (see mixed fisheries analysis presented
in Section 5.2.2.1). All mixed-fisheries scenarios except min, cod, and haddock result in haddock being
fished above FMSY in 2016.
Landings in the south of Division VIIa (33E23) are included in the assessment because they are considered to
be part of this stock.
In the forecast, the catch F was split into a wanted and unwanted catch component based on the average ratio of
landings and discards-at-age over the full time-series. The TAC has been very restrictive in recent years due to
the high SSB, which resulted in increased levels of discarding. As the biomass has now decreased, the discard
pattern is likely to be more similar to the average of the full time-series rather than the average of the last three
years.
214
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.16.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
point
10 000 t Bpa.
MSY Btrigger
0.40
FMSY
6700 t
Blim
Precautionary
approach
10 000 t
Bpa
1.41
Flim
0.89
Fpa
Management
plan
SSBMGT
FMGT
Median point estimates of EqSim with segmented

regression SR relationship (landings: 0.36 + discards:
0.04). Range = 0.260.6
Lowest observed SSB
Blim combined with the assessment error; Blim
exp(1.645 ), = 0.26
F with 50% probability of SSB< Blim
Flim combined with the assessment error; Flim
exp(1.645 ), = 0.28
Source
ICES
(2015a)
ICES
(2015a)
ICES
(2015a)
ICES
(2015a)
ICES
(2015a)
ICES
(2015a)
Undefined
Undefined
Table 5.3.16.6 Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data
1 (ICES, 2015c).
category
ASAP (Age-Structured Assessment Programme; NOAA toolbox) that uses catches in the
Assessment type
model and in the forecast.
Commercial catches (international landings, age composition of landings and discards);
survey index (combined IGFS-WIBTS-Q4 and EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4); commercial index
Input data
(IRL_OTB_HAD); maturity data (surveys and observer data; constant for all years); natural
mortalities (based on Lorenzen, 1996).
Included in the assessment for the full time-series.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), Working Group on Mixed Fisheries
Working group
Advice (WGMIXFISH).
215

Table 5.3.16.7
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings,
discards, and catch. Weights in thousand tonnes.
Predicted Predicted
catch
landings
Official
ICES
Year ICES advice
Agreed TAC
Discards ICES catch
corresp. corresp.to
landings
landings
to advice advice
1987 Not dealt with
3.0
2.6
n/a
2.6
1988 Not dealt with
4.0
3.6
n/a
3.6
1989 Not dealt with
4.2
3.2
n/a
3.2
1990 Not dealt with
2.9
2.0
n/a
2.0
1991 Not dealt with
2.9
2.3
n/a
2.3
1992 Not dealt with
2.9
2.7
n/a
2.7
1993 Not dealt with
3.4
3.3
1.2
4.6
1994 Not dealt with
4.1
4.1
1.9
6.0
1995 Not dealt with
6*
4.5
4.5
2.2
6.7
1996 Not dealt with
7**
6.7
6.8
4.3
11.1
1997 Not dealt with
14
10.3
10.8
2.9
13.7
1998 Not dealt with
20
7.4
7.7
0.9
8.6
1999 Not dealt with
22***
5.2
4.9
0.6
5.5
No expansion of
2000
16.6***
6.7
7.4
2.5
9.9
catches
No expansion of
2001
12***
9.7
8.6
3.4
12.1
catches
No expansion of
2002
8.0
9.3***
7.1
6.4
7.1
13.5
catches
No expansion of
2003
7.2
8.185***
8.2
8.2
9.5
17.7
catches
9.600***
8.5
8.6
6.7
15.4
11.520***
6.9
6.6
5.2
11.8
11.520***
5.6
5.4
2.5
7.9
11.520***
6.6
6.7
2.7
9.5
Same advice as last
2008
11.579***
6.2
7.3
11.2
18.5
year
Same advice as last
2009
11.579^
9.3
9.6
9.1
18.6
year
Same advice as last
2010
11.579^
10.0
10.1
16.5
26.7
year
^
2011 See scenarios
13.316
13.4
12.9
14.4
27.3
2012 and technical measures
16.645^
18.2
18.1
10.2
28.3
to reduce discards rates
2013 MSY transition
< 9.5
14.148^
13.1
13.4
2.1
15.5
2014 MSY transition
< 5.281
< 3.602
9.479^
9.2
9.9
3.2
13.0
2015 MSY approach
< 10.434
< 5.605
8.342^
2016 MSY approach
8.590 6.078^^
* Applies to Subareas VII, VIII, IX, and X.
** Increased in-year to 14 000 t.
*** Includes separate Division VIIa allocation.
^
Applies to Divisions VIIbk and Subareas VIII, IX, and X.
^^
Wanted catch.
216

Table 5.3.16.8
Total catch
(2014)
13032 t
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
79% otter trawls
Landings
8% seines
Discards
4% beam
trawls
9% others
9855 t
84% otter
trawls
4% seines
10% beam
trawls
2%
others
3177 t
Table 5.3.16.9
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. History of commercial catch and landings; both the official and ICES
estimated values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery.
Official landings
Used by WG
33E2
Year
&
BEL
FRA
IRL
UK
Others
Total
Unallocated
Landings
Discards
Catch
33E3**
1993
51
1839
1262
256
0
3408
60
3348
1208
4557
1994
123
2788
908
240
17
4076
55
4131
1886
6017
1995
189
2964
966
266
83
4468
2
4470
2218
6688
1996
133
4527
1468
439
86
6653
103
6756
4309 11064
1997
246
6581
2789
569
85
10270
557
10827
2883 13710
1998
142
3674
2788
444
312
7360
308
7668
934
8603
1999
51
2725
2034
278
159
5247
365
4882
586
5468
2000
90
3088
3066
289
123
6656
755
7411
2503
9913
2001
165
4842
3608
422
665
9702
1070
8632
3418 12050
2002
132
4348
2188
315
106
7089
686
6403
7073 13476
2003
118
5781
1867
393
82
8241
31
8210
9456 17666
64
2004
136
6130
1715
313
159
8453
181
8634
6750 15384
53
2005
167
4174
2037
292
197
6867
277
6590
5191 11781
35
2006
99
3190
1875
274
209
5647
239
5408
2484
7893
26
2007
119
4142
1930
386
52
6629
103
6732
2739
9471
222
2008
108
3639
1800
566
121
6234
1100
7334
11187 18521
194
2009
131
5429
2983
716
48
9307
254
9561
9080 18641
285
2010
170
6240
2609
852
128
9999
136
10135
16547 26682
267
2011
211
8070
3322
1658
129
13390
492
12898
14378 27276
374
2012
231
11793
4130
1901
167
18222
81
18141
10191 28331
473
2013
173
8748
2699
1455
21
13068
365
13424
2085 15298
410
2014*
99
6245
2080
738
21
9183
672
9855
3177 13032
444
*Preliminary data.
**Landings from rectangles 33E2 and 33E3 are added into the stock area.
217

Table 5.3.16.10
Year
Haddock in Divisions VIIbk. Assessment summary. Weights in tonnes.
Recruitment
Age 0
thousands
High
1993
109400
132776
1994
377347
447257
1995
522428
606574
1996
147530
176932
1997
74183
90718
1998
154780
184832
1999
413321
488792
2000
394926
476544
2001
444378
522197
2002
786999
897919
2003
215084
249066
2004
276552
313563
2005
265170
298928
2006
196726
224574
2007
698467
773968
2008
366742
415588
2009
1710564 1870544
2010
206597
237525
2011
61081
73656
2012
41720
52085
2013
525658
612800
2014
110371
144967
2015
256272*
*Geometric mean (19932012).
Low
86024
307437
438282
118126
57648
124728
337850
313308
366559
676079
181102
239541
231412
168878
622966
317896
1550584
175669
48506
31355
438516
75775
SSB
tonnes
7423
7824
7164
19084
27808
21732
13514
16587
28280
35180
24309
42346
28635
22849
24065
23097
35361
36513
83210
65519
38071
23212
33387
High
Low
8994
9555
8579
22618
32197
25228
15727
19417
33047
42360
28356
48387
33076
26071
27319
26205
39347
41024
91280
72653
43023
27398
5852
6092
5748
15550
23418
18236
11300
13757
23512
28000
20262
36306
24194
19627
20811
19988
31374
32002
75139
58384
33119
19027
Landings
tonnes
Discards
tonnes
3348
4131
4470
6756
10827
7928
4970
7499
9278
6488
8292
8777
6787
5593
6781
7455
9608
10262
12879
18376
13424
9854
1208
1886
2218
4309
2883
934
586
2503
3418
7073
9456
6750
5191
2484
2739
11187
9080
16547
14378
10191
2085
3177
Mean
F
Ages
35
1.088
1.057
0.861
0.832
0.685
0.76
0.53
0.655
0.691
1.259
0.636
0.774
0.809
0.52
0.407
0.727
0.567
0.595
0.46
0.608
0.548
0.595
High
Low
1.352
1.292
1.08
1.041
0.849
0.942
0.681
0.831
0.892
1.547
0.797
0.957
0.99
0.666
0.513
0.85
0.666
0.702
0.54
0.707
0.658
0.752
0.824
0.821
0.641
0.623
0.522
0.577
0.379
0.48
0.49
0.971
0.475
0.591
0.628
0.374
0.302
0.603
0.467
0.489
0.379
0.509
0.438
0.438

ICES. 2012. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Western Waters Roundfish (WKROUND), 2229 February
2012, Aberdeen, UK. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:49.
ICES. 2015b. Mixed-fisheries advice for Divisions VIIbc,ek (Celtic Sea). In Report of the ICES Advisory
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
218
Celtic Sea and Western Channel Whiting

(Division VIIb,c,e-k)

should be no more than 19,076 t. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes
that this stock will be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. Until such
time that the approach for quota uplift is decided upon, it is not possible
to determine what the TAC and resultant Irish quota will be in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 1 for data-rich stocks with full analytical
assessments. Whiting are mainly caught in mixed fisheries with cod and
haddock in the Celtic Sea. Management measures to optimise mixed
fisheries opportunities for all three species should be implemented.
The TAC area includes VIId. FEAS agrees with the ICES catch advice of 4,175 t for VIId whiting.
Whiting in VIId will also be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. The ICES landings advice for
VIId has declined significantly over the last three years from 7,000 t for 2013 to 2,330 t for 2015. This
has a significant impact on the overall TAC used to manage this stock. In the absence of the landing
obligation the total landings advice for VIIbc,e-k and VIId would be 17,725 t for the entire VIIb-k TAC
area.
There is no management plan applying to Celtic Sea Whiting.

Celtic sea whiting are caught with haddock and cod in mixed fisheries. ICES has evaluated a number
of mixed fisheries scenarios. These indicate that the whiting is the least limiting stock for most fleets
in the Celtic Sea.
ICES mixed fishery scenarios and their predicted catch and implied Fs in 2016.
F/Fmsy
Catch
2016
F/Fmsy
Catch
2016
F/Fmsy
Catch
2016
Cod
1.72
0.55
6,092
1.22
0.39
4,644
0.97
0.31
3,747
Haddock
1.50
0.60
11,941
1.00
0.40
8,553
0.80
0.32
7,108
Whiting
1.00
0.32
18,070
0.66
0.21
12,693
0.53
0.17
10,398
Total Catch
36,103
25,890
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
21,253
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIb-k, and the assessment area
covers Divisions VIIb,c,e-k. VIId is assessed as part of the North Sea
stock.
IRE 5029 t
BEL 172 t
The 2015 TAC was set at 17,742 t with an associated Irish quota of
5,029 t.
There is a management plan in development by the NWWRAC for

mixed demersal fisheries catching whiting in VIIfg. FEAS supports the
development of this plan.
Technical measures have been implemented by vessels in the Celtic Sea to reduce discards of whiting. These are
expected to improve fishery selection and reduce discarding.
219
FRA 10565 t
NL 86 t
UK 1890 t
ICES ADVICE
5.3.65 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 19 076 tonnes. If this
stock is not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of the last three
years (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 15 395 tonnes.
The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) shows an increasing trend from 2008 and remains above MSY Btrigger. Fishing
mortality (F) declined from 2007 to 2012, was below FMSY during 20112013, and is at FMSY in 2014. Recruitment
between 2010 and 2012 was below average, whereas the 2013 year class is estimated to be the second highest in the
series.
Figure 5.3.65.1
Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. Summary of stock assessment (weights in thousand tonnes). Assumed
recruitment values are not shaded.

Table 5.3.65.1
Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012
2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
Maximum
Sustainable
Yield
FMSY
Appropriate
MSY
Btrigger
Above trigger
Precautionary
approach
Fpa,
Flim
Below possible
reference points
Bpa,
Blim
Full
reproductive
capacity
Management
plan
FMGT
Not applicable
SSBM
GT
Not applicable
220
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.65.2 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 25 (2015)
0.25
ICES (2015a)
mean (20122014)
SSB (2016)
67 569 t
ICES (2015a)
Rage0 (20152016)
1.010 millions
ICES (2015a)
GM19992013
Total catch (2015)
14 921 t
ICES (2015a)
Landings (2015)
10 879 t
ICES (2015a)
Discards (2015)
4042 t
ICES (2015a)
Mean discard rate-at-age (20122014)
Table 5.3.65.3 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. The catch options. Weights in tonnes. No information for % TAC change can be
shown as the TAC area differs from the stock distribution area.
F
Wanted
Unwanted
F Wanted
Catch
F catch
Unwanted
SSB
% SSB
Rationale
catch*
catch*
Basis
catch
(2016)
(2016)
catch
(2017)
change **
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)
MSY
0.32
0.24
0.08
66187
2%
19076
15395
3682
FMSY
approach
Zero catch
0
0
0
F=0
83110
+23%
0.2
0.15
0.05
71999
+7%
12478
10106
2371 F2015 0.80
0.22
0.17
0.05
70755
+5%
13885
11238
2647 F2015 0.90
Other options
15262
12343
2919 F2015 1.00
0.25
0.19
0.06
69540
+3%
0.27
0.21
0.07
68354
+1%
16609
13422
3187 F2015 1.10
17926
14476
3450 F2015 1.20
0.3
0.23
0.07
67196
1%
Mixed-fisheries options (ICES, 2015b)
Maximum
18463
A
0.33
63716
6%
Minimum
10236
B
0.17
70978
+5%
70835
Cod
10398
C
0.17
+5%
68802
+2%
Haddock
12693
D
0.21
64061
Whiting***
18070
E
0.32
5%
64089
5%
SQ effort
18038
F
0.32
* Wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation. The unwanted catch
refers to the component that was previously discarded (ICES, 2015c).
*** The whiting mixed-fisheries option results in a catch that differs slightly to the single-stock advice, due to the assumption that
effort in the intermediate year is the same as in 2014.
(note: The stock share is used to describe the share of the fishing opportunities for each particular fleet, which has been calculated
based on the single-stock advice for 2016 and the historical proportion of the stock landings taken by the fleet)
F. Status quo effort: The effort of each fleet is the same as in 2014.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.65.4 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. The basis of the advice.

Advice basis
MSY approach
Management plan
221

There is considerable uncertainty around the discard estimates prior to 2003, but the assessment appears to be quite
robust to this uncertainty. This years assessment is consistent with last year.
This stock was benchmarked in 2014. There were revisions in the input data to include discards and a revised natural
mortality. This has rescaled the SSB, F, and recruitment relative to previous assessments. This rescaling was most
pronounced for the recruitment time-series.
Figure 5.3.65.2 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included). The
2014 benchmark led to a rescaling of the assessment outputs, particularly recruitment.
Despite the introduction of square mesh panels during 2012 the volume of discards has remained high and there is not
yet evidence of improvements in selectivity in the fishery.
Whiting are caught in mixed fisheries with cod and haddock and this should be taken into account. Assuming fishing
patterns and catchability in 2015 and 2016 are unchanged from those in 2014, cod, haddock, and whiting are the
limiting species in the mixed-fisheries scenarios for 83% (12 fleets), 12% (2 fleets), and 5% (2 fleets) of the fishing
effort in the Celtic Sea gadoid fisheries in 2014 (see mixed fisheries analysis presented in Section 5.2.2.1).
Whiting is fished at or below FMSY in 2016 under all mixed-fisheries scenarios except the maximum scenario, reflecting
that it is the least limiting stock for most fleets.
Catches reported or taken in ICES rectangles 33E2 and 33E3 are reallocated from Division VIIa to this stock. The
implications for this stock are very minor.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.65.5
Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
point
40 000 t Lower bound of expected range at F0.1.
MSY Btrigger
MSY
F0.1 as estimated using a stochastic equilibrium analysis on
approach
FMSY
0.32
the full time-series.
25 000 t Bloss, the lowest observed spawning-stock biomass.
Blim
40 000 t Lower bound of expected range at F0.1.
Precautionary Bpa
approach
Flim
0.5 Increasing risk of reaching Blim.
Fpa
Undefined
SSBMGT
Undefined
Management
plan
FMGT
Undefined
Source
ICES (2014)
ICES (2014)
ICES (2014)
ICES (2014)
ICES (2014)
222

Table 5.3.65.6 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. The basis of the assessment.

ICES stock data
1 (ICES, 2015c).
category
Assessment type
Age-based analytical assessment (XSA) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast.
Commercial catches (international landings and ages from catch sampling) and one survey index
Input data
(EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4 & IGFS-WIBTS-Q4 combined: IGFSEVHOE); maturity-based knife-edge at
age 2; Lorenzen-based M (Lorenzen, 1996) derived from the mean weight-at-age.
Included in the assessment for the full time-series. Sampling from the majority of the fleets.
Indicators
None.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2014 (WKCELT; ICES, 2014).
Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), Working Group on Mixed Fisheries
Working group
Advice (WGMIXFISH-Advice).
Information from the French industry shows that the quota uptake rate in 2015 is faster than in previous years.
Table 5.3.65.7
Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings.
Predicted catch
Predicted landings
ICES
ICES
Year ICES advice
Agreed TAC*
corresp. to advice corresp. to advice
landings
discards
7.1#
12.7
7.0#
15.1
7.9#
16.5
8.4#
14.1
8.0#
13.5
8.0#
12.4
6.6#
22.0
16.3
< 9.4#
22.0
20
8.2##
25.0
22.7
8.6##
26.0
18.3
1997 At least 20% reduction in F
< 7.3###
27.0
20.5
< 8.2###
27.0
19.2
12.4###
25.0
20.2
5.4
< 13.1###
22.2
15.6
4.4
13.5###
21.0
13.2
9.9
27.7###
31.7
13.6
7.3
20.2###
31.7
11.1
3.6
14.0###
27.0
10.2
6.5
10.6###
21.6
12.2
6.7
10.8###
19.9
9.7
12.0
19.9
9.1
8.5
2008 Reduction in F
19.9
5.9
2.9
16.95
6.6
4.1
14.407
8.5
3.0
2011 See scenarios
16.658
9.5
2.0
No increase catch and improved
2012
19.053
9.8
2.4
gear selection
###
2013 MSY approach
< 17.5
24.5
12.4
2.5
2014 MSY approach
< 15.562###
19.162
12.8
3.9
2015 MSY approach
< 18.501**
< 14.230
17.742
2016 MSY approach
19.076**
15.395
* TAC covers Subarea VII (except Division VIIa).
** Wanted catch.
#
For the Divisions VIIf,g stock component.
##
For the Divisions VIIfh stock component.
###
For the Divisions VIIek stock component.
223

Table 5.3.65.8 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
66% otter
21% seine
11% other
2% beam
64% otter 20% seine
9% other
7% beam
trawls
nets
gears
trawls
trawls
nets
gears
trawls
16742 t
12847 t
3895 t
Table 5.3.65.9 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. History of official landings presented for each country participating in the fishery
(in tonnes).
UK:
Rectangles
Year
Belgium
France
Ireland
Others
Total
Eng. + W.
33E2 & 33E3
1998
479
11748
5549
1755
179
19710
1999
448
16418
6013
1354
27
24260
2000
194
9186
5358
1255
39
16032
2001
171
7317
5365
948
31
13832
2002
149
7548
5718
847
35
14297
2003
129
5989
4516
763
21
11418
2004
180
4874
4350
587
132
10123
2005
218
5913
5774
482
136
12523
2006
128
4711
4570
413
129
9951
2007
127
3575
4864
575
86
9227
2008
122
3072
2406
618
35
6253
2009
87
2815
2798
828
25
6553
2010
101
3464
4331
792
86
8774
2011
100
4311
4752
739
174
10076
2012
170
3709
5842
750
141
32
10644
2013
226
4007
6887
906
92
34
12152
2014*
222
4926
6851
969
36
49
13053
*Preliminary.
224

Table 5.3.65.10 Whiting in Divisions VIIb,c,ek. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes).
Recruitment Age 0
Year
SSB tonnes
Landings tonnes
Discards tonnes
thousands
1999
2290658
50311
20180
5418
2000
1350888
42385
15644
4401
2001
621217
50451
13196
9874
2002
715601
57214
13640
7337
2003
969261
44731
11098
3558
2004
985037
38624
10188
6482
2005
893355
40350
12207
6704
2006
763451
34119
9660
12031
2007
965296
29473
9086
8457
2008
1243955
25266
5859
2881
2009
1796366
34076
6572
4042
2010
748544
47977
8514
3082
2011
753721
74688
9498
1940
2012
487008
79438
9812
2818
2013
2180652
72714
12402
2394
2014
264479
58779
12847
3895
2015
1009811^
83052
Average
1061135
50803
11275
5332
^ GM 19992013.
Mean F Ages
25
0.719
0.703
0.782
0.583
0.43
0.414
0.732
0.792
0.916
0.522
0.401
0.387
0.272
0.187
0.238
0.319
0.525

ICES. 2014. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Celtic Sea Stocks (WKCELT), 37 February 2014, Copenhagen,
ICES. 2015b. Mixed-fisheries advice for Divisions VIIbc,ek (Celtic Sea). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee,
2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 5, Section 5.2.2.1.
ICES. 2015c. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
ICES. 2015d. Report of the Working Group on Mixed-Fisheries Advice for the North Sea (WGMIXFISH-Advice), 25
29 May 2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:22.
Lorenzen, K. 1996. The relationship between body weight and natural mortality in juvenile and adult fish: a comparison
of natural ecosystems and aquaculture. Journal of Fish Biology, 49(4): 627642.
225
Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay Anglerfish

(Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b,d)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings in
2016 should be no more than 37,448 t. ICES cannot quantify the
corresponding total catches. FEAS does not agree with this advice. This
stock is not subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
ICES is not able to give a catch advice because of uncertain quality of the
available discard estimates for some of the main countries participating in
the fishery. Available data show that discarding is not negligible (>5%).
The two anglerfish stocks both fall in to ICES category 3.2.0 for data-limited stocks for which a
biomass index is available. The perception of the stock has not changed; therefore, the advice
given in the two most recent years is still applicable this year.
Considering the economic importance of anglerfish in VII/VIII, FEAS considers that investigations
into alternative assessment methods are urgently needed.
The biomass index for both species has been fluctuating and FEAS consider that the longer term
trend is stable or increasing. Although effort has reduced in fisheries catching anglerfish the
exploitation status of both species remains unknown. In the absence of an analytical assessment
FEAS consider that multi-annual advice is more appropriate. FEAS advised in previous years that
the TAC should be gradually reduced - starting from the 2012 TAC - in the order of -5% per year
until it can be shown that F is below FMSY. Maintaining this advice for 2016 implies a Sub-area VII
TAC of 24,978 t (total landings of 31,666 t for both TAC areas) with an associated Irish quota of
1,893 t.
There is no management plan is in place for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT

in VII
There are two separate TACs set for anglerfish in this area;
one for Sub-area VII and a second for TAC for Divisions
VIIIabde. The TAC area does not correspond to the
assessment area (Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b). An additional
allocation needs to be made for Division VIIa.
Two species; white bellied (L piscatorious) and black bellied

(L. budegassa) are caught in this assessment area. These
species are not routinely separated by the industry.
Therefore a combined TAC is set for both species.
The 2015 TAC for Sub-area VII was 33,516 t with an

associated Irish quota of 2,540 t. Ireland has no quota in TAC area Divisions VIIIabde.
Most countries had a high level of quota uptake in 2014, except France.
There are no explicit management objectives or plans for this stock.
There is no minimum legal landing size for anglerfish. However, EC Reg. No 2406/96 dealing with common
marketing standards fixes a minimum weight of 500 g for anglerfish.
There is a ban on fishing gillnets in Divisions VIa,b and VIIb,c,j,k in more than 200m depth (EC Reg. No
51/2006).
226
IRE 2540 t
BEL 3097 t
GER 345 t
FRA 19875 t
NL 401 t
UK 6027 t
SPA 1231 t
ICES ADVICE
5.3.2
Anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d

(Lophius budegassa)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings in 2016 should be no more than
10 757 tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding total catches.
Management of the two anglerfish species under a combined TAC prevents effective control of the single-species
exploitation rates and could lead to overexploitation of either species.
The biomass has been fluctuating without trend, and the recruitment shows an increasing trend over time.
Figure 5.3.2.1
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. ICES estimated landings (tonnes) and two stock
size indices from the EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4 survey indices: biomass (kg [30 min]1 and recruitment (number
[30 min]1). The recruitment index is defined by fish <20 cm. Dashed gray lines indicate 2 s.d. Discards are
thought to occur, but no reliable estimates exist.
227

Table 5.3.2.1
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. State of the stock and fishery, relative to
reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
FMSY
Undefined
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
2012
Stock size
2013
2014
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Stable
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks is applied (ICES, 2012a). In the past, the precautionary buffer was not
applied due to a steady decrease in fishing effort since the early 1990s and the overall increasing trend in the
survey index (ICES, 2013, 2014). The perception of the stock has not changed; therefore, the advice given in the
two most recent years is still applicable this year and is described in the table below.
Table 5.3.2.2
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one
catch option is possible.
Recent advised landings
10757tonnes
Discard rate
Unknown, but not negligible
Not applied
Landings advice*
10757tonnes
* = recent advised landings.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.2.3
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for anglerfish (L. budegassa) in this area.
The EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4 survey mainly covers the shelf area in the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay. Adult
anglerfish are known to migrate down the slope as they grow, and this is where the majority of the fishery occurs.
The survey is a good index of recruitment for the stock and may not reflect the trends in the adult biomass. Other
information, such as commercial lpue and the Spanish Porcupine Groundfish Survey (SPPGFS), support the
overall increase in stock biomass since the early 2000s.
Due to uncertain growth parameters and incomplete time-series of reliable discard information, ICES is only able
to provide a survey trends-based assessment at this time.
228
ICES is not able to give a catch advice because of uncertain quality of the available discard estimates for some of
the main countries participating in the fishery. Available data show that discards are not negligible (>5%).
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.2.4
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. The basis of the assessment.
3.2.0 (ICES, 2015a)
Survey trends-based assessment (ICES, 2015b)
Assessment type
Input data
Commercial landings; one survey index (EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4)
Discards are known to take place but cannot be quantified.
Indicators
Effort data for commercial fleets in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2012 (WKFLAT; ICES, 2012b).
Working group report
Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE)
229

Table 5.3.2.5
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and
ICES estimates of landings. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch/
Predicted
ICES
landings corresp.
landings
Agreed
landings
Landings L.
Year ICES advice
to advice (both
corresp. to
TAC*,** (both Lophius budegassa
Lophius species)
advice
species)*,**
*
1987 Not assessed
39.08
29.5
7.6
1988 Not assessed
42.99
28.5
8.4
1989 Not assessed
42.99
30
8.8
1990 Not assessed
42.99
29.4
9.6
1991 No advice
42.99
24.9
8.8
1992 No advice
42.99
20.9
8.2
1993 Concern about L. pisc. SSB decrease
25.1
20.0
6.6
SSB decreasing, still inside safe biological
1994
23.9
21.9
5.7
limits
20.0
23.2
26.7
7.0
30.3
30.4
20.3
8.1
34.3
34.3
29.8
8.1
33.0
34.3
28.2
8.6
32.9
34.3
25.0
6.7
2000 At least 20% decrease in F
< 22.3
29.6
20.6
6.6
< 27.6
27.6
22.4
5.7
< 19.9
23.7
26.2
6.4
< 16.4 21.0***
33.2
8.4
< 26.7
26.7
35.2
7.4
< 37.8
31.2
33.1
7.5
< 33.9
34.0
31.6
5.7
< 36.0
36.0
35.3
6.4
2008 Less than average landings
< 33.0
36.0
31.8
7.4
< 33.0
36.0
27.9
9.1
41.4
28.9
9.4
40.9
28.4#
8.0#
2012 Reduce catch
38.9
36.4
9.5
Reduce catch by the rate of biomass decrease
< 6.9 ##
2013## (14% for L. piscatorius and 20% for
< 24.8 ##
37.0
36.9
12.7
##
L. budegassa)
Increase landings by the rate of biomass
2014 increase (20% for L. piscatorius and 20% for < 10.757 ##
< 37.5 ##
42.5
36.2
10.9
##
L. budegassa)
Same landings advice for L. budegassa as in
2015
< 10.757 ##
< 37.5 ##
42.5
2014 ##
Precautionary approach (same landings
2016
< 10.757 ##
< 37.5 ##
value as advised for 2014)
* Applies to the combined species.
** Includes Divisions VIIa and VIIIe.
*** TAC was changed during 2003 from 19 400 t to 21 000 t following fast-track advice from ICES.
#
Revised.
##
Advice refers to landings, not catch.

Table 5.3.2.6
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated
by ICES.
Total catch
(2014)
Unknown
Landings
81%
Otter trawl
7%
Nephrops trawl
10.9 kt
Discards
5%
Beam trawl
230
7%
Gillnet
Discards are known to take

place but cannot be quantified.
231
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. History of commercial catch and landings; both the official and ICES estimated values are presented for
Divisions VIIbk only, for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
Divisions VIIbk
Ireland
Belgium
UK
France
Spain
Beam
Beam
Neph.
Year
Trawl
Gillnet
Trawl
Gillnet
Trawl
Trawl
Trawl
Trawl
Trawl
Unallocated
Total
Other
Unit
Unit 5
Unit 6 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
Unit 3+13 Unit 4 Unit 5
Unit 8
Unit 4
4
1986
218
44
165
23
507
44
375
0
0
1585
260
406
2816
0
6443
1987
155
86
28
30
275
65
435
0
0
888
545
434
2174
0
5115
1988
144
90
65
34
319
121
686
0
0
1293
885
394
2316
0
6347
1989
58
252
275
25
109
108
230
0
15
1786
616
515
2445
0
6434
1990
291
323
109
23
174
36
796
0
30
1959
272
653
2393
0
7059
1991
171
687
17
0
405
24
380
0
0
1660
223
507
2180
0
6254
1992
765
10
28
0
685
40
277
0
0
1594
251
594
1763
0
6007
1993
560
46
68
0
371
19
337
0
0
1179
363
399
1304
0
4646
1994
224
66
86
0
246
10
122
0
0
1091
190
540
1374
0
3949
1995
557
73
69
10
264
25
90
0
0
1475
356
617
1668
0
5204
1996
599
42
90
18
370
4
155
28
100
1709
430
524
1909
0
5978
1997
456
100
38
20
516
5
94
9
113
1721
497
474
2143
0
6186
1998
1133
101
53
31
543
11
177
1
148
1848
134
288
2042
0
6510
1999
529
0
144
0
50
1
141
0
18
1298
118
338
2434
0
5071
2000
873
0
169
0
48
4
115
0
57
1518
157
228
2050
0
5219
2001
580
0
168
0
29
4
98
0
41
1067
103
306
2083
0
4479
2002
565
0
164
0
26
3
88
0
30
1230
145
372
2450
0
5073
2003
410
0
227
0
88
4
115
5
92
1650
332
376
3600
0
6899
2004
223
0
245
0
6
2
98
0
122
1580
240
376
2875
0
5767
2005
336
0
266
0
6
4
142
0
73
1593
159
329
2902
0
5810
2006
191
0
193
0
7
3
78
0
9
727
142
218
2737
0
4305
2007
421
0
204
6
9
18
102
0
86
993
150
250
2451
0
4690
2008
490
0
175
6
7
27
217
0
15
1107
160
254
3017
0
5475
2009
755
0
220
0
7
24
221
0
72
1704
0
36
3498
0
6537
2010
959
0
335
65
8
9
262
0
159
2191
0
27
2979
0
6994
2011
875
0
331
106
11
11
261
0
66
1609
0
16
1067
1747
6100
2012
613
0
276
79
126
6
207
1
31
2354
0
6
1221
1135
6055
2013
650
0
363
106
214
4
188
4
48
3394
0
64
1306
1328
7669
2014* 672
0
211
384
274
27
384
1
335
2753
0
74
1349
280
6744
Provisiona
Table 5.3.2.7
Table 5.3.2.8
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. History of commercial catch and landings, both
official and ICES estimated values are presented by forDivisionsVIIIa,b,d area for each country participating
in the fishery, and for the total of VIIbkandVIIIa,b,d. All weights are in tonnes.
Divisions VIIbk and
Divisions VIIIa,b,d
VIIIa,b,d
France
Spain
Year
Neph.Trawl
Trawl
Trawl
Unallocated
Total
Total
Unit 9
Unit 10
Unit 14
Unit 14
1986
443
150
696
485
0
1774
8217
1987
483
116
952
953
0
2504
7619
1988
435
102
804
695
0
2036
8382
1989
446
112
1227
602
0
2387
8820
1990
550
156
1294
571
0
2571
9632
1991
475
117
1134
799
0
2525
8780
1992
459
191
982
536
0
2168
8176
1993
433
101
796
589
0
1919
6566
1994
232
49
891
624
0
1796
5744
1995
312
62
823
463
90
1750
6953
1996
374
109
714
525
392
2114
8092
1997
313
17
761
366
471
1928
8114
1998
258
72
1013
441
305
2089
8599
1999
144
76
992
458
0
1670
6739
2000
124
31
825
445
0
1425
6645
2001
121
29
767
333
0
1250
5728
2002
112
14
732
462
0
1320
6394
2003
195
26
852
396
0
1469
8368
2004
254
9
929
478
0
1670
7436
2005
235
56
1016
415
0
1722
7532
2006
286
1
845
282
1
1415
5720
2007
243
0
1108
316
0
1667
6357
2008
235
0
1404
265
0
1904
7379
2009
354
0
1754
293
145
2546
9082
2010
379
0
1446
317
223
2365
9359
2011
378
0
1065
348
97
1888
7988
2012
275
0
1839
411
384
2909
8964
2013
559
0
2918
646
862
4985
12655
2014*
730
0
2452
724
221
4127
10872
*Provisional.
232

Table 5.3.2.9
Black-bellied anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. Assessment summary: Biomass (kg [30 min]1),
total abundance (number [30 min]1), and recruitment (number [30 min]1) indices.
Year
Biomass
Abundance
Recruitment index
1997
0.81
0.78
0.16
1998
0.58
0.68
0.25
1999
0.45
0.68
0.25
2000
0.62
0.84
0.36
2001
0.79
1.46
0.68
2002
0.93
1.4
0.32
2003
0.51
0.53
0.13
2004
0.62
1.2
0.78
2005
0.52
1.01
0.43
2006
0.8
1.6
0.46
2007
1.07
2.42
1.05
2008
1.47
2.92
1.27
2009
0.77
1.2
0.33
2010
0.5
1.04
0.46
2011
1.07
1.97
1.21
2012
1.21
2.22
1.25
2013
0.8725
3.2091
2.32
2014
0.81
2.04
1.41

ICES. 2012a. ICES Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:68.
42 pp.
ICES. 2012b. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish Species and Anglerfish (WKFLAT), 18 March 2012, Bilbao,
Spain. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:46. 283 pp.
ICES. 2013. Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. In Report of the ICES
Advisory Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 5, Section 5.4.2.
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2013/2013/ang-78ab.pdf.
ICES. 2014. Anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee,
2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 5, Section 5.3.2b.
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2014/2014/anb-78ab.pdf.
ICES. 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In preparation.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE), 612 May
2015, ICES Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:11.
233
ICES ADVICE
5.3.61
Anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d

(Lophius piscatorius)
ICES stock advice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings in 2016 should be no more than
26 691 tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the resulting catches.
Management of the two anglerfish species under a combined TAC prevents effective control of the single-species
exploitation rates and could lead to the overexploitation of either species.
The biomass index shows a variable, but overall increasing trend over time. Recent recruitment is around average.
Figure5.3.61.1 White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. ICES estimated landings (tonnes) and two stock size
indices from the EVHOEWIBTSQ4 survey indices: biomass (kg [30 min1]) and recruitment (number [30
1
min ]). The recruitment index is defined by fish < 25cm. Dashed gray lines indicate 2 s.d. Discards are
thoughttooccur,butnoreliableestimatesexist.

Table 5.3.61.1
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. State of the stock, relative to reference points, of the
stock and fishery.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
FMSY
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
Stock size
2012
2013
2014
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Stable
234
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks is applied (ICES, 2012a). In the past, the precautionary buffer was not
applied due to a steady decrease in fishing effort since the early 1990s and the overall increasing trend in the
survey index (ICES, 2013, 2014). The perception of the stock has not changed; therefore, the advice given in the
two most recent years is still applicable this year and is described in the table below.
Table 5.3.61.2
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch option
is possible.
26 691 tonnes
Discard rate
Unknown, but not negligible
Not applied
Landings advice*
26 691 tonnes
* = recent advised landings.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.61.3
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for anglerfish (L. piscatorius) in this area.
TheEVHOEWIBTSQ4surveymainlycoverstheshelfareaintheCelticSeaandBayofBiscay.Adultanglerfishare
knowntomigratedowntheslopeastheygrow,andthisiswherethemajorityofthefisheryoccurs.Thesurvey
is a good index of recruitment for the stock and may not reflect the trends in the adult biomass. Other
information, such as commercial lpue and the Spanish Porcupine Groundfish Survey (SPPGFS), support the
overallincreaseinstockbiomasssincetheearly2000s.
Due to uncertain growth parameters and incomplete time-series of reliable discard information, ICES is only able
to provide a survey trends-based assessment at this time.
ICES is not able to give a catch advice because of uncertain quality of the available discard estimates for some of
the main countries participating in the fishery. Available data show that discarding is not negligible (>5%).
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.61.4 White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data category 3.2.0 (ICES, 2015a)
Survey trends-based assessment (ICES, 2015b)
Assessment type
Input data
Commercial landings; one survey index (EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4).
Discards are known to take place but cannot be quantified.
Indicators
Effort data for commercial fleets in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d and the SPPGFS.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2012 (WKFLAT; ICES, 2012b).
Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE)
235

Table 5.3.61.5
Year
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES
estimates of landings. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
ICES
Predicted catch/
Predicted
landings (both
landings corresp. Agreed TAC
landings
Lophius
Landings
ICES advice
To advice (both
*
corresponding
species)
L. piscatorius
Lophius species)
**
to advice
*
*
**
Not assessed
39.08
29.5
21.9
Not assessed
42.99
28.5
20.1
Not assessed
42.99
30
21.1
Not assessed
42.99
29.4
19.8
No advice
42.99
24.9
16.2
No advice
42.99
20.9
12.8
Concern about L. pisc. SSB decrease
25.1
20.0
13.5
SSB decreasing, still inside safe
23.9
21.9
16.1
biological limits
No increase in F
20.0
23.2
26.7
19.7
No increase in F
30.3
30.4
20.3
22.2
No increase in F
34.3
34.3
29.8
21.7
No increase in F
33.0
34.3
28.2
19.6
No increase in F
32.9
34.3
25.0
18.2
At least 20% decrease in F
< 22.3
29.6
20.6
13.9
Reduce F below Fpa
< 27.6
27.6
22.4
16.7
Reduce F below Fpa
< 19.9
23.7
26.2
19.8
< 16.4
21.0##
33.2
24.9
< 26.7
26.7
35.2
27.7
Maintain F below Fpa
< 37.8
31.2
33.1
25.5
< 33.9
34.0
31.6
25.9
< 36.0
36.0
35.3
29.0
Less than average landings
< 33.0
36.0
31.8
24.4
< 33.0
36.0
27.9
18.8
41.4
28.9
19.5
40.9
28.4***
20.4***
Reduce catch
38.9
36.4
26.8
Reduce catch by the rate of biomass
17.9#
decrease (14% for L. piscatorius and
< 24.8#
37.0
36.9
24.2
#
20% for L. budegassa)
Increase landings by the rate of biomass
increase (20% for L. piscatorius and
< 37.5#
42.5
36.2
25.3
< 26.691#
20% for L. budegassa) #
Same landings advice for L. piscatorius
<37.5#
42.5
< 26.691#
as in 2014
Precautionary approach (same landings
< 26.691#
<37.5#
* Applies to the combined Lophius species.

*** Revised.
#
Advice refers to landings, not catch.
##
TAC was changed during 2003, from 19 400 t to 21 000 t, following fast-track advice from ICES.
236
237
Discards are known to take place but

cannot be quantified.
Discards
*Provisional.
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
Year
Ireland
Trawl
Unit 4 Unit 5
582
368
511
357
349
259
112
1370
536
835
203
809
999
50
948
199
1364
527
1104
436
952
337
1346
510
1109
787
3076
0
1660
0
1535
0
1627
0
1170
0
1614
0
1968
0
2572
0
2355
0
1845
0
1975
0
2478
0
2213
0
2563
0
2435
0
2512
0
Belgium
Beam Trawl
Unit 6
438
90
156
526
211
52
95
223
582
831
800
548
385
311
321
444
470
648
846
825
773
862
533
401
574
840
1253
1090
473
Gillnet
Unit 3
429
560
643
481
421
452
573
442
377
415
342
389
580
378
317
478
586
419
513
630
511
707
347
444
465
429
578
734
446
Trawl
Unit 4
Unit 5
1349
369
904
271
769
345
210
583
321
380
700
211
913
181
635
234
553
246
592
394
794
337
935
297
950
181
1192
125
1019
120
684
190
890
228
749
213
687
217
669
222
757
279
1026
334
787
356
770
358
898
539
1211
548
915
513
1556
392
1931
494
UK
Beam Trawl
Unit 6
998
1429
1658
2472
1525
1090
903
1035
941
974
1388
1483
1336
1098
1112
1534
1366
1335
1614
1563
1648
1973
1457
1478
1929
2180
1978
1991
2095
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
138
39
3
19
6
17
22
81
14
7
3
11
10
16
31
42
9
43
6
Other
Divisions VIIbk
Gillnet
Unit 3+13
0
0
0
300
600
1300
1200
1300
1000
1500
1902
2150
2818
2784
1717
1524
2133
3079
4491
4524
3230
3888
4760
3513
2933
1723
2327
1311
2234
France
Trawl
Unit 4
Unit 5
6019
2140
4940
2272
4403
2500
3873
3306
3946
2735
3106
1772
1859
1261
1650
1692
2776
1821
3760
2365
4201
1985
3642
2138
3252
1170
1815
2244
2201
1522
3266
2103
3863
2381
5752
2573
5961
2425
4235
2178
5491
1937
6931
2048
5027
1528
4440
0
3966
0
4361
0
5544
0
5414
0
8646
0
Neph.Trawl
Unit 8
1021
787
774
754
880
752
887
969
1236
1242
1149
964
812
780
726
886
924
974
852
594
700
660
491
48
21
12
14
71
102
Spain
Trawl
Unit 4
5831
5059
4291
4253
3985
3554
2484
2543
2652
3004
3849
3302
3403
2954
2187
2395
3084
4662
4507
4683
4589
4637
4107
2754
2510
1183
1371
1832
1929
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1616
1251
1455
337
Unallocated
19544
17180
16147
18240
16375
14001
11405
11870
14075
16617
18174
17743
16786
16776
12908
15056
17574
21655
23741
22098
22490
25432
21248
16197
16344
16358
18316
18324
21205
Total
Table 5.3.61.7
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. History of commercial catch and landings; both the official and ICES estimated values are presented for Divisions VIIbk
for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
Table 5.3.61.6 White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Landings
(2014)
78% Otter trawl
10% Beam trawl
11% Gillnet
2% Nephrops trawl
Unknown
25.3 kt
Table 5.3.61.8
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. History of commercial catch and landings; both the
official and ICES estimated values are presented for Divisions VIIIa,b,d for each country participating in the
fishery, and the total for Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. All weights are in tonnes.
Divisions VIIbk and
Divisions VIIIa,b,d
VIIIa,b,d
France
Spain
Year Neph.Trawl
Trawl
Trawl
Unallocated
Total
TOTAL
Unit 9
Unit 10
Unit 14
Unit 14
1986
746
720
1799
858
0
4123
23666
1987
1035
542
2378
774
0
4729
21909
1988
927
534
1668
819
0
3948
20095
1989
673
444
1147
625
0
2889
21130
1990
410
391
1779
800
0
3380
19753
1991
284
218
1155
502
0
2159
16160
1992
254
166
646
296
0
1362
12766
1993
360
278
676
274
0
1588
13458
1994
261
198
1105
481
0
2045
16120
1995
501
429
1472
482
228
3112
19730
1996
441
379
1396
834
938
3988
22162
1997
429
376
1338
707
1068
3918
21660
1998
397
149
988
711
542
2787
19572
1999
98
116
710
549
0
1473
18250
2000
91
77
522
341
0
1031
13941
2001
146
76
1018
384
0
1624
16681
2002
247
96
1394
514
0
2251
19826
2003
470
168
2067
508
0
3213
24865
2004
457
218
2578
718
0
3971
27714
2005
342
165
2365
571
2
3445
25543
2006
429
218
2338
420
2
3407
25898
2007
286
244
2615
401
0
3546
28977
2008
227
325
2047
527
1
3127
24376
2009
221
0
1779
374
275
2649
18844
2010
301
0
2000
372
504
3177
19521
2011
231
0
1908
377
1497
4013
20370
2012
195
0
3355
376
2168
6094
24409
2013
216
0
3944
288
1429
5877
24200
2014*
286
0
3345
408
84
4123
25328
*Provisional.
238

Table 5.3.61.9
White anglerfish in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. Assessment summary: biomass (kg [30 min1]), total
abundance (number [30 min1]), and recruitment (number [30 min1]) indices.
Year
Biomass index
Abundance index
Recruitment index
1997
1.53
0.89
0.14
1998
2.01
0.95
0.39
1999
1.25
1.24
0.76
2000
0.94
0.98
0.29
2001
2.34
3.12
2.19
2002
2.46
3.41
1.86
2003
2.27
1.76
0.50
2004
3.44
3.24
2.12
2005
2.77
2.04
0.44
2006
3.17
1.94
0.51
2007
3.45
1.56
0.40
2008
3.18
2.36
1.29
2009
2.6
2.06
1.15
2010
1.85
2.13
1.23
2011
3.43
2.5
0.74
2012
4.47
2.34
0.86
2013
3.95
1.68
0.51
2014
2.16
1.7
1.01

ICES. 2012a. ICES Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM
2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2012b. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish Species and Anglerfish (WKFLAT), 18 March
2012, Bilbao, Spain. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:46. 283 pp.
ICES. 2013. Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. In Report of
the ICES Advisory Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 5, Section 5.4.2.
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2013/2013/ang-78ab.pdf.
ICES. 2014. Anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. In Report of the ICES Advisory
Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 5, Section 5.3.2b.
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2014/2014/anp-78ab.pdf.
preparation.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE), 6
239
Celtic Sea and Bay of Biscay Megrim

(Sub-area VII and Divisions VIIIa,b,d,e)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings in 2016
should be no more than 18,216 t. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding
catches. FEAS do not agree with this advice. This stock is not subject to the
landing obligation in 2016.
This stock falls in to ICES category 3.2.0 data-limited stocks for which a
biomass index is available. ICES advice is based on a comparison of the two
latest index values with the three preceding values, multiplied by the recent
average landings. The index ratio is estimated to have increased by more than
20% and thus the uncertainty cap was applied. The stock status relative to
candidate reference points is unknown. Given the sustained increase in SSB
and decrease in F, the precautionary buffer was not applied again year.
The qualitative indicators for this stock show that biomass estimates and survey indices have been
increasing in recent years while recruitment is stable. Effort has reduced in fisheries catching
megrim but the exploitation status remains unknown. In the absence of an analytical assessment
last year FEAS advised that the TAC should be gradually reduced, in the order of 5%, until it can be
shown that F is below FMSY. Maintaining this approach for 2016 would imply a Sub-area VII TAC of
14,421 t (18,146 t for both TAC areas) with an associated Irish quota of 2,467 t.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are two TAC areas covering the assessment area for this
stock; Sub-area VII and Divisions VIIIa,b,d,e. The assessment area
for this stock is Sub-area VII and Divisions VIIIa,b,d,e. Landings of
megrim from Division VIIa are not considered in the assessment
and advice. However, recent official data suggests landings are
minor (<10 t).
IRE 2878 t
BEL 470 t
FRA 6329 t
UK 2492 t
SPA 5216 t
The TAC is also set for two species, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis

and L. boscii, combined. L. boscii accounts for around 5% of the
landings.
FEAS advises that a management plan be developed and

implemented for fisheries taking megrim.
The minimum landing size of Lepidorhombus spp. was reduced from 25 to 20 cm in 2000, to match
selection pattern of the gear. However high-grading continues for market reasons.
The 2015 VII TAC was set at 17,385 t with an Irish quota of 2,878 t.
FEAS note that France and Spain, who have the largest quota, have not landed their allocated quota since
2003 (see Figure 1 on the following page).
This stock was benchmarked in 2012 but the assessment was accepted as trends only.
240
Figure 1 Megrim in Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b,d. Historical quota allocation and nominal landings reported to
the working group by country 1986-2014 (Note: 2014 Landings are preliminary).
ICES ADVICE 5.3.23 Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings in 2016 should be no more than 18
216 tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catches.
241

The assessment is indicative of trends. In the last decade, the spawning-stock biomass (SSB) shows an increase
and fishing mortality has decreased. Recruitment (R) has been relatively stable over the time-series.
Figure5.3.23.1 MegriminDivisionsVIIbkandVIIIa,b,d.Summaryofthestockassessment.Catchesshowtheobserved
landingsandpartialdiscards(weightsinthousandtonnes).HorizontallinesinSSBdenotetheaverageof
therespectiveyears(IndexAandBasshowninTable5.3.23.2).

Table 5.3.23.1
Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2012 2013
2014
Maximum
sustainable yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
Qualitative
evaluation
FMSY
Undefined
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Fpa, Flim
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
FMGT
Undefined
SSBMGT
Undefined
Decreasing
Increasing
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012a). The assessment model is accepted for
trends only, and the relative SSB trend from the assessment was applied as the index of stock development
(ICES, 2015a). The advice is based on a comparison of the two latest index values (index A) with the three
preceding values (index B), multiplied by the recent advised landings (for 2015).
The index ratio is estimated to have increased by more than 20% and thus the uncertainty cap was applied. The
stock status relative to candidate reference points is unknown and the precautionary buffer was applied in 2012
(ICES, 2012b). Given the sustained increase in SSB and decrease in F, the precautionary buffer was not applied
again this year.
Discarding occurs, but the discard rate is known only for some fleets. Therefore, the discard rate for the stock as
a whole is not quantified, and ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catch.
242
Table 5.3.23.2
Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch option is
possible.
Index A (20132014)
1.249
Index B (20102012)
0.940
Index ratio (A/B)
1.33
Uncertainty cap
Applied
1.2
15180 tonnes
Discard rate
Unknown
Not applied
Landings advice*
18216 tonnes
* (recent advised landings) (uncertainty cap).
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.23.3 Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa ,b, d. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
No specific management plan for megrim (L. whiffiagonis) in this area.
This stock was benchmarked in 2012 (ICES, 2012c). The lack of confidence in the data used made it impossible
to accept the absolute values of the assessment model results. The model gave promising results and seemed to
be able to deal with the heterogeneity in the data. The model fit to the data was adequate but can only be
interpreted as trends.
Assessment data arrived after the ICES data call deadline, thus reducing time to review and audit the assessment
results. This reduces the ICES quality assurance.
French discard data were available for 2014 and it provided useful information to explain some of the
recruitment processes, but as there is only one year of data it is not used in the assessment model this year.
Discards rates are known to have been variable in recent years and the discard rate estimated for the stock in
2014 may not be representative of discard rates in other recent years. There is, moreover, some uncertainty
concerning appropriate discard estimation procedures for this stock. Therefore, ICES cannot quantify the
corresponding total catches and provides advice only for landings.
The ICES advice is for L. whiffiagonis, whereas the TAC is for L. whiffiagonis and L. boscii combined.
Referencepoints
There are no reference points for the stock.
Table 5.3.23.4 Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. The basis of the assessment.
3.2.0 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
Statistical catch at age model accepted for trends (ICES, 2015a).
Input data
sampling). Survey indices: EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4 and SP-PGFS-WIBTS-Q4. Commercial
indices: SP-VIGOTR7 (VIGO84, VIGO99), and IRTBB. Annual maturity ogive from
BIOSDEF, 1998. Natural mortalities: a fixed value of 0.2 is used for all age groups and all
years.
Discarding is known to take place; in 19992013 discards were only quantified for part of
the fisheries.
Indicators
None.
Other information
The stock was benchmarked in 2012 (WKFLAT; ICES, 2012c).
Working group
Working Group for the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Waters Ecoregion (WGBIE).
243

Table 5.3.23.5
Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates
of landings. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch /
landings
Agreed
Discard /
Year ICES advice
ICES landings
ICES catch #
corresponding to TAC*, **
Slippage ***
advice
1987 Not assessed
16.46
17.1
1.7
18.8
1988 Not assessed
18.1
17.6
1.7
19.3
1989 Not assessed
18.1
19.2
2.6
21.8
1990 Not assessed
18.1
14.4
3.3
17.7
1991 No advice
18.1
15.1
3.3
18.4
1992 No advice
18.1
15.6
3.0
18.6
21.46
14.9
3.1
18.0
20.33
13.7
2.7
16.4
1995 No particular concern
22.59
15.9
3.2
19.1
1996 No long-term gain in increased F
16.6
21.20
15.1
3.0
18.1
1997 No advice
14.3
25.0
14.2
3.1
17.3
15.2
25.0
14.3
5.4
19.7
14.6
25.0
13.3
3.3
16.6
<14.2
20.0
15.0
1.9
16.9
< 14.1
16.8
15.8
2.3
18.0
< 13.0
14.9
16.0
2.8
18.8
< 16.1
16.0
15.7
4.0
19.7
< 20.2
20.2
14.3
5.2
19.5
< 22.6
21.5
12.7
2.6
15.3
<13.6
20.4
12.0
3.4
15.4
2007 Less than average landings 200305
< 14.2
20.4
13.0
2.7
15.8
2008 Less than average landings 200406
< 13.0
20.4
10.9
2.5
13.4
< 13.0
20.4
13.3
2.6
16.0
< 13.0
20.4
13.2
4.4
17.6
2011 See scenarios
20.1
11.9
3.3
15.3
2012 Catch and effort reduction
- 19.101
12.7
2.9
15.6
Decrease landings by 4% (20%
2013 increase,
followed
by
<12.0 19.101
15.8
4.1
19.9
20% PA reduction)
2014 Same advice as 2013
< 12.0 19.101
13.3
2.2
15.5
Increase landings by no more than
< 15.180 19.101
2015
13%
Precautionary approach (increase
2016 recent advised landings by no more
< 18.216
than 20%)
* Includes L. boscii.
*** Partial discards 19992013.
#
Incomplete catches 19992013.

Table 5.3.23.6 Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
70% trawl
30% unspecified
15456 tonnes
2179 tonnes
13277 tonnes
244
Table 5.3.23.7
Year
France
1984
Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. History of commercial catch and landings; both the official
and ICES estimated values are presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights
are in tonnes.
U.K.
ICES
ICES
ICES
U.K.
Unallo
Spain
(England
Ireland
Belgium
estimated
estimated
estimated
(Scotland)
cated
& Wales)
landings
discards*
catch**
16659
2169
18828
1985
17865
1732
19597
1986
4896
10242
2048
1563
178
18927
2321
21248
1987
5056
8772
1600
1561
125
17114
1705
18819
1988
5206
9247
1956
995
173
17577
1725
19302
1989
5452
9482
1451
2548
300
19233
2582
21815
1990
4336
7127
1380
1381
147
14371
3284
17655
1991
3709
7780
1617
1956
32
15094
3282
18376
1992
4104
7349
1982
2113
52
15600
2988
18588
1993
3640
6526
2131
2592
40
14929
3108
18037
1994
3214
5624
2309
2420
117
13685
2700
16385
1995
3945
6129
2658
2927
203
15862
3206
19068
1996
4146
5572
2493
2699
199
15109
3026
18135
1997
4333
5472
2875
1420
130
14230
3066
17296
1998
4232
4870
2492
2621
129
14345
5371
19716
1999
3751
4615
2193
2597
149
13304
3297
16601
2000
4173
6047
2185
2512
115
15032
1870
16902
2001
3645
7575
1710
2767
80
15778
2261
18039
2002
2929
8797
1787
2413
62
15987
2813
18800
2003
3203
8340
1732
2249
163
15687
4008
19696
2004
2758
7526
1622
2288
106
14300
5240
19540
2005
2787
5841
1764
2155
156
12703
2578
15281
2006
2726
5916
1509
1751
99
12000
3368
15369
2007
2733
6895
1462
1763
195
13048
2703
15751
2008
2383
5402
1387
1514
167
10853
2531
13384
2009
1316
8062
1842
1918
209
13348
2604
15952
2010
1728
7095
1810
2283
261
13177
4406
17583
2011
1599
3847
1845
2227
330
2074
11923
3340
15263
2012
2268
3997
1744
3047
609
1080
12745
2908
15653
2013
4551
4827
2918
3038
538
15872
4137
20008
2391
179
13277
2179
15456
2014
4310
3318
2753
* Partial discards 19992013.
** Incomplete catches 19992013.
176
245
150

Table 5.3.23.8 Megrim in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa, b, d. Assessment summary.
Relative
Relative
Relative
Year recruitment
95% CI
5% CI
SSB
95% CI
5% CI
mean F
(Age 1)
(tonnes)
(Ages 36)
1984
0.986
1.077
0.907
1.302
1.357
1.252
0.596
1985
0.889
0.97
0.818
1.319
1.376
1.267
0.67
1986
0.847
0.926
0.775
1.328
1.388
1.274
0.647
1987
0.782
0.858
0.715
1.391
1.452
1.333
0.638
1988
0.834
0.913
0.762
1.215
1.27
1.165
0.73
1989
1.043
1.14
0.957
1.023
1.073
0.977
0.936
1990
1.086
1.184
0.999
0.877
0.922
0.837
1.067
1991
1.225
1.332
1.128
0.897
0.941
0.856
1.227
1992
1.044
1.134
0.967
0.928
0.971
0.887
1.02
1993
0.813
0.88
0.751
1.002
1.046
0.96
1.053
1994
0.856
0.928
0.791
0.982
1.025
0.943
0.941
1995
1.039
1.124
0.958
1.096
1.142
1.052
0.988
1996
1.093
1.191
1.004
0.989
1.032
0.949
0.984
1997
0.915
1.002
0.838
1.059
1.103
1.016
0.867
1998
1.153
1.261
1.058
1.108
1.156
1.063
0.918
1999
0.949
1.042
0.87
0.939
0.983
0.898
0.965
2000
1.195
1.313
1.091
0.953
0.997
0.91
0.983
2001
0.965
1.067
0.879
0.977
1.024
0.933
1.19
2002
1.126
1.242
1.024
0.879
0.922
0.84
1.367
2003
1.143
1.267
1.036
0.819
0.858
0.782
1.455
2004
0.903
0.999
0.823
0.724
0.76
0.69
1.253
2005
0.979
1.076
0.893
0.722
0.759
0.687
1.557
2006
1.252
1.378
1.144
0.686
0.723
0.654
1.226
2007
1.11
1.227
1.01
0.741
0.779
0.706
1.428
2008
0.879
0.976
0.792
0.786
0.826
0.748
1.078
2009
1.098
1.234
0.979
0.938
0.99
0.891
0.969
2010
1.049
1.197
0.922
0.969
1.028
0.915
1.006
2011
0.825
0.981
0.696
0.89
0.953
0.837
0.946
2012
0.793
1.006
0.626
0.962
1.041
0.895
0.776
2013
1.294
1.782
0.927
1.095
1.201
1.002
0.867
2014
0.835
1.582
0.444
1.403
1.578
1.25
0.65
95% CI
0.66
0.735
0.708
0.703
0.799
1.024
1.158
1.332
1.107
1.14
1.019
1.069
1.065
0.939
0.996
1.051
1.075
1.29
1.477
1.576
1.361
1.694
1.341
1.551
1.179
1.063
1.107
1.061
0.879
1.002
0.773
5% CI
0.542
0.612
0.591
0.582
0.666
0.857
0.98
1.131
0.938
0.969
0.867
0.912
0.906
0.799
0.846
0.885
0.901
1.097
1.262
1.343
1.147
1.433
1.127
1.311
0.982
0.885
0.91
0.844
0.683
0.752
0.55

ICES. 2012a. ICES Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM
2012/ACOM: 68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2012b. Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) in Divisions VIIbk and VIIIa,b,d. In Report of the ICES
Advisory Committee, 2012. ICES Advice 2012, Book 5, Section 5.4.19.
ICES. 2012c. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Flatfish Species and Anglerfish (WKFLAT), 18 March
2012, Bilbao, Spain. ICES CM 2012/ACOM: 46. 283 pp.
Section 1.2.
246
Celtic Sea and West of Scotland Pollack

(Sub-areas VII an VI)

New landings data available for this stock do not change the perception of
the stock. Therefore, the advice for this fishery in 2016 is the same as the
advice given since 2012. The previous advice was based on the ICES
approach for data limited stocks. ICES advised that catches should be no
more than 4,200 t. FEAS does not agree with this advice and notes that this
stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 5 where landings data only are
available. The current TACs are well above the recent average reported
landings due to substantial differential uptake between countries or reductions in fisheries catching
pollack. In fact commercial landings may not reflect the true outtake of pollack since recreational
fisheries may well be significant. FEAS consider that the 69% TAC reduction implied by the ICES
advice is well in excess of any reduction in fishing mortality that might be required for pollack.
FEAS point out that pollack are mainly distributed and fished in inshore areas and consequently, the
current TAC area may contain several smaller stocks. FEAS advise that dedicated studies are needed
to evaluate the basic biology, life history parameters and stock structure of pollack around Ireland
before the stock status can be assessed in order that more appropriate scientific advice and
management be developed. Current surveys, commercial fishery data and sampling do not provide
sufficient information to adequately assess stock trends or exploitation rates.
Given that the current TAC has delivered reported landings in the range of those estimated to be
sustainable in the longer term, FEAS advise that the TACs for pollack should remain unchanged at
13,495 t in Sub-area VII and 397 t in Sub-area VI for 2016. This implies an Irish quota of 1,030 t and
56 t for VII and VI respectively.
There is no management plan for the Celtic Sea and West of Scotland pollack stock.
2015 Quota Allocations for
Pollack in Vb,VI,XII,XIV
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are two TAC areas for which Ireland has quota.
IRE 56 t
The Joint statement by the Council and the Commission" states it

would be desirable if the TAC for Pollack in VI; EU and
international waters of Vb; international waters of XII and
XIV of 397 t with an Irish quota of 56 t was maintained for 5 years
(subject to scientific advice).
FRA 190 t
The joint statement does not appear to extend to VII Pollack.

The 2015 TAC for VII was 13,495 t with an associated Irish quota
of 1,030 t. Quota uptake by Ireland has been high in recent years
and is being actively managed to remain below the quota.
There are no explicit management plans for this stock.
FEAS advises that management objectives be established and that a

management plan be developed and implemented for fisheries
catching pollack.
247
UK 145 t
SPA 6 t

for Pollack in VII
IRE 1030 t
BEL 420 t
FRA 9667 t
UK 2353 t
SPA 25 t
ICES ADVICE
5.3.40 Pollack in Subareas VI and VII

(Celtic Sea and West of Scotland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, commercial catches should be no more than 4200
tonnes in each of the years 2016 and 2017. All commercial catches are assumed to be landed. ICES cannot
quantify the recreational catches.
The available information is insufficient to evaluate the exploitation and the trends of pollack in the Celtic Sea
ecoregion. Official commercial landings were stable in the last two decades.
Landings
12
SubareaVII
1000tonnes
10
SubareaVI
8
6
4
2
0
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
Figure5.3.40.1 PollackinSubareasVIVII.Officiallandings(tonnes)bysubarea.

Table 5.3.40.1
Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
2012
Fishing pressure
2013
2014
FMSY
Undefined
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
2013
Stock size
2014
2015
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
248
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 4 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The Depletion-Corrected Average Catch
(DCAC, which is interpreted as an approximation to MSY) method was used to provide catch advice for this
stock in 2012. The ICES implementation of this method advises a reduction of catch to the DCAC when the
stock catch is above the DCAC and, for this reason, an additional precautionary buffer is not needed. The
perception of the stock has not changed; therefore, the advice given in the three most recent years is still
applicable this year.
Table 5.3.40.2 Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. ICES framework for category 4 applied.
Recent advised commercial landings
Discard rate
Not applied
Commercial catches advice*
*
recent advised commercial landings.
4200 (tonnes)
Negligible
4200 (tonnes)
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.40.4
Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Precautionary Approach
Management plan
There is no management plan for pollack in this area.
The main uncertainty in the assessment is that the recreational catch is not well estimated. Recent studies
indicate that it is relatively high, a recent study conducted in France in 2011-2013 by Levrel et al. (2013)
estimated 3300 tonnes of recreational fishery catches per year. The DCAC method only uses long time-series of
official commercial landings. It may not reflect recent stock fluctuations or changes in the fisheries. Further
information on stock structure and biological parameters are needed before alternative assessment models can
be applied.
Recent official commercial landings in Division VII have increased and are above the upper estimated MSY
proxy (DCAC confidence interval, Figure 5.3.40.2) and ICES advice. Although the overall TAC is not limiting,
for some countries the quotas are limiting.
The ICES advice refers only to the commercial catches. ICES cannot quantify the recreational catches but
available estimates indicate that they are substantial.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.40.6
Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. The basis of the assessment.
4.1.2 (ICES 2015b).
Assessment type
DCAC (Depletion-Corrected Average Catch).
Input data
Official commercial landings.
Negligible (less than 0.5% of catch)
Indicators
None.
Other information
None.
Working group
Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE)
249

Table 5.3.40.7 Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of commercial
landings. Weights in tonnes.
Total
Predicted
official Total official
Total
EU TAC EU TAC
landings
commercia commercial official
Year
ICES Advice
Subarea
Subarea
corresp. to
l landings
landings commercia
VI*
VII
advice
Subarea Subarea VII l landings
VI**
2000
1100
17000
191
5377
5568
2001
1100
17000
217
5885
6102
2002
1100
17000
131
5922
6053
2003
880
17000
203
5348
5551
2004
704
17000
136
4786
4922
2005
563
17000
67
4725
4792
2006
450
15300
37
4661
4698
2007
450
15300
58
4611
4669
2008
450
15300
53
3861
3914
2009
450
15300
37
4063
4100
2010
450
13770
79
4209
4288
2011
397
13495
46
4619
4666
2012
397
13495
45
4469
4514
Catch should be no more than 1% more
2013
< 4200
397
13495
57
4468
4525
than recent catch (last 3 years)
2014
Same advice as 2013
< 4200
397
13495
40***
5215*** 5255***
2015
Same advised values as given for 2013
< 4200*
397
13495
Precautionary Approach (same advised
2016
commercial landings value as given for
4200^
2015)
Precautionary approach (same advised
2017
commercial landings value as provided
4200^
for 2016)
* Commercial landings.
** Subarea VI; Union and international waters of Division Vb; international waters of Subareas XII and XIV.
*** Preliminary commercial landings.
^ Commercial catch.

Table 5.3.40.8
Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. Commercial catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total commercial catch
Commercial
Official commercial landings
Recreational catch
(2014)
discards
Otter Trawlers 32%,
Others 19%, not
5265 tonnes
Unknown, but thought
Nets 32%
specified 17%
10 tonnes
(> 99% in subarea VII)
to be significant
5255 tonnes
250
Table 5.3.40.9
Year
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
Belg.
1
.
1
15
1
2
6
1
1
2
1
5
1
2
1
1
2
6
<0.5
7
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
-
Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. History of official commercial landings in Subarea VI for each country
participating in the fishery.
Denm.
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
-
Fran.
196
196
310
36
342
272
331
212
224
145
108
128
111
76
31
21
39
34
64
29
14
21
11
8
9
3
2
23
3
10
8
7
6
3
2
1
1
Germ.
23
6
1
8
2
1
1
1
2
4
1
5
1
1
1
1
<0.5
3
<0.5
1
2
-
Irel.
Neth.
125
197
204
130
402
200
263
214
282
398
75
127
223
103
163
103
150
145
23
12
26
83
97
69
60
73
62
108
26
88
68
28
25
21
21
5
34
8
10
34
21
1
3
1
1
1
-
Norw.
148
4
2
4
1
<0.5
1
2
3
1
1
<0.5
6
1
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
Port.
<0.5
-
Spain
55
95
86
222
283
2217
860
1925
4
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
4
-
Swed.
1106
1012
1224
756
750
779
-
UK
295
484
503
422
452
566
528
547
710
607
441
259
235
320
368
496
428
413
500
667
447
256
317
503
359
393
519
493
553
350
233
185
103
148
194
328
187
259
221
179
192
189
203
273
276
354
210
162
147
136
116
101
96
111
65
16
5
21
23
25
38
34
33
22
18
Total
VI
296
484
504
422
452
566
528
547
733
614
456
386
442
532
500
900
630
1784
1881
2178
1604
1087
1225
505
368
399
527
692
753
660
269
582
470
565
628
836
2772
1330
2437
394
419
369
247
324
336
504
337
248
228
212
191
217
131
203
136
67
37
58
53
37
78
45
45
57
40
* Preliminary catch statistics
251
Table 5.3.40.10 Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. History of official commercial landings in Subarea VII are presented for each
country participating in the fishery.
Year
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
Belg.
93
74
80
34
17
38
67
219
342
158
317
268
367
95
299
362
456
417
214
142
165
114
142
89
299
295
339
157
186
151
237
244
154
167
207
269
241
149
191
145
133
76
62
55
94
88
94
99
92
86
71
100
117
113
104
98
79
91
76
42
35
28
43
39
84
Denm.
1
21
18
7
2
-
Fran.
3569
5496
5119
5242
5814
4253
6214
3927
3741
4574
5213
5211
3893
4831
3211
2849
2325
2621
2315
2684
2443
2375
2422
2515
2481
2284
1914
2198
2213
1970
1579
1670
1846
1415
1421
1790
2015
Germ.
2
10
4
1
6
17
32
1
1
14
76
-
Irel.
360
369
411
342
335
438
474
508
794
724
673
1073
1335
848
1066
994
1066
1045
1014
1137
921
1107
1190
984
886
976
1069
1274
1308
1151
1049
728
809
782
738
828
942
912
1165
1249
1012
252
Neth.
3
13
17
4
1
8
1
1
3
6
4
1
1
1
1
3
1
4
2
1
1
1
1
Norw.
<0.5
3
-
Spain
1
23
32
26
486
20
17
19
22
18
26
22
19
7
8
4
5
7
11
19
5
9
17
12
13
16
28
1
14
3
3
3
11
-
UK
375
380
336
252
365
247
155
367
233
251
267
210
170
176
194
231
175
202
167
161
120
116
123
127
223
290
421
465
515
696
769
780
1022
1045
1100
1022
1795
2010
1740
1487
1914
1962
1889
2135
2391
2168
2519
2540
2347
1703
1810
1987
1999
1788
1705
1684
1513
1764
1453
1545
1459
1716
1835
1838
2103
Total
VII
468
456
426
286
386
285
223
592
592
441
584
838
907
682
835
928
1069
1093
889
1097
1010
903
1338
219
535
602
764
4193
6240
6061
6257
6864
5461
7452
5720
5052
7962
8239
8230
6537
7970
6316
5833
5659
6035
5684
6498
6077
5712
2787
5377
5885
5922
5348
4786
4725
4643
4611
3861
4092
4284
4072
4468
4928
5215

The Depletion-Corrected average catch (DCAC) method has been run this year with official commercial landings.
The estimation of the DCAC (MSY proxy) given by the method is 156 tonnes (with a 95% confidence interval from
109 to 193 tonnes) for Subarea VI, and 4020 tonnes (with a 95% confidence interval from 2997 to 4751 tonnes) for
Subarea VII. This is consistent with the range of DCAC values estimated when the method was previously applied
(in 2012).
Figure 5.3.40.2 Pollack in Subareas VI-VII. The results of the Depletion-Corrected average catch (DCAC)
assessment method as applied to commercial landings data since 1986. The grey box indicates the
maximum sustainable catch +/- 95% confidence intervals.

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
Alonso-Fernndez, A., Villegas-Ros, D., Valds-Lpez, M., Olveira-Domnguez, B., and Saborido-Rey, F.
(2013). Reproductive biology of pollack (Pollachius pollachius) from the Galician shelf (north-west Spain). J.
Mar. Biol. Assoc. U. K. 93, 19511963.
ICES 2015b Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, In
preparation.
Levrel. H., Bellanger M., Le Goff, R., Drogou, M.. 2013. La pche rcrative en mer en France mtropolitaine
(Atlantique, Manche, Mer du Nord, Mditerrane). Rsultats de l'enqute 2011-2013.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00162/27300/(in French).
253
Celtic Sea Plaice

(Division VIIfg)

2016 should be no more than 1,500 t. FEAS agrees with this advice and
notes that this stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. If
discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years (2012
2014), this implies landings of no more than 420 t and an Irish quota of
184 t.
This stock falls in to ICES category 3.2.0 for data-limited stocks for which an
abundance index is available. Discards exceed landings and technical
measures should be introduced to limit the by-catch of this species.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIfg. The assessment area is

the same as the TAC area.
IRE 202 t
The 2015 TAC was 461 t with an associated Irish quota of

202 t.
FRA 125 t
There are no explicit management objectives or plans for this

stock. The NWWRAC is developing a mixed fisheries
management plan for VIIfg.
ICES ADVICE
BEL 69 t
UK 65 t
5.3.38 Celtic Sea plaice (Divisions VIIf and g)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 1500 tonnes.
If this stock is not under the EU landings obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of
the last three years (20122014), this implies landings of no more than 420 tonnes.
Since 2004 the landings have been relatively stable but discards have been increasing. Survey biomass shows an
increasing trend since the mid-2000s but declines for both surveys in 2014.
254
Celtic Sea Plaice
Stocksizeindicator
Catches
2500
Discards
Landings
UK(E&W)BTSQ3
2.5
Relativebiomasss3+
2000
tonnes
1500
1000
IGFSWIBTSQ4
2
1.5
1
0.5
500
0
0
1995
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
Figure5.3.38.1 Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. Catches (thousand tonnes) and UK(E&W)BTSQ3 and IGFSWIBTSQ4 survey
biomass of plaice older and equal to 3 years old (relative to the average of the timeseries). Discard
estimatespriorto2004arenotavailable.

Table 5.3.38.1
Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
Undefined
Fpa, Flim
Undefined
Management Plan
FMGT
Not applicable
Unknown
2012
Stock size
2013
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
2014
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Stable
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The perception of the stock has not
changed; therefore, the advice given last year (for 2015) is also applicable for 2016. The precautionary buffer
was last applied in 2012 (for the 2013 advice) and it is not considered necessary this year.
The discarding rate was 72% of the total catch (average 20122014).
Table 5.3.38.2 Plaice in Division VIIf,g. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch option is provided.
1500 tonnes
Discard rate (average 20122014)
72%
Not applied
Catch advice*
1500 tonnes
420 tonnes
* Recent advised catch.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.38.3 Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for plaice in this area.
255
Celtic Sea Plaice
The Aarts and Poos (2009) model, previously used as the basis for the advice (in a trends-based assessment),
continues to have difficulty in interpreting the data. The model results were inconsistent with the survey data,
which are considered to be the most reliable indicator of stock biomass. Therefore, the previous age-based
analytical model was not used to provide advice for 2016.
Sole and plaice are caught in a mixed fisheries, which generates high discards of plaice due to the mismatch in
the selectivity properties of the gear and the plaice minimum landings size. In addition, the relatively low market
value of plaice may contribute to the high discard rates.
Since 2005, ICES rectangles 30E4, 31E4, and 32E3 (Division VIIf) have been closed during the first quarter
with the intention of reducing the fishing mortality of cod. Closures may have decreased fishing mortality on
Celtic Sea plaice at spawning grounds, but the scale of this is unknown.
Referencepoints
Noreferencepointsaredefinedforthisstock.
Table 5.3.38.4 Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. The basis of the assessment.
3.2.0 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
Survey trends assessment.
Input data
Two survey indices (UK (E&W)-BTS-Q3, IGFS-WIBTS-Q4).
Discard data are available since 2004 and used to provide catch advice.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmarked in 2011 (ICES, 2011).
Working group
256
Celtic Sea Plaice

Table 5.3.38.5
Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and the official and ICES estimates of
landings. Weights in thousand tonnes. N/A = French landings not available.
Predicted Predicted
catch
landings
Agreed
Official
ICES
ICES
Year
ICES advice
TAC
landings
landings
discards*
advice
advice
TAC not to be restrictive on other
1987
1.8
1.91
1.90
species
1988
2.5
2.19
2.12
species
1989
2.5
2.58
2.15
species
1990 F likely to be F(88)
~1.9
1.9
2.22
2.08
1991 F likely to be F(89)

~1.7
1.9
1.83
1.50

1.5
1.36
1.19

1.4
1.30
1.11

1.4
0.98
1.07
1.29
1.4
0.96
1.03

0.93
1.1
0.98
0.95

1.10
1.1
1.26
1.22

1.00
1.1
1.15
1.07

0.67
0.9
0.66
0.97

0.70
0.80
0.72
0.72

0.60
0.76
0.68
0.71

0.68
0.68
0.62
0.64

< 0.66
0.66
0.56
0.59
2004 F< 0.10 or recovery plan

< 0.21
0.56
0.49
0.51
0.27
2005 70% reduction in F or recovery plan
< 0.25
0.48
0.40
0.39
0.32
< 0.40
0.48
0.41
0.40
0.45
< 0.38
0.42
0.42
0.41
1.29
< 0.24
0.49
0.38
0.44
0.58
< 0.17
0.42
N/A
0.46
0.61
< 0.33
0.45
0.44
0.43
0.67
2011 See scenarios
0.41
0.42
0.42
1.11
2012 Reduce catches
0.37
0.45
0.44
0.85
Decrease landings by 19% (1.5%
2013 increase followed by 20% PA
< 0.36
0.37
0.41
0.41
1.27
reduction)
2014 Increase catches by 20%
< 1.608
< 0.519
0.46
0.41
0.41
1.16
Catches should be no more than recent
2015
< 1.500
< 0.420
0.461
catches (last 3 years)
Precautionary approach (same catch
2016
1.500 0.420**
* Discards only available from 2004 to 2014.
** Wanted catch.

Table 5.3.38.6 Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
43% beam trawl
51% otter trawl
6% others
1568 tonnes
1158 tonnes
410 tonnes
257
Celtic Sea Plaice
50
0
0
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
5
9
1
2
258
Unallocated
155
Discards
24
757
875
863
1373
1377
1303
1173
1279
1407
2384
1912
2194
2583
2219
1827
1362
1303
982
956
978
1259
1149
656
721
684
618
564
489
399
414
417
375
N/A
442
420
450
412
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
274
321
453
1288
583
608
670
1107
854
1274
0
0
0
0
0
0
27
69
345
693
11
78
432
137
326
174
189
88
72
26
42
82
312
3
30
24
30
21
13
10
7
62
N/A
9
1
6
3
757
875
863
1373
1377
1303
1146
1210
1752
1691
1901
2116
2151
2082
1501
1188
1114
1070
1028
952
1217
1067
968
718
714
642
594
510
386
404
410
437
463
433
421
444
409
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
784
707
857
1698
1020
1071
1103
1528
1298
1686
410
1158
410
1568
Total
reported
287
262
186
165
145
132
106
104
62
N/A
136
98
126
106
28
0
49
61
64
198
48
72
91
302
127
226
180
160
155
180
89
82
70
83
78
135
115
76
45
79
51
45
44
48
58
63
63
63
67
76
80
Scotland
365
527
467
706
697
568
532
558
493
878
708
721
1089
767
444
504
373
298
254
246
329
298
The
Netherlands
Ireland
150
152
176
227
251
196
279
366
466
529
496
629
471
497
392
302
290
251
284
239
258
176
170
134
136
105
127
87
55
88
61
63
55
54
45
44
40
N. Ireland
France
1977
214
1978
196
1979
171
1980
372
1981
365
1982
341
1983
314
1984
283
1985
357
1986
665
1987
581
1988
617
1989
843
1990
794
1991
836
1992
371
1993
542
1994
350
1995
346
1996
410
1997
594
1998
540
1999
371
2000
224
2001
241
2002
248
2003
221
2004
212
2005
168
2006
172
2007
194
2008
187
2009
216
2010
188
2011
210
2012
203
2013
186
2014
181
*
* Preliminary.
Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. History of official landings by country, ICES estimated landings, and discards.
UK (Engl.
& Wales)
Year
Belgium
Table 5.3.38.7
ICES
landings
ICE
S
Catc
h
Celtic Sea Plaice

Table 5.3.38.8
Plaice in Divisions VIIf,g. Mean standardized biomass index of +3-year-old plaice.

Survey
Year
UK (E&W)-BTS-Q3
IGFS-WIBTS-Q4
1995
0.37
1996
0.48
1997
0.50
1998
0.69
1999
0.86
2000
0.60
2001
0.51
2002
1.25
2003
1.25
0.32
2004
0.57
0.27
2005
0.59
0.21
2006
0.52
0.30
2007
0.71
0.35
2008
0.88
0.38
2009
1.36
1.47
2010
1.05
1.47
2011
1.27
1.79
2012
1.53
1.64
2013
2.73
2.38
2014
2.29
1.44

Aarts, G., and Poos, J. J. 2009. Comprehensive discard reconstruction and abundance estimation using flexible
selectivity functions. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 763771.
preparation.
259
Celtic Sea Plaice
Southwest of Ireland Plaice

(Divisions VIIh-k)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, wanted
catch in 2016 should be no more than 135 t. ICES cannot quantify the
corresponding total catches. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes
that this stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
This stock falls into ICES category 3.2.0, stocks for which time-series
relative biomass is available. SSB in VIIj has been stable in recent years
but F remains above any potential FMSY proxy. Plaice in VIIj area are
heavily discarded, so measures should be introduced to reduce plaice bycatch and discards.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIh-k. The assessment area also
covers VIIh-k but there is insufficient data from VIIh to support an
assessment and there are negligible landings from VIIk, therefore the
assessment is carried out using data from VIIj only under the
assumption that the trends are representative of VIIh-k.
The 2015 TAC was 135 t with an associated Irish quota of 59 t
(44%). The Irish quota has become very restrictive in recent
years.
There are no specific management objectives for this stock.
This stock is mainly caught within coastal mixed fisheries by otter
trawlers in VIIj.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 59 t
BEL 8 t
FRA 17 t
NL 34 t
UK 17 t
5.3.39 South West of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIh-k)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, wanted catch1 in 2016 should be no more than
135 tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding total catches.
Spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has decreased significantly since the 1990s. Fishing mortality (F) is highly
variable but shows no long-term trend. Recruitment at age 4 decreased until 2003 and has been at a low level
since then.
ThewantedcatchisusedtodescribefishthatwouldbelandedintheabsenceoftheEUlandingobligation.
260
Figure5.3.39.1 PlaiceinDivisionsVIIhk.SummaryofstockassessmentbasedonDivisionsVIIjk.ICESlandingsinthefull
assessmentarea(DivisionsVIIhk).Recruitment,F,andSSBvaluesarerelativetotheaverageofthetime
series.

Table 5.3.39.1
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
Undefined
Management Plan
2013
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Stock size
2014
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Above possible reference points
2015
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Stable
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES, 2012). The perception of the stock has not
changed; therefore, the advice given in the last two years is also applicable for 2016. The precautionary buffer
was applied in 2013; therefore, it is not applied this year again.
Discards are known to take place and are likely to be more than 5% but cannot be accurately quantified.
Table 5.3.39.2
Plaice in Division VIIhjk. For stocks in ICES data category 3 one catch option is provided.

Discard rate
Wanted catch*
Not applied
135 tonnes
Unknown
135 tonnes
* The wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.
261
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.39.3
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for plaice in this area.
The advice is based on an assessment model accepted for trends, used as an indicator of stock size. The
uncertainty associated with the index values is not available. The assessment is only based on ages 4 and older;
ICES does not have reliable information on younger ages.
The assessment is carried out on the landings in Divisions VIIj,k. Only landings information is available for
Division VIIh. ICES is unable to assess stock trends in Division VIIh. The advice takes into account the
reported landings from the full TAC area; Divisions VIIhk.
The catches are taken in a mixed fishery and should be managed as such. Because plaice is caught in spatially
distinct areas, restricting effort in these areas will be more effective than limiting landings. Additionally,
management should focus on catches of small plaice. The recently introduced square mesh panels probably do
not reduce catches of undersized plaice. An increase in mesh size could improve selection, but will also affect
the catches of marketable fish.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.39.4
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. The basis of the assessment.
ICES
stock
data
category
Assessment type
Input data

Indicators
Other information
3.2.0 (ICES, 2015a).

Age-based analytical assessment (XSA) indicative of stock trends.
Commercial catches (international landings from Divisions VIIj,k, Irish age
compositions from catch sampling); Commercial tuning index (IRL-VMS-OTB),
maturity and natural mortality data are assumed to be the same as for plaice in
Divisions VIIf,g.
Discards are known to take place but cannot be quantified for the entire stock area.
Discards (30% in weight) are only quantified for Divisions VIIj,k (86% of the
landings in Divisions VIIj,k, which corresponds to only 45% of the landings in
Divisions VIIhk).
None.
None.
262

Table 5.3.39.5
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and the official and ICES estimates
of landings. Weights in tonnes.
Predicted landings
Agreed
Official
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to advice
TAC
landings
landings
1993
1016
655
1994
775
577
1995
902
542
1996
864
453
1997
994
645
1998
790
444
1999
386
406
2000
337
299
2001
1215
313
261
2002
1080
316
313
2003
Reduce TAC to recent average (19982000)
450
582
237
217
2004
320
466
232
221
2005
271
466
170
164
2006
245
396
143
147
2007
196
337
142
120
2008
177
303
122
135
2009
177
256
148
148
2010
Reduce TAC
218
156
155
2011
See scenarios
185
179
178
2012
Reduce catches
176
201
196
Decrease catches by 36% (20% decrease,
2013
< 100
141
141
182
followed by 20% PA reduction)
Decrease landings by 4% (20% increase,
2014
< 135
135
148
169
followed by 20% PA reduction)
2015
The same landings advice as for 2014
< 135
135
Precautionary approach (same advised value
2016
135*
as for 2015)
* The wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.

Table 5.3.39.6
Total catch
(2014)
Unknown
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.

Landings (2014)
Discards
Divisions VIIhk
14%
Discards in Division VIIh are unknown.
73% otter trawl
12% beam trawl
other/unknown gear
Discards in Divisions VIIj,k are in the
types
order of 30% of the catch for otter trawls
(average 20072014).
169 tonnes
263
Table 5.3.39.7
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. History of commercial official landings for each country participating in the
fishery and ICES estimates.
Divisions VIIj,k
Division VIIh
VIIj,k VIIh
Divisions VIIhk
Year
BEL FRA IRL UK OTH BEL FRA IRL UK OTH
*
Official ICES est.
1993
0
8 383
46
0
0
56
0 179
0
437
235
672
655
1994
0
6 251
60
0
0
42
20 199
0
317
261
578
577
1995
0
12 317
90
0
0
48
4 196
0
419
248
667
542
1996
0
3 295
38
0
0
45
10 117
52
336
224
560
453
1997
0
6 337
32
0
0
63
7 106
0
375
176
551
645
1998
0
8 282
16
0
0
41
4
90
13
306
148
454
444
1999
42
0 296
15
0
3
0
3
67
1
311
74
385
406
2000
4
16 195
9
5
0
38
5
67
2
225
112
337
299
2001
0
16 157
6
3
27
34
3
67
0
182
131
313
261
2002
14
21 155
5
2
55
24
0
54
0
183
133
316
313
2003
4
7 125
9
6
16
25
2
47
0
147
90
237
217
2004
0
5
87
6
6
67
27
4
30
0
104
128
232
221
2005
0
4
88
2
0
32
16
2
26
0
94
76
170
164
2006
1
6
63
1
1
22
31
2
17
0
71
72
143
147
2007
2
9
72
2
11
7
21
0
18
2
94
48
142
120
2008
3
5
72
1
1
25
7
0
11
0
79
43
122
135
2009
4
7
71
2
0
1
37
0
30
0
80
68
148
148
2010
5
11
66
1
0
0
44
0
34
0
78
78
156
155
2011
6
11
67
2
0
4
47
6
42
0
80
99
179
178
2012
7
17
93
0
0
2
45
6
36
0
110
89
199
196
2013
0
14
51
0
0
0
35
1
40
0
65
76
141
182
2014**
0
11
74
0
0
4
40
4
15
0
85
63
148
169
* Excluding Belgium.
** Preliminary.
264

Table 5.3.39.8
Plaice in Divisions VIIhk. Assessment summary. Landings in tonnes for Divisions VIIj,k. Recruitment,
SSB, and fishing mortality (mean F) are relative to the average of the time-series.
Year
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Relative
recruitment
Age 4
RelativeSSB
2.554
1.785
2.279
1.694
1.667
1.289
1.267
1.241
0.806
0.883
0.525
0.637
0.555
0.355
0.405
0.58
0.686
0.562
0.439
0.696
0.819
0.692
1.919
1.702
1.729
1.781
1.933
1.63
1.699
1.47
1.291
0.925
0.728
0.605
0.556
0.457
0.35
0.37
0.504
0.542
0.498
0.546
0.564
0.623
0.575
Landings (VIIjk)
(tonnes)
437
317
419
336
375
306
311
225
182
183
147
104
94
71
94
79
80
78
80
110
65
85
Relative
Mean F
Ages 46
1.213
0.969
0.946
0.932
1.051
1.069
1.001
0.812
0.72
1.548
0.856
0.724
1.216
1.17
1.389
0.734
0.827
0.758
0.857
1.412
0.734
1.063

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
265
West of Ireland Plaice

(Divisions VIIb,c)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, wanted
catches should be no more than 30 t in each of the years 2016 and 2017. ICES
cannot quantify the corresponding total catches. FEAS agrees with this
advice and notes that this stock will not be subject to the landing obligation
in 2016.
The Joint statement by the Fisheries Council and European Commission
states it would be desirable if the TAC for this stock be maintained for
5 years (subject to scientific advice). Since plaice are caught in mixed
fisheries constrained by opportunities for other species FEAS consider that rolling over the current
TAC would not be inconsistent with the ICES advice. This implies a TAC of 74 t and an Irish Quota
of 63 t.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC covers Divisions VIIb and VIIc. The assessment area is the same
as the TAC area.
The 2015 TAC was 74 t with an associated Irish quota of 63 t (79%).
Ireland was allocated the largest share of the TAC.
This stock is mainly caught within coastal mixed fisheries by Irish otter
trawlers.
The stock is managed by TAC and although recent landings have been
below the TAC. If it is further reduced, the TAC might become
restrictive.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 63 t
FRA 11 t
5.3.37 West of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIb,c)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, wanted1 catches should be no more than 30
tonnes in each of the years 2016 and 2017. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding total catches.
The stock status is unknown and only landings statistics are available.
ThewantedcatchisusedtodescribefishthatwouldbelandedintheabsenceoftheEUlandingobligation.
266
Landings
700
600
tonnes
500
400
300
200
100
0
1912 1917 1922 1927 1932 1937 1942 1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012
Figure5.3.37.1 PlaiceinDivisionsVIIb,c.Officiallandings(intonnes).

Table 5.3.37.1
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
2012
Management Plan
FMSY
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Fishing pressure
2013
2014
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
2013
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Stock size
2014
2015
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
Catchoptions
abundanceorexploitation,ICESconsidersthataprecautionaryreductionofcatchesshouldbeimplemented
unlessthereisancillaryinformationclearlyindicatingthatthecurrentlevelofexploitationisappropriatefor
thestock.Theprecautionarybufferwaslastappliedin2012(forthe2013advice),henceitisnotappliedthis
yearagain.
Table 5.3.37.2
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. ICES framework for category 6 applied.
30 (tonnes)
Discard rate
Unknown
Not applied
Wanted catch* advice**
30 (tonnes)
*The wanted catch is used to describe fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation.
**recent advice landings.
267
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.37.4
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for plaice in this area
Catches in this area are too low to support the collection of the necessary information for an assessment of the
stock status.
Recent discards estimates are highly variable and uncertain. Therefore, ICES is not able to provide catch advice for
this stock.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.37.6
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
6.2.0. (ICES 2015a)
category
Assessment type
No assessment.
Input data
Discards rates are high but estimates cannot be used to provide catch advice owing to their
very high uncertainty.
Indicators
None.
Other information
None.
Working group
There is no available information
268

Table 5.3.37.7
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings.
Weights in tonnes.
Predicted catch
Year
ICES Advice
corresp. to
Agreed TAC Official landings
advice
1993
196
1994
206
1995
246
1996
251
1997
209
1998
161
1999
159
2000
130
2001
240
78
2002
No advice
180
72
2003
90
160
63
2004
Reduce TAC to recent av. landings (20002002)
77
160
53
2005
65
160
37
2006
55
144
33
2007
40
122
35
2008
40
110
32
2009
33
94
52
2010
33
80
33
2011
No advice
78
18
2012
78
29
2013
20% reduction in catches (last 3 years average)
<30
74
18
2014
Same catch advice as for 2013
<30
74
23
2015
<30*
74
Precautionary approach (same advised landings value
2016
30**
as given for 2015)
Precautionary approach (same advised landings value
2017
30**
as provided for 2016)
* Landings advice.
** wanted catch.

Table 5.3.37.8
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
Unknown
23 tonnes
Uncertain
269
Table 5.3.37.9
Year
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
Plaice in Divisions VIIb,c. History of official landings for each country participating in the fishery and
ICES estimates.
FRA
UK
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
126
40
262
96
238
411
595
406
249
265
242
359
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
289
100
120
340
273
111
174
80
204
392
197
182
239
471
427
417
0
182
403
281
124
0
110
60
45
10
IRL
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
25
9
1
1
4
5
10
14
7
25
6
8
19
29
31
18
47
59
25
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
9
8
20
16
12
18
8
5
3
1
1
0
5
3
0
0
2
2
2
1
2
0
2
0
1
0
1
1
0
OTH
135
49
36
54
40
54
85
23
22
36
29
32
15
34
37
30
166
28
42
45
35
31
44
58
76
29
33
33
37
25
20
24
47
43
41
29
42
30
32
36
47
63
42
31
46
48
72
96
64
60
71
54
46
30
42
67
66
99
127
112
89
99
110
89
124
124
106
153
270
TOT
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unalloc
ICES est
135
49
36
56
41
54
85
24
22
36
29
33
40
43
38
31
170
33
65
185
82
318
146
304
506
653
470
300
349
326
404
24
47
43
41
29
42
30
37
50
55
83
347
143
184
396
350
210
239
141
275
451
246
212
281
540
495
518
128
296
492
382
234
90
234
185
152
163
Year
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
FRA
UK
9
4
16
6
12
9
8
37
2
10
11
13
9
1
11
9
3
2
1
5
1
3
0
0
31
8
17
7
14
12
11
12
9
7
6
2
9
3
6
IRL
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
0
6
7
5
1
2
14
92
3
9
3
5
2
2
0
1
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
OTH
133
135
122
117
142
135
122
108
110
150
114
153
157
159
130
179
180
191
200
239
248
206
160
157
99
70
51
56
39
25
20
23
21
45
27
16
20
15
17
TOT
0
0
0
2
65
58
22
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unalloc
142
139
138
125
219
206
156
152
118
167
130
167
168
174
233
191
192
196
206
246
251
209
161
159
130
78
70
65
54
37
32
35
31
52
33
18
29
18
23
-11
4
22
13
-22
9
1
7
1
1
-2
-1
4
1
0
-2
-3
0
0
ICES est
240
213
183
172
108
87
71
72
55
38
30
34
35
53
33
16
26
18
23
* Preliminary.

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.
ICES 2015a Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
271
Celtic Sea Sole

(Divisions VIIfg)

The ICES advice, based on the MSY approach, is that catches in 2016 should
be no more than 760 t. If discard rates do not change from the average of the
last three years (2012-2014) this implies landings of no more than 745 t. This
would result in an Irish quota of 24 t. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes
that the landing obligation will apply to some fleets catching this stock in
2016 but this will not be relevant to Irish vessels as they do not land
significant quantities of this stock. In this case the uplift for discards is very
small and will have little impact on the catch advice.
available.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIfg. The assessment area is the
same as the TAC area.
IRE 27 t
BEL 532 t
FRA 53 t
UK 239 t
ICES ADVICE
5.3.50 Sole in Divisions VIIf,g (Celtic Sea)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 760 tonnes. If this stock is
not under the EU landing obligation in 2016 and discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years
(20122014), this implies landings of no more than 745 tonnes.
272
Celtic Sea Sole

The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has been above MSY Btrigger since 2001, but is declining. Since 2010, fishing mortality
(F) has been increasing and is now above Fpa Recruitment has been fluctuating around average.
Figure5.3.50.1 SoleinDivisionsVIIf,g.Summaryofstockassessment.Predictedrecruitmentvaluesarenotshaded.

Table 5.3.50.1
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
2012
FMSY
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
2013
Stock size
2014
Fishing pressure
2013
Above trigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
Full reproductive capacity

Not applicable
Increased risk
Not applicable
2015
MSY Btrigger
-
2014
Above
273
Celtic Sea Sole
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.50.2
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 4-8 (2015)
0.34
ICES (2015a)
F consistent with the 2015 TAC
SSB (2016)
2540 t
ICES (2015a)
4946
Rage1 (2015 and 2016)
ICES (2015a)
GM(19712012)
thousands
Catch (2015)
868 t
ICES (2015a)
TAC 2015 considering a 2% discard rate in weight
Landings (2015)
851 t
ICES (2015a)
TAC 2015
Discards
17 t
ICES (2015a)
Discard rate 2% in weight (average of (20122014))
Table 5.3.50.3
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. The catch options. Weights in tonnes.

Total catch
F
(2016)*
Wanted catch**
Wanted
SSB
%SSB
% TAC
Rationale
Basis
(2016)
catch
(2017)
change*** change^
(2016)
760
MSY approach
745
FMSY
0.31
2593
+2%
-12%
Precautionary
884
867
Fpa
0.37
2476
-3%
+2%
approach
0
Zero catch
0
F=0
0.00
3307
+30%
-100%
737
TAC 15%
723
0.30
2613
+3%
-15%
(F2015 0.88)
823
807
F2015
0.34
2534
0%
-5%
Other options
868
Stable TAC
851
0.36
2491
-2%
0%
(F2015 1.06)
999
TAC + 15%
979
0.43
2370
-7%
+15%
(F2015 1.25)
* Catches are calculated based on wanted catch (fish that would be landed in the absence of the EU landing obligation) and 2% discard
rate (in weight).
^ Wanted Catch 2016 relative to TAC 2015.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.50.4
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach
Management plan
There is no management plan for sole in this area.
Because of effort reporting issues, the 2013 and 2014 UK commercial beam trawl tuning indices were not used in the
assessment. The current assessment revised down F by 24% and increased SSB estimates relative to last years assessment.
This indicates increasing uncertainty in the assessment and forecasts. Discards are currently not included in the
assessment, but given the low discard rates of sole (average discard rate 20122014= 2% of catch) it is unlikely that the
inclusion of discards would change the perception of the stock.
274
Celtic Sea Sole
Figure 5.3.50.2 Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. Historical assessment results (final-year recruitment estimates included).
A TAC constraint has been used in the forecast because recent landings have been close to the TAC. If the TAC in 2015 is
overshot then the forecast will be overly optimistic.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.50.5 Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. Reference points, values and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
point
MSY
2200 t Bpa
MSY
Btrigger
approach
FMSY
0.31 Provisional proxy based on stochastic simulations.
Blim
Not defined.
There is no evidence of reduced recruitment at the lowest
Bpa
2200 t biomass observed and Bpa can therefore be set equal to the
lowest observed SSB.
Precautionary
Flim
0.52 Flim: Floss
approach
This F is considered to have a high probability of avoiding Flim
and maintaining SSB above Bpa for ten years, taking into
Fpa
0.37
account the uncertainty of assessments. Fpa: Flim 0.72 implies
a less than 5% probability that (SSBMT< Bpa).
Undefined
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Undefined
Source
ICES (2010)
ICES (2010)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
ICES (1998)
Table 5.3.50.6
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES 2015b).
Age analytical (XSA) that uses landings in the model, and discards are then included to calculate
Assessment type
a catch forecast.
Commercial catches: international landings, ages and length frequencies from catch sampling by
mtier; one survey index (UK(E&W)-BTS-Q3); three commercial indices (BE-CBT, BE-CBT2
Input data
and UK(E&W)-CBT); maturity data from a combined-sex maturity (ICES, 1998); natural
mortality is assumed to be constant.
Not included in the assessment, but used to provide catch advice.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmarked in 2014 (ICES, 2014).
Working group
No information is available.
275
Celtic Sea Sole

Table 5.3.50.7
thousand tonnes.
Year
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings. Weights in
ICES Advice

1988 F = F(pre-86); TAC
1989 F at F(8185); TAC
2011 See scenarios
2012 MSY approach
2013 MSY approach
2014 MSY approach
2015 MSY approach
2016 MSY approach
*Preliminary
Predicted
catches
corresp. to
advice
Predicted
landings
Agreed TAC
corresp. to
advice
1.6
1.6
0.9
1.1
1.0
1.0
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.2
1.1
1.1
1.0
1.1
0.8
1.0
0.8
0.9
0.7
0.85
0.81
0.96
< 1.16
1.16
< 0.81
1.02
< 1.00
1.07
< 1.24
1.24
< 1.00
1.05
< 0.84
1.00
< 0.88
0.95
< 0.84
0.89
< 1.00
0.964
< 0.94
0.993
< 0.92
0.993
1.241
< 1.06
1.060
< 1.10
1.100
< 0.92
1.001
< 0.652
0.851
0.760
0.745
Official
landings
1.23
1.2
0.99
1.24
1.50
1.06
1.03
1.02
1.17
1.08
1.04
1.01
0.95
1.04
1.12
1.12
1.21
1.13
1.00
0.89
0.94
0.75
0.73
0.87
1.01
1.08
1.09
1.04*
ICES Discards ICES landings
0.034
0.022
0.021
1.22
1.15
0.99
1.19
1.11
0.98
0.93
1.01
1.16
1.00
0.93
0.88
1.01
1.09
1.17
1.35
1.39
1.25
1.04
0.95
0.95
0.80
0.79
0.86
1.03
1.1
1.10
1.04

Table 5.3.50.8
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch (2014)
Landings
88% beam trawlers
9% otter trawlers
2% other gear
1063 t
1042 t
276
Discards
21 t
Celtic Sea Sole
277
Celtic Sea Sole
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. History of commercial catch and landings, both official and ICES estimated values are presented for each country participating in the fishery.
ICES Total
TotalBelgium
Denmark
France
Ireland
UK(E.&W,NI.) UK(Scotland) Netherlands
Unallocated
used
TAC
Official
landings
1039*
2
146
188
611
3
1989
389
1600
701*
117
9
437
1264
42
1222
1600
705*
110
72
317
1204
58
1146
1100
684*
87
18
203
992
0
992
1000
716*
130
40
353
0
1239
50
1189
1200
982*
80
32
402
0
1496
389
1107
1200
543*
141
45
325
6
1060
79
981
1200
575*
108
51
285
11
1030
102
928
1100
619*
90
37
264
8
1018
9
1009
1100
763*
88
20
294
1165
8
1157
1100
695*
102
19
265
0
1081
86
995
1000
660*
99
28
251
0
1038
111
927
900
675*
98
42
198
1013
138
875
850
604
61
51
231
0
947
65
1012
960
694
74
29
243
1040
51
1091
1160
720
77
35
288
1120
48
1168
1020
703
65
32
318
+
1118
227
1345
1070
715
124
26
342
+
1207
340
1547
1240
735
79
33
283
1130
268
1398
1050
645
101
34
217
997
121
1118
1000
576
75
38
232
921
25
946
950
582
85
32
244
943
2
945
890
466
68
28
218
780
20
800
964
513
74
26
194
807
2
805
993
620
45
27
179
871
5
876
993
766
50
30
168
1013
16
1029
1241
843
48
33
175
1099
5
1104
1060
789
49
42
206
1086
6
1092
1100
705
59
28
252
1044
2
1042
1001
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014^
^
Preliminary
* Including Divisions VIIgk.
Year
Table 5.3.50.9

Table 5.3.50.10
Sole in Divisions VIIf,g. Assessment summary. Weights (in tonnes) and recruitment in thousands.
Recruitment Age
Year
SSB tonnes
Landings tonnes
Mean F Ages 4-8
1 thousands
1971
9364
7557
1861
0.38
1972
4178
5952
1278
0.28
1973
3315
5007
1391
0.242
1974
3305
5283
1105
0.245
1975
2931
4699
919
0.208
1976
5157
4062
1350
0.38
1977
4588
4427
961
0.261
1978
5441
3521
780
0.197
1979
3503
3636
954
0.279
1980
5097
3791
1314
0.303
1981
4838
3248
1212
0.36
1982
4862
3357
1128
0.346
1983
6754
3497
1373
0.455
1984
4672
3756
1266
0.412
1985
5618
3190
1328
0.437
1986
3135
3244
1600
0.542
1987
5707
2433
1222
0.572
1988
4464
2606
1146
0.563
1989
3721
2036
992
0.534
1990
8632
2320
1189
0.662
1991
4217
2040
1107
0.484
1992
4485
2362
981
0.4
1993
4465
2436
928
0.455
1994
3449
2217
1009
0.516
1995
3320
2135
1157
0.639
1996
4026
2080
995
0.549
1997
5442
1863
927
0.628
1998
6307
1677
875
0.614
1999
14868
1869
1012
0.518
2000
8119
1986
1091
0.33
2001
4345
3158
1168
0.413
2002
6932
4084
1345
0.442
2003
5253
3762
1547
0.632
2004
5877
3336
1398
0.445
2005
5007
3206
1118
0.37
2006
3651
2752
946
0.275
2007
4255
2883
945
0.328
2008
10423
2586
800
0.309
2009
6994
2925
805
0.267
2010
1836
3187
876
0.305
2011
4502
3421
1029
0.322
2012
6643
3312
1104
0.405
2013
3759
2885
1093
0.401
2014
3398
2847
1042
0.436
2015
4946*
2620
Average
5240
3228
1129
0.412
* GM(19712012)
278
Celtic Sea Sole

ICES, 1998. Report of the Study Group on Precautionary Approach to Fisheries Management, 3-6 February 1998, ICES
Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 1998/ACFM: 10 Ref D.
ICES 2010. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1220 May 2010, ICES
ICES. 2014. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Celtic Sea stocks (WKCELT), 37 February 2014, Copenhagen,
Pawson, M. G., and Harley, B. F. M. 1998. Revision of maturity ogives for plaice and sole in the Celtic Sea (ICES Div.
VIIf+g). In Working Group on Southern Shelf Demersal Stocks (WGSSDS). ICES CM 1998/Assess:04. WD presented
to the WGSSDS.
ICES 2015b Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
279
Celtic Sea Sole
Southwest of Ireland Sole

(Divisions VIIh-k)

The ICES advice, based on the precautionary approach, is that catches in
2016 should be no more than 205 t. All catches are assumed to be landed.
This implies an Irish quota of 92 t. FEAS does not agree with this advice.
This stock falls into ICES category 3.2.0, stocks for which time-series
relative biomass is available. SSB has slightly increased since 2005, F has
remained stable in recent years, and recent recruitment is close to
average. The ICES advice is based on a 9% reduction in SSB between the
periods 2011-13 and 2014-15. This implies a 9% reduction in the catches in
relation recent advised catches (225 t.) This is well below the recent TACs.
FEAS consider that the current TAC management has resulted in a stock that appears to be
exploited sustainably. Therefore FEAS recommend that the TAC for 2015 should remain
unchanged at 382 t. This implies an Irish quota of 171 t.
FEAS notes that the landing obligation will apply to some fleets catching this stock in 2016 but
this will not be relevant to Irish vessels as they do not land significant quantities of this stock.
No management plan is in place for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC area covers Divisions VIIh-k. The assessment area also
covers VIIh-k but there is insufficient data from VIIh to support an
assessment and there are negligible landings from VIIk, therefore
the assessment is carried out using data from VIIj only under the
assumption that the trends are representative of VIIh-k. The 2015
TAC was 382 t with an associated Irish quota of 171 t (45%).
Ireland was allocated the largest share of the TAC.
This stock is mainly caught within coastal mixed fisheries by otter
trawlers in VIIj.
The stock is managed by TAC and recent landings have been
below the TAC.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 171 t
BEL 32 t
FRA 64 t
NL 51 t
UK 64 t
5.3.51 Sole southwest of Ireland (Division VIIhk)
ICESstockadvice
205 tonnes.
280

The spawning stock biomass (SSB) has slightly increased since 2005. Fishing mortality (F) has remained stable
in recent years at a lower level than was observed in the 1990s. Recruitment is estimated to have been close to
average in the last two years.
Figure5.3.51.1 SoleinDivisionsVIIhk.Summaryofstockassessment,basedonDivisionVIIj,k.Thelandingsareforthe
fullassessmentarea(DivisionsVIIhk).Recruitment,FandSSBvaluesarerelativetotheaverageofthe
timeseries.DashedlinesdenotetheaverageofrelativeSSBoftherespectiveyearrange.

Table 5.3.51.1
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
Undefined
Management Plan
2013
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Stock size
2014
Undefined
Not applicable
2015
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Stable
281
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (ICES 2012). The relative SSB estimated by the assessment model is
used as the index of stock development. The advice is based on a comparison of the two latest index values (index A) with
the three preceding values (index B), multiplied by the recent advised catch.
The index is estimated to have decrease by less than 20% and thus the uncertainty cap was not applied. The stock assessment
suggests that mortality rates are lower and stable in recent years and the catch age structure confirms a low overall mortality
rate (Figure 5.3.51.2). Therefore, the precautionary buffer was not applied to the catch advice this year.
Discards are negligible.
Table 5.3.15.2
Sole in Division VIIh-k. For stocks in ICES data categories 3, one catch option is provided.
Index A (2 last recent years range: 2014-15)

Index B (3 preceding recent years range: 2011-13)
Index ratio (A/B)
Uncertainty cap
Not applied
0.99 (relative SSB)

1.08 (relative SSB)
0.91
225 (tonnes)
Discard rate
Catch advice*
* Recent advised catch x index ratio
Not Applied
Negligible
205 tonnes
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.51.4
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
The advice is based on an assessment model accepted for trends, used as an indicator of stock size. The
uncertainty associated with the index values is not available.
The assessment is carried out on the catch in Divisions VIIjk and there is no information other than landings
from the VIIh component of the TAC area. ICES is unable to assess stock trends in Division VIIh. The advice
takes into account the catches from Divisions VIIh-k.
The catches are taken in mixed fisheries and should be managed as such. The TAC is currently not restrictive,
but for some countries the quota appears to have become restrictive.
Broad age structure in the catches indicates low overall mortality rate for sole in VIIj (Figure 5.3.51.2).
282
1993
1994
200
150
100
50
0
4
12
Numbers at age in '000s
100
200
50
100
16
1998
1995
12
16
1999
150
12
16
75
50
50
50
25
30
16
2003
12
16
2004
50
50
40
25
25
20
0
12
16
2008
50
25
0
4
12
16
12
16
12
16
2013
12
16
12
16
16
12
12
16
16
12
16
12
16
40
30
20
10
0
4
12
16
8
2012
60
20
40
20
20
0
16
8
2007
2011
12
12
0
8
40
16
40
60
12
80
16
8
2002
120
2010
40
12
30
20
10
0
2009
2006
0
4
80
60
40
20
0
75
60
75
2005
75
50
2001
90
60
12
100
2000
100
1997
150
100
1996
120
90
60
30
0
0
4
12
16
2014
60
60
40
40
20
20
0
4
12
16
age
Figure 5.3.51.1
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. Age structure of sole in Divisions VIIjk over time, used in the assessment.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.51.6
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data category 3.2.0 (ICES 2015a)
Assessment type
Age-based analytical assessment (XSA) indicative of stock trends.
Commercial catches (international landings from Divisions VIIjk, Irish age composition from
Input data
catch sampling); commercial tuning index (IRL-VMS-OTB); natural mortalities and maturity
are assumed to be the same as for sole in Divisions VIIfg.
Discards were not included in the assessment and are considered negligible.
Indicators
None.
Other information
None.
There is no available information
283

Table 5.3.51.7
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings.
Weights in tonnes.
Year
ICES Advice
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
No advice
No advice
No advice
No advice
No advice
No advice
No advice
No advice
Decrease catches by 8% (15% increase, followed by 20% PA
reduction)
Increase catches by 11%
Average catch (20112013)
Precautionary Approach (decrease recent advised value by
no more than 9%)
2014
2015
2016
Predicted catch
Agreed TAC
corresp. to advice
650
650
330
390
360
390
335
650
380
650
287
650
300
650
300
553
498
423
423
Official
ICES catch
landings
826
443
742
564
759
423
406
381
303
329
352
325
517
430
486
245
450
290
395
326
279
272
278
277
219
225
208
208
229
228
218
237
233
228
< 200
402
212
211
< 252
< 225
382
382
239
243
205

Table 5.3.51.8
Catch (2014)
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.

Landings
Discards
56% otter trawls
38% beam trawls
6% other gear types
Considered negligible
243 tonnes
243 tonnes
Table 5.3.51.9
Year
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
Bel.
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. History of official landings for each country participating in the fishery, and
ICES estimates (in tonnes).
Fra.
43
42
44
48
56
65
5
6
85
122
155
90
36
31
10
11
20
10
18
4
42
72
86
85
113
95
86
81
69
49
70
73
70
74
69
56
VII h
Ire.
8
11
20
16
13
8
8
11
9
23
33
28
14
4
3
0
3
1
2
1
3
NL
70
7
1
10
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
UK
206
172
186
147
111
109
96
95
111
124
78
79
112
86
91
80
58
51
54
46
47
53
Bel.
96
8
7
69
48
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
VII j
Fra. Ire.
1 237
176
1 232
2 162
2 187
8 208
199
4 103
11 113
8 120
20
82
7
78
7
69
11
49
9
73
8
69
9
60
14
68
23
63
11
83
7
84
5
78
UK
8
2
6
1
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Fra.
VII k
Ire.
UK
2
1
1
1
2
2
15
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
VII h
Total
249
222
241
285
183
194
110
185
214
303
336
362
316
218
195
142
139
147
135
140
121
154
VII jk
Total
246
178
241
166
191
219
200
109
127
144
102
85
77
61
83
77
69
82
87
94
91
83
VII hjk
Total
495
400
482
451
374
413
310
294
341
447
438
447
393
279
278
219
208
229
222
234
212
237
VIIhjk
ICES Estim.
443
564
423
381
329
325
430
245
290
326
272
277
225
208
228
237
228
211
243
* Preliminary.
284

Table 5.3.51.10
Sole in Divisions VIIhk. Summary of stock assessment; landings (in tonnes) and assessment results are
from Divisions VIIjk. Recruitment, SSB, and F are relative to the mean of the time-series.
Relative Recruitment
Landings (VIIjk)
Relative Mean F
Year
Relative SSB tonnes
Age 3
tonnes
Ages 3-6
1993
1.191
1.385
246
1.422
1994
1.881
1.581
178
0.781
1995
0.78
1.324
241
1.458
1996
1.201
1.276
166
1.026
1997
1.172
1.234
191
1.078
1998
1.007
1.144
219
1.466
1999
0.972
0.867
200
2.11
2000
1.36
0.749
109
1.037
2001
0.992
0.799
127
1.379
2002
1.143
1.023
144
0.922
2003
0.664
0.793
102
1.185
2004
0.527
0.862
85
0.733
2005
0.632
0.742
77
0.756
2006
1.198
0.702
61
0.548
2007
0.814
0.771
83
0.928
2008
0.855
0.795
77
0.803
2009
1.413
0.775
69
0.889
2010
1.143
0.938
82
0.695
2011
0.608
1.025
87
0.668
2012
0.52
1.13
94
0.665
2013
0.966
1.102
91
0.696
2014
0.958
0.966
85
0.754
2015
1.017

2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.)
ICES 2015a Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1. In
preparation.
285
West of Ireland Sole

(Divisions VIIb,c)

The advice for this stock is biennial and valid for 2016 and 2017. ICES advises
that, based on the precautionary approach, catches in 2016 and 2017
should be no more than 30 tonnes. FEAS do not agree with this advice.
The Joint statement by the Fisheries Council and European Commission
states it would be desirable if the 2013 TAC for this stock be maintained for
5 years (subject to scientific advice). FEAS advise that the information
remains the same and the TAC of 42 t should be rolled over for 2016. This
implies an Irish Quota of 36 t.
FEAS notes that the landing obligation will apply to some fleets catching this stock in 2016 but this
will not be relevant to Irish vessels as they do not land significant quantities of this stock and
because discards are considered negligible no uplift is needed.
No management plan is in place for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC covers Divisions VIIb and VIIc. The

assessment area is the same as the TAC area.
There are no explicit management objectives or plan for this stock.
IRE 36 t
This stock is mainly caught within coastal mixed fisheries by Irish

otter trawlers.
The stock is managed by TAC and although recent landings have
generally been below the TAC. If it is further reduced, the TAC is
likely to become restrictive.
FRA 6 t
ICES ADVICE
5.3.49 Sole west of Ireland (Divisions VIIb,c)
ICESstockadvice
of the years 2016 and 2017.
The state of the stock is unknown, but landings have been low for several decades.
286
Landings
500
450
400
350
tonnes
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1912 1917 1922 1927 1932 1937 1942 1947 1952 1957 1962 1967 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012
Figure5.3.49.1 SoleinDivisionsVIIb,c.Officiallandingsintonnes.

Table 5.3.49.1
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
2012 2013
2014
Undefined
Management Plan
2013
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
Stock size
2014
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
2015
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
287
Catchoptions
abundance or exploitation, ICES considers that a precautionary reduction of catches should be implemented
unless there is ancillary information clearly indicating that the current level of exploitation is appropriate for the
stock. The precautionary buffer was last applied in 2012 (for the 2013 advice), hence it is not applied this year
again.
Table 5.3.49.2
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. ICES framework for category 6 applied.
Discard rate
Not applied
Catch advice*
*recent advised catch.
30 (tonnes)
Negligible
30 (tonnes)
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.49.4
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
Catches in this area are too low to support the collection of the necessary information for an assessment of the
stock status.
Therearenoissuesrelevantfortheadvice.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.49.6
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
6.2.0 (ICES 2015a).
category
Assessment type
No assessment.
Input data
Official landings.
Indicators
None.
Other information
None.
Working group
Information from stakeholders

288

Table 5.3.49.7
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings.
Weights in tonnes.
Predicted
Year
ICES Advice
catch corresp. Agreed TAC Official landings
to advice
1993
60
1994
61
1995
61
1996
54
1997
55
1998
49
1999
68
2000
77
2001
80
60
2002
No advice
80
64
2003
65
80
69
2004
Reduce TAC to recent landings (19982002)
65
65
67
2005
Reduce TAC to recent landings (19992003)
62
65
45
2006
64
65
43
2007
64
65
41
2008
50
59
37
2009
50
50
51
2010
No advice
45
43
2011
No advice
44
27
2012
44
45
2013
<30
42
33
2014
<30
42
27
2015
<30
42
Precautionary approach (same advised catch value as
2016
30
given for 2015)
Precautionary approach (same advised catch value as
2017
30
provided for 2016)

Table 5.3.49.8
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.

Catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
27 tonnes
27 tonnes
Negligible
289
Table 5.3.49.9
Year
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
Sole in Divisions VIIb,c. History of official landings by each country participating in the fishery and ICES
estimates.
France
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7
47
49
74
52
82
122
411
217
40
43
32
44
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
41
24
27
40
99
116
66
161
94
163
327
80
110
100
172
159
95
0
78
121
86
3
0
4
0
25
UK
Other
Countries
Ireland
1
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
9
10
4
2
15
11
10
11
8
11
5
9
10
10
10
7
20
25
21
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
6
11
12
9
7
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
0
0
1
5
1
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
37
32
28
22
22
25
43
12
14
6
7
6
5
9
9
10
64
18
18
19
16
18
22
29
27
10
13
11
9
14
7
13
19
14
8
11
16
20
10
8
14
12
6
6
6
4
7
9
6
4
6
8
9
12
8
19
24
24
11
11
8
9
8
5
13
12
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
15
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
290
Total
Unallocated
ICES
estimates
38
32
28
23
23
26
44
13
14
6
7
6
14
19
13
12
79
29
35
77
73
103
79
120
159
431
240
58
72
71
72
13
19
14
8
11
16
20
22
29
25
65
39
40
48
105
124
76
168
99
171
336
90
123
108
191
184
124
12
89
129
96
11
7
17
12
37
Year
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
France
UK
7
6
3
3
6
9
6
5
9
3
6
8
2
2
0
0
5
2
1
1
2
2
3
0
0
12
7
14
19
18
7
12
7
6
5
8
5
7
3
3
Other
Countries
Ireland
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
19
44
14
16
13
24
47
55
40
17
44
29
39
34
38
41
46
43
59
60
59
52
51
49
68
65
53
50
50
49
38
31
34
31
46
35
22
38
30
23
Total
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unallocated
26
50
17
19
19
33
53
61
49
20
50
37
41
37
38
41
51
45
60
61
61
54
55
49
68
77
60
64
69
67
45
43
41
37
51
43
27
45
33
26
0
9
-2
3
0
17
4
-9
0
-3
-5
2
-1
0
1
3
0
0
-5
-2
0
1
ICES
estimates
60
70
59
57
55
66
72
68
60
61
64
69
44
43
42
40
51
43
22
43
33
27
* Preliminary.


2012/ACOM:68. 42 pp.)
ICES 2015a Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, In
Preparation.
291
FU 16 Nephrops on the Porcupine Bank


ICES advises on the basis of the MSY approach that catches from FU 16
in 2016 should be no more than 1,850 t All catches are assumed to be
landed. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that this stock will be
subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
This stock falls into category 1 with an analytical UWTV based
assessment. The data available to assess this stock has improved
significantly since 2010 due to collaborations with the fishing industry
(through the Irish Fisheries Science Research Partnership IFSRP).
FEAS has carried out fishing surveys funded using scientific quota on
this stock in July 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Irish industry provided detailed grade information for
>45% of the landings since 2012. FEAS also carried out UWTV surveys on this stock since 2012.
The advice for 2016 is based on the results of the 2014 UWTV survey because it was not possible to
carry out a survey in 2015 despite several attempts.
overview for Nephrops stocks in Sub-area VII on page 39). However, specific management
measures are in place for FU16 (spatio-temporal closure and of which quota limit for FU16) see
below.
2015 Porcupine Quota Share

of VII TAC
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
For current management see the overview for Nephrops

stocks in Sub-area VII on page 39.
Since 2011 an of which clause was introduced to the area

VII TAC specifically for the Porcupine Bank. This limited
landings in 2015 to less than 1,850 t.
FRA 349 t
Very restrictive quota limits have been introduced for Irish

vessels since February 2011. This has increased the risks
of area misreporting and/or high grading in the fishery.
Management measures should be put in place to discourage misreporting or discarding.
SPA 558 t
A spatio-temporal closure of the Porcupine bank for fisheries was in place between 1 May 31 July 20102012. The period of the closure was reduced to May only since 2013. To date the closure has been
respected by the fleet and has afforded some protection to the majority of the stock area (~75%). For
this part of the stock area fishing effort and mortality will have been reduced at a time of peak female
emergence and typically high LPUE and landings. The closure has inadvertently concentrated effort and
fishing mortality ~25% of the stock area not currently covered by the closure.
292
IRE 671 t
UK 272 t
Nephrops on the Porcupine Bank
55 00 N -
38
37
54 00 N -
36
35
53 00 N -
34
33
52 00 N -
32
31
51 00 N -
30
E0
10 00 W -
12 00 W -
D9
09 00 W -
D8
D7
11 00 W -
D6
13 00 W -
D5
14 00 W -
16 00 W -
15 00 W -
29D4
50 00 N -
The area on the Porcupine Bank, closed from 1st May-31st July in 2010,11 and 12 and May since 2013, is shown
as a green line overlaid on the distribution of recent (2006-2008) Irish fishing effort directed towards
Nephrops. The 200m and 500m depth contours are shown as black lines. The boundary of the quota
management area for the Porcupine Bank Unit 16 (NEP/*07U16) is shown as a red line.
ICES ADVICE 5.3. 31 Nephrops on Porcupine Bank (FU 16)

ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 1850 tonnes. All
catches are assumed to be landed.
293

Stock abundance estimates between 2012 and 2014 are relatively stable. No UWTV survey could be carried out
in 2015. The harvest rate calculated as (landings + dead discards)/(abundance estimate) is estimated to be below
the FMSY proxy.
Figure5.3.31.1 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. Catches (tonnes), UWTV (Underwater TV)
survey abundance (millions; SSB proxy; 95% confidence intervals), and harvest rate (fishing mortality
proxy).OrangedashedlinerepresentFMSYharvestrateproxy.

Table 5.3.31.1
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. State of the stock and fishery relative to
reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
Maximum
FMSY
sustainable yield
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Below
Below possible
reference points
- Not applicable
294
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
SSBMGT
-Not applicable
Catchoptions
The catch options presented in 2014 are restated below.
Table 5.3.31.2 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
Stock abundance
722 million
ICES (2014a)
UWTV survey 2014.
51.2 g
ICES (2014a)
Average 20112013.
ICES (2014a)
Not relevant.
Discard proportion
0%
ICES (2014a)
Discarding is negligible.
ICES (2014a)
Not relevant.
Dead discard rate
0%
ICES (2014a)
Discarding is negligible.
Table 5.3.31.3
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. The catch options. Weights in tonnes.
Total catches*
Landings
Dead discards**
Surviving discards**
Harvest rate
Basis
L+DD+SD
L
DD
SD
for L+DD
MSY approach
1850
1850
0
0
5.0%
F201213
1073
1073
0
0
2.9%
F35%SpR
2848
2848
0
0
7.7%
Fmax
4106
4106
0
0
11.1%
* Total catches are the landings plus dead and surviving discards.
** Based on negligible discarding during observer trips.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.31.4 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
Despite several efforts a combination of technical and weather-related problems did not allow for an UWTV
survey on the Porcupine Bank in 2015. Therefore, various stock indicators (mean weight, mean length, and sex
ratio from commercial landings and trawl survey) were reviewed; no signals were detected that might indicate a
major change in stock status compared to the last three years.
The previous UWTV survey data since 2012 provide abundance with high precision, but the time-series is short.
The landings are considered fairly well estimated (an unallocated component related to area misreporting is
included from 2011). Discarding for this stock is considered to be negligible.
Landings lengthfrequency data have improved significantly since 2010. This is because the fishing industry has
collaborated with scientists by providing data on the grade composition of landings since 2010.
Because no new survey was carried out in 2015 the advice for 2016 could not be updated according to the usual
procedure for this stock. The previous advice was to fish at a relatively low harvest rate of 5%. Although a catch
limit for FU 16 of ~1850 tonnes was set according to the ICES advice, the realised harvest rates in 20122014
were lower. This situation is not expected to change in 2015.
It is considered appropriate to maintain the advice given last year for one further year because since 2011, the
harvest rate has been low and no changes in stock indicators have been observed. In the past, when stock status
was poor these indicators showed trends signaling changes (mean weight and mean size increased, sex ratio in
the catch showed a switch from mainly males to mainly females, Figures 5.3.31.35). This is not the case now.
exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight. For this particular stock discarding of Nephrops is
considered negligible.
There is a separate catch limit for FU 16 within the wider TAC for Subarea VII.
295
Figure 5.3.31.2 Nephrops functional units in Subarea VII.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.31.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Precautionary
approach
Management
plan
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. Reference points, values, and their
technical basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
Not defined.
MSY Btrigger
5.0% harvest FMSY proxy equivalent to F0.1 for combined sexes in
ICES, 2013
FMSY
rate. 2013.
Blim
Not defined.
Bpa
Not defined.
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
Not defined.
SSBMGT
FMGT
Not defined.
Table 5.3.31.6 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. The basis of the assessment.
ICES stock data
1 (ICES, 2015b).
category
Assessment type
Commercial catches (international landings and length frequencies reconstructed from sampling
Input data
and industry data); one UWTV survey (UWTV-FU 16); fixed maturity and natural mortality.
Discards and bycatch Not included, considered negligible.
Trawl survey (SpPGFS-WIBTS-Q4), mean weight, mean length and sex ratio from commercial
Indicators
landings and surveys.
Other information
Working group
296
FU16MeanWeight
90
80
MeanWeight(g)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
2014
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
Figure 5.3.31.3 Nephrops on the Porcupine Bank (FU 16). Mean weight in the commercial landings.
Males
52
Mean size (mm)
48
44
40
36
32
28
1980
Mean size (mm)
41
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
Spain
Females
Ireland
France
Porcupine Survey
37
33
29
25
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
Figure 5.3.31.4 Nephrops on the Porcupine Bank (FU 16). Mean length in the commercial landings by country and sex,
and in the Porcupine trawl survey.
297
100%
90%
80%
% Males
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
Male Numbers
20%
Male Weights
Survey Male Numbers
10%
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
0%
Figure 5.3.31.5 Nephrops on the Porcupine Bank (FU 16). The percentage males in the commercial landings and catches
in the survey (SpPGFS-WIBTS-Q4) catches.
Data on the grade composition of commercial landings has been provided by the Irish fishing industry since
2010. This information is used to estimate the mean weight in the landings for this stock.
298

Table 5.3.31.7
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC,
and ICES estimates of landings. All weights in thousand tonnes.
Recommended
The of which
landings in
ICES
Year
ICES advice
Catch advice
limit in TAC
Divisions
landings
regulation
VIIbcjk*
1987
2.5
1988
2.4
1989
2.1
1990
1.9
1991
1.6
1992
3.8
2.0
1993
~4.0
1.9
1994
~4.0
2.5
1995
~4.0
2.9
1996
4.0
2.2
1997
4.0
2.4
1998
4.0
2.2
1999
4.0
2.3
2000
4.0
0.9
2001
4.0
1.2
2002
4.44
1.3
2003
4.44
1.1
2004
Restrict landings to 20002002 levels
3.3
1.4
2005
3.3
2.2
2006
3.3
2.2
2007
Constrain effort at recent levels
-2.1
2008
-1.0
No increase in effort, and average landings
2009
< 1.0
0.9
(20002003)
2010
Reduce catches to lowest possible level
0
0.9
2011
Reduce catches to lowest possible level
0
1.26
1.3
2012
1.26
1.3
2013
MSY approach (updated November 2012)
< 1.8
1.8
1.1
2014
MSY approach
< 1.848
1.848
1.2
2015
MSY approach
< 1.850
1.850
2016
MSY approach
1.850
* Previously ICES gave combined advice for FUs 16, 17, 18, and 19, and other rectangles in this area.

Table 5.3.31.8
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as
estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Total landings
Total discards*
100% otter trawl
Available discard estimates show discarding to be negligible
(trawls 7099 and >100 mm)
1189 tonnes
(< 2% in numbers)
1189 tonnes
299
Table 5.3.31.9
Year
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. History of commercial landings; ICES
estimated values are presented by country participating in the fishery. All weights in tonnes.
France
Ireland
Spain
UK (E & W)
UK (Scotland)
Unallocated
Total
514
514
0
0
441
441
441
441
609
609
256
256
500
1444
1944
0
1738
1738
811
2135
2946
900
1894
2794
0
2150
2150
6
1321
1327
0
1545
1545
2
1742
1744
14
2255
2269
21
2904
2925
66
3315
3381
358
3931
4289
615
2811
3426
1067
2504
3571
1181
2738
3919
1060
1462
69
2591
609
1677
213
2499
600
1555
220
2375
324
350
1417
24
2115
336
169
1349
41
1895
348
170
1021
101
1640
665
311
822
217
2015
799
206
752
100
1857
1088
512
809
103
2512
1234
971
579
152
2936
1069
508
471
182
2230
1028
653
473
255
2409
879
598
405
273
2155
1047
609
448
185
2290
351
227
213
120
910
425
369
270
158
1222
369
543
276
139
1327
131
307
489
108
29
1064
289
494
468
126
28
1406
397
754
681
208
156
2197
462
731
636
201
155
2185
302
1060
384
146
183
2074
26
562
234
41
138
1000
4
356
348
13
159
879
4
579
240
10
90
922
8
643
182
23
122
301
1278
0.46
605
198
0
134
320
1258
5.8
651
132
1
118
234
1141
3
813
129
0
96
148
1189
300

Table 5.3.31.10
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIb, VIIc, VIIj, and VIIk FU 16. Assessment summary with weights (in
tonnes).
Mean weight in
UWTV abundance estimate
Harvest rate
Landings in
Year
95% CI
landings
(millions)
(%)
numbers (millions)
(g)
2011
na
na
na
na
45.8
2012
787
78.7
3.2
25.0
50.4
2013
768
61.4
2.6
19.8
57.5
2014
722
35.4
2.9
21.1
56.4
2015
na#
# na: not available.
* No survey could be carried out.

ICES. 2013. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Nephrops assessment (WKNEPH), 25 February1 March
2013, Lysekil, Sweden. ICES CM 2013/ACOM:45.
Section 1.2.
301
FU17 Nephrops on the Aran Grounds


(assuming zero discards) should be no more than 991 t. If instead
discard rates continue at recent values (average of 20122014) and
there is no change in assumed discard survival rate, this implies
landings of no more than 948 t (catches of 1,026 t). FEAS agrees with
the ICES advice but notes that fisheries catching Nephrops in
Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landing obligation (LO) in
2016.
apply in 2016. The average discard rate by weight was 7% in the last
three years. Improvements in selectivity in the fishery to reduce catches
of small Nephrops will be will be beneficial and result in higher long-term
yield in the future.
available. The harvest rate is estimated to have increased substantially in the last three years and is
well above the Fmsy proxy. Total abundance in 2015 has increased by 42% to around MSY Btrigger.
Functional Unit.
There is no management plan for the FU17 Nephrops stock. Following a meeting between the MI,
BIM and the fishing industry in April 2015 voluntary effort restrictions were put in place by the
fishing industry. These voluntary measures significantly reduced effort and catches on the Aran
grounds in 2015 before the UWTV survey. Without these measures it is very likely that the stock
abundance in 2015 would have been below the MSY Btrigger recommended by ICES. A longer term
management plan is now needed to ensure sustainable exploitation into the future.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
ICES ADVICE
5.3.30 Nephrops on Aran Grounds (FU 17)
.
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) should be no more than
991 tonnes. If instead discard rates continue at recent values (average of 20122014) and there is no change in assumed
discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more than 948 tonnes.
To ensure that the stock in functional unit (FU) 17 is exploited sustainably, management should be implemented at the
functional unit level.
302
Nephrops in the Aran Grounds

The abundance shows an overall decreasing trend over time and is currently at MSY Btrigger. The harvest rate, calculated
as (landings + dead discards)/(abundance estimate), has been above the FMSY proxy since 2012.
Figure5.3.30.1 NorwaylobsterinDivisionVIIbFU17.Catches(intonnes),UWTV(UnderwaterTV)surveyabundance(millions;
SSBproxy;95%confidenceintervals),andharvestrate(fishingmortalityproxy).Orangedashedlinesrepresent
MSYBtriggerandFMSYharvestrateproxy.

Table 5.3.30.1
Norway lobster in Division VII FU 17. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
F ISHING PRESSURE
S TOCK SIZE
2012 2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
Maximum
FMSY
sustainable yield
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Above
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Not applicable
SSBMGT
At trigger
Above possible
reference points
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.30.2
V ARIABLE
Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. The basis for the catch options.
V ALUE
S OURCE
N OTES
556 million
Stock abundance
UWTV survey 2015.
ICES(2015a)
individuals
22.5 g
Average 20082014.
ICES(2015a)
11.6 g
Average 20082014.
ICES(2015a)
Discard proportion
13.9%
ICES(2015a)
25%
ICES(2015a)
Dead discard rate
10.8%
ICES(2015a)
allowed.
Table 5.3.30.3
Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. The catch options. All weights are in tonnes.
303

Basis
Total catch
Wanted catch*
Unwanted catch*
Harvest rate**
991
915
76
8.5%
Fmax
1900
1754
145
16.3%
F35%SPR
1422
1313
109
12.2%
Fcurrent (20122014)
1548
1430
118
13.3%
* Wanted and unwanted catch are used to describe Nephrops that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the EU
landing obligation, based on the average estimated discard rates for 20122014.
Basis
assuming recent discard rate
Total catches
Dead removals
Landings
L+DD+SD
L+DD
1026
1006
Dead
discards
DD
948
59
Surviving
discards
SD
20
Harvest
rate*
for L+DD
8.5%
All harvest rates are calculated in numbers and refer to the dead removals. The difference in catch weights between
catch options with the same harvest rates is related to the fact that, in the scenario allowing for discarding, a proportion
of the discards are assumed to survive.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.30.4 Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. The basis of the advice.
A DVICE BASIS
MSY APPROACH .
Management plan
Biological sampling for this stock is adequate. Since 2002 a dedicated annual UWTV survey has provided abundance
estimates for the Aran Grounds with high precision. The area of the Aran Grounds was revised this year, resulting in a
recalculation of the abundance time-series which now also includes Galway Bay and Slyne Head. A number of other
biological parameters such as mean weights and length distributions have also been revised. The revisions were made as
part of an interbenchmark process and have improved the quality of the assessment.
Fisheries catching Nephrops in Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landing obligation in 2016 (EC, 2015). While it
is not yet clear how the landing obligation will be implemented, there is a possibility for a De minimis exemption
consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight. The average discard rate by weight for FU 17 over the last three years is 7%.
The FMSY proxy was revised during the benchmark in 2015. The observed burrow density has declined, from high (> 0.8
individuals m2) at the start of the series to medium density (~0.3 individuals m2) towards the end of the time-series.
The nature of the fishery has also changed, from a continuous fishery throughout the year to a fishery which is more
concentrated on periods of high catch rates. For these reasons a harvest rate consistent with a combined sex F0.1 is
considered an appropriate proxy for FMSY.
There is a single TAC for the entire ICES Subarea VII. Management should be implemented at the functional unit level
to ensure that fishing opportunities are in line with the scale of the resource in each of the stocks.
304
Figure5.3.30.2 NephropsfunctionalunitsinSubareaVII
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.30.5
F RAMEWORK
MSY approach
Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
R EFERENCE
V ALUE
T ECHNICAL BASIS
POINT
MSY Btrigger
FMSY
Precautionary
approach
Management
plan
Blim
Bpa
Flim
Fpa
SSBMGT
FMGT
540 million
individuals
8.5% harvest
rate.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Lowest observed abundance estimate from UWTV survey

time series.
FMSY proxy equivalent to F0.1 for combined sexes in 2015.
S OURCE
ICES (2015c)
ICES (2015c)
Table 5.3.30.6 Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
One survey index (UWTV-FU 17); commercial catches (international landings, length frequencies
Input data
from Irish catch sampling); maturity data (commercial catch and discard sampling, survey
sampling); fixed natural mortality. Discard survival rate.
Included in the assessment since 2001, with data series from the majority of the fleet covering 99%
of the landings.
Indicators
Length distributions by sex of the catches.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2015 (ICES, 2015c).
Working group
305
A meeting was held with stakeholders in March 2015 to discuss the state of the Aran Nephrops stock. In response to
this meeting voluntary effort limits were put in place for April, May, and June. These voluntary measures have
significantly reduced effort and catches on the Aran grounds in 2015 before the UWTV survey. Information was also
provided to improve the boundary definition of the Nephrops patch in Galway Bay.
Table 5.3.30.7
Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of
landings. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Recommended
ICES
Total
Yea
Catch
ICES advice
Landings advice
landings Divisions
landings
discards
r
advice
VIIbcjk**
FU 17
FU 17***
1987
0.1
1988
0.1
1989
0.8
1990
0.3
1991
0.5
1992
3.8
0.4
1993
~4.0
0.4
1994
~4.0
0.7
1995
~4.0
0.9
1996
4.0
0.5
1997
4.0
0.8
1998
4.0
1.4
1999
4.0
1.1
2000
4.0
0.9
2001
4.0
0.9
2002
4.44
1.2
0.2
2003
4.44
0.9
0.2
2004 Restrict landings to 20002002 levels
3.3
0.5
0.1
3.3
0.8
0.2
3.3
0.6
2007 Constrain effort at recent levels
-0.9
2008 Constrain effort at recent levels
-1.1
0.2
0.6
0.1
2009
< 0.9
(2007)
Harvest ratio no greater than the lower
0.9
0.2
2010 bound of the range of F0.1 for similar
< 0.5
stocks
2011 MSY approach
< 0.95
0.7
0.1
2012 MSY approach
< 1.1
1.2
0.1
MSY approach (Updated November
1.3
0.1
2013
< 0.59
2012)
2014 MSY approach
< 0.59
0.8
0.0
2015 MSY approach
< 0.524
2016 MSY approach
0.991*
* Assuming all catches are landed and selection patterns do not change.
** Before 2007 ICES gave combined advice for FUs 16, 17, 18, and 19, and other rectangles in this area.
*** Dead + surviving discards. 25% of discards are assumed to survive.
306

Table 5.3.30.8 Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
T OTAL CATCH
E STIMATED LANDINGS
T OTAL DISCARDS
Almost 100% otter trawl (7099 mm)
814 tonnes
48 tonnes
766 tonnes
Table 5.3.30.9
Year
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
* Preliminary.
Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. History of ICES landings estimates by country. All weights are in
tonnes.
France
Rep. of Ireland
UK
Total
477
477
822
822
131
131
272
272
481
481
452
452
442
442
414
414
210
210
131
131
324
324
207
207
147
1
148
62
0
62
14
814
828
27
317
3
347
30
489
519
11
399
410
11
361
2
374
11
361
0
372
18
707
4
729
91
774
2
867
2
519
7
528
2
839
0
841
9
1401
0
1410
0
1140
0
1140
1
879
0
880
1
912
0
913
2
1152
0
1154
0
933
0
933
0
525
0
525
0
778
0
778
0
637
0
637
0
913
0
913
0
1050
7
1057
0
626
0
625
0
930
9
939
0
659
0
659
0
1246
0
1246
0
1295
0
1295
0
766
0
766
307
Landings
Total
discards*
Mean
weight in
landings
Mean
weight in
discards
millions
Harvest rate
millions
95%
Confidence
Interval
millions
UWTV
abundance
estimate
Removals in
number
millions
Proportion
removals
retained
Total
discards in
number*
Norway lobster in Division VIIb FU 17. Assessment summary.

Landings in
number
Year
Table 5.3.30.10
tonnes
tonnes
grammes
grammes
2001
48.7
25.4
67.8
0.72
912
2002
54.5
17.7
67.8
0.80
1070
69
6.3%
2003
44.1
18.3
57.8
0.76
1246
186
4.6%
1152
192
21.2
10.8
933
183
21.2
10.0
2004
29
11.4
37.6
0.77
1410
113
2.7%
525
112
18.1
9.9
2005
42.4
19.7
57.2
0.74
1092
56
5.2%
778
182
18.4
9.2
2006
na
na
49.5*
na
627
60
7.9%
636
na
na
na
2007
na
na
57.3*
na
920
52
6.2%
913
na
na
na
2008
2009
48.2
24.9
22.1
9.5
64.7
32.0
0.74
0.78
541
696
31
29
12.0%
4.6%
1057
626
248
129
21.9
25.1
11.2
13.6
2010
37.3
15.2
48.8
0.77
879
38
5.6%
939
224
25.2
14.7
2011
31.9
8.5
38.4
0.83
672
39
5.7%
659
92
20.6
10.8
2012
61.1
8.3
67.3
0.91
468
36
14.4%
1246
86
20.4
10.4
2013
60.0
12.0
2014
33.9
5.0
2015
Avg 12
14
69.0
37.7
0.87
0.90
441
383
556
46
37
50
15.7%
9.8%
1295
766
129
48
21.6
22.6
10.7
9.6
Avg
0814
22.5
11.6
0.89
13.3%
308
Figure5.3.30.3 NorwaylobsterinDivisionVIIbFU17.Annuallengthcompositionofcatch(brokenhorizontalline)andlandings
(solidhorizontalline)formales(right)andfemales(left)from1995(bottom)to2014(top).Meansizesofcatches
(brokenverticalline)andlandings(solidverticalline)arealsoshown.

EC. 2015. COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) of 12.10.2015 establishing a discard plan for certain
demersal fisheries in North-Western waters. C(2015) 6833 final, Brussels.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group for the Celtic Seas Ecoregion (WGCSE), 1221 May 2015, Copenhagen,
ICES. 2015b. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, Section 1.2.
ICES. 2015c. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol of Nephrops in FU 17 and 14 (IBPNeph), from June to
September 2015, by correspondence. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:38.
309
FU 19 Nephrops Stocks on the SE and

SW Coast of Ireland

(assuming zero discards) should be no more than 793 t. If instead
landings of no more than 618 t (catches of 904 t). FEAS agrees with
the ICES advice and notes that fisheries catching Nephrops in Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landing obligation (LO) in 2016.
three years. A large change in selection and discard practices is
required but it not possible to predict these changes or the impact they will have on the catch
advice. Reductions in the catch of small Nephrops through improved selection in the fishery will be
beneficial and result in significantly higher long-term yield in the future.
available.
advice that all Nephrops fisheries are managed at an appropriate geographical scale i.e. Functional Unit.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
ICES ADVICE 5.3.29 Nephrops off the South-eastern and

South-western coasts of Ireland (FU 19)

ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) should be no
more than 793 tonnes. If instead discard rates continue at recent values (average of 20122014) and there is no
change in assumed discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more than 618 tonnes.
310
Nephrops Stocks on the SE and SW Coast

The historical harvest rate, calculated as (landings + dead discards)/(abundance estimate), is below the FMSY
proxy in 2014. Stock abundance has been relatively stable since 2011.
Figure5.3.29.1 NorwaylobsterinDivisionsVIIa,VIIg,andVIIjFU19.Catches(inthousandtonnes),UWTV(Underwater
TV)abundance(millions;SSBproxy;95%confidenceintervals),andharvestrate(fishingmortalityproxy).
TheorangedashedlinerepresentstheFMSYharvestrateproxy.

Table 5.3.29.1
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. State of the stock and fishery relative to
reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013 2014
2015
Maximum
FMSY
sustainable yield
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Below
Below possible
reference points
Not applicable
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Catch options
Table 5.3.29.2
Variable
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. The basis for the catch options.
Value
Source
Notes
482million
Stockabundance
ICES(2015a)
UWTV2015
individuals
Meanweightinlandings
27.4g
ICES(2015a)
Average20122014
Meanweightindiscards
13.0g
ICES(2015a)
Average20122014
Discardproportion
49%
ICES(2015a)
Average(proportionbynumber)20122014
Discardsurvivalrate
25%
ICES(2015a)
Onlyappliesinscenarioswherediscardingisallowed.
Average 20122014 (proportion by number). Calculated
as dead discards divided by dead removals (landings
Deaddiscardrate
42.3%
ICES(2015a)
+dead discards). Only applies in scenarios where
discardingisallowed.
311
Table5.3.29.3 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19.Thecatchoptions.Allweightsareintonnes.
Catchoptionsassumingzerodiscards.
Basis
Totalcatch
MSYApproach(FMSYproxy)
Fcurrent(20122014)
F35%SPR
Wantedcatch*
Unwantedcatch*
Harvestrate**
793
542
250
8.1%
783
1419
536
971
247
448
8.0%
14.5%
1203
824
380
12.3%
FMAX
* Wanted and unwanted catch are used to described Nephrops that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the
Catchoptionsassumingdiscardingallowed.
Basis
assuming recent discard rates
Totalcatch
Dead
removals
Landings
Dead
discards
Surviving
discards
Harvestrate*
L+DD+SD
L+DD
DD
SD
forL+DD
904
832
618
214
71
8.10%
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.29.4 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
ThereisnomanagementplanforNorwaylobsterinthisarea.
An annual UWTV survey has been carried out since 2011, with full coverage of all the discrete patches since
2013. The survey gives estimates of burrow densities for the main patches of Nephrops habitat in FU 19 and an
abundance estimate for the entire stock with acceptable precision.
The main quality concern relates to mean weight estimates and discard rates which are quite variable over the
time-series, partially reflecting the difference in mean sizes of patches with different underlying densities.
Adequate catch sampling remains difficult for such a heterogeneous area.
exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight. The proportion of discarded Nephrops in FU 19 is high
relative to other areas, with an average discard rate by weight of 32% over the last three years. This is because
the vessels tend to be small with limited space and crew; therefore, the on-board tailing of the catch is not as
prevalent as in other FUs around Ireland.
The density of Nephrops in FU 19 is considered medium (average density 0.3 individuals m2). The knowledge
of biological parameters is poor and the exploitation rate on males is usually higher than on females. For these
reasons, a harvest ratio consistent with a combined sex F0.1 is considered an appropriate proxy for FMSY.
312
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.29.5
Framework
MSY approach
Precautionary
approach
Management
plan
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. Reference points, values and their technical
basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY Btrigger Not defined.
8.1% harvest
FMSY
FMSY proxy equivalent to F0.1 for combined sexes in 2014.
ICES (2014)
rate.
Not defined.
Blim
Bpa
Not defined.
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
SSBMGT
Not defined.
FMGT
Not defined.
Table 5.3.29.6 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
Commercial catches (international landings from Ireland, France, and UK); length frequencies
from catch and discard sampling (Ireland); one UWTV survey indices (UWTV-FU 19);
Input data
maturity data from commercial catch and survey sampling; fixed natural mortality. Discard
survival rate.
Included in the assessment since 2008, with data series from the main fleet covering >90% of
the landings.
Indicators
Commercial length frequencies by sex.
Other information
Working group
313
Table 5.3.29.7
Year
1992
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and
ICES estimates of landings and discards. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Landings
ICES
Total
ICES advice
Catch advice
advice*
landings
discards**
3.8
0.9
1993
~4.0
0.9
1994
~4.0
0.4
1995
~4.0
0.7
1996
0.9
1997
0.8
1998
0.8
1999
0.6
2000
0.7
2001
0.8
2002
4.44
1.3
2003
4.44
1.2
3.3
1.1
2005
3.3
0.7
2006
3.3
0.7
2007
--
2008
--
0.9
0.1
2009
No increase in effort and landings (2007)
< 0.8
--
0.8
0.3
2010
No new advice, same as for 2009
< 0.8
--
0.7
0.3
2011
See scenarios
0.6
0.4
2012
Reduce catches
0.8
0.4
2013
MSY approach
< 0.82
0.8
0.4
2014
MSY approach
< 0.521
0.5
0.2
2015
MSY approach
< 0.715
2004
2016
MSY approach
0.793***
* Prior to 2007 ICES gave combined advice for FUs 16, 17, 18, and 19, and other rectangles in this area.
*** Assuming all catches are landed and selection patterns did not change.
314

Table 5.3.29.8
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated
by ICES.
Total catch
Landings
Total discards*
100% otter trawl
629 tonnes
161 tonnes
468 tonnes
Table 5.3.29.9
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. History of landings ICES estimated values are
presented for each country participating in the fishery. Weights are in tonnes.
Year
France
Rep. of Ireland
UK
Total
1989
245
1990
181
1991
212
1992
233
1993
229
1994
216
1995
175
1996
145
1997
93
1998
92
1999
77
2000
144
2001
111
2002
188
2003
165
2004
76
2005
62
2006
65
2007
63
2008
46
2009
55
2010
14
2011
23
2012
11
2013
4
2014*
6
* Preliminary.
652
569
860
640
672
153
507
736
656
733
499
541
702
1130
1075
997
648
675
894
805
764
694
585
758
771
459
2
4
5
15
4
21
12
7
7
2
3
11
2
0
0
1
2
1
0
15
15
13
1
1
6
3
899
754
1077
888
905
390
695
888
756
827
579
696
815
1318
1239
1074
711
741
957
866
833
722
608
770
781
468

Table 5.3.29.10 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. Assessment summary.
Total
UWTV
Landings
Removals
95%Conf. Harvest
discards*
abundance
innumber
innumber
intervals
rate
innumber
estimate
Year
millions
millions
millions
millions
millions
Total
Landings
discards*
tonnes
tonnes
Mean
Mean
weight
weightin
in
discards
catch
gram
%
grammes grammes
mes
5%
28.3
14.4
27.1
Discardof
Mean
catchby weightin
weight
landings
2006
26.2
2.6
28.1
741
37
2007
30.8
1.5
31.9
957
26
3%
31.1
17.0
30.4
2008
25.7
5.5
29.8
866
107
11%
33.7
19.3
31.2
2009
27.3
17.8
40.6
833
258
24%
30.5
14.5
24.2
2010
24.4
20.0
39.3
722
269
27%
29.6
13.5
22.4
2011
24.3
30.7
47.3
665
171
7.1%
608
387
39%
25.0
12.6
18.1
2012
29.2
33.0
54.0
594
111
9.1%
770
420
35%
26.4
12.7
19.1
2013
28.5
33.4
53.6
487
161
11.0%
781
404
34%
27.4
12.1
19.1
2014
16.4
11.4
24.9
636
188
3.9%
468
161
26%
28.6
14.1
22.6
2015
482
126
315
Figure5.3.29.3 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIa, VIIg, and VIIj FU 19. Annual length composition of catch of females
(left)andmales(right)from2002(bottom)to2014(top).

ICES. 2014. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Celtic Sea Stocks (WKCELT), 37 February 2014, ICES
Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2014\ACOM:42. 194 pp.
Section 1.2.
316
FU 20-21 Nephrops Stocks in the Celtic

Sea

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied,
catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) should be no more than
3,045 t. If instead discard rates continue at recent values (average
of 20122014) and there is no change in assumed discard survival
rate, this implies landings of no more than 2,500 t (catches of
3,431 t). FEAS agrees with the ICES advice and notes that fisheries
catching Nephrops in Sub-area VII will be covered by the EU landing
obligation (LO) in 2016.
A De minimis exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight
will apply in 2016. The average discard rate by weight was 27% in
the last three years. A large change in selection and discard
practices is required but it not possible to predict these changes or
the impact they will have on the catch advice. Reductions in the catch of small Nephrops through
improved selection in the fishery will be beneficial and result in significantly higher long-term yield
in the future.
This stock falls into category 4; UWTV data limited approach. This is because it has not yet been
possible to define stock specific Fmsy proxies.
advice that all Nephrops fisheries are managed at an appropriate geographical scale i.e. Functional
Unit.
There is no management plan for the FU20-21 Nephrops stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
ICES ADVICE
5.3.33 Nephrops in FU 20 (Labadie) and

FU 21 (Jones and Cockburn)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) should
be no more than 3045 tonnes. If instead discard rates continue at recent values (average of 20122014) and there
is no change in assumed discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more than 2500 tonnes.
To ensure that the stock in functional units (FUs) 20 and 21 is exploited sustainably, management should be
implemented at the functional unit level.
317
Nephrops in the Celtic Sea

The stock has increased between 2013 and 2015. The harvest rate, calculated as (landings + dead
discards)/(abundance estimate), is considered to be below any possible reference points.
Figure5.3.33.1 NorwaylobsterinDivisionsVIIgandVIIhFUs20and21.Trendsincatch(tonnes),discardestimatesare
available since 2012 only. UWTV survey abundance (in millions; SSB proxy), and harvest rate (fishing
mortalityproxy).

Table 5.3.33.1
Norway lobster in Division VIIg, VIIh, FU 20 and FU 21. State of the stock and fishery relative to
reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
MSY
Undefined
Undefined
FMSY
Btrigger
Maximum
sustainable yield
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Qualitative
evaluation
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Not applicable
Below possible
reference points
SSBMGT
-
Undefined
-
Not applicable
Stable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.33.2
Variable
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. The basis for the catch options.
Value
Source
Notes
2003 million
Stock abundance
UWTV survey 2015
ICES(2015a)
individuals
35.5 g
Average 20122014
ICES(2015a)
15.7 g
Average 20122014
ICES(2015a)
Discard proportion
45.4%
Average (proportion by number) 20122014
ICES(2015a)
25%
ICES(2015a)
Average 20122014 (proportion by number). Calculated
as dead discards divided by dead removals (landings +
Dead discard rate
38.3%
ICES(2015a)
dead discards). Only applies in scenarios where
discarding is allowed.
318
Table 5.3.33.3
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. The catch options. All weights are in tonnes.

Basis
Total catches
Wanted catches*
Unwanted catches*
Harvest rate**
3045
2225
819
5.7%
F2014
2353
1720
633
4.4%
F (10-year average landings)
2882
2100
782
5.4%
Lowest harvest rate in
2654
1940
714
5.0%
Subarea VII (FU 16)
* Wanted and unwanted catch are used to describe Nephrops that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the
Basis
Total catches
Dead removals
Landings
Dead discards
L+DD+SD
L+DD
DD
assuming recent discard
rates
3431
3198
2500
Surviving
discards
SD
698
233
Harvest
rate*
for L+DD
5.7%
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.33.4 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
Since 2012 a dedicated annual UWTV survey has provided estimates of adequate quality. Sampling of landings
and discards remains very low. In addition, some samples could not be accurately allocated to FUs in the Celtic
Sea. Discards of Nephrops are extensive, but observations are insufficient to provide a reliable time-series.
Discard estimates are only available for the last three years.
For FUs 20 and 21, the absolute density observed in the UWTV survey is low compared to other Nephrops FUs,
with an average of around 0.2 individuals m2. This suggests the stock may have a low productivity capability
and, therefore, a relatively low harvest rate is appropriate. The previous advice given by ICES of landings of
2500 tonnes would imply a harvest rate of 5.7%. This is below the range of MSY harvest rates used for a stock
with similar density (Fladen (FU 7)), where a harvest rate of 7.5% is used. Until stock-specific FMSY reference
points can be defined, maintaining the harvest rate corresponding to the previous [landings] advice is considered
to be consistent with the precautionary approach.
Fisheries catching Nephrops in Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landings obligation in 2016 (EC, 2015).
While it is not yet clear how the landings obligation will be implemented, there is a possibility for a De minimis
exemption consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight. The average discard rate by weight for FUs 2021 over the
last three years is 27%.
319
Referencepoints
No reference points have been defined for this stock.
Table 5.3.33.5 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. The basis of the assessment.
4 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
UWTV and trends of the size structure of catches.
One survey index (UWTV-FU 2021), commercial catches (international landings (Ireland,
France, and UK), length frequencies from Irish and French catch and discard sampling);
Input data
maturity data (from commercial catch sampling and during surveys), fixed natural
mortality. Discard survival rate.
Included in the assessment since 2012, with data series from the majority of the fleet
covering ~95% of the landings.
Trends based on lpue information and mean sizes in the catches (commercial index: French
Indicators
trawlers threshold 10%, Irish trawlers threshold 30%). Two bottom trawl surveys
(IGFS-WIBTS-Q4 and EVHOE-WIBTS-Q4).
Other information
Working group
No information is available.
320

Table 5.3.33.6
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and
ICES estimates of landings. Weights are in thousand tonnes.
Catch advice
ICES
ICES
ICES
Landings
Year ICES advice *
landings
landings
discards**
advice
FUs 2022
FUs 2021
FUs 2021
1987
3.4
1988
3.2
1989
4
1990
4.3
1991
3.3
1992
~3.8
4.2
1993
3.8
4.8
1994
3.8
4.9
1995
3.8
5.2
1996
3.8
4.6
1997
3.8
4
1998
3.8
3.8
1999
3.8
2.9
1.2
2000
3.8
4.7
1.8
2001
3.8
4.8
1.8
2002
3.8
4.7
2.7
2003
3.8
5.0
3.0
Adjust TAC in line with landings of most
2004
4.6
4.3
2.4
recent 10 years
Adjust TAC in line with landings of most
2005
4.6
4.9
2.5
recent 10 years
2006 Recent average landings 20002002
4.6
4.3
2.5
5.3
2.4
< 5.3
6.4
3.0
< 5.3
5.8
3.1
< 5.3
4.9
1.8
See scenarios; MSY reduce catch or PA <
2011
2.9
1.2
5.3
2012 Reduce catch
1.2
0.6
2013 Average landings (last 10 yrs)
< 2.5
1.4
0.3
< 2.5
1.8
0.8
2015 Same as for 2013
< 2.5
Precautionary approach (harvest rate
3.045
2016
consistent with previous advice)
* Advice prior to 2013 applies to FUs 2022.
321

Table 5.3.33.7
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as
estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Total landings
Total discards *
100% otter trawl
821 tonnes
2658 tonnes
(both 7099 and > 100mm)
1837 tonnes
Table 5.3.33.8
Year
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. History of ICES estimates of landings are
presented by area for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in tonnes.
France
Rep. of Ireland
UK
Total
3419
117
na
3536
2721
101
na
2822
1957
81
na
2038
1583
130
na
1713
1051
83
18
1152
1661
107
10
1778
1750
69
14
1833
2559
104
11
2674
2796
148
9
2953
2140
299
4
2443
2008
455
6
2469
2066
450
7
2523
1816
600
3
2419
2036
937
7
2980
1930
1202
13
3145
975
756
62
1793
566
637
34
1237
453
708
28
1189
486
844
57
1387
465
1342
29
1837

Table 5.3.33.9
Year
Landings
in number
millions
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIh FUs 20 and 21. Assessment summary with weights (in
tonnes).
Removals in
Total
Proportion
number; 25%
discards in
removals
discard
number
retained
survival
millions
millions
Adjusted
survey
95% Conf.
intervals
Harvest
rate
Landings
Total
discards*
Mean
weight in
landings
Mean
weight in
discards
millions
millions
tonnes
tonnes
grammes
grammes
2012
37.3
35.2
63.7
0.59
2013
33.2
18.2
46.9
0.71
1624
103
2014
49.8
54.7
90.9
0.55
2051
131
Average
201214
0.62
1,189
529
31.1
15
2.89%
1,387
312
39.9
17.1
4.43%
1,837
821
36.6
15
35.5
15.7

ICES. 2014. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Celtic Sea Stocks (WKCELT), 37 February 2014, ICES
Headquarters, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2014\ACOM:42. 194 pp.
Section 1.2.
322
FU 22 Nephrops Stocks in the Smalls


(assuming zero discards) should be no more than 3,027 t. If instead
landings of no more than 2,778 t (catches of 3,194 t). FEAS agrees with
the ICES advice and notes that fisheries catching Nephrops in Sub-area
VII will be covered by the EU landing obligation (LO) in 2016.
three years. A change in selection and discard practices is required but
it not possible to predict these changes or the impact they will have on
the catch advice. Reductions in the catch of small Nephrops through
improved selection in the fishery will be beneficial and result in
significantly higher long-term yield in the future.
available.
Functional Unit.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
ICES ADVICE
5.3.32 Nephrops in Functional Unit 22, The Smalls
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 (assuming zero discards) should be no more than
3027 tonnes. If instead discard rates continue at recent values (average of 20122014) and there is no change in
assumed discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more than 2778 tonnes.
To ensure that the stock in functional unit (FU) 22 is exploited sustainably, management should be implemented at the
functional unit level.
323
Nephrops in the Smalls

The historical harvest rates, calculated as (landings + dead discards)/(abundance estimate), have decreased since 2007
and have been below the FMSY proxy since 2011. The UWTV abundance index is relatively stable.
Figure5.3.32.1 NorwaylobsterinDivisionsVIIg,VIIf,FU22.Topleft:Catches(tonnes).Topright:UWTV(UnderwaterTV)survey
abundance(proxy;95%confidenceintervals).Bottom:harvestrate(fishingmortalityproxy).Theorangedashed
linerepresentstheFMSYharvestrateproxy.

Table 5.3.32.1
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012
2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
Maximum
Precautionary
Fpa, Flim
approach
Appropriate
Below possible
reference points
Not applicable
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.32.2
Variable
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. The basis for the catch options.
Value
Source
Notes
1363 million
Stock abundance
UWTV 2015
ICES(2015a)
individuals
22.43 g
Average 20032014.
ICES(2015a)
12.64 g
Average 20032014.
ICES(2015a)
Discard proportion
21%
ICES(2015a)
25%
ICES(2015a)
Dead discard rate
16.6%
ICES(2015a)
allowed.
324

Table 5.3.32.3
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. The catch options. All weights in tonnes.
Catchoptionsassumingzerodiscards
Basis
Totalcatch
Wantedcatch*
Unwantedcatch*
Harvestrate**
MSYapproach(FMSYproxy)
3027
2634
393
10.9%
Fcurrent(20122014)
2486
2163
323
9.0%
F0.1
2069
1800
269
7.5%
Fmax
3407
2965
443
12.3%
* Wanted and unwanted catch are used to described Nephrops that would be landed and discarded in the absence of the EU
landing obligation, based on the average estimated discard rates for 20122014.
Catchoptionsassumingdiscardingallowed
Total
Dead
catch
removals
Basis
L+DD+SD
L+DD
MSY approach (FMSY
proxy)
assuming
3194
3090
recentdiscardrates.
Landings
Dead
discards
Surviving
discards
Harvest
rate*
DD
SD
forL+DD
2778
312
104
10.9%
All harvest rates are calculated in numbers and refer to the dead removals. The difference in catch weights between
catch options with the same harvest rates is related to the fact that, in the scenario allowing for discarding, a proportion
of the discards are assumed to survive.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.32.4 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
ThereisnomanagementplanforNorwaylobsterinthisarea.
Since 2006 a dedicated annual UWTV survey has taken place which gives abundance estimates for the Smalls Grounds
with high precision. There is added uncertainty in the 2015 estimate of abundance because 17% of the planned UWTV
stations could not be successfully surveyed due to poor visibility on the seabed. This added uncertainty is not reflected
in the graph in Figure 5.3.32.1.
The long-term average (rather than a three-year average) was considered to be more appropriate as input for the mean
weight in landings and discards in the calculation of catch options, due to interannual variation.
Sampling of this stock is adequate.
For FU 22, the absolute density observed during the UWTV survey is medium (~ 0.4 individuals m2), suggesting the
stock has moderate productivity. The fishery in this area has been in existence since the 1960s and has been relatively
stable for many years. Harvest rates around the F35%SpR are expected to deliver high long-term yield with a low
probability of recruitment overfishing; F35%SpR is therefore is chosen as the FMSY proxy for FU 22.
Fisheries catching Nephrops in Subarea VII will be covered by the EU landing obligation in 2016 (EC, 2015). While it
is not yet clear how the landing obligation will be implemented, there is a possibility for a De minimis exemption
consisting of a 7% discard rate by weight. The average discard rate by weight for FU 22 over the last three years is
12%.
There is a single TAC for the entire ICES Subarea VII. Management should be implemented at the functional unit level
to ensure that fishing opportunities are in line with the scale of the resource in each of the stocks.
325
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.32.5
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
Not defined.
MSY Btrigger
MSY approach
FMSY
10.9% FMSY proxy equivalent to F35%SPR combined sexes in 2011.
ICES, 2011
Not defined.
Blim
Bpa
Not defined.
Precautionary
approach
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
Not defined.
SSBMGT
Management
plan
FMGT
Not defined.
Table 5.3.32.6 Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015b).
Assessment type
Input data
Indicators
Other information
Working group

One survey index (UWTV-FU 22), commercial catches (international landings (Ireland,
France, and UK), length frequencies from Irish catch and discard sampling); maturity data
(from commercial catch sampling and during surveys), fixed natural mortality. Discard
survival rate.
Included in the assessment since 2003, with data series from the majority of the fleet
covering ~95% of the landings.
Lengthfrequency distributions of the catches by sex.
None.
326

Table 5.3.32.7
Year
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates
of landings. Weights are in thousand tonnes.
Landings
advice*
ICES advice*
Catch
advice
1992
~3.8
1993
3.8
1994
3.8
1995
3.8
1996
3.8
1997
3.8
1998
3.8
1999
ICES
landings
Total discards**
1.8
2000
3.8
2.9
2001
3.8
2.9
2002
3.8
3.8
2.1
0.5
4.6
1.8
0.1
4.6
2.4
0.6
2003
2006
Adjust TAC in line with landings of most recent 10

years
Adjust TAC in line with landings of most recent 10
years
Recent average landings 20002002
4.6
1.8
0.6
2007
2.9
1.5
2008
< 5.3
3.1
0.8
2009
< 5.3
2.2
0.6
2010
No new advice, same as for 2009
< 5.3
2.8
0.4
2011
See scenarios; MSY reduce catch or PA < 5.3
1.6
0.1
2012
MSY approach
2.3
2.6
0.3
2013
MSY approach (updated November 2012)
3.1
2.3
0.4
2.6
0.4
2004
2005
2014
MSY approach
2.674
2015
MSY approach
3.409
2016
MSY approach
*Advice prior to 2012 applies to FUs 2022.
**Dead + surviving discards.
***Assuming all catches are landed and selection patterns do not change.
327
3.027***

Table 5.3.32.8
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Landings
Total discards*
100% otter trawl
3030 tonnes
415 tonnes
2615 tonnes
Table 5.3.32.9
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. History of ICES landings estimated values are presented for
each country participating in the fishery. Weights are in tonnes.
France
Rep. of Ireland
UK
Belgium
Total
1027
741
20
1788
1186
1687
34
2907
876
2054
5
2935
595
1392
3
1990
799
1241
10
2050
465
1330
33
1827
494
1931
0
2425
302
1398
52
1752
218
2614
48
2881
312
2474
328
3114
235
1642
368
2245
136
2353
351
2840
54
1548
15
1617
65
2509
59
2633
83
2079
86
7
2255
29
2443
134
8
2615
Year
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014*
* Preliminary.
Total
discardsin
number*
Removals
innumber
UWTV
abundance
estimates
95%Conf.
intervals
Harvest
rate
Landings
Total
discards*
Discardof
catchby
weight
Mean
weightin
landings
Mean
weightin
discards
Mean
weightin
catch
Norway lobster in Divisions VIIg and VIIf FU 22. Assessment summary.
Landingsin
number
Year
Table 5.3.32.10
millions
millions
millions
millions
millions
tonnes
tonnes
grammes
grammes
grammes
2003
95.7
2004
71.7
2005
14.7
54.2
136.4
Na
Na
Na
2050
535
21%
21.4
9.9
13.7
8.5
78.1
Na
Na
Na
1828
76
4%
25.5
8.9
22.8
90.8
182.8
Na
Na
Na
2425
647
21%
21.1
7.1
11.8
2006
97.2
54.7
138.2
1503
59
9.2%
1752
593
25%
18.0
10.8
11.5
2007
164.8
149.9
277.2
1136
134
24.4%
2880
1513
34%
17.5
10.1
9.2
2008
131.9
60.5
177.3
1114
131
15.9%
3114
764
20%
23.6
12.6
16.2
2009
92.8
31.1
116.1
1093
107
10.6%
2245
589
21%
24.2
19.0
18.1
2010
129.7
28.4
151.0
1141
89
13.2%
2840
439
13%
21.9
15.5
18.0
2011
61.6
6.7
66.5
1256
74
5.3%
1617
144
8%
26.3
21.7
23.7
2012
123.8
24.0
141.8
1498
235
9.5%
2633
256
9%
21.3
10.7
17.8
2013
96.6
30.7
119.6
1254
172
9.5%
2255
362
14%
23.3
11.8
17.7
2014
104.5
30.4
127.3
1622
254
7.8%
2615
415
14%
25.0
13.7
19.4
2015
1363
88

Na = not available.
328
Figure5.3.32.3 NorwaylobsterinDivisionsVIIgandVIIfFU22.Annuallengthcompositionofcatch(brokenhorizontalline)and
landings(solidhorizontalline)formales(right)andfemales(left)from2003(bottom)to2014(top).Meansizesof
catches(brokenverticalline)andlandings(solidverticalline)arealsoshown.

Anon. 2011. Atlas of Demersal Discarding, Scientific Observations and Potential Solutions. Marine Institute, Bord
Iascaigh Mhara, September 2011. ISBN 978-1-902895-50-5. 82 pp.
EC. 2015. COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) of 12.10.2015 establishing a discard plan for certain
demersal fisheries in North-Western waters. C(2015) 6833 final, Brussels.
329
West of Ireland and Celtic Sea Saithe

(Sub-area VII)

The status of this stock is unknown and there is no ICES advice. The
Joint statement by the Fisheries Council and European Commission
states it would be desirable if the TAC for this stock be maintained for 5
years (subject to scientific advice). FEAS advise that the information
remains the same and the 2015 TAC should be rolled over for 2016. This
implies a TAC of 3,176 t and an Irish quota of 1,491 t. This stock will not
be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
Studies need to be carried out to evaluate the exploitation status and
stock structure of saithe.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC covers Sub-areas VII, VIII, IX and X.
Ireland holds the greatest TAC share (45%), followed by France

(41%).
IRE 1491 t
The 2015 TAC was 3,176 t with an associated Irish quota of

1,491 t.
BEL 6 t
The TAC is not restrictive on catch but Irish landings have

increased to levels close to the Irish quota.
UK 434 t
Given the mixed nature of fisheries catching saithe, it is

unrealistic to develop a management plan for this stock. Ireland,
as the main participant in this fishery, has an opportunity to
develop and implement a management strategy for mixed
fisheries in this area.
330
FRA 1245 t
Saithe Division VII official nominal landings by country

(Source: ICES STATLANT database, 2014 landings are provisional)
Country
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Belgium
ChannelIs.
Guernsey
ChannelIslands
(ns)
Denmark
FaeroeIslands
France
6625
7286
1960
1808
3277
2144
2123
1639
1838
Ireland
1068
1495
1721
2010
1915
2382
2062
1384
1431
1352
1325
10
11
11
14
13
13
27
23
IsleofMan
Netherlands
Norway
1
24
29
4
2
38
68
35
38
Spain
UK
Eng+Wales+N.Irl.
UKScotland
1022
1041
1217
984
1059
991
1340
954
594
413
291
1040
1093
705
1113
979
861
878
557
382
299
161
UK
Country
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Belgium
13
ChannelIs.
Guernsey
ChannelIslands
(ns)
Denmark
FaeroeIslands
2720
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
France
911
578
457
764
396
278
326
249
231
250
221
316
263
115
Ireland
1644
1263
754
629
394
393
286
163
254
303
685
982
1360
1026
IsleofMan
Netherlands
67
18
13
21
21
306
286
338
304
208
115
82
74
109
81
33
24
36
Spain
UK
Norway
UK
Eng+Wales+N.Irl.
UKScotland
67
331
146
232
167
Celtic Sea Herring

(Divisions VIIaS,VIIg-k)

In June 2015 ICES advised on the basis of the MSY approach (Fmsy = 0.26) that
catches in 2016 should be no more than 23,164 t. FEAS notes that a long
term management plan has been evaluated by ICES and found to be
consistent with the precautionary approach, and to deliver stability in yield,
though not maximising outtake in any year. FEAS advises that the
management plan should be followed and this would imply a TAC of 20,348 t
and an Irish quota of 17,585 t for 2016. This stock has been subject to the
landing obligation since 1 January 2015. There is no proposed quota uplift as
ICES considers discards to be negligible.
In September 2015, ICES provided updated advice for 2015 and for 2016, upon request of the
European Commission. The revision was sought because stakeholders noted that the new
benchmark, conducted in 2015, presented a more optimistic stock perception than the 2014
assessment, the latter having been used for management advice in 2015. The revised catch options
are as follows:
2015
2016
Total
+/- tonnes relative

to June advice
MSY advice
21,404
17,228
38,632
328
Management plan advice
19,189
15,442
34,631
-1,369
FEAS advises that the revised catch options are based on an improved assessment and, if managers
wish to implement this advice, then the long term management plan options should be followed in
2015 and 2016. It is noted that the revised advice leads to a lower TAC in 2016 than the June advice.
The spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the MSY Btrigger, and it has been decreasing in recent
years. The fishing mortality (F) is below FMSY. Recruitment has been above average in recent years.
FEAS notes that juveniles of this stock are present in the Irish Sea. Management of the Irish Sea
herring fishery should ensure that catches of Celtic Sea juveniles are avoided.
FEAS and ICES advise, under precautionary considerations, that activities having a negative impact
on spawning habitat of herring should not occur, unless the effects of these activities have been
assessed and shown not to be detrimental.
There is a long term management plan for this stock which has been followed for TAC setting in
recent years.
332
Celtic Sea Herring
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The long term management plan for Celtic Sea Herring was
agreed by the Pelagic RAC in 2011. It was evaluated by ICES
in 2012 and was found to be precautionary. It has not been
agreed by all parties; therefore, ICES advises on the basis of
the MSY approach.
IRE 13527 t
GER 174 t
FRA 966 t
The TAC is set on an annual basis but the assessments are

carried out on a seasonal basis (1st April 31st March).
The TAC in 2015 is 15,652 t, with an Irish quota of 13,527 t.
In 2015, up to 25% unused quota was allowed to be carried

over from 2014. This was in response to the closure of the Russian market to EC fish products which
negatively impacted the price of Irish herring. This carryover amounted to 4,223 t in 2015. ICES assumed
that this will be caught in 2015. This assumption is included in the revised forecast provided in September
2015 and leads to a lower TAC in 2016 than was advised in June.
The Irish quota accounts for 86.4% of the total TAC.
The closure of Spawning Box C (Division VIIaS), to protect first time spawners was instituted by Irish
statute in 2008. This fishery is confined to vessels of no more than 50 feet length. A maximum catch
limitation of 11% of the Irish quota is exclusively allocated to this sentinel fishery.
In 2015/2016, spawning box B will be closed as part of the triennial box closures that are enshrined in EC
legislation.
The UK, Netherlands, France and Germany are allowed to fish for herring to varying extents in the Irish
territorial limits from 6-12 nm. However in recent years they have not availed of this right.
NL 966 t
UK 19 t
ICES ADVICE 5.3.18 Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and

VIIg,h,j,k (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and Southwest of Ireland)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 23164 tonnes.1
detrimental.
The spawning stock biomass (SSB) is above the MSY Btrigger, and it has been decreasing in recent years. The
fishing mortality (F) is below FMSY. Recruitment has been above average in recent years.
Version2:SeealsotheICESadviceprovided15September2015inresponsetoaspecialrequest
(http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/Special_Requests/EU_herirls_update.pdf)
333
Celtic Sea Herring
Figure5.3.18.1 HerringinDivisionVIIaSouthof5230NandVIIg,h,j,k.ICESestimatedlandings,catchanddiscards,and
therecruitment,fishingmortalityandspawningstockbiomassfromthesummaryofthestockassessment.
Recruitmentestimatesarenotshaded,andtheestimatedSSBvalueisdesignatedbyagreydiamond.

Table 5.3.18.1
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. State of the stock and fishery relative to
reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
14
13
14
15
FMS
Above trigger
MSY Btrigger
Appropriate
Fpa,
Flim
FMG
Below possible
reference points
Bpa, Blim
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Full reproductive
capacity
-
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.18.2
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. The basis for the catch options2.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages (wr) 2-5 (2015)
0.18
ICES (2015a)
Catch constraint (TAC plus carryover) = 17 752 t
Total catch (2015)
18.4 kt
ICES (2015a)
Wanted catch (2015)*
17.8 kt
ICES (2015a)
TAC 2015 plus carryover
Unwanted catch (2015)*
0.6 kt
ICES (2015a)
2014 raised estimate (3.2%)
Stock-recruit relationship based on SSB2013 from the
R age (wr) 1 (2015/2016)
541 million
ICES (2015a)
assessment output (Figure 5.3.18.2)
SSB (2015)
117 kt
ICES (2015a)
*WantedcatchisusedtodescribefishthatwouldbelandedintheabsenceoftheEUlandingobligation.Theunwanted
catchreferstothecomponentthatwaspreviouslydiscarded.
Version2:See also the ICES advice provided 15 September 2015 in response to a special request
(http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/Special_Requests/EU_her-irls_update.pdf).
334
Celtic Sea Herring
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. The catch options. All weights are in tonnes1.
Catch
F
% SSB
% TAC
Rationale
Basis
SSB (2016) *
(2016)
(2016)
change **
change ***
MSY approach
23164 FMSY
0.26
92102
-16%
+48%
Zero catch
0 Zero catch
0
111364
-5%
-100%
Fmgt in management plan
0.23
99539
-15%
+33%
20764
agreed by Pelagic AC
Long-term
management
0.22
99787
-15%
+30%
20348 plan agreed by Pelagic AC
Other options
(30% TAC increase^)
15652 TAC 2015
0.17
102250
-12%
0%
16633 F2015
0.18
101976
-13%
+6%
* For this autumn-spawning stock, the SSB is determined at spawning time and is influenced by fisheries between 1st April
and spawning.
^
F=0.23 would lead to more than 30% TAC increase, therefore, the 30% inter-annual TAC constraint in the plan applies
(ICES, 2012).
Table 5.3.18.3
Figure 5.3.18.2 Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. Stock-recruitment relationship from the
benchmark assessment (ICES, 2015b). The plateau recruitment was estimated as 541 287 million, and the
change point (set at Blim) is 33 210 t.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.18.4
Advice basis
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. The basis of the advice.
MSY approach
ICES evaluated the 2011 long-term management plan for Celtic Sea herring agreed by the Pelagic AC
Management plan
in 2011 as precautionary (ICES, 2012; 2015a; Pelagic AC, 2011). ICES was requested to provide
advice based on the MSY approach and to include the management plan as a catch option.
The stock was benchmarked in 2015 and the assessment model was changed. The benchmark resulted in a change
in the perception of the stock (ICES, 2015a; 2015b). The new assessment presents less retrospective bias
compared to previous assessments.
The assessment provides a quite precise estimate of stock biomass. Estimates of recruitment are more uncertain
and this may be related to the lack of a fisheries independent recruitment estimator.
The 2014 survey estimates were not used in the assessment, on the recommendation of ICES WGIPS (ICES,
2015c), because the survey did not cover the entire stock due to timing of the migration patterns in 2014, and the
precision of the abundance estimate was very poor. This is expected to lead to a small decrease in the accuracy of
the estimate in 2015.
335
Celtic Sea Herring
Figure 5.3.18.3 Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. Historical assessment results (final-year
recruitment estimates included). The stock was benchmarked (ICES, 2015b) after the 2014 assessment.
The poor prices available for herring in 2014 meant that the quota was not fully taken and some quota has been
carried over into 2015.
Evaluations conducted in 2015 by ICES (ICES, 2015b) show that the Pelagic Advisory Councils proposed
management plan is still precautionary after the 2015 benchmark. This long-term management plan was used by
the European Commission for its TAC proposal for 2013-2015 and the Council of the European Union
implemented it for setting the 2013-2015 TACs. It should be noted that the plan will not enter into law until it has
been endorsed by all three European institutions, including the Parliament.
Future inter-species quota transfers (e.g. under Article 15 of EU, 2013) were not considered in this advice. If such
transfers occur, they should be monitored closely to ensure that catches by species are reported correctly. ICES
notes that there is a risk that, under a transfer system, exploitation on some stocks could be increased significantly.
This is especially the case when a stock from which these transfers are taken (the donor stock) are much larger
than the stocks that receive the transfer (the receiving stocks). When setting the TACs for fish stocks, any transfer
should be accounted for to prevent that the resulting total fishing mortality for these stocks exceeds the intended
one.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.18.5 Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. Reference points, values and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
Bpa
ICES (2015a)
MSY Btrigger 54000 t
MSY approach
Simulations using segmented regression stock
FMSY
0.26
ICES (2015a)
recruit relationship
Blim
33000 t
Bloss
ICES (2015a)
Bpa = Blim exp( 1.645), with = 0.3
Bpa
54000 t
estimated from assessment uncertainty in the
ICES (2015a)
Precautionary
terminal year.
approach
Flim
Not defined
Fpa
Not defined
Management
61000 t
ICES (2012)
SSBMGT
plan agreed by
Pelagic AC in
FMGT
0.23
ICES (2012)
2011
Table 5.3.18.6
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015d)
Age-based analytical assessment (ASAP; ICES, 2015a) that uses catches in the model
Assessment type
and in the forecast.
Commercial catches (weights, ages and length frequencies from catch sampling);
Input data
Acoustic survey index (CSHAS); annual weights in the stock; fixed maturity ogive;
natural mortality assumed constant.
336
Celtic Sea Herring

Indicators
Other information
Working group
Included in the assessment (covering 4% of the Irish landings raised to total catch)
None
Benchmarked in WKWEST (ICES, 2015b), updated with corrected natural mortalities
by ICES (2015a). Assessed on a seasonal basis, 1 April31 March, to allow for the
inclusion of the spawning cycle in the assessment period. This is an autumn/winter
spawning stock. Age is given in winter rings, so for example: a 2-year-old fish is
termed 1-winter ring.
Table 5.3.18.7 Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, official
landings, and ICES estimates of discards and catch. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch
Agreed
Official
ICES estimated
Year
ICES Advice
corresponding
Discards
TAC
landings
catch*
to advice
1987
Precautionary TAC
18
18
18
4.2
27.3
1988
TAC
13
18
17
2.4
19.2
1989
TAC
20
20
18
3.5
22.7
1990
TAC
15
17.5
17
2.5
20.2
1991
TAC (TAC excluding discards)
15 (12.5)
21
21
1.9
23.6
1992
TAC
27
21
19
2.1
23.0
1993
Precautionary TAC (including discards)
2024
21
20
1.9
21.1
1994
Precautionary TAC (including discards)
2024
21
19
1.7
19.1
1995
No specific advice
21
18
0.7
19.1
1996
TAC
9.8
16.521**
21
3
21.8
1997
If required, precautionary TAC
< 25
22
20.7
0.7
18.8
1998
Catches below 25
< 25
22
20.5
0
20.3
1999
F = 0.4
19
21
19.4
0
18.1
2000
F< 0.3
20
21
18.8
0
18.3
2001
F< 0.34
17.9
20
19
0
17.7
2002
F< 0.35
11
11
11.5
0
10.6
2003
Substantially less than recent catches
13
12
0
10.9
2004
60% of average catch 19972000
11
13
12
11.1
2005
60% of average catch 19972000
11
13
10
8.5
2006
Further reduction 60% avg. catch 20022004
6.7
11
9
8.5
2007
No fishing without rebuilding plan
9.4
9.6
8.3
2008
No targeted fishing without rebuilding plan
7.9
7.8
6.9
2009
No targeted fishing without rebuilding plan
5.9
6.2
***
5.8
2010
Fmgt = 0.19
10.15
10.15
9.6
***
8.4
2011
See scenarios
13.2
11.7
***
11.5
2012
MSY approach
< 26.9
21.1
21.6
+
21.6
2013
MSY approach
< 18.5
17.2
16.2
+
16.2
2014
MSY approach
< 35.942
22.3
18.8
0.6
19.6
2015
MSY approach
< 15.140
15.7
2016
MSY approach
< 23.164++
* By calendar year.
** Revised in 1996 after the ACFM May meeting.
*** Increased risk of discarding.
+ Catch of less than 0.5 tonnes.
++ Version 2: See also the ICES advice provided 15 September 2015 in response to a EU request
(http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2015/Special_Requests/EU_her-irls_update.pdf).
337
Celtic Sea Herring

Table 5.3.18.8
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as
estimated by ICES.
Commercial
Total catch (2014)
Commercial landings
discards
Driftnets (negligible)
644 t
19574 t
18930 t
Table 5.3.18.9
Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. History of commercial landings (in tonnes) as
estimated by ICES by calendar (TAC) year for each country participating in the fishery. The designator, na
when data were not available. These values may not correspond to the official statistics in all cases and
cannot be used for management purposes.
Year
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
U.K.
Unallocated
Discards**
Total
1988
16800
2400
19200
1989
+
16000
1900
1300
3500
22700
1990
+
15800
1000
200
700
2500
20200
1991
+
100
19400
1600
600
1900
23600
1992
500
18000
100
+
2300
2100
23000
1993
19000
1300
+
-1100
1900
21100
1994
+
200
17400
1300
+
-1500
1700
19100
1995
200
200
18000
100
+
-200
700
19000
1996
1000
0
18600
1000
-1800
3000
21800
1997
1300
0
18000
1400
-2600
700
18800
1998
+
19300
1200
-200
na
20300
1999
200
17900
1300
+
-1300
na
18100
2000
573
228
18038
44
1
-617
na
18267
2001
1359
219
17729
-1578
na
17729
2002
734
10550
257
-991
na
10550
2003
800
10875
692
14
-1506
na
10875
2004
801
41
11024
-801
na
11065
2005
821
150
8452
799
-1770
na
8452
2006
8530
518
5
-523
na
8530
2007
581
248
8268
463
63
-1355
na
8268
2008
503
191
6853
291
-985
na
6853
2009
364
135
5760
-499
na
5760
2010
636
278
8406
325
-1239
na
8406
2011
241
11503
7
-248
na
11503
2012
3
230
16132
3135
2104
161
21765
2013
450
14785
832
118
16185
2014
244
578
17287
821
644
19574
* The + designates catch of less than 0.5 tonnes.
** na = not applicable
338
Celtic Sea Herring
Table 5.3.18.10 Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg,h,j,k. History of commercial landings and discards (in
tonnes) by assessment year (1 April31 March) as estimated by ICES for each country participating in the
fishery. These values may not correspond to the official statistics in all cases and cannot be used for
management purposes.
Year
France
Germany
Ireland
Netherlands
U.K.
Unallocated
Discards**
Total
1988/1989
17000
3400 20400
1989/1990
+
15000
1900
2600
3600 23100
1990/1991
+
15000
1000
200
700
1700 18600
1991/1992
500
100
21400
1600
-100
2100 25600
1992/1993
18000
1300
-100
2000 21200
1993/1994
16600
1300
+
-1100
1800 18600
1994/1995
+
200
17400
1300
+
-1500
1900 19300
1995/1996
200
200
20000
100
+
-200
3000 23300
1996/1997
1000
17900
1000
-1800
750 18800
1997/1998
1300
19900
1400
-2100
20500
1998/1999
+
17700
1200
-700
18200
1999/2000
200
18300
1300
+
-1300
18500
2000/2001
573
228
16962
44
1
-617
17191
2001/2002
15236
15236
2002/2003
734
7465
257
-991
7465
2003/2004
800
11536
610
14
-1424
11536
2004/2005
801
41
12702
-801
12743
2005/2006
821
150
9494
799
-1770
9494
2006/2007
6944
518
5
-523
6944
2007/2008
379
248
7636
327
-954
7636
2008/2009
503
191
5872
150
-844
5872
2009/2010
364
135
5745
-499
5745
2010/2011
636
278
8370
325
-1239
na
8370
2011/2012
241
11470
7
-248
na 11470
2012/2013
3
230
16132
3135
2104
161* 21765
2013/2014
450
14785
832
118 16185
2014/2015
244
578
17287
821
644 19574
* Added in 2014 after report of 1% discarding
** The + designates catch of less than 0.5 tonnes.
*** na = not applicable
339
Celtic Sea Herring

Table 5.3.18.11. Herring in Division VIIa South of 52 30 N and VIIg h j k. Assessment summary with weights (in tonnes)
recruits (at age 0 in thousands). All weights are in tonnes.
Recruitment
SSB**
Catch
Fishing Mortality
Year
at Age (wr) 1 (thousands)
(tonnes)
(tonnes)
at Ages (wr) 2-5
1958
423281
161334
22978
0.155
1959
1565890
164597
15086
0.127
1960
364794
163568
18283
0.136
1961
392084
140782
15372
0.125
1962
837339
141639
21552
0.200
1963
405494
133415
17349
0.158
1964
1380210
156244
10599
0.098
1965
421391
163262
19126
0.141
1966
741245
160541
27030
0.201
1967
774993
155728
27658
0.227
1968
907207
160102
30236
0.244
1969
469158
140401
44389
0.367
1970
254830
105959
31727
0.332
1971
824154
96944
31396
0.456
1972
282493
84860
38203
0.567
1973
327066
63617
26936
0.523
1974
163005
49390
19940
0.500
1975
204165
39137
15588
0.521
1976
227463
36451
9771
0.390
1977
186562
37232
7833
0.292
1978
148045
36164
7559
0.268
1979
282152
36191
10321
0.425
1980
168531
33219
13130
0.547
1981
465638
36507
17103
0.849
1982
724151
57321
13000
0.467
1983
783337
75991
24981
0.571
1984
664944
78369
26779
0.485
1985
640184
84309
20426
0.327
1986
650742
92047
25024
0.376
1987
1193220
104077
26200
0.403
1988
474983
107523
20447
0.239
1989
574641
94441
23254
0.292
1990
503264
88053
18404
0.254
1991
208551
69916
25562
0.391
1992
958184
69683
21127
0.503
1993
359652
72325
18618
0.337
1994
766083
79110
19300
0.330
1995
717939
80548
23305
0.399
1996
351797
71110
18816
0.318
1997
370511
58563
20496
0.422
1998
247178
46589
18041
0.465
1999
473462
40176
18485
0.663
2000
459347
39559
17191
0.688
2001
482831
38922
15269
0.591
2002
441827
47992
7465
0.231
2003
140515
37059
11536
0.356
2004
360061
34335
12743
0.434
2005
1079510
51842
9494
0.337
2006
373947
66214
6944
0.138
2007
833003
72019
7636
0.130
2008
355107
89275
5872
0.074
2009
1322000
109082
5745
0.068
2010
1022150
126711
8370
0.083
2011
1357600
144935
11470
0.100
2012
948465
141113
21820
0.183
2013
530679
132941
16247
0.141
340
Celtic Sea Herring
Recruitment
SSB**
Catch
at Age (wr) 1 (thousands)
(tonnes)
(tonnes)
2014
1157860
126991
19574
2015
541000***
89937*
Average
495281
89937
18576
* Geometric mean (19572014).
** The SSB is estimated for 1st of January.
*** Stock-recruit relationship based on SSB2013 from the assessment output (Figure 5.3.18.2).
Year
Fishing Mortality
at Ages (wr) 2-5
0.186
0.330

EU. 2013. Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013
on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and
repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32013R1380 .
ICES. 2012. Irish request to evaluate a long-term management plan proposal for Celtic Sea herring.
http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2012/Special%20Requests/Ireland_LTMP_Celtic_S
ea_herring.pdf .
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62N 1019 March 2015.
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on West of Scotland Herring (WKWEST), 2-6 February,
Dublin, Ireland. ICES CM 2015\ACOM:34. 299 pp.
ICES. 2015c. Report of the Working Group of International Pelagic Surveys (WGIPS), 19-23 January 2015, ICES
HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2015/SSGIEOM:05. 279 pp.
ICES. 2015d. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee 2015. ICES Advice 2015 Book 1, Section
1.2. In preparation.
Pelagic Regional Advisory Council. 2011. Long-term management plan for herring in the Celtic Sea and Division
VIIj, as agreed by the Pelagic RAC. http://www.pelagicac.org/media/pdf/LTMP%20Celtic%20Sea%20and%20South%20of%20Ireland%20herring.pdf . Accessed 30
June 2015.
341
Celtic Sea Herring
Celtic Sea and West of Scotland Sprat

(Sub area VI and Divisions VIIa-c and f-k)

should be no more than 3,500 t in each of 2016 and 2017. This has
been the same advice since 2013. Currently there is no TAC for this
species in this area, and it is not clear whether there should be one or
several management units. This species will not be subject to the
landing obligation in 2016 in this area.
FEAS agrees with the broad approach of ICES that a reduction in outtake
is required in the absence of better information on sustainable harvest
rates. However, as stock identity is poorly understood and catch data
require further scrutiny, it is not possible to quantify the catch level.
A management plan for sprat is required. This should incorporate precautionary reductions in
the absence of information to advise on sustainable harvest rates. If no such plan is developed, a
precautionary TAC should be implemented at the level of the ICES advice.
FEAS agrees with ICES that this advice is not dedicated to a stock. The stock structure of sprat
populations in this eco-region is not clear. Preliminary studies suggest at least three somewhat
discrete populations in this region; one on the south, west and northwest coasts of Ireland, one
in the Irish Sea and one in the Clyde. Management should, at least initially, be framed on this
spatial structure.
This stock falls into ICES Category 5, as only landings data are available. However, acoustic
survey estimates indicate that removal of 3,500 t is unlikely to be detrimental to the stock.
Given their importance as forage fish, sufficient information should be made available to assess
the resource, the impact of the fisheries on the resource, and their role in the ecosystem.
There is no long term management plan in place for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are no TACs for sprat in Irish waters. TACs are in place in the English Channel and in the North
Sea.
EC vessels are restricted in the gear they can use to target sprat. Mesh sizes of 16 mm and above are
permitted when sprat is the target species. There are also restrictions on the by-catch of most pelagic and
demersal species covered by the TAC and quota system. Further restrictions on mesh size of above 32
mm apply, if demersal TAC species are a by-catch in sprat fisheries.
Though Irish vessels are not subject to any quota for sprat, certain license provisions regulate access to
coastal waters for certain sizes of vessel.
342
Sprat
ICES ADVICE 5.3.55 Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIa-c and f-k
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches should be no more than 3500 tonnes in
each of 2016 and 2017.
The information available is insufficient to evaluate stock trends and exploitation. Stock identity for this species
in this area is not defined.
Landings
30
Landings
25
1000tonnes
20
15
10
5
0
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
Figure5.3.55.1 SpratinSubareaVIandDivisionsVIIacandfk.ICESestimatedlandings(inthousandtonnes)byarea.
Discardsarenotshownandareconsideredtobenegligible.

Table 5.3.55.1
points.
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. State of the stock and fishery relative to reference
2012
FMSY
Management Plan
Fpa, Flim
FMGT
-
2012
Stock size
2013
2014
Undefined
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
2014
MSY Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
SSBMGT
-
Fishing pressure
2013
Undefined
-
Undefined
Not applicable
Unknown
343
Sprat
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 5 stocks is applied (ICES, 2012). For stocks without information on
abundance or exploitation, ICES considers that a precautionary reduction (buffer) of catches should be
implemented. The precautionary buffer was applied in 2012, therefore, it is not applied again (ICES, 2015a).
ICES deviated from the standard three-year average because of the high variation in landings over the past
decades (Figure 5.3.55.1). Therefore, a ten year landings period (2001 2011) was chosen as a reference
because it covers the variability of landings over time. Discards are assumed to be negligible.
The perception of the stock has not changed; therefore, the advice given in the 3 most recent years is still
applicablethisyearandisdescribedinthetablebelow.
Table 5.3.55.2
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. For stocks in ICES categories 3-6, one catch option is
possible.
3500 tonnes
Discard rate
Negligible
Not applied
Catch advice*
3500 tonnes
* [recent advised catch]
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.55.3
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
Management plan
There is no management plan for sprat in this area.
Historical landings data may not be accurate.

This advice does not refer to a stock. It relates to the species in a wider region where data are available. The
stock structure of sprat populations in this ecoregion is not clear. ICES is unable to identify appropriate
management units for sprat in this area, and the relationship with sprat in Divisions VIId,e is also unknown.
Currently there is no TAC for this species in this area, and it is not clear whether there should be one or several
management units.
Acoustic surveys carried out off the Celtic Sea (Irish Sea Acoustic Survey (Ac(VIIaN)) and the Celtic Sea Irish
Acoustic Survey (CSHAS)) that target herring also provide estimates of sprat biomass. Those estimates
correspond to a small fraction of the total area of distribution of sprat in the Celtic Sea and therefore they
provide a lower boundary for the total sprat biomass in the area. On average the survey biomass exceeds the
average catches by orders of magnitude.
A precautionary buffer was applied in 2012 (for 2013 catch advice) but was not applied thereafter. The same
catch advice equal to 3500 tonnes was issued since. This year advice is provided for 2016 and 2017 (biennial
advice in 2015). Based on the information provided by the acoustic surveys, a catch of 3500 tonnes is unlikely
to be detrimental for sprat in the Celtic Seas Ecoregion. Given the uncertainty in stock structure and the limited
survey coverage, issues of potential local depletion should be monitored.
Referencepoints
344
Sprat
Table 5.3.55.4
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. The basis of the assessment.
5.2.0 (ICES, 2015a)
Assessment type
No assessment (ICES, 2015b)
Input data
Landing statistics
Discards are not included and are considered negligible.
Irish Sea Acoustic Survey (AC(VIIaN)) and the Celtic Sea Irish Acoustic Survey
Indicators
(CSHAS)
Other information
Benchmarked in 2013 (WKSPRAT; ICES, 2013)
Working group

Table 5.3.55.5
Year
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES
estimates of landings. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch
ICES estimated
ICES Advice
corresponding to
TAC
landings
advice
10.6
2.1
4.7
9.0
5.6
6.8
2.1
3.8
2.4
3.8
3.7
4.7
11.4
20% reduction on catches (10-year
6.4
< 3.5
average)
< 3.5
4.4
< 3.5
< 3.5
< 3.5

Table 5.3.55.6
ICES.
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by
Catch (2014)
4.4 kt
Landings
Discards
Mid-water trawl
4.4 kt
Others
Negligible
345
Negligible
Sprat
346
Sprat
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Year
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. History of commercial landing as estimated by ICES for each country participating in the fishery. All weights are in
thousand tonnes.
Denmark
Faroe Islands
France
Ireland
Isle of Man
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
UK - England
UK Total
& Wales
Scotland
0
0
0
3964
0
273
557
0
20
2946
7760
538
0
0
4532
1
0
0
0
10
520
5601
269
0
1
2230
0
0
0
0
0
582
3082
364
0
0
853
0
1
0
0
4
3870
5092
0
0
0
1163
0
0
0
0
1
1146
2310
0
0
0
1325
0
0
0
0
0
813
2138
0
0
0
205
0
0
0
0
4
1526
1735
28
0
0
508
0
0
0
0
0
1555
2091
22
0
0
2353
0
0
0
0
0
2230
4605
0
0
0
232
0
0
0
0
2
1491
1725
491
0
0
799
0
0
0
0
30
4124
5444
0
0
0
4214
0
0
0
0
0
2350
6564
0
0
0
2085
0
0
0
0
8
5313
7406
40
0
0
1578
0
0
0
0
54
3467
5139
0
0
0
5826
0
0
0
0
456
8161
14443
0
0
0
6032
0
0
0
0
371
4238
10641
0
0
0
0455
0
0
0
0
367
1297
2119
0
0
0
1729
0
0
0
0
306
2657
4692
887
0
0
4948
0
0
0
0
592
2593
9020
0
0
0
4096
0
0
0
0
134
1416
5646
0
252
0
5928
0
0
0
0
604
0
6784
0
0
0
1523
0
0
0
0
563
0
2086
0
0
0
3745
0
0
0
1
2
14
3762
0
0
0
2353
0
0
0
0
2
0
2355
0
0
0
3773
0
0
0
0
1
70
3844
0
0
0
3200
0
0
0
0
7
537
3744
0
0
0
3935
0
0
0
0
261
507.3
4703
6
0
2
9726
0
0
0
0
2
1688
11424
0
0
0
5453
0
0
0
0
2
968.14
6424
0
0
0
2852
0
0
0
0
1
1540
4392
Table 5.3.55.7
Table 5.3.55.8
Year
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. History of landings as estimated by ICES by country in
Subarea VIa. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Denmark
0
0
269
364
0
0
0
28
22
0
241
0
0
40
0
0
0
0
887
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Faeroe Islands
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
252
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ireland Norway
51
557
348
0
0
0
150
0
147
0
800
0
151
0
360
0
2350
0
39
0
0
0
269
0
1596
0
94
0
2533
0
3447
0
4
0
1333
0
1060
0
97
0
1134
0
601
0
333
0
892
0
104
0
332
0
468
0
113
0
487
0
3
0
UK - England, Wales,
Northern Ireland
UK - Scotland
0
2946
2
520
0
582
0
3864
0
1146
0
813
0
1526
0
1555
0
2230
0
1491
0
4124
0
2350
0
5313
0
3467
310
8161
0
4238
98
1294
0
2657
0
2593
0
1416
13
0
0
0
0
14
0
0
0
70
0
537
248
507
0
1688
0
968
0
1540
Total
3554
870
851
4378
1293
1613
1677
1943
4602
1530
4365
2619
6909
3601
11004
7685
1396
3990
4540
1513
1399
601
347
892
174
869
1219
1801
1455
1543
347
Sprat
Table 5.3.55.9
Year
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. History of landings as estimated by ICES by country in
Subarea VIIaN. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Ireland
668
1152
41
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
521.93
Isle of Man
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Northern Ireland
20
6
0
4
1
0
3
0
0
0
30
0
2
3
146
371
269
306
592
134
591
563
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
UK - Scotland
Total
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
688
1159
41
10
1
0
3
0
0
0
30
0
2
3
146
371
272
306
592
134
591
563
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
521.93
348
Sprat
Table 5.3.55.10 Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. History of landings as estimated by ICES by country in
Subarea VIIgk. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
UK - England,
Wales, Northern
Year
Denmark
France
Ireland
Netherlands
Spain
Ireland
Total
1985
0
0
3245
0
0
0
3245
1986
538
0
3032
0
0
2
3572
1987
0
1
2089
0
0
0
2090
1988
0
0
703
1
0
0
704
1989
0
0
1016
0
0
0
1016
1990
0
0
125
0
0
0
125
1991
0
0
14
0
0
0
14
1992
0
0
98
0
0
0
98
1993
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1994
0
0
48
0
0
0
48
1995
250
0
649
0
0
0
899
1996
0
0
3924
0
0
0
3924
1997
0
0
461
0
0
6
467
1998
0
0
1146
0
0
0
1146
1999
0
0
3263
0
0
0
3263
2000
0
0
1764
0
0
0
1764
2001
0
0
306
0
0
0
306
2002
0
0
385
0
0
0
385
2003
0
0
747
0
0
0
747
2004
0
0
3523
0
0
0
3523
2005
0
0
4173
0
0
0
4173
2006
0
0
768
0
0
0
768
2007
0
0
3380
0
1
0
3381
2008
0
0
1358
0
0
0
1358
2009
0
0
3431
0
0
0
3431
2010
0
0
2436
0
0
0
2436
2011
0
0
1767
0
0
12
1779
2012
0
0
2642
0
0
0
2642
2013
0
0
1648
0
0
0
1648
2014
0
0
2311
0
0
0
2311
349
Sprat
Table 5.3.55.11 Sprat in Subarea VI and Divisions VIIac and fk. History of landings as estimated by ICES by country in
Subarea VIIaS, VIIbc, and VIIf. All weights are in thousand tonnes.
Year
Ireland
Great Britian
Ireland
Netherlands
Total
Northern Ireland
1985
0
0
273
0
273
1986
0
0
0
0
0
1987
0
100
0
0
100
1988
0
0
0
0
0
1989
0
0
0
0
0
1990
0
400
0
0
400
1991
0
40
0
1
41
1992
0
50
0
0
50
1993
0
3
0
0
3
1994
0
145
0
2
147
1995
0
150
0
0
150
1996
0
21
0
0
21
1997
0
28
0
0
28
1998
7
331
0
51
389
1999
25
5
0
0
30
2000
123
698
0
0
821
2001
7
138
0
0
145
2002
0
11
0
0
11
2003
3103
38
0
0
3141
2004
408
68
0
0
476
2005
361
260
0
0
621
2006
114
40
0
0
154
2007
0
32
0
2
34
2008
102
1
0
0
103
2009
0
238
0
1
239
2010
433
0
0
7
440
2011
1696
4
0
1
1701
2012
6948
23
0
2
6973
2013
3082
237
0
2
3321
2014
16
0.3835
0
0
0.625
16.7685

There is no assessment for sprat in this area.
2012/ACOM 68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2013. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Sprat Stocks (WKSPRAT), 1115 February 2013,
ICES. 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1,
ICES. 2015b. Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62N, 1019 March
2015. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:06.
350
Sprat
Irish Sea, Celtic Sea etc. Sea bass

Divisions IVbc,VIIa, and VIIdh

FEAS agree with ICES advice that when the MSY approach is applied, total
landings (commercial and recreational) in 2016 should be no more than
541 t. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catches. This stock will not
be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
FEAS agree with ICES advice that a management plan is urgently needed to
develop and implement measures to substantially reduce fishing mortality
throughout the range of the stock.
Stock identity remains poorly understood and tagging studies are ongoing. Survival rates of sea bass
discarded from commercial vessels or released by anglers are poorly known. A new stock definition
was considered in 2013; however, it is not clear if sea bass in Divisions IVbc, VIIa and VIId-h constitute
a separate stock. It is possible that sea bass in the area has a connection with sea bass in Division VIIj
and Sub-area VIII.
Sea bass is an important marine recreational angling species in the Ireland, UK, France, the
Netherlands and Belgium. There is a need to ensure adequate and representative sampling coverage
of fleets catching sea bass including developing regional time series of recreational fishery catch, effort
and catch composition. Studies are needed to estimate the survival of recreationally caught and
released sea bass.
The stock is likely to decline further in the short term due to recent low recruitment. A reduction in
fishing mortality is needed to prevent biomass falling to a level where productivity is impaired, and to
move fisheries towards FMSY.
There is a ban on commercial fishing of this stock in Irish legislation.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Given the concerns about the state of the stock, the EU took 4 actions in 2015:
o On 19 January 2015 the EU imposed a pelagic trawling ban until the end of April 2015. The ban aims to
protect vulnerable spawning aggregations. This applies to the Channel, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and southern
North Sea.
o
On 25 March 2015 the EU set a catch limit of three fish per day per angler. Recreational fishing accounts
for 25% of sea bass catches
On 19 June 2015 the EU set catch limits for particular fishing gears in order to protect sea bass for the
remainder of 2015. The decision also comprises an area closure around Ireland for commercial fishing,
namely the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, south of Ireland and west of Ireland (ICES areas VIIa,b,c,g,j,k outside the
UK 12 mile zone), thereby extending a national measure, that Ireland has had in place for Irish vessels
only, to protect sea bass since 1990 to cover all EU vessels active in the area.
On 2 July 2015 the EU increased the minimum size for northern sea bass from 36 to 42 cm. The new
rule applies to both commercial and recreational fishermen. This aims to further improve protection and
give more chance for reproduction.
There is no TAC for sea bass anywhere in Europe, at present
The Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Order, 1990, prohibits the retention on board or transhipment of sea bass by
Irish registered vessels. Incidental commercial catches of sea bass by Irish vessels must, by law, be discarded.
The Bass (Restrictions on Sale) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 367/2007) prohibits the sale of sea bass in Ireland except for
fish that have been imported.
351
Irish Sea, Celtic Sea - Sea bass
The Bass Fishing Conservation Bye-law No. 826 of 2007 (SI 386/2007) imposes an angling bag limit of 2 fish per
24 hour period and bans angling from the 15 May to 15 June.
ICES ADVICE 5.3.43 Sea bass in Divisions IVbc, VIIa, and VIIdh (Irish
Sea, Celtic Sea, English Channel, and southern North Sea)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, total landings (commercial and recreational) in 2016 should be
no more than 541 tonnes. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catches.
ICES advises that a management plan is urgently needed to develop and implement measures to substantially reduce
fishing mortality throughout the range of the stock.
Strong year classes in 1989 and some subsequent years caused a rapid increase in spawning-stock biomass (SSB). The
fishing mortality (F) shows an increasing trend and is well above the FMSY proxy. Recruitment has been very poor since
2008. SSB has been declining since 2010 and is now below MSY Btrigger.
Figure5.3.43.1 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. Summary of stock assessment (weights in thousand tonnes).
Landings are from the commercial fishery only. Fishing mortality is shown for the combined commercial and
recreationalfisheries.Predictedrecruitmentvaluesarenonshaded.

Table 5.3.43.1
Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. State of the stock and fishery, relative to reference points.
12
Maximum
Sustainable Yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
F ISHING PRESSURE
13
14
FMSY
Fpa,
Flim
FMGT
13
S TOCK SIZE
14
15
Above
MSY Btrigger
Below trigger
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Increased risk
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Not applicable
352
Catchoptions
Table 5.3.43.2 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. The basis for the catch options.
V ARIABLE
V ALUE
S OURCE
N OTES
F (2014). Commercial fishery F = 0.28; recreational
F ages 511 (2015)
0.38
ICES (2015a)
fishery F = 0.10.
SSB (2016)
5278 t
ICES (2015a)
Rage0 (2013, 2014, and 2015)
6.12 millions
ICES (2015a)
Total catch (2015)
unknown
Total landings (2015)
2698 t
ICES (2015a)
Commercial + recreational
Discards (2015)
unknown
Table 5.3.43.3
Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. The catch options. Weights in tonnes. The option of TAC
changes are not presented, since there is no TAC for sea bass.
Total landings
SSB
%SSB
Rationale
Basis
F total
(2016)*
(2017)
change**
MSY approach
541
FMSY SSB2016/MSY Btrigger
0.09
5581
+6%
Zero catch
0
F=0
0
6058
+15%
804
FMSY = 0.13
0.13
5351
+1%
2093
F2014
0.38
4232
20%
1733
0.8 F2015
0.30
4543
14%
Other options
1346
0.6 F2015
0.23
4879
8%
929
0.4 F 2015
0.15
5242
1%
482
0.2 F. 2015
0.08
5634
+7%
* Commercial and recreational landings; ** SSB in 2017 relative to SSB in 2016.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 5.3.43.4 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. The basis of the advice.
A DVICE BASIS
MSY APPROACH .
Management plan
There is no management plan for sea bass in this area.
There are uncertainties in the assessment due to inaccuracies in historical landings, a lack of a time-series of
recreational catches, variable fishery sampling rates over time including the absence of length or age compositions for
French fleets prior to 2000, and availability of survey data only for the eastern Channel. However the very weak
recruitment from 2008 to 2012 is confirmed by the surveys, reduced catches of young fish by the UK and French
fisheries, and by the low discard rates in recent years. All the input data to the assessment and additional information
(catch per unit effort in the French fishery) shows a declining trend of biomass.
Stock identity remains poorly understood and tagging studies are ongoing. Survival rates of sea bass discarded from
commercial vessels or released by anglers are poorly known.
Figure 5.3.43.2 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. Historical assessment results (includes assumed long-term
average recruitment for 2013 onwards in both assessments).
353
The ICES advice is for the total landings (commercial and recreational fisheries). ICES has no basis for advising on the
allocation of the advised landings to commercial and recreational fisheries.
The emergency measures in 2015 reduced pelagic trawling. The fishing mortality in 2015 is therefore assumed to be
similar to the 2014 value (when a large reduction in pelagic trawling occurred due to bad weather).
ICES advises that a management plan for sea bass is needed. The stock is likely to decline further in the short term due
to recent low recruitment. A reduction in fishing mortality is needed to prevent biomass falling to a level where
productivity is impaired, and to move fisheries towards FMSY.
Referencepoints
Table 5.3.43.5
F RAMEWORK
Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. Reference points, values, and their technical basis.
R EFERENCE
V ALUE
T ECHNICAL BASIS
S OURCE
POINT
MSY
approach
MSY Btrigger
FMSY
Blim
Precautionary
approach
Bpa
Management
plan
Flim
Fpa
SSBMGT
FMGT
8000 t
0.13
5250 t
8000 t
Bpa
Proxy based on F35% SPR.
Lowest observed spawning-stock biomass.
Blim exp(1.645 ); =0.254
ICES (2015a)
ICES (2014)
ICES (2014)
ICES (2015a)
Not defined.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Not defined.
Table 5.3.43.6 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015b).
Age- and length-based analytical assessment (Stock Synthesis 3; NOAA Toolbox) that uses
Assessment type
landings in the model and in the forecast.
Commercial landings (international landings, ages and length frequencies from catch sampling);
one recruit survey (UK Solent autumn survey); one bottom trawl survey (Channel Groundfish
Input data
Survey); growth and maturity data from sampling of commercial catches and surveys; natural
mortality (inferred from life history parameters and maximum observed ages; recreational fishing
mortality estimated for 2012 inferred from recreational fishery surveys (since 2009).
Discarding is known to take place but cannot be fully quantified (in the order of 5% in weight).
Indicators
Catch per unit effort in the French fishery.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2012 and 2014 (ICES, 2012, 2014).
Working group
354

Table 5.3.43.7
Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and the official and
ICES estimates of commercial landings. Weights in thousand tonnes.
Predicted catch
Official
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to
Agreed TAC
commercial
commercial
advice*
landings
landings
2000
none
2.1
2.4
2001
none
2.2
2.5
2002
No increase in effort or F
none
2.4
2.6
2003
none
2.9
3.4
2004
none
3.0
3.7
2005
none
3.2
4.4
2006
none
3.4
4.5
2007
none
3.5
4.2
2008
none
3.0
4.2
2009
none
4.3
4.0
2010
none
4.9
4.8
2011
none
3.9
3.9
2012
none
3.9
4.1
2013
< 6.0**
none
4.1
4.1
36% reduction in commercial landings (20%
2014
reduction, followed by 20% precautionary
< 2.707**
none
2.8
2.7
reduction)
2015
MSY approach
< 1.155***
none
2016
MSY approach
0.541***
* Advice prior to 2014 was given for sea bass in the Northeast Atlantic.
** Commercial landings.
*** Total landings (commercial and recreational landings).

Table 5.3.43.8
Total
catch
(2014)
unknown
Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Commercial
Commerci
Commercial landings
Recreational catch
landings
al
other
UK and France
(partially
reported)
discards
countries
9%
Known to be substantial but
25%
30%
3%
pelagic
19%
cannot be fully quantified
bottom
fixed/drift
other
13% all gears unknown (in
pair
lines
(surveys indicate total annual
trawlers
nets
gears
the order of
trawlers
removals by France, UK
5%
in
(England), Netherlands, and
weight)
Belgium to the order of 1500
2682 tonnes
tonnes in 2012)
355
Table 5.3.43.9
Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. History of commercial landings; both the official and ICES
estimated values are presented for each country participating in the fishery (in tonnes). Source: Official landings
statistics 19502013 and provisional data for 2014, ICES, Copenhagen.
Channel
Total
Year
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
France*
UK
Netherlands
Total
Is.
ICES
1985
0
0
0
620
105
0
18
743
994
1986
0
0
0
841
124
0
15
980
1319
1987
0
0
0
1226
123
0
14
1363
1980
1988
0
18
0
714
173
8
12
925
1239
1989
0
2
0
675
192
2
48
919
1161
1990
0
0
0
609
189
0
25
824
1063
1991
0
0
0
726
239
0
16
982
1227
1992
0
0
0
721
148
0
36
906
1186
1993
0
1
0
718
230
0
45
994
1255
1994
0
1
0
593
535
0
49
1178
1371
1995
0
1
0
801
708
0
69
1579
1835
1996
0
1
0
1703
563
8
56
2331
3022
1997
0
1
0
1429
561
1
74
2066
2620
1998
0
2
0
1363
488
48
79
1980
2390
1999
0
1
0
0
685
32
108
826
2670
2000
0
5
0
1522
407
60
130
2124
2407
2001
0
2
0
1619
458
77
80
2236
2500
2002
0
1
0
1580
627
96
73
2377
2622
2003
154
1
0
1903
586
163
84
2891
3458
2004
159
1
0
1883
617
191
159
3010
3731
2005
206
1
0
1937
512
327
220
3203
4430
2006
211
2
0
2033
574
308
162
3290
4377
2007
178
1
0
1975
713
376
142
3385
4064
2008
188
0
0
1420
791
380
123
2902
4107
2009
173
0
0
2732
697
395
91
4088
3889
2010
215
4
0
3294
736
399
120
4768
4563
2011
152
2
0
2566
793
395
90
3998
3858
2012
154
3
0
2399
892
376
55
3879
3987
2013
145
5
2
2786
803
370
37
4148
4136
2014**
146
1
0
1309
1038
253
37
2784
2682
* Landings since 2000 are ICES estimates.; ** Preliminary.
Table 5.3.43.10 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. History of recreational catch and landings estimates provided to
ICES by area for each country which has conducted surveys of the fishery. RSE = relative standard error.
Weight /
Release
Country
Year
Area
Kept
RSE
Released
RSE
Total
RSE
Number
rate
France
2009
2011*,**
Northeast
Atlantic
ICES
Subareas
IV & VII
20112012
Weight
2343 t
Weight
940 t
Northeast
Atlantic
Weight
3146 t
March 2010
Feb 2011
North Sea
Number
North Sea
Weight***
March 2012
Feb 2013
North Sea
Number
North Sea
Weight***
Netherlands
830 t
3173 t
26%
26%
332 t
1272 t
>26%
26%
776 t
3922t
20%
234000
38%
131000
27%
366000
30%
64%
138 t
37%
335000
26%
332000
21%
667000
17%
50%
229 t
26%
380
690 t
26
38%
3639%
UK
(England)
2012^
ICES
Subareas
IV & VII
Weight
230440 t
Belgium
2013
North Sea
Weight
60 t
150250 t
-
*~80%byweightin2009/11wasrecreationalseaangling.
**RSEwas26%forSubareasVIIandVIIIcombined;SubareaVIIrepresented40%ofthetotal.
***93%byweightin2010/11isrecreationalseaangling;2012/13estimatesareseaanglingonly.
^ Survey covered only recreational sea angling
356

Table 5.3.43.11 Sea bass in Divisions IVb and c, VIIa, and VIIdh. Assessment summary.
Recruitment
Commercial Recreational
SSB
Age 0
landings
landings**
Year
High
Low
High
Low
thousands
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
1985
156
242
70
11833
14587
9078
994
1238
1986
559
803
314
10891
13371
8410
1320
1114
1987
4389
5502
3277
10233
12451
8015
1980
1057
1988
6745
8342
5148
9369
11384
7354
1239
1051
1989
34257
39855
28660
8854
10755
6953
1161
990
1990
6351
7843
4858
7906
9703
6108
1064
840
1991
5259
6540
3978
6831
8500
5161
1226
677
1992
7379
8981
5777
5894
7414
4374
1185
600
1993
4543
5692
3394
6699
8073
5325
1256
698
1994
11319
13499
9139
9010
10348
7673
1371
1143
1995
16345
19196
13494
11537
13012
10062
1835
1510
1996
2124
2806
1442
12864
14513
11214
3024
1503
1997
20131
23702
16560
12318
14091
10545
2621
1372
1998
10177
12401
7952
11628
13447
9809
2390
1258
1999
20285
23762
16808
11463
13268
9658
2669
1224
2000
9926
12052
7799
11332
13130
9534
2407
1305
2001
14193
16982
11403
11770
13607
9933
2501
1329
2002
18886
22524
15248
12376
14270
10481
2622
1416
2003
18972
22627
15317
13465
15445
11484
3459
1530
2004
13826
16703
10949
14151
16225
12076
3730
1630
2005
10986
13454
8518
14580
16765
12394
4430
1649
2006
12448
15357
9539
14518
16820
12216
4377
1613
2007
9095
11570
6621
14854
17301
12407
4064
1681
2008
2830
3979
1681
15622
18271
12974
4107
1805
2009
3792
5291
2293
16069
18954
13185
3889
1861
2010
1314
2025
604
16124
19242
13005
4563
1789
2011
2684
4168
1200
15137
18471
11802
3857
1670
2012
2006
3527
485
13971
17490
10453
3987
1511
2013
6119*
11912
15547
8277
4136
1210
2014
6119*
9012
12642
5382
2683
908
2015
6119*
6925
10437
3414
Average
9333
11765
7590
11585
13856
9315
2671
1306
* Long-term geometric mean.
** Annual recreational landings consistent with recreational F(51) of 0.10, estimated by assessment model.
Mean F
Ages 5
11
0.17
0.20
0.26
0.20
0.21
0.22
0.26
0.25
0.22
0.19
0.20
0.28
0.27
0.26
0.28
0.26
0.26
0.25
0.29
0.29
0.33
0.32
0.30
0.29
0.28
0.32
0.30
0.34
0.41
0.38
0.27

ICES. 2012. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol on New Species (Turbot and Sea Bass; IBPNew 2012), 15
October 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2012/ACOM:45. 239 pp.
ICES. 2014. Report of the Inter-Benchmark Protocol for Sea Bass in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, English Channel, and
Southern North Sea (IBPBass). By correspondence. ICES CM 2014/ ACOM:46.
preparation.
357
Rays and Skates in the Celtic Seas

(Sub-areas VI and VII)
Skates and rays in the Celtic Seas ecoregion are assessed biennially by ICES. Therefore the advice provided for
2015 is valid in 2016.
Raja brachyura in Divisions VIIa,f,g

Based on the ICES approach to data-limited stocks, ICES advises that landings should be reduced by
20%. Based on estimated species-specific landings, this would imply landings of 897 t in each of 2015
and 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice. Discarding is known to take place but has not been
quantified, and there is some discard survival. This stock will not be subject to the landing obligation
in 2016.
The state of the stock is unknown. Survey catch rates are increasing but this is only indicative of
juveniles; no survey covers the adult part of the population. There is evidence that the stock is
overexploited relative to FMSY.
ICES and FEAS do not provide advice for the generic skate assemblage, or on the basis of the
generic skate TAC. Therefore the above advice should not be interpreted in relation to the generic
skate TAC in Sub-areas VI and VII.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
This species is regulated as part of the generic skate TAC which was set at 8,032 t for 2015 for Divisions
VIa, VIb, VIIa-c and VIIe-k.
Leucoraja naevus in Sub-areas VI, VII and Divisions VIIIa,b,d

34%. Based on estimated species-specific landings, this would imply landings of 1,998 t in each of 2015
in 2016.
The average of the abundance indicator in the last two years (20122013) is 17% lower than the
average of the five previous years (20072011). There is evidence that the stock is being exploited
above any proxy for FMSY. Landings have declined somewhat, but the time-series is too short to infer
trends.
358
Rays and Skates in the Celtic Sea
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Leucoraja circularis in Sub-area VI and Divisions VIIa-c,e-k

in 2016.
The state of the stock is unknown. Survey coverage is insufficient to describe the stock status. Sandy
ray is only frequently encountered in one survey around the Porcupine bank and catch rates appear
stable at low levels, but this is not considered representative of the whole stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Leucoraja fullonica in Sub-area VI and Divisions VIIa-c,e-k

at least 20%. Based on estimated species-specific landings, this would imply landings of 186 t in each
of 2015 and 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice. Discarding is known to take place but has not been
in 2016.
The state of the stock is unknown. Survey coverage is insufficient to describe the stock status. This
species is now only regularly encountered in one survey. Catch rates fluctuate, but with an overall
decline. This is not considered representative of the whole stock since the survey does not cover the
whole stock range.
359
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Raja microocellata in Divisions VIIf,g

of 2015 and 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice. Discards are known to take place but have not been
quantified and there is some discard survival. This stock will not be subject to the landing obligation
in 2016.
The stock abundance estimate (survey catch rates) in the last two years is 27% below the preceding
five year average. Fishing mortality is unknown but may be increasing.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Raja montagui in Divisions VIIa, VIIe-h

at least 4%. Based on estimated species-specific landings, this would imply landings of 1,118 t in each
in 2016.
The average of the abundance indicator in the last two years (20122013) is 32% higher than the
average of the five previous years (20072011). However, there is evidence that the stock is being
exploited above any proxy for FMSY.
360
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Raja montagui in Sub-area VI and Divisions VIIb,j

in 2016.
The stock abundance estimate (catch rates in the Irish groundfish surveys) in the last two years is
11% higher than the preceding five year average.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Raja clavata in Divisions VIIa,f,g

Based on the ICES approach to data-limited stocks, ICES advises that landings could be increased by
a maximum of 20%. Based on best estimate of species-specific landings, this implies landings of no
more than 1,235 t in each of 2015 and 2016. Discarding is known to take place but has not been
quantified, and there is some discard survival. FEAS agrees with this advice. This stock will not be
The stock size indicator in the last two years (20122013) is 60% higher than the average of the five
previous years (20072011). Available landings are stable, though the time-series is short.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
361
Raja clavata Sub-area VI

Based on the ICES approach to data-limited stocks, ICES advises that landings could be increased by
a maximum of 20%. Based on best estimate of species-specific landings, this implies landings of no
more than 205 t in each of 2015 and 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice. Discarding is known to take
place but has not been quantified, and there is some discard survival. This stock will not be subject
to the landing obligation in 2016.
The stock size indicator in the last two years (20122013) is 32% higher than the average of the five
previous years (20072011). Available landings data are increasing, though the time-series is short.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
Raja undulata in Divisions VIIb,j

ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary considerations that there be no targeted fishery on
this stock. This isolated stock has a very local distribution, mainly in Tralee Bay on the Southwest
Irish coast; bycatch in this vicinity should be monitored and reduced to the lowest possible level.
Measures to mitigate bycatch should be developed and implemented in consultation with the
stakeholders. In Divisions VIIb and VIIj, ICES considers that it is appropriate that the species
continues to be promptly released if caught. FEAS agrees with this advice. This stock will not be
The stock in Divisions VIIb and VIIj is small and isolated, mainly centred on Tralee Bay. An index of
abundance is available, based on the number of fish tagged per year in sport fisheries by IFI. This
index shows a decline since the mid-1970s.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The generic TACs and quotas for skates in the Celtic Seas eco-region does not apply to Raja undulata. The
TAC regulation states that, when accidentally caught, this species must not be harmed, must be promptly
released, and fishermen are encouraged to use techniques to facilitate the rapid and safe release.
362
Dipturus batis complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus

cf. intermedia), Dipturus nidarosiensis, and Dipturus
oxyrinchus) in Sub-areas VI, VII excluding Division VIId
ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary considerations that there be no targeted fishery for
these stocks and measures should be taken to minimise bycatch. This advice is extended to include
D. nidarosiensis and oxyrinchus. Measures to minimize bycatch may include seasonal and/or area
closures or technical measures. Such measures should be developed by stakeholder consultations, as
part of a rebuilding plan, considering the overall mixed-fisheries context. FEAS agrees with this
advice. This stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
There is insufficient information to present trends in species-specific landings for these species. The
common skate (Dipturus batis) complex is depleted in the Celtic Sea ecoregion. Individuals are rarely
encountered in surveys. Limited information suggests that both D. cf. flossada and D. cf. intermedia
are found in the ecoregion. There is particular overlap in the Celtic Sea and at Rockall.
There is no management plan for this stock. However the prohibition on fishing for Dipturus batis
complex is a long term conservation objective. ICES and FEAS do not agree with this designation.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The EU prohibits the Dipturus batis complex species, though not the other Dipturus species from being
fished for, retained on board, transhipped, or landed.
Other skates in Sub-areas VI,VII (excluding Division

VIId)
This advice relates to skates not specified elsewhere in the ICES advice. This includes skates not
reported to species level and some other, mainly deep-water species throughout the region. It also
applies to R. clavata, R. brachyura, and R. microcellata outside the defined stock boundaries. The
advice only relates to species belonging to the Rajidae (skates), and does not refer to manta rays,
sting rays, electric rays, or devil rays. Other skates in Sub-areas VI,VII (excluding Division VIId) will
not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
quantified, and there is some discard survival.
The survey or abundance data available is insufficient to assess these species individually or
collectively.
363
Ecosystem overview for Widely

Distributed Stocks
FEAS - ECOSYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS
FEAS recommends that the following considerations should be taken into account when
developing ecosystem based management objectives for fisheries on widely distributed stocks:
Overall, the fishing mortality on widely distributed stocks has reduced in the last two
decades and is now at or below FMSY for most stocks. However, the advice for blue whiting
and mackerel, the two largest stocks, has been exceeded by a considerable margin in 2014
due to lack of agreement among the parties and the unilateral awarding of extra quota by
some parties.
Atlantic tuna stocks (Albacore and Bluefin) and NEA spurdog have biomasses below
reference points. These species are top predators in the pelagic food chain and their low
abundance, coupled with those of shortfin mako and porbeagle sharks, suggests that not all
elements of the pelagic food chain are in a healthy state.
Pelagic fish species such as herring, blue whiting, mackerel and horse mackerel are
keystone food web species and changes in their abundance can have significant
consequences up the marine food chain.
Muellers pearlside, glacial lantern fish and lancet fish are the dominant mesopelagic
species. These species are important prey for mackerel, hake and blue whiting. Given their
key role in the marine food web, fisheries should not be allowed to develop unless the
impact of outtake on the ecosystem - particular on predators is understood.
In pelagic fisheries discarding occurs primarily in the form of slippage when the entire
catch is released. Slipping is highly sporadic and difficult to quantify. The obligation to land
all catch (i.e. no discarding policy) as introduced by the newly reformed CFP is intending to
address pelagic slipping and discarding as a priority. In effect discarding is considered by
ICES to be a negligible portion of pelagic fish catches, and no change to the pelagic
management regime is envisaged on foot of the landing obligation
Physical Features
Bathymetry
The shelf extends up to 500 km from the west of Ireland. Water depths on the shelf are typically
100-150 m from Biscay to Scotland (Hutchance et al., 2009). The Porcupine Bank to the
southwest and Slyne (50-1,000 m water depth), Erris (50-2,000 m water depth) and Donegal
Basins (50-200 m water depth) to the west and northwest are found at the shelf edge.
Substrates
The seabed is largely shaped by several glacial periods (iceberg rafting, debris flow) when large
volumes of material were eroded from the land and deposited at the shelf edge and over the
continental slope. Sediments in VIaS and VIIbcjk are principally muddy sand with gravel, pebbles,
cobbles and boulders (Rice, 2004). The modern day sedimentary regime is characterised by
sediment reworking and redistribution by near bottom currents and gravity-driven processes
(Hartley Anderson, 2005).
Circulation
A number of water masses with distinct temperature and salinity characteristics converge to the
west of Ireland (New and Smythe-Wright, 2001). The strength of the subpolar gyre (Hatun et al.,
2005) and changes in the mean North Atlantic wind-field (Nolan et al., 2009) influence the
variability of the path of warm and saline North Atlantic Current (NAC) from the southwest and
Eastern North Atlantic Water (ENAW), which is formed in the Bay of Biscay and carried
northwards by the Shelf Edge Current (SEC). A warm high-salinity core of water has been
identified in the upper 300 m moving up and down the shelf edge (White and Bowyer, 1997, New
and Smythe-Wright, 2001). The seasonal Irish Coastal Current is known to flow around the
southwest and west coast of Ireland (McMahon et al., 1995, Horsburgh et al., 1998, Brown et al.,
2003, Fernand et al., 2006).
Fronts
The main oceanographic front in the area is the year-round Irish Shelf Front at approximately 11
W around the 150 m contour (Huang et al., 1991). With a total extent of ~500 km it occurs to the
364
Ecosystem overview for Widely Distributed Stocks
south and west of Ireland and creates a separation between saline Atlantic waters and fresher
inshore waters.
Temperature
and salinity
(19752012)
Phytoplankton
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
(19582010)
Zooplankton
Overall Abundance
(19582010)
Fish community
Blue whiting
1981-2014
Mackerel
1990-2014
Horse Mackerel
19822014
Boarfish
1991-2014
Mean annual temperature in the upper 800 m of the Rockall Trough increased from ~9.2C in
2000 to 10C in 2006. A decrease of 0.4C has been noted since then. Salinity has shown a
constant increase from the early nineties onwards until its highest values in 2010
(Beszczynska-Mller and Dye 2013).
Biological Features
Diatom and dinoflagellate species abundances in shelf and oceanic waters west of the
European shelf show a longterm decline using time series from1958 (OBrien et al. 2013). All
four common dinoflagellate species/groups (Ceratium fusus, C. furca, C. tripos and Protoperidinium
spp.) found at the shelf edge have declined in abundance/biomass between 1960-1999 and 20002009. No species/groups increased over this period. Three out of five diatom species/groups
(Hyalochaete spp., Thalassionema nitzschioides and Rhizosolenia alata alata) likewise decreased in
abundance/biomass and two species/groups increased (Thalassiosira spp. and Phaeoceros spp.)
(McGinty et al., 2012).
Longterm times series starting in 1958 show a decline in overall zooplankton abundance in
shelf and oceanic waters west of the European shelf (OBrien et al. 2013). Seven
species/groups of carnivorous zooplankton (Euphausiids, Chaetognaths, Hyperiids, Decapods,
Pleuromamma spp., Candacia spp. and Corycaeus spp.) and five species/groups of herbivorous
copepods (Calanus spp. IIV, Acartia spp., Paracalanus spp. and small copepods <2 mm, Centropages
typicus and Calanus finmarchicus) in the shelf edge region have declined in abundance/biomass
during the periods 1960-1999 and 2000-2009. One Carnivorous zooplankton group (Euchaeta
spp.) and one herbivorous copepod species (C. helgolandicus) has increased in abundance/biomass
during the same periods (McGinty et al., 2012). Calanus spp. are used as indicators of increasing
SST in the Northeast Atlantic region (Beaugrand et al., 2002).
Several important pelagic NEA stocks migrate and spawn along the western European slope,
namely blue whiting, mackerel, horse mackerel and boarfish. Hydrographic conditions and food
supplies in the shelf edge region play an important part in each stage of their life cycle.
Northeastern Atlantic blue whiting is distributed from the Canary Islands to Spitsbergen along
the continental margin. The Porcupine Bank, St. Kilda and Rockall are the main spawning areas
(Heino and Godo, 2002). Nursery areas are found along shelf edges from Morocco to northern
Norway. Migration patterns from the spawning grounds are thought to be influenced by the
strength of the subpolar gyre (Hatun et al, 2009b). Feeding areas include the Faroe/Shetland area,
south of Iceland and along the continental shelf edge from the Bay of Biscay to the Barents Sea
(Petitgas, 2010).
Northeastern Atlantic mackerel distribution extends along the Western European Continent
from Iberia to Northern Norway (Hughes et. al. 2014). Nursery areas are found adjacent to
coastlines (Borja et al., 2002) and the two main recruitment areas are the Porcupine Bank and the
south-eastern Bay of Biscay (Bartsch and Coombs, 2004). Adult mackerel migrate along the shelf
edge to northern feeding grounds located in the Norwegian Seas and North Sea in late
summer/autumn (Petitgas, 2010).
Horse mackerel is widely distributed along the Western European shelf from West Africa/Cape
Verde Islands into the Norwegian Sea. Spawning areas and migration routes generally follow
those of mackerel.
Mammals
Seabirds
Draft OSPA(R ECO
QO
(20042012)
Boarfish is associated with zones of high offshore productivity (Lopes et al., 2006) and
distributed from Norway to Senegal at depths from 40-600 m (Blanchard and Vandermeirsch,
2005). Nursery areas are found close to the seabed in the Celtic Sea and shelf sea areas. Post
spawning mature boarfish move from the shelf to form dense feeding aggregations on the offshore
banks in the Celtic Sea.
The most abundant cetaceans in European offshore waters are common, striped and bottlenose
dolphins; long-finned pilot whales, fin whales, minke whales, beaked whales and sperm whales
(CODA, 2009).
Hydrographic conditions and prey availability make the Atlantic margin an area of high seabird
diversity. At least 26 species have been identified in this area. Northern fulmar, Northern gannet,
Black-legged kittiwake and Manx shearwater are dominant (Mackey et al., 2004). The OSPAR draft
ECOQO for seabirds in OSPAR region III (Celtic Seas which includes west of Scotland) shows a
downward trend since early 2000 (ICES 2013b).
365
Climate change
effects on finfish
and shellfish
stocks
Increasing SST and changes in zooplankton community structures are likely to impact on life
histories of migratory species (Edwards and Richardson, 2004, Brunel and Boucher, 2007). Large
increases in boarfish abundance have been attributed to increases in temperature throughout the
water column as well as a general absence of predators (Blanchard and Vandermeirsch, 2005). The
strength of the subpolar gyre is thought to influence spawning distribution and success of blue
whiting (Hatun et al., 2009a, 2009b). Good recruitment may be associated with a weak gyre.
Feeding and migration of horse mackerel patterns appear to be closely related to water
temperature (Macer, 1977, Lockwood and Johnson, 1977, Eaton, 1983). Timing and the path of the
mackerel migration is influenced by temperature (Hughes et al. 2014, Jansen et al. 2012). Water
turbulence, shelf upwelling conditions and the atmospheric North Atlantic Oscillation are possible
factors affecting juvenile survival and recruitment (Borja et al., 2002).

The main human activities in the shelf break/slope region are:
Fishing
Transport
Offshore energy
Of the 3.2 million tonnes of landings from the widely distributed stocks covered in this section, about
20% comes from stocks that are sustainably fished (ie. F FMSY), while around 78% of the landings
come from stocks that are overexploited (F FMSY), i.e. mackerel and blue whiting. Both Atlantic tuna
stocks and spurdog are below biomass reference points, as is NEA Herring. Boarfish is now
considered a data limited stock and the relative total stock biomass has fallen considerably since the
peak of 2010. In pelagic fisheries discarding occurs primarily in the form of slippage when the entire
catch is released. Reasons for this are quota limitations and fish that are of sizes that are either illegal
or have lower market value (high-grading). Slipping is highly sporadic, which makes it difficult to
quantify pelagic discarding and published values of 0.5% to 3% (eg mackerel and horse mackerel) are
considered underestimates (ICES, 2014). Small pelagic and mesopelagic species such as sprat, herring
as well as Muellers pearlside, glacial lantern fish and lancet fish are an important food resource for
many predatory species, and fisheries for these species need to take consideration of their role in the
ecosystem.
A full reference list can be found in Appendix VIII.
Letter code for stocks

A
NEA mackerel
Blue whiting
Spurdog in the NE Atlantic
Boarfish
Albacore Tuna
North Sea horse mackerel
Bluefin Tuna
Swordfish
Fig. 1 Relative fishing pressure (F/Fmsy) and biomass (SSB/Btrig) for widely distributed stocks, which have SSB and F
related against reference points (msy where available, otherwise pa). This corresponds to 8 out of 10 stocks and 98
% of the landings. Stocks in the green region are exploited below Fmsy and have an SSB that is above MSY Btrig.
Fig. 2 Stocks of unknown status in relation to reference points. The size of each bubble corresponds to the
landings in 2014. The largest bubble corresponds to 1.3mt.
366
Fig. 3 Proportion of widely

distributed stocks fished at or
below Fmsy (green), above
Fmsy (red) and of unknown
status in relation to fishing
mortality reference points.
Fig. 4 Proportion of widely
distributed
stocks
with
biomass above B trigger
(green), below B trigger (red)
and of unknown status in
relation to biomass reference
points.
Fig. 5 Relative fishing mortality (F to Fmsy ratios) of widely distributed stocks, demersal F corresponds to NEA
spurdog, pelagic F corresponds to NEA Mackerel, western horse mackerel, NEA blue whiting, and NEA herring.
Fig. 6 Relative biomass (SSB to Bmsy trigger ratios) of widely distributed stocks, demersal SSB corresponds to NEA
spurdog and relative pelagic SSB corresponds to NEA Mackerel, western horse mackerel, NEA blue whiting and
NEA herring.
367
Herring in the Northeast Atlantic

(Norwegian spring-spawning herring)
Sub-areas I and II

The ICES advice, based on the EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and
Russia management plan, is that catches in 2016 should be no more than
316,876 t. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that this stock has been
subject to the landing obligation since 2015. There is no proposed quota
uplift as ICES considers discards to be negligible.
This stock falls into ICES Category I as there is a full analytical assessment
and forecast. The stock is declining and estimated to be below Bpa in 2014.
There is a long term management plan for this stock, but it has not been implemented since 2012.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
A long term management plan has been agreed for this fishery
since 1999 between the EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway
and Russia. The plan aims at preventing SSB from falling below
Blim of 2.5 million tonnes, and restricting the TACs consistent
with a fishing mortality of less than 0.125. Provisions are also
made to reduce this F, should the SSB fall below Bpa of
5 million tonnes.
IRE 1634 t
ICES considers that this agreement is consistent with the

precautionary approach.
POR 21 t
In 2015, the sum of unilaterally allocated TACs was 328,000 t.
In 2015 the EU TAC is 18,424 t. The quota for Ireland,

including carryover was 1,634 t.
The Irish quota is allocated to a small number of vessels on a lottery basis.
In recent years, the EU has been granted access to the Norwegian sector where the most fishable
aggregations occur. However this access is negotiated on a yearly basis. The Irish quota is not useable
without EU access to the Norwegian EEZ.
The management plan for Norwegian Spring Spawning Herring has a target fishing mortality rate that is
lower than FMSY.
368
BEL 6 t
DEN 6314 t
GER 1105 t
FRA 272 t
NL 2259 t
UK 4036 t
SPA 21 t
SWE 2339 t
FIN 98 t
POL 319 t
ICES ADVICE 9. 3.17 Herring (Clupea harengus) in Subareas I, II, and

V and Divisions IVa and XIVa (Northeast Atlantic) (Norwegian springspawning herring)

ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Russia management plan is applied,
catchesin2016shouldbenomorethan316 876tonnes.
The stock is declining and estimated to be below Bpa in 2014. Since 1998 five large year classes have been
produced (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004). Year classes 20052012 are estimated to be small. The 2013 year
class is estimated to be larger than the 20052012 year classes but close to average (19882012); however, the
estimate is still uncertain. Fishing mortality in 2014 was below Fpa and FMSY and the management plan target F.
Figure9.3.17.1 HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Summaryofstockassessment(weightsin
milliontonnes).
Predictedvaluesarenotshaded.
Stockandexploitationstatus
Table9.3.17.1
Maximum
sustainable yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
Herring in Subareas I, II, and V and Divisions IVa and XIVa. State of the stock and fishery relative to
referencepoints.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012
2013
2014
2013 2014
2015
FMSY
Fpa
FMGT
Appropriate
Harvested
sustainably
Appropriate
369
MSY Btrigger
Below Btrigger
Bpa, Blim
Increased risk
SSBMGT
Below trigger
Catchoptions
Table9.3.17.2 HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Thebasisforthecatchoptions.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 514 (2015)
0.085
ICES (2015a)
Based on estimated catches 2015.
SSB (2016)
3 586 000 t
ICES (2015a)
Rage0 (2015)
76.8
ICES (2015a)
GM over the years 19882011 in billions.
Rage1 (2015)
19.274
ICES (2015a)
Rage0 (2016)
76.8
ICES (2015a)
Catch (2015)
328 206 t
ICES (2015a)
Sum of declared national quotas.
Table9.3.17.3
HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Thecatchoptions.
0.083
3566000
% Catch
change**
*
3
0.108
3489000
24
Zero catch^
0
0
Other options
322874
0.085
Weights in tonnes.
* Fw = Fishing mortality weighted by population numbers (age groups 514).
*** Catches 2016 relative to catch 2015.
^ Zero catch will not bring SSB above Bpa in 2017.
3836000
3560000
7
1
100
2
Rationale
Catches
(2016)
Agreed management plan
316876
MSY approach
406787
Basis
Fw(2016)*
FMP
FMSY (SSB2016/MSY
Btrigger = 0.717)
F=0
F2015
SSB(2017)
% SSB
change**
Basisoftheadvice
Table9.3.17.4
Advice basis
HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Thebasisoftheadvice.
Management plan.
A long-term management plan was agreed by the EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Russia
in 1999 (ICES, 2014; see Annex 9.3.11.1). The management plan aims to constrain harvesting
Management plan
within safe biological limits and is designed to provide sustainable fisheries in the long term. ICES
has evaluated the plan and concluded that it is consistent with the precautionary approach (ICES,
2013a).
Previous assessments have shown a retrospective pattern that overestimates SSB and underestimates F.
However, the revision this year is smaller than in previous years. Estimates of recruiting year-class strength are
uncertain; however, this does not have a large influence on the short-term forecasts.
In 2015, the survey on the spawning grounds in February/March was carried out again for the first time since
2008 and was included in the assessment. The 2015 Norwegian spring-spawning herring larvae survey index on
the Norwegian shelf was not included in the assessment due to poor spatial coverage.
Figure9.3.17.2 Herring in Subareas I, II, and V and Divisions IVa and XIVa. Historical assessment results (finalyear
recruitmentestimatesincluded).
370
Referencepoints
Table 9.3.17.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Precautionary
approach
Management
strategy
Herring in Subareas I, II, and V and Divisions IVa and XIVa. Reference points, values, and their technical
basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY Btrigger
5.0 million t Bpa
0.15 Stochastic equilibrium analysis using a Beverton
FMSY
Holt stockrecruitment relationship with data from
ICES (2013a)
1950 to 2009.
Blim
2.5 million t MBAL (accepted in 1998).
ICES (2013a)
Bpa
5.0 million t Blim exp(0.4 1.645).
ICES (2013a)
Flim
Not defined. Fpa
0.15 Based on medium-term simulations.
ICES (2013a)
5.0 million t Medium-term simulations conducted in 2001 and
SSBMGT
ICES (2014)
2014.
0.125 Medium-term simulations conducted in 2001 and
FMGT
ICES (2014)
2014.
Table9.3.17.6 HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Thebasisoftheassessment.
Category 1 (ICES, 2015b).
Age-based analytical assessment (TASACS; ICES, 2015a) that uses catches in the model and
Assessment type
in the forecast.
Assessment period 19882015: Commercial catches-at-age (stock weight-at-age from
surveys and since 2009 from catch sampling). Eight survey indices: Norwegian herring
larvae survey on the Norwegian shelf (NHLS, 19882014), Eco-NoRu-Q3 (Acoustic)
providing indices for recruitment (19892014) and juveniles (20002014), Norwegian
acoustic survey on spawning grounds in February/March (NASF, 19942005, 2015);
Input data
International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas (IESNS) covering the adult stock in the
Nordic seas (19962015) and the juvenile stock in the Barents Sea (19912015), Norwegian
acoustic survey in November/December (NASN, 19922001); and Norwegian acoustic
survey in January (NASJ, 19911999). Maturity ogive variable by year-class strength.
Natural mortalities are fixed values from historical analyses (ages 02 = 0.9, ages greater
than 3 = 0.15).
Indicators
None.
Other information
This stock was benchmarked in 2008 and a new benchmark is planned for 2016.
Working group
Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE).
Norwegian fishers have reported good catches so far. The Danish fishery for Norwegian spring-spawning
herring is normally executed in the beginning of the year. Because there was no agreement with Norway for
2015, the fishery is now planned for the end of the year in international waters.
371
Historyofadvice,catch,andmanagement
Table9.3.17.7
Herring in SubareasI, II, and Vand Divisions IVa andXIVa. History of ICESadvice, the agreed TAC, and
ICESestimatesofcatch.
ICES
Predicted catch
Agreed
ICES
Year
advice
corresp. to advice
TAC
catch
1987
TAC
150
115
127
1988
TAC
120150
120
135
1989
TAC
100
100
104
1990
TAC
80
80
86
1991
No fishing from a biological point of view
0
76
85
1992
No fishing from a biological point of view
0
98
104
1993
No increase in F
119
200
232
1994
Gradual increase in F towards F0.1; TAC suggested
334
450
479
1995
No increase in F
513
900*
906
1996
Keep SSB above 2.5 million t
1425*
1220
1997
Keep SSB above 2.5 million t
1500
1427
1998
Do not exceed the harvest control rule
1300
1223
1999
1263
1300
1235
2000
Max 1500
1250
1207
2001
753
850
766
2002
853
850
808
2003
710
711*
790
2004
825
825*
794
2005
890
1000*
1003
2006
732
967*
969
2007
1280
1280
1267
2008
1518
1518
1546
2009
1643
1642
1687
2010
1483
1483
1457
2011
See scenarios
9881170
988
993
2012
Follow the management plan
833
833
826
2013
619
692*
685
2014
418
436*
461
2015
283
328*
2016
316.876
* There was no agreement on the TAC; the number is the sum of autonomous quotas from the individual Parties.

Table9.3.17.8
HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Catchdistributionbyfleetin2014asestimated
byICES.
Total catch
Landings
Discards
53% purse seine
47% pelagic trawl
Considered to be negligible, but some
461 306 t
slippage is known to occur
461 306 t
372
373
199256
108417
115076
88707
74604
73683
91111
199771
380771
529838
699161
860963
743925
740640
713500
495036
487233
477573
477076
580804
567237
779089
961603
1016675
871113
572641
491005
359458
263253
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006*
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
26000
18889
20225
15123
11807
11000
13337
32645
74400
101987
119290
168900
124049
157328
163261
109054
113763
122846
115876
132099
120836
162434
193119
210105
199472
144428
118595
78521
60292
USSR/
Russia
30577
60681
44292
35519
37010
34968
24038
18998
14144
23111
28368
18449
22911
31128
32320
26792
26740
21754
17160
12513
Denmark
2911
57084
52788
59987
68136
55527
68625
34170
32302
27943
42771
65071
63137
64251
74261
85098
80281
53271
36190
105038
38529
Faroes
* In 2006 Scotland and Northern Ireland combined.
Norway
21146
174109
164957
220154
197789
203381
186035
77693
127197
117910
102787
156467
157474
173621
217602
265479
205864
151074
120956
90729
58828
Iceland
19541
11179
2437
2412
8939
6070
1699
1400
11
4693
6411
7903
10014
8061
5727
4813
3815
706
Ireland
7969
19664
8694
12827
5871
6439
9392
8678
17369
21517
11625
29764
28155
24021
26695
8348
6237
5626
9175
Netherlands
2500
4897
3810
3730
3453
3426
1490
11788
13108
Greenland
881
46131
25149
15971
19207
14096
12230
3482
9214
1869
12523
13244
19737
25477
24151
14045
12310
8342
4233
UK
(Scotland)
556
11978
6190
7003
3298
1588
3017
3371
4810
17676
9958
6038
8338
14452
11133
13296
11945
4244
669
Germany
1500
605
400
0
80
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
France
HerringinSubareasI,II,andVandDivisionsIVaandXIVa.Historyofthecatch.ICESestimatedvaluesarepresentedbycountry.
Year
Table9.3.17.9
1226
561
4333
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Poland
22424
19499
14863
14057
14749
9818
9486
6431
7986
680
2946
0
0
0
0
0
705
23
0
Sweden
225256
127306
135301
103830
86411
84683
104448
232457
479228
905501
1220283
1426507
1223131
1235433
1207201
766136
807795
789510
794066
1003243
968958
1266993
1545656
1687371
1457015
992997
826000
684743
461306
Total

Table 9.3.17.10 Herring in Subareas I, II, and V and Divisions IVa and XIVa. Assessment summary; weights in tonnes and
recruitment in thousands.
Year
Recruitment
(Age0)
1988
26073900
1989
71555300
1990
109336800
1991
308890700
1992
368283300
1993
113172700
1994
38661700
1995
19594700
1996
58595400
1997
33552200
1998
208990500
1999
167923200
2000
57648300
2001
34915000
2002
350093900
2003
159927700
2004
286574800
2005
72271900
2006
83338500
2007
30173000
2008
20350400
2009
69104000
2010
15306800
2011
34827200
2012
18199600
2013
100480500
2014
47406000
2015
76800000*
Average
106501714
*GM over the years 19882011.
SSB
2002000
3253000
3833000
3741000
3823000
3769000
3898000
3857000
4333000
5547000
6229000
6347000
5390000
4381000
3796000
4408000
5413000
5445000
5641000
6276000
6820000
7829000
7408000
6392000
5634000
5000000
4455000
3946000
4959500
Landings
135301
103830
86411
84683
104448
232457
479228
905501
1220283
1426507
1223131
1235433
1207201
766136
807795
789510
794066
1003243
968958
1266993
1545656
1687373
1457014
992998
825999
684743
461306
833193
MeanweightedF
(Ages514)
0.049
0.031
0.022
0.024
0.028
0.065
0.133
0.235
0.202
0.19
0.161
0.198
0.231
0.196
0.216
0.15
0.13
0.176
0.184
0.158
0.199
0.191
0.198
0.147
0.146
0.138
0.11
0.145

ICES. 2013a. Report of the Blue Whiting/Norwegian Spring-Spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) Herring Workshop
(WKBWNSSH). ICES 2013/ACOM:69.
ICES. 2013b. NEAFC request to ICES to evaluate possible modifications of the long-term management
arrangement for the Norwegian spring-spawning herring stock. In Report of ICES Advisory Committee, 2013.
ICES Advice 2013, Book 9, Section 9.3.3.2.
ICES. 2014. Herring in Subareas I, II, V and Divisions IVa and XIVa (Norwegian spring-spawning herring). In
Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 9, Section 9.3.11.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE), 2531 August, 2015,
Pasaia, Spain. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:15.
Section 1.2.
374
Northeast Atlantic Mackerel

(combined Southern, Western and North Sea spawning components)

ICES advice for mackerel catches in 2016 is based on the MSY approach
and corresponds to catches of 667 kt. FEAS agrees with the ICES advice
and notes that this stock has been subject to the landing obligation since
2015. There is no proposed quota uplift as ICES considers discards to be
negligible.
A new assessment method was adopted in 2014 and has revised stock
perception and reference points. New data series included in this
assessment are short and are resulting in increased assessment instability.
FEAS notes that, in spite of agreement between some Coastal States, when all fishing nations are
considered, total catches in recent years have exceeded the ICES advised catch. Fishing mortality is
currently above FMSY. However, good recruitment in recent years has maintained SSB above
reference points.
There is currently no agreed long-term management plan for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
IRE 89220 t
The Coastal States are currently preparing a new long-term
GER 26766 t
management strategy. They no longer consider the 2008 plan to be a
FRA 17846 t
basis for management.
NL 39033 t
Historically, the TAC has been divided into a number of components:
UK 245363 t
a North Sea TAC (EU and Norway), a Western TAC (EU, Norway
SPA 28 t
and Faroes), a Southern TAC (EU only) and a NEAFC TAC (Coastal
EST 223 t
States and Russia).
POL 1885 t
The TAC agreement for 2015 only involved three of the coastal states
LAT 164 t
(EU, NO and FO). This agreement allocated 84.4% to the agreement
LIT 164 t
parties setting aside 15.6% for other parties. However, the remaining
parties subsequently declared unilateral quotas with Iceland declaring a catch limit of 173 000 t (plus 6,800 t
transferred from 2014), Greenland 32,000 t and Russia 114,143 t. The EU catch limit was 521,689 t including the
southern areas and the Irish share of the EU allocation was 89,220 t. The sum of the expected catches in 2015 is
1,236 kt.
The Irish quota is allocated to the pelagic, polyvalent and hook and line fleets in different ways. The hook and line
fishery for vessels under 15m in overall length is allocated 400 t under current arrangements. The 400 t is taken
from the overall Irish quota. The polyvalent segment allocation is 13% of the remainder of the national annual
quota (11,547 t in 2015) of which 2.5% of this (289 t in 2015) is allocated for vessels under 18 m. The remainder
(77,273 t in 2015) is allocated to the pelagic segment according to an allocation key.
The Cornwall box remains closed to directed trawling for mackerel.
Measures to protect the North Sea spawning component remain in place.
In 2015 Spain was subject to a payback penalty of 9,747 t for its over catch in 2010.
375
Mackerel in the Northeast Atlantic
ICES ADVICE 9.3.25 Northeast Atlantic mackerel (combined

Southern, Western, and North Sea spawning components)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 667 385 tonnes.
ICES further advises that the existing measures to protect the North Sea spawning component should remain in
place.
The Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) is estimated to have increased since the early 2000s and has been above
MSY-Btrigger since 2009. The Fishing Mortality (F) has been declining since the mid-2000s, but remains above
Fpa (or Fmsy). The Recruitment (R) shows an increasing trend since the late 1990s with two large year classes
(2002 and 2006). The 2011 year class is estimated to be well above average (third in magnitude since 1990), in
contrast recruitment for 2013 appears to be the lowest since 2003.
Figure9.3.25.1 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. Summary of stock assessment. The
unshadedcatchespriorto2000aretheyearsthathavebeendownweightedintheassessmentdueto
theconsiderableunderreportingthatissuspectedtohavetakenplace.Theunshadedrecruitmentvalue
for 2014 is from RCT3 and the unshaded recruitment value for 2015 is the geometric mean of 1990
2013.Confidenceintervals(95%)areincludedintheR,F,andSSBplots.
376

Table 9.3.25.1
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. State of the stock and fishery relative
to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
2014
13
14
2015
MSY
Maximum
F
Above
Above
trigger
MSY
sustainable yield
Btrigger
Full reproductive
Precautionary
Fpa,
Increased risk
Bpa, Blim
approach
Flim
capacity
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table 9.3.25.2 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. The basis for the catch options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 48 (2015)
0.37
ICES (2015a)
Based on the assumed catches for 2015
SSB (2015)
ICES (2015a)
3620056 t
Rage0 (2015)
4052792 t
ICES (2015a)
Geometric mean of the recruitment estimates
Rage0 (2016)
4052792 t
ICES (2015a)
(19902013)
Rage0 (2017)
4052792 t
ICES (2015a)
Sum of declared quotas corrected by the
Total catch (2015)
1235608 t
ICES (2015a)
interannual transfers
Table 9.3.25.3
Rationale
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. The catch options.
F
SSB (2016) SSB (2017)
SSB
(2016
Catch (2016)
Basis
Spawning
Spawning
change
&
time
time
*
2017)
MSY
framework
Precautionar
y approach
Zero catch
Other
options
Catch
chang
e**
667385
0.22
FMSY
3131490
3038633
3%
46%
748576
0.25
Fpa
3116371
2963423
5%
39%
F=0
3245272
3676929
13%
469238
527128
612036
639834
694691
721754
775160
801509
827624
1235608
0.15
0.17
0.20
0.21
0.23
0.24
0.26
0.27
0.28
0.45
3167133
3156896
3141621
3136550
3126440
3121400
3111353
3106344
3101346
3018461
3224473
3169848
3090221
3064280
3013277
2988209
2938918
2914690
2890735
2325691
2%
0%
2%
2%
4%
4%
6%
6%
7%
23%
catch 2016 = catch 2015

Weights in tonnes.
* SSB 2017 relative to SSB 2016.
** Catch in 2016 relative to estimated catches in 2015. There is no internationally agreed TAC for 2015.
100
%
62%
57%
51%
48%
44%
42%
37%
35%
33%
0%
Basisoftheadvice
Table 9.3.25.4 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. The basis of the advice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
Thereiscurrentlynoagreedlongtermmanagementplanforthisstock.
377
The assessment is unstable, which is a source of concern. One major source of concern is the short time series
for the IESSNS survey.
The assessment this year is more uncertain than last year, because it is now two years after the last triennial eggs
survey data point. A new preliminary survey value will be available for next years assessment.
Figure 9.3.25.2 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. Historical assessment results (finalyear recruitment estimates included).
Prior to the late 1960s, spawning biomass of North Sea mackerel was estimated to be above 3 million tonnes.
Subsequently, overexploitation occurred and recruitment has failed since 1969, leading to a marked decline in
the size of the North Sea component. The measures advised by ICES have been aimed at protecting the North
Sea spawning component and promoting stock recovery. There was a small increase in the North Sea spawning
in 2002; the SSB has remained low (the latest North Sea egg survey data available are from 2015).
Referencepoints
Table 9.3.25.5
Framework
MSY
approach
Precautionary
approach
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. Reference points, values, and their
technical basis.
Reference
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
3 million t Bpa
ICES (2015c)
MSY Btrigger
FMSY
0.22 Stochastic simulation.
ICES (2015c)
Blim
1.84 million t Bloss in 2002 from 2014 benchmark assessment.
3 million t exp(1.654 ) Blim, = 0.30.
ICES (2015c)
Bpa
Flim
0.36 The F that on average leads to Blim.
ICES (2015c)
Fpa
0.25 The F that on average leads to Bpa.
ICES (2015c)
Table 9.3.25.6 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa . The basis of the assessment.
1 (ICES, 2015b).
1.0 age-based analytical model (SAM: ICES, 2015a) that uses catches in the model and in
Assessment type
the forecast.
Catch data, tagging data (19802005 recapture year), and three survey indices: SSB index
from the triennial egg survey (19922013), abundance indices from the IBTS survey
Input data
(combined Q1 and Q4; age 0, 19982014), and from the IESSNS survey (ages 611, 2007,
20102015). Catches prior to 2000 are given a very low weight in the assessment.
Discards are known to take place, but are only quantified for part of the fisheries (0.5% in
Discards
weight in 2014), the proportion of the landings covered cannot be calculated. Discards are
considered negligible.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmarked in 2014 (WKPELA; ICES, 2014). A benchmark is planned for 2017.
Working group
378
Over the last seven years the pelagic industry has encountered large shoals of mackerel over the entire
distribution area which has expanded both south and north. Based upon this observation the industry believes
the stock size has greatly increased. This increase in the stock is not confined to one area or observed by one
fleet. The industry also sees signs of good recruitment (above average) over the last number of years. Mackerel
is also caught in substantial amounts outside of the directed mackerel fishery and in places where it has not been
caught in recent years (e.g. during the herring fishery in the North Sea). Danish fishers have reported catches of
spawning mackerel in the sandeel fishery.
Table 9.3.25.7
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa . History of ICES advice, the agreed
TAC, and ICES estimates of catch.
Predicted catch
Total agreed
Official
Disc.***
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to advice
TAC*
landings**
& slipping
catch
1987 Given by stock component
442
616
11
655
610
622
36
680
532
576
7
590
562
580
16
628
612
609
31
668
707
729
25
760
767
784
18
825
837
794
5
821
645
729
8
756
452
509
11
564
470
517
19
570
1998 F between 0.15 and 0.2
498
549
627
8
667
1999 F of 0.15 consistent with PA
437
562
585
n/a
640
2000 F = 0.17: Fpa
642
612
655
2
738
2001 F = 0.17: Fpa
665
670
660
1
737
2002 F = 0.17: Fpa
694
683
685
24
773
2003 F = 0.17: Fpa
542
583
600
9
670
2004 F = 0.17: Fpa
545
532
587
11
650
2005 F = 0.15 to 0.20
[320420]
422
447
20
543
2006 F = 0.15 to 0.20
[373487]
444
318^
18
473
2007 F = 0.15 to 0.20
[390509]
502
558
8
579
2008 F = 0.15 to 0.20
[349456]
458
420
27
611
2009 F = 0.15 to 0.20
[443578]
605^^
442
13
735
2010 harvest control rule
[527572]
885^^^
862
7
869
2011 See scenarios
[529672]
959^^^
930
9
939
2012 Follow the management plan
[586639]
927^^^
877
15
893
[497542]
906^^^
927
5
932
[9271011]
1396^^^
1388
6
1393
[831906]
1235^^^
2016 MSY approach
667.385
n/a: not available.
* For all areas, except some catches in international waters in Subarea II.
*** Data on discards and slipping from only two fleets.
** Updated with ICES FishStat data.
^ Incomplete.
^^ Does not include the unilateral Norway/Faroe Islands TAC first declared in 2009, nor the Icelandic quota.
^^^ No internationally agreed quotas. Values presented are the sum of unilateral quotas.
379
Table 9.3.25.8
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. History of ICES advice, the agreed
TAC, and ICES estimates of catch for the Western component.
ICES
Predicted catch
Agreed
Disc.
ICES
Year
advice
corresp. to advice
TAC*
& slipping
catch**
1987
SSB = 1.5 mill. t; TAC
380
405
11
633
1988
F = F0.1; TAC; closed area; landing size
430
573
36
656
1989
Halt SSB decline; TAC
355
495
7
571
1990
TAC; F = F0.1
480
525
16
606
1991
TAC; F = F0.1
500
575
31
647
1992
TAC for both 1992 and 1993
670
670
25
742
1993
TAC for both 1992 and 1993
670
730
18
805
1994
No long-term gains in increased F
831***
800
5
796
1995
20% reduction in F
530
608
8
728
1996
No separate advice
422
11
529
1997
No separate advice
416
19
529
1998
No separate advice
514
8
623
1999
No separate advice
520
0
597
2000
No separate advice
573
2
703
2001
No separate advice
630
1
694
2002
No separate advice
642
24
723
2003
No separate advice
548
9
644
2004
No separate advice
500
11
615
2005
No separate advice
397
20
494
2006
No separate advice
418
17
420
2007
No separate advice
472
8
519
2008
No separate advice
431
27
552
2009
No separate advice
569
13
627
2010
No separate advice
^
4
817
2011
No separate advice
^
8
920
2012
No separate advice
^
11
864
2013
No separate advice
^
2
910
2014
No separate advice
^
6
1342
2015
No separate advice
^
2016
No separate advice
* TAC for mackerel taken in all Divisions and Subareas VI, VII, VIIIa,b,d, Vb, IIa, IIIa, and IVa.
** Landings and discards of the Western component; includes some catches from the North Sea component.
*** Catch at status quo F.
^ No internationally agreed TAC.
380
Table 9.3.25.9
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa . History of ICES advice, the agreed
TAC, and ICES estimates of catch for the North Sea component.
ICES
Predicted catch
Agreed
ICES
Year
advice
corresp. to advice* TAC**
catch
1987
Lowest practical level
LPL
55
3
1988
Closed areas and seasons; min. landing size; bycatch regulations
LPL
55
6
1989
LPL
49.2
7
1990
LPL
45.2
10
1991
LPL
65.5
n/a
1992
LPL
76.3
n/a
1993
Maximum protection; closed areas and seasons; min. landing size
LPL
83.1
n/a
1994
LPL
95.7
n/a
1995
LPL
76.3
n/a
1996
LPL
52.8
n/a
1997
LPL
52.8
n/a
1998
LPL
62.5
n/a
1999
LPL
62.5
n/a
2000
LPL
69.7
n/a
2001
LPL
71.4
n/a
2002
LPL
72.9
n/a
2003
LPL
62.5
n/a
2004
LPL
57.7
n/a
2005
LPL
44.9
n/a
2006
LPL
47.1
n/a
2007
LPL
53.1
n/a
2008
LPL
48.6
n/a
2009
LPL
63.8
n/a
2010
LPL
n/a
2011
LPL
n/a
2012
LPL
n/a
2013
LPL
n/a
2014
LPL
n/a
2015
LPL
2016
LPL
LPL = Lowest Practical Level.
* Subarea IV and Division IIIa.
** TAC for Subarea IV, Divisions IIIa and IIIbd (EU zone), and Division IIa (EU zone).
n/a: no information available.
381
Table 9.3.25.10 Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and
ICES estimates of catch for the Southern component.
ICES
Predicted catch corresp.
Agreed
ICES
Year
advice
to advice
TAC*
catch
1987
Reduce juvenile exploitation
36.57
22
1988
36.57
25
1989
No advice
36.57
18
1990
36.57
21
1991
36.57
21
1992
No advice
36.57
18
1993
No advice
36.57
20
1994
No advice
36.57
25
1995
No advice
36.57
28
1996
No separate advice
30.00
34
1997
No separate advice
30.00
41
1998
No separate advice
35.00
44
1999
No separate advice
35.00
44
2000
No separate advice
39.20
36
2001
No separate advice
40.18
43
2002
No separate advice
41.10
50
2003
No separate advice
35.00
26
2004
No separate advice
32.31
35
2005
No separate advice
24.87
50
2006
No separate advice
26.18
53
2007
No separate advice
29.61
63
2008
No separate advice
27.01
60
2009
No separate advice
35.83
108
2010
No separate advice
33.88
52
2011
No separate advice
37.14
19
2012
No separate advice
36.74
29
2013
No separate advice
31.16
22
2014
No separate advice
56.64
51
2015
No separate advice
2016
No separate advice
*Division VIIIc, Subareas IX and X, and CECAF Division 34.1.1 (EU waters only).

Table 9.3.25.11 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. Catch distribution by fleet in 2014 as
estimated by ICES.
Total catch
Landings
Discards
78% pelagic trawl
22% purse-seine nets
Are known to take place but are only
1 394 454 t
quantified for part of the fisheries
1 388 003 t
(0.5% in weight in 2014)
382
383
Table 9.3.25.12 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. History of
country (combined Southern, Western, and North Sea spawning components).
Country
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
Belgium
20
37
125
102
191
Denmark
36853
34264
35800
41505
42164
42502
Estonia
616
Faroe Islands
2622
5032
10000
11131
3347
12575
France
10706
14911
19000
6480
962
3836
Germany, Fed. Rep.
16457
22512
21600
14537
13719
13236
Germany, Dem. Rep.
2409
Greenland
Guernsey
Iceland
Ireland
85800
69980
74300
30138
35088
36982
Jersey
Latvia
311
4700
Lithuania
Netherlands
28664
31343
38200
69418
82860
89543
Norway
163450
150400
151700
208266
239965
257800
Poland
600
Portugal
4388
3112
3819
2789
3576
2015
Romania
Spain
21884
16609
17892
22011
17234
20864
Sweden
1003
6601
6400
4227
5100
5934
United Kingdom
210815
187760
193900
200019
232829
256275
USSR/Russia
27924
12088
28900
13361
42440
49600
Misreported
Unallocated
34330
25361
8100
12956
15038
Discards
35576
7090
15600
30750
25000
18380
Total
680492
589509
625211
667713
760351
815033
46470
4714
321821
53732
5679
18864
742969
3023
33371
5307
146205
44545
10839
11415
563610
2893
29165
6285
212147
44537
18647
29228
7721
774108
2158
2903
27113
7099
237841
28041
109625
4632
5370
931194
36760
136436
23700
137523
22
2080
35789
202205
44335
258094
233
389
1508
925
53129
92
54313
78534
89028
1997
114
21971
4422
11513
20916
15374
62
28526
3741
16851
15663
16227
1996
1995
106
36780
2286
31199
11782
24415
1994
351
50142
3302
21568
11573
26508
11498
8030
666682
44607
5146
185948
67836
2897
30163
158177
357
66650
1998
125
27416
7356
11229
17835
21412
634545
45915
5233
160152
51348
211
38996
2002
28621
160738
59675
1999
177
30011
3595
11620
16367
19949
38321
4994
184902
50772
4816
66235
3832
731459
2253
2085
32385
174098
71233
2000
146
29177
2673
21023
19445
22979
catch and landings, both the official and ICES estimated values are presented by
384
Country
Belgium
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
France
Germany, Fed. Rep.
Germany, Dem. Rep.
Greenland
Guernsey
Iceland
Ireland
Jersey
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
USSR/Russia
Misreported
Unallocated
Discards
Total
33444
184291
2934
50123
5232
194045
45811
6009
50543
23774
771007
36095
180372
3119
44142
5098
192631
41567
62825
1188
730774
53
72172
59172
9481
668833
23762
445
183008
40026
2749
30424
163406
122
67355
41335
19962
660491
4437
214771
49489
2289
27532
157363
61102
68414
25788
549514
3204
152801
40495
22734
119678
570
1509
363
45687
9
4954
26594
481276
12453
15444
586206
62946
3858
133688
35408
7
24244
131691
978
2605
95
24157
121993
1368
2620
54136
3209
95815
33580
36706
49259
6
10
4222
40664
8
1069
37075
623165
64637
3664
1123941
32728
2381
19972
121524
112286
44760
7
-139
15934
737969
114074
7303
157010
41414
1753
23568
121229
116160
61056
8
5271
13045
875515
52737
3429
160417
59310
2363
23088
233952
121008
57994
6
5961
10894
946661
18725
3248
180972
73601
962
23
28395
208065
62
10
159263
61596
7
5237
15174
894684
19386
4564
169745
74587
824
25817
176023
7402
5
149282
63049
8
618
9457
3336
6451
4732
933165 139445
16414 37806
4422
2906
163807 287851
80817 116433
254
9598
21159 46665
164607 277731
54148 78581
9
9
151235 172960
56511 103178
7
8
Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. History of catch and landings, both the official and ICES estimated values are
presented by country (combined Southern, Western, and North Sea spawning components).
2014
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
56
22
2
5
1
3
1
2
3
29
21
39
62
34376
27900
25665
23212
24219
25223
26726
23491
41445
35958
36501
33218 42222
1367
19768
14014
13030
9769
12067
13430
11289
14062
70987
122050
107630
143001 150236
21878
22906
20266
16338
14953
20038
15602
18340
11379
12766
20467
14643 21719
26532
24061
23244
19040
16608
18221
15502
22703
19055
24083
18944
20931 28456
70452
97
22522
219
24184
20956
25307
2001
Table 9.3.25.12 (continued)
385
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Y EA
Ldg
4800
3900
10200
13000
52200
64100
64800
67800
74800
151700
203300
218700
335100
340400
320500
306100
388140
104100
183700
115600
121300
114800
109500
141906
133497
134338
145626
129895
65044
110141
116362
187595
143142
136847
135690
134033
1
83
12931
1399
1705
3100
2600
5800
10700
9620
2670
1390
74
255
2240
71
15100
20300
6000
2500
4100
2300
1600
2735
Disc
S UBAREA VI
Catch
4800
3900
10200
13000
52200
64100
64800
67800
74800
166800
223600
224700
337600
344500
322800
307700
390875
104100
183700
118700
123900
120600
120200
151526
136167
135728
145700
130150
67284
110212
116362
187595
143142
149778
137089
134738
S UBAREA VII AND

D IVISIONS VIII ABDE
Ldg
Disc
Catch
47404
47404
72822
72822
89745
89745
130280
130280
144807
144807
207665
207665
395995
395995
420920
420920
259100
259100
355500 35500
391000
398000 39800
437800
386100 15600
401700
274300 39800
314100
257800 20800
278600
235000
9000
244000
161400 10500
171900
75043
1800
76843
128499
128499
100300
100300
75600
2700
78300
72900
2300
75200
56300
5500
61800
50500 12800
63300
72153 12400
84553
99828 12790
112618
113088
2830
115918
117883
6917
124800
73351
9773
83124
114719 13817
128536
105181
3206
108387
94290
94290
115566
1918
117484
142890
1081
143971
102484
2260
104744
90356
5712
96068
103703
5991
109694
S UBAREAS III
AND IV
Ldg
Disc
Catch
739175
739175
322451
322451
243673
243673
188599
188599
326519
326519
298391
298391
263062
263062
305709
305709
259531
259531
148817
148817
152323
500
152823
87931
87931
64172
3216
67388
35033
450
35483
40889
96
40985
43696
202
43898
46790
3656
50446
23309
7431
243740
290829 10789
301618
308550 29766
338316
279410
2190
281600
300800
4300
305100
358700
7200
365900
364184
2980
367164
387838
2720
390558
471247
1150
472397
321474
730
322204
211451
1387
212838
226680
2807
229487
264947
4735
269682
313014
313014
285567
165
304898
327200
24
339971
375708
8583
394878
354109 11785
365894
306040 11329
317369
S UBAREAS I,II,V
AND XIV
Ldg
Disc
Catch
7
7
163
163
358
358
88
88
21600
21600
6800
6800
34700
34700
10500
10500
1400
1400
4200
4200
7000
7000
8300
8300
18700
18700
37600
37600
49000
49000
98222
98222
78000
78000
101000
101000
47000
47000
120404
120404
90488
90488
118700
118700
97800
97800
139062
139062
165973
165973
72309
72309
135496
135496
103376
103376
103598
103598
134219
134219
72848
72848
92557
92557
67097
67097
73929
73929
53883
53883
62913
9
62922
D IVISIONS VIII C
AND IX A
Ldg
Disc
Catch
42526
42526
70172
70172
32942
32942
29262
29262
25967
25967
30630
30630
25457
25457
23306
23306
25416
25416
25909
25909
21932
21932
12280
12280
16688
16688
21076
21076
14853
14853
20208
20208
18111
18111
24789
24789
22187
22187
24772
24772
18321
18321
21311
21311
20683
20683
18046
18046
19720
19720
25043
25043
27600
27600
34123
34123
40708
40708
44 164
44164
43796
43796
36074
36074
43198
43198
49576
49576
25823
531
26354
34840
928
35769
Ldg
833912
469508
376918
361229
571093
607586
784014
828235
620247
686126
782555
713311
708960
691909
660242
629626
606084
594697
644016
644926
582419
611911
637183
735351
806856
816025
748079
552196
550749
658652
640311
736524
736274
749131
659831
640529
2084
1188
23774
19427
19962
50600
60600
21600
45516
25350
11396
12302
8191
7431
10789
35566
7090
15600
30700
25000
18180
5370
7721
11415
18864
8012
Disc
T OTAL
Catch
833912
469508
376918
361229
571093
607586
784014
828235
620247
736726
843155
734911
754476
717259
671638
641928
614275
602128
654805
680492
589509
627511
667883
760351
825036
821395
755800
563611
569613
666664
640311
738608
737462
772905
679288
660491
Table 9.3.25.13 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. History of catch and landings, both the official and ICES estimated values are presented by area.
386
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Y EA
Ldg
79960
88077
110788
76358
135468
106732
160756
121115
132062
180068
Disc
8201
6081
2450
21889
3927
2904
1836
952
273
340
S UBAREA VI
Catch
88162
94158
113238
98247
139395
109636
162592
122067
132335
180408
S UBAREA VII AND

D IVISIONS VIII ABDE
Ldg
Disc
Catch
90278 12158
102436
66209
8642
74851
71235
7727
78962
73954
5462
79416
88287
2921
91208
104128
4614
108741
51098
5317
56415
65728
9701
75429
49871
1652
51523
93709
1402
95111
S UBAREAS III
AND IV
Ldg
Disc
Catch
249741
4633
254374
200929
8263
209192
253013
4195
257208
227252
8862
236113
226928
8120
235049
246818
883
247700
301746
1906
303652
218400
1089
219489
260921
337
261258
383887
334
384221
S UBAREAS I,II,V
AND XIV
Ldg
Disc
Catch
54129
54129
46716
46716
72891
72891
148669
112
148781
163604
163604
355725
5
355729
398132
28
398160
449325
1
449326
465714
15
465729
684082
91
684173
D IVISIONS VIII C
AND IX A
Ldg
Disc
Catch
49618
796
50414
52751
3607
56358
62834
1072
63906
59859
750
60609
107747
966
108713
49068
4640
53708
24036
1807
25843
24941
3431
28372
19733
2455
22188
46257
4284
50541
Ldg
523726
454587
570762
586090
722035
862470
935767
879510
928433
1388003
Disc
25788
26594
15444
37075
15934
13045
10894
15174
4732
6451
T OTAL
Catch
549514
481181
586206
623165
737969
875515
946661
894684
933165
1394454

Table 9.3.25.14 Mackerel in Subareas IVII and XIV and Divisions VIIIae and IXa. Assessment summary with weights
(in tonnes). Recruitment in thousands.
Landings
Discards
1837139
713311
21600
Mean
F
(Ages
48)
0.196
7160139
1830244
708960
45516
0.196
0.338
0.114
6439104
2063884
691909
25350
0.197
0.33
0.118
4004783
6178215
2595942
660242
11396
0.198
0.323
0.122
3110581
4260939
6105130
2973826
629626
12302
0.2
0.317
0.127
2233008
4155736
5672384
3044600
606084
8191
0.205
0.316
0.133
6687830
2272066
3711698
4920693
2799748
594697
7431
0.212
0.317
0.141
5101270
8602127
3025177
3730303
4942689
2815302
644016
10789
0.22
0.32
0.151
3671093
6133769
2197168
3634565
4693833
2814345
644926
35566
0.229
0.325
0.161
1989
4036950
6725252
2423250
3382075
4283067
2670617
582419
7090
0.243
0.336
0.176
1990
3298571
5698879
1909248
3402429
4218626
2744145
611911
15600
0.261
0.353
0.194
1991
3798056
6306050
2287523
3265750
3975679
2682592
637183
30700
0.284
0.379
0.214
1992
4295163
7116453
2592362
2931427
3501262
2454334
735351
25000
0.308
0.408
0.233
1993
3506048
5845601
2102841
2602544
3106875
2180080
806856
18180
0.328
0.433
0.248
1994
3495545
5808773
2103514
2280716
2712795
1917456
816025
5370
0.337
0.442
0.257
1995
3051061
5148109
1808232
2264807
2675541
1917126
748079
7721
0.326
0.417
0.255
1996
3992787
6968426
2287797
2145751
2535633
1815817
552196
11415
0.304
0.383
0.242
1997
3207492
5525366
1861960
2124400
2480121
1819700
550749
18864
0.29
0.365
0.23
1998
3645485
5464701
2431892
2143606
2520944
1822748
658652
8012
0.295
0.369
0.236
1999
3984809
5857421
2710870
2305942
2704577
1966064
640311
0.314
0.384
0.257
2000
3150274
4481104
2214683
2213311
2542641
1926636
736524
2084
0.338
0.392
0.29
2001
4601993
6508242
3254080
2074021
2360878
1822019
736274
1188
0.378
0.44
0.325
2002
7579820
11623041
4943084
1955194
2250169
1698887
749131
23774
0.415
0.486
0.355
2003
2813669
3967791
1995250
1945442
2264254
1671520
659831
19427
0.445
0.528
0.375
2004
3269017
4762675
2243797
2315185
2728586
1964417
640529
19962
0.42
0.498
0.355
2005
4338330
6318801
2978588
2180359
2615150
1817855
523726
25788
0.345
0.407
0.292
2006
8186524
12823628
5226226
2071948
2477162
1733020
454587
26594
0.327
0.388
0.276
2007
3949107
5596881
2786453
2191288
2583222
1858819
570762
15444
0.373
0.441
0.316
2008
4282297
6082340
3014969
2605148
3115555
2178358
586090
37075
0.348
0.412
0.294
2009
4061244
5764218
2861395
3109586
3726343
2594909
722035
15934
0.311
0.371
0.261
2010
5015281
7138834
3523411
3328392
3935986
2814592
862470
13045
0.3
0.359
0.251
2011
5909076
8475753
4119655
3749001
4455501
3154530
935767
10894
0.298
0.36
0.246
2012
4569891
6523620
3201276
3446949
4099904
2897984
877390
14963
0.285
0.349
0.232
Year
Recruitment
(Age0)
1980
High
Low
SSB
High
Low
8293644
22158240
3104242
4000780
8712593
1981
5416714
9842497
2981032
3620056
1982
2972756
5653922
1563035
3645485
1983
2733245
5458475
1368629
1984
5683058
10382996
1985
3925483
6900745
1986
3898101
1987
1988
High
Low
0.348
0.11
2013
3084808
4628577
2055932
3623678
4323146
3037380
927067
4664
0.302
0.373
0.244
2014
5080975*
12512766
4518723
4159893
5205779
3324135
1388003
6451
0.339
0.427
0.269
2015
4052792**
3620056
4874461
2688462
4332012
7299826
2723199
3005646
3974962
2331923
702963
16570
0.296
0.384
0.231
Average
*RCT3 estimate.
** Geometric mean 19902013.
387

ICES. 2014. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Pelagic Stocks (WKPELA), 1721 February 2014,
Section 9.3.25.
ICES. 2015c. EU, Norway, and the Faroe Islands request to ICES to evaluate a multiannual management
strategy for mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in the Northeast Atlantic. In Report of the ICES Advisory
ICES. 2015d. EU, Norway, and the Faroe Islands request to ICES on the management of mackerel (Scomber
scombrus) in the Northeast Atlantic. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015,
Book 9, Section 9.2.3.3.
388
Western Horse Mackerel

(Divisions IIa, IVa,Vb,VIa,VIIac,ek,VIII)

ICES advice is based on the MSY approach and recommends that catches in
2016 should be no more than 126,103 t. FEAS agrees with the ICES advice
and notes that this stock has been subject to the landing obligation since
2015. There is no proposed quota uplift as ICES considers discards to be
negligible.
According to the most recent assessment, fishing mortality has been rising
since 2007 and is likely at or just below FMSY in 2015. SSB is declining and is
close to MSY Btrigger and recruitment has been low since 2004.
Work to develop a management plan is underway between Irish, UK and Dutch scientists and the
Pelagic Advisory Council. The current MSY based advice implies an Irish quota for 2016 of about
27,500 t. There are fisheries outside of the TAC area. FEAS notes that unless there is strong
recruitment, SSB and consequently catches will fall in the immediate future irrespective of whether
there is a management plan in place or not.
There is no current agreed long term management plan for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC only applies to EU waters. There are fisheries

outside the TAC areas that are not limited by the TAC.
Since 2005, when it was determined that catches from

Division VIIIc were from the western stock, the ICES
advice for the western stock has included Division VIIIc.
The EU however continues to set a separate TAC for VIIIc.
The sum of the agreed TACs for 2015 in Sub-areas VI, and
Divisions IIa, IVa, VIIa-c, VIIe-k and VIII was 99,304 t, of
which the Irish quota was 21,621 t.
The TACs proposed by the commission only cover EU

waters whereas the ICES advice covers all waters where
the stock is fished.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 21621 t
DEN 8320 t
GER 6492 t
FRA 3341 t
NL 26046 t
UK 7829 t
SPA 8855 t
POR 853 t
SWE 675 t
9.3.18 Western horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)

(Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, VIIac,ek, and VIIIae)
ICESstockadvice
389

The stock and the fishery are very dependent on occasional high recruitments. The very high 1982 recruitment
gave a peak in SSB in 1988, and the relatively high one in 2001 gave a moderate increase in SSB up to 2009. In
recent years, SSB has been declining and is currently just above MSY Btrigger. Fishing mortality has been
increasing since 2007, but remains just below FMSY. Recruitment has been low from 2002 onwards.
Figure9.3.18.1 Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. Summary of stock
assessment.Predictedvaluesarenotshaded.

Table 9.3.18.1
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. State
fishery relative to reference points.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
2014
13
14
MSY
Maximum
FMSY
Below
sustainable yield
Btrigger
Precautionary
Fpa,
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
approach
Flim
Management plan
FMGT
Not applicable
SSBMGT
of the stock and
2015
Above
Undefined
Not applicable
Catch options
Table 9.3.18.2
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac ,ek. The basis for the catch
options.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 110 (2015)
0.09
ICES (2015a)
Catch constraint
SSB (2016)
ICES (2015a)
718285t
SSBat1stJanuary,usedintheICESMSYadvicerule
Rage0 (20152017)
2449397
ICES (2015a)
GM 19832013
EU TAC which is also the expected catch. The catches
since 2007 have been below the total TAC (EU TAC plus
Catch (2015)
ICES (2015a)
97604t
national quotas of other countries) and closer to the EU
TAC.
390
Table 9.3.18.3
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. The catch options.
Catch
F
SSB
SSB
%SSB
% TAC
Rationale
Basis
(2016)
(2016)
(2016)*
(2017)*
change**
change***
MSY approach ^
126103
FMSY
0.13
626488
562151
10
27
Zero catch
0
F=0
671401
696624
4
100
79443 20% TAC reduction
0.08
643386
610367
5
20
84408 15% TAC reduction
0.08
641676
605358
6
15
121571
F2014
0.12
628157
566789
10
22
Other options
99304 Advised TAC(2015)
0.1
636148
589371
7
0
114200
15% TAC increase
0.12
630879
574412
9
15
119165
20% TAC increase
0.12
628994
569123
10
20
Weights in tonnes.
* SSB at spawning time.
** SSB2017 relative to SSB2016 at spawning time.
*** Catch advice 2016 relative to last years TAC (2015) advice (99 304 tonnes).
^ ICES MSY advice rule is based on SSB back calculated to Jan 1st for this stock.
Basisoftheadvice
Table 9.3.18.4
Advice basis
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. The basis of the advice.
MSY approach.
ICES is not using the proposed management plan as basis for advice. The Pelagic RAC
proposed a management plan for horse mackerel in 2007 (ICES, 2014: see Annex 9.3.12.1).
Since 2011 ICES has not advised according to the management plan because it has been
Management plan
concluded that the management plan in its current configuration is not consistent with the
precautionary approach (PA) (ICES, 2013). However, this work also showed that the plan
could be made consistent with the PA through the introduction of a protection rule (ICES,
2013).
There is large uncertainty in the absolute estimates of SSB. The only fishery-independent information for this
stock is a measure of egg production from surveys conducted every three years. The assessment assumes that
fecundity is consistent over time. If this assumption is incorrect, the assessment results may be biased. A change
of perception of the stock occurred after the 2013 egg survey estimate was included in the assessment. A new
survey point is added only every third year.
The working group made a minor amendment to the 2014 catch data (+5%), but this was not included in the
final assessment. The impact of this is negligible.
Historically few countries provided data on discards; consequently, there is no estimate of the total amount of
discards in the historical data of horse mackerel fisheries. For 2014 most countries provided discard data which
are included in the assessment, showing that in 2014 discarding was negligible.
The landings fraction sampled to estimate biological parameters has increased for 2013; it is important to
maintain these levels of sampling to maintain the quality of catch-at-age data. As in previous years, and despite
the data sampling regulations for EU countries, some countries with major catches have not conducted
biological sampling programs.
Work is ongoing with the development of a fisheries-independent abundance or recruitment index through
combining a number of international bottom trawl surveys.
391
Figure 9.3.18.2 Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. Historical assessment
results (final-year recruitment estimates included).

Referencepoints
Table 9.3.18.5
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. Reference points,
values, and their technical basis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY Btrigger
634577 t Bloss 2014 assessment; SSB in 2001.
ICES (2014)
MSY approach
FMSY
0.13 F0.1 from the yield-per-recruit.
ICES (2010)
Not defined.
Blim
Bpa
Not defined.
Precautionary
approach
Flim
Not defined.
Fpa
Not defined.
Table 9.3.18.6
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. The basis of the
assessment.
Category 1 (ICES, 2015b).
Age-based analytical (Linked Separable Adapt VPA; ICES, 2015a) that uses catches in the
Assessment type
model and in the forecast.
Commercial catches: international catches and ages from catch sampling. One survey
index: Triennial egg survey index. One tuning index: potential fecundity vs. fish weight
Input data
1987, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001. Annual maturity data: constant since 1998.
Natural mortalities: constant = 0.15.
Discards are known to take place but are only quantified for part of the fisheries (discards
in 2014 were below 1.5% in weight, 95% of the landings covered), and are considered
negligible.
Indicators
None.
Other information
Benchmark planned for 2017.
Working group
Horse mackerel has been relatively easy to catch during the beginning of 2015. In the first quarter of the year
40% of the TAC had been caught, while the main fishery still had to take place. Several fisheries have reported
unexpected large quantities of horse mackerel in Divisions VIa and IVa in winter. The Irish industry reported
large shoals west of Ireland (Divisions VIIb,c) and west of Scotland (Division VIa). Substantial quantities of
small horse mackerel were also caught southwest of Ireland. The Danish industry reported a substantial influx of
horse mackerel in the Skagerrak.
392

Table 9.3.18.7
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. History of ICES advice,
the agreed TAC, and ICES estimates of landings and catch.
Predicted catch
Agreed
ICES
Discards
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to
TAC*
landings***
***
catch***
advice**
1987 Not assessed
155
157
157
102
169
184
4
188
1989 If sustained catches required; TAC
100
153
267
1
269
1990 TAC
~200
203
363
10
373
230
328
5
334
250
369
2
371
250
424
9
433
1994 Prudent not to increase F
300
385
4
389
1995 Reduction in catch
300
509
2
511
1996 Reduction in catch
300
379
17
397
1997 Reduction in F
173
300
440
3
443
1998 Reduction in F to 0.15
150
320
296
1
304
1999 Effectively limit catches to 200 000 t
< 200
265
274
274
< 200
240
175
175
< 224
233
191
191
< 98
150
172
172
< 113
137
190
190
2004 Limit catches to less than 130 000 t
< 130
137
157
1
158
< 150
137
182
1
182
< 150
137
155
0
155
< 150
137
123
0
123
2008 Follow proposed management plan
180
170
143^
0
143^
180
170
183^
0
183^
180
185
203^
15
218
2011 See scenarios
181229
184
193
7
200
2012 MSY framework
211
183
170
3
173
2013 MSY framework
126
183
161
4
165
2014 MSY approach
110.546
135
127
2
129.025
2015 MSY approach
99.304
97.604
2016 MSY approach
126.103
* Applies to EU waters only, 2014 and 2015 is EU TAC.
** Excluding Division VIIIc before 2005.
*** Excluding Division VIIIc before 2003.
^ Revised in 2015.

Table 9.3.18.8
Total catch
129 kt
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. Catch distribution by
fleet in 2014 as estimated by ICES.
Landings
Discards
23% pelagic pair
66% undefined
Discarding is known to take place and
11% purse seine
trawl
gear
is estimated at 1.5%; considered
negligible
127 kt
393
Table 9.3.18.9
Year
Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. History of catch and
landings, both the official and ICES estimated values are presented by area. Unallocated catch not
included.
IIa, Vb
IIIa
IVa
VIa,b
VIIac,e
k
VIIIa,b,d,e
VIIIc
Discards
Total Western
Stock
1982
6283
32231
3073
19610
61197
1983
412
24881
36926
2643
25580
90442
1984
23
94
31716
38782
2510
23119
500
96744
1985
79
203
33025
35296
4448
23292
7500
103843
1986
214
776
20343
72761
3071
40334
8500
145999
1987
3311
11185
35197
99942
7605
30098
187338
1988
6818
42174
45842
81978
7548
26629
3740
214729
1989
4809
85304*
34870
131218
11516
27170
1150
296037
1990
11414
14878
112753*
20794
182580
21120
25182
9930
398645
1991
4487
2725
63869*
34415
196926
25693
23733
5440
357288
1992
13457
2374
101752
40881
180937
29329
24243
1820
394793
1993
3168
850
134908
53782
204318
27519
25483
8600
458628
1994
759
2492
106911
69546
194188
11044
24147
3935
413022
1995
13133
128
90527
83486
320102
1175
27534
2046
538131
1996
3366
18356
81259
252823
23978
24290
16870
420942
1997
2617
65073**
40145
318101
11677
29129
2921
471700
1998
2540***
17011
35043
232451
15662
22906
830
326443
1999
2557^
2095
47316
40381
158715
22824
24188
2000
1169^^
1105
4524
20657
115245
32227
21984
196911
2001
60
72
11456
24636
100676
54293
20828
212090
2002
1324
179
36855
14190
86878
32450
22110
2003
24
1974
21272
23254
101948
21732
19979
2004
47
11841
21929
98984
8353
15772
701
157627
2005
176
26315
22054
91431
26483
14775
760
181994
2006
30
27152
15722
77970
20651
13470
99
155094
2007
366
110
4940
26279
63223
14428
13960
102
123408
2008
572^^^
12014
25902
67325
14537
19345
43
139741
2009
1847
58738
17775
65122
12452
20903
81
176918
2010
1627
88
11516
22641
114483
2042
37505
15366
205268
2011
648
14724
39298
103156
2303
32943
6522
199593
2012
66
3312
44975
104098
5051
12351
3280
173142
2013
30
19
6703
43264
83683
9212
17773
4401
165085
424
4096
10573
32444
48747
4118
26727
1896
129025
2014
2037
298076
305
194292
190183
Weight in tonnes.
* Norwegian catches in Division IVb included.
** Norwegian catches in Division IVb included (1426 t).
*** Includes 1937 t from Division Vb.
^ Includes 132 t from Division Vb.
^^ Includes 250 t from Division Vb.
^^^ All from Division Vb.
394
395
13.084
6.108
10.152
11.739
11.480
1.021
8.353
7.617
5.261
6.009
5.941
6.109
4.002
6.829
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
1.795
8.271
0.260
12.626
12.748
11.034
10.690
8.060
10.383
18.951
15.145
20.457
25.141
17.063
21.114
17.688
15.121
11.708
5.784
10.863
16.734
17.830
15.826
12.614
11.493
13.348
17.629
27.872
28.533
9.826
22.663
1999
24.267
39.188
2014
5.945
3.428
29.542
1998
Germany,
Fed.Rep.
24.835
62.897
1997
France
3.593
Denmark
Year
32.667
35.791
45.242
38.464
44.488
40.754
35.612
30.091
26.779
35.361
26.431
35.855
36.483
51.874
55.300
57.956
70.811
74.250
Ireland
25.053
53.697
66.396
55.692
61.504
39.451
43.648
29.083
37.130
43.445
40.987
47.327
42.019
73.439
57.971
75.333
92.535
82.885
Netherlands
14.353
6.596
3.251
13.755
11.978
59.764
1.223
4.182
27.114
25.113
10.751
20.315
36.689
7.956
2.087
46.410
13.363
45.058
Norway
19.442
22.541
13.560
34.581
38.744
21.077
19.851
14.257
13.878
16.636
16.272
24.588
23.214
23.053
22.669
25.123
14.882
31.087
Spain
4.832
3.959
12.122
11.716
12.714
6.482
3.365
5.482
3.583
3.560
4.617
4.440
5.971
7.096
1.555
9.257
12.162
19.778
UK (Engl.
+ Wales)
3.036
2.843
1.335
3.369
2.743
1.671
7.475
6.799
8.727
4.430
5.962
1.805
4.184
8.132
9.235
14.175
20.034
36.371
Other
countries
10.441
4.401
8.375
6.522
22.083
-6.929
2.337
7.365
7.633
25.023
15.957
17.905
4.015
7.794
1.205
4.389
20.975
51.653
Unallocated +
discards
129.025
165.087
173.141
199.593
218.143
183.400
143.106
123.408
155.094
181.994
158.328
190.183
194.292
212.090
196.911
298.076
326.443
471.700
Total
Table 9.3.18.10 Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. History of catch and landings, both the official and ICES estimated values are presented by
country.

Table 9.3.18.11 Horse mackerel in Subarea VIII and Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, and VIIac, ek. Assessment summary
with weights in tonnes and recruitment in thousands.
Year
R(age0)
SSB**
TSB
Catch
Yield/SSB
F(13)
F(48)
F(110)
1982
68032700
1822660 2097975
61197
0.034
0.018
0.029
0.023
1983
526707
1777640 2040600
90442
0.051
0.008
0.084
0.065
1984
1551200
1599340 4089199
96744
0.060
0.004
0.088
0.066
1985
2788350
2581900 4941143
103843
0.040
0.010
0.043
0.034
1986
3911490
3281450 5191489
145999
0.044
0.002
0.058
0.053
1987
5209280
3843960 5115406
187338
0.049
0.000
0.035
0.031
1988
1998970
4361100 5017377
214729
0.049
0.003
0.049
0.038
1989
2110830
3989020 4774216
296037
0.074
0.003
0.045
0.046
1990
1836840
3396650 4156095
398645
0.117
0.031
0.066
0.084
1991
3344910
3220720 3929771
357288
0.111
0.036
0.119
0.100
1992
6129400
2637580 3192412
394793
0.150
0.064
0.083
0.117
1993
7231120
2458820 3030160
458628
0.187
0.028
0.142
0.104
1994
7532210
2078060 2746582
413022
0.199
0.110
0.119
0.120
1995
4375160
1600240 2365943
538131
0.336
0.099
0.190
0.178
1996
2362390
1451670 2276455
420942
0.290
0.134
0.114
0.131
1997
2008420
1240440 2067004
471700
0.380
0.149
0.276
0.284
1998
3226040
1026430 1569803
326443
0.318
0.148
0.207
0.242
1999
3960480
963625 1406467
298076
0.309
0.091
0.247
0.272
2000
4183550
885165 1252197
196911
0.222
0.047
0.167
0.163
2001
16427100
606007 1042332
212090
0.350
0.070
0.206
0.191
2002
3815000
720761 1212952
194292
0.270
0.054
0.149
0.134
2003
2788650
783084 1730547
190183
0.243
0.078
0.117
0.119
2004
1547820
945880 1995686
157627
0.167
0.056
0.093
0.098
2005
1013890
1341390 2066867
181994
0.136
0.109
0.092
0.105
2006
991274
1348350 1767190
155094
0.115
0.045
0.066
0.063
2007
1631090
1241670 1534173
123408
0.099
0.056
0.064
0.059
2008
3853390
1347480 1631200
143106
0.106
0.063
0.075
0.072
2009
1666080
1419420 1759164
183400
0.129
0.047
0.092
0.081
2010
697595
1141150 1637262
218143
0.191
0.072
0.141
0.124
2011
856096
1058020 1495420
199593
0.189
0.065
0.126
0.111
2012
2330290
956537 1239484
173141
0.181
0.073
0.141
0.125
2013
651330
854205 1093927
165085
0.188
0.075
0.145
0.128
2014
2449397*
838100 1143955
129025
0.154
2015
2449397*
723560
* R(age 0) is the geometric mean of the time-series 1983 to 2013.; ** On 1st January.
0.072
0.141
0.124

ICES. 2010. Report of the Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE), 28 August3 September 2010, Vigo,
Spain. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:12.
ICES. 2013. EC request to ICES to evaluate possible modifications of the long-term management arrangement for the
Western horse mackerel stock. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2013. ICES Advice 2013, Book 9, Section
9.3.3.4.
ICES. 2014. Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, VIIac, ek, and VIIIae (Western
stock). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 9, Section 9.3.12.
ICES. 2015a. Report of the Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE), 2531 August 2015, Pasaia, Spain.
396
North Sea Horse Mackerel

(Division IIIa (eastern part), Divisions IVb,c and VIId)

ICES advice for this stock follows the precautionary approach with advised
catches in 2016 of less than 15,200 t. FEAS agrees with this advice. This
stock has been subject to the landing obligation since 2015. There is no
proposed quota uplift as ICES considers discards to be negligible.
North Sea Horse Mackerel is an ICES Category 5 stock. Survey information
indicates a stock which is stable at a low biomass but likely being
overexploited.
The TAC was significantly reduced in 2015 and is expected to result in an
increased quota uptake (from approximately 50% between 2010 and 2014). FEAS notes that until
2015, TACs were set in excess of the advice. The ICES advice for 2016 is the same as 2015 and
would result in an Irish quota of approximately 350 t (depending on the allocation made for
Norway).
There is no management plan in place for North Sea Horse Mackerel.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
2015 EU Quota Allocations
The stock distribution area is Divisions IIIa, IVb,c, VIId and IVa
in quarters 1 & 2.
New stock abundance indices and a management plan for the

fishery are being developed.
The agreed TAC applies to EU waters in Division IVb,c and

VIId. There is no TAC covering Norwegian waters or the
small EU fisheries in IIIa.
The agreed TAC for 2015 in Division IVb,c and VIId was
15,200 t, of which the EU TAC was 11,650 t and Irish quota
was 347 t.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 347 t
BEL 13 t
DEN 5519 t
GER 487 t
FRA 458 t
NL 3323 t
UK 1314 t
SPA 102 t
POR 12 t
SWE 75 t
6.3.13 North Sea horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus)

Divisions IIIa, IVb,c, and VIId (North Sea stock)
ICESstockadvice
15 200 tonnes.
397

The available information, while broadly informative, is insufficient to evaluate 2014 biomass and exploitation
status. Both the IBTS Q3 and the CGFS indices of 2+ horse mackerel indicate that the adult stock is relatively
stable at a low level. Recruitment has been low with some indications of increases in the last few years. Catches
in recent years have been declining slowly with an average around 23 kt (20112013), dropping to 13.4 kt in
2014.
StandardisedDLNindex:HOM20+cm
StandardisedDLNindex:HOM019cm
30
Valuerelativeto20062014mean
Valuerelativeto20062014mean
12
10
8
6
3per.Mov.Avg.
(IBTS)
3per.Mov.Avg.
(CGFS)
2
0
1990
Figure6.3.13.1
1995
2000
2005
2010
25
20
15
3per.Mov.Avg.
(IBTS)
10
3per.Mov.Avg.
(CGFS)
5
0
1990
2015
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
Horse mackerelin Divisions IIIa,IVb,c, and VIId.Top: Catches inquarters 1 and2 from Divisions IIIa
and IVa, and in all quarters from Divisions IVb,c, and VIId. Bottom: Deltalognormal indices derived
from the IBTS and CGFS surveys in the North Sea (Divisions IVb,c) and eastern English Channel
(Division VIId), respectively. Left: young fish 019 cm. Right: older fish (20+ cm ~ age 2+). The
abundance index values are standardized to the 20062014 mean. The plots show the threeyear
runningmeantrendline.
Table6.3.13.1
HorsemackerelinDivisionsIIIa,IVb,c,andVIId.Stateofthestockandfisheryrelativetoreferencepoints.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
12
13
2014
13
14
2015
MSY
Maximum
FMSY
Undefined
Undefined
sustainable yield
Btrigger
Precautionary
Fpa,
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
approach
Flim
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Not applicable
Qualitative
Unknown
Stable and low
evaluation
398
Catchoptions
ICES advised significant reduction in catches for 2015. This led to a nearly 50% reduction in the agreed TAC
(2014 to 2015) for this stock. The impact of this reduction in TAC on the catch in 2015 and the stock cannot yet
be observed; hence, no further change in advised catches is considered necessary for 2016.
Table 6.3.13.2
Horse mackerel in Divisions IIIa, IVb,c, and VIId. For stocks in ICES data categories 36, one catch
option is provided.
Recent advised catch for 2015
15 200 t
Discard rate
Negligible
Not applied
Catch advice*
15200t
*Recent advised catch.
Basisoftheadvice
Table6.3.13.3 HorsemackerelinDivisionsIIIa,IVb,c,andVIId.Thebasisoftheadvice.
Advice basis
There is no management plan for horse mackerel in this area. ICES evaluated a proposed
harvestcontrolruleforamultiannualplanforhorsemackerelintheNorthSea(ICES,2014).
Management plan
None of the options were considered as being in accordance with the precautionary
approach.
In 2015 an additional survey index was provided (the French CGFS survey in Division VIId). This additional
survey indicates the abundance in the main fishing area for this stock (Division VIId). Both surveys are very
uncertain and individual years are not indicative of trends.
Given the uncertainty in the indices used it is unclear how the reduction in catches to 2014 has impacted on the
stock at present, and the advice is to maintain catches at a low level until the indices clearly indicate a change in
stock abundance.

Referencepoints
Noreferencepointsaredefinedforthisstock.
Table6.3.13.4 HorsemackerelinDivisionsIIIa,IVb,c,andVIId.Thebasisoftheassessment.
5 (ICES 2015a).
Noassessment.
Assessment type
Input data
Commercial catch.
Indicators
Juvenile and adult survey indices from areas IV (IBTS Q3) and VIId (CGFS).
This stock has not been benchmarked. It is recommended to benchmark this stock together
Other information
with the Western horse mackerel stock in 2017.
Working group
To improve the knowledge base for North Sea horse mackerel, a project has been initiated in 2015 by the
Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA) together with IMARES and University College Dublin. The project
aims to provide additional information on stock boundaries and mixing between North Sea and Western horse
mackerel, and to explore or develop potential new abundance indices for North Sea horse mackerel.
399
Table6.3.13.5
Year
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Horse mackerel in Divisions IIIa, IVb,c, and VIId. History of ICES advice, the agreed TAC, and ICES
estimatesofcatch.
Predicted catch
Agreed
ICES
ICES advice
corresp. to advice
TAC *
catch **
Not assessed
30
12
No advice
50
24
No advice
45
33
No advice
40
19
No advice
45
12
No advice
55
15
No advice
60
14
No advice
60
6
No advice
60
17
No advice
60
19
No advice
60
20
Develop and implement management plan
60
31
60
37
51
48
51
46
No increase in catch from 19821997
< 18
58
23
average
< 18
50
32
average
< 18
42
35
< 18
43
29
< 18
43
36
< 18
43
41
< 18
39
36
< 18
39
45
< 18
47
24
No advice
40
29
Reduce catches
44
23
Reduce catches by 20%
< 25.5
38
19
< 25.5
32
13
Significant reduction in catches
< 15.2
15.2
Same advice value as in 2015
15.2

* Until 2010 the TAC is for Division IIa and Subarea IV (EU waters only), 2010 onwards the TAC is for Divisions IVb,c and VIId (EU
waters only).
** Catch includes catch from Divisions IVa and IIIa (quarters 12 only).
400
Table6.3.13.6 HorsemackerelinDivisionsIIIa,IVb,c,andVIId.Catchdistributionbyfleetin2014asestimatedbyICES.
Total catch
Landings
Discards
59% Undefined
4% demersal
gear
bycatch
13.4 kt
Considered negligible (< 1%)
13.4 kt
Table6.3.13.7 HorsemackerelinDivisionsIIIa,IVb,c,andVIId.Historyofcommercialcatchandlandings,ICESestimated
valuesarepresentedbyarea.Weightsintonnes.
Year
IIIa
IVa
IVb,c
VIId
Discards
Total
1982
2788*
1247
4035
1983
4420*
3600
8020
1984
25893*
3585
29478
1985
22897
2715
26750
1986
19496
4756
24648
1987
1138
9477
1721
11634
1988
396
18290
3120
23671
1989
436
25830
6522
33265
1990
2261
17437
1325
18762
1991
913
11400
600
12000
1992
13955
688
400
15043
1993
3895
8792
930
13617
1994
2496
2503
630
5689
1995
112
7948
8666
30
16756
1996
1657
7558
9416
212
18843
1997
14078
5452
10
19540
1998
3693
10530
16194
83
30500
1999
9335
27889
37224
2000
25954
22471
48425
2001
85
69
8157
38114
46356
2002
12636
10723
20
23379
2003
48
623
10309
21098
32078
2004
351
18348
16455
35154
2005
357
13892
15460
62
29711
2006
1099
2661
7998
23790
78
35626
2007
63
2056
9118
29788
139
41164
2008
27
1003
2330
31389
34749
2009
38
72
18711
24366
1036
44223
2010
<1
100
1965
20188
2
22255
2011
0
10458
18886
29344
2012
1
4056
2596
14722
21375
2013
<1
17
1477
17202
18696
2
2
2596
10773
2014
8
13388
* Divisions IIIa and IVb,c combined.
401

Table6.3.13.8
Year
HorsemackerelinDivisionsIIIa,IVb,c,andVIId.RelativeindicesofabundancederivedfromtheIBTSQ3
(NorthSeaonly)andtheFrenchChannelGroundfishSurveyinQ4(CGFS,DivisionVIId).TheDLNindices
arederivedastheproductofthecpueinthepositive(nonzero)haulsandtheproportionofpositive
hauls.
IBTS Q3 Subarea IV
DLN IBTS_0
DLN
19cm
IBTS_20+cm
P(nonZero)
1990
1991
CGFS Q4 Division VIId

DLN CGFS_0
DLN CGFS_20+cm
19cm
6.17
1.28
P(non-Zero)
0.91
3.39
5.03
1.00
1992
478
68823
0.78
12.88
3.53
0.98
1993
279
58569
0.77
4.71
0.98
0.98
1994
554
51375
0.76
5.20
3.66
0.98
1995
104
54688
0.65
8.64
2.07
0.94
1996
208
98715
0.73
2.85
1.87
0.94
1997
1184
28743
0.70
2.33
1.54
0.97
1998
245
24014
0.74
1.88
1.39
0.98
1999
774
8005
0.68
3.27
1.10
0.95
2000
241
38015
0.64
3.71
0.41
0.94
2001
420
31967
0.60
2.81
1.21
0.95
2002
2073
16119
0.64
2.63
0.46
0.96
2003
2396
6363
0.67
4.31
0.42
0.98
2004
283
5083
0.66
3.08
0.52
0.96
2005
450
7417
0.53
2.09
0.73
0.92
2006
288
10923
0.53
1.60
0.98
0.92
2007
193
2044
0.51
1.56
0.53
0.88
2008
257
789
0.51
0.72
0.24
0.86
2009
234
1500
0.50
1.86
0.20
0.92
2010
213
2361
0.49
4.43
0.23
0.90
2011
103
1554
0.39
0.79
0.32
0.80
2012
108
5562
0.32
0.79
0.14
0.87
2013
313
6301
0.28
3.48
0.28
0.86
2014
303
366
0.46
4.86
0.61
0.89

ICES. 2014a. The Netherlands request for evaluation of the proposal for a multi-annual plan for horse mackerel
in the North Sea. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2014. ICES Advice 2014, Book 6, Section
6.2.3.3.
ICES 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 6,
Section 6.3.13.
ICES 2015b. Report of the Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE), 2531 August, 2015,
402
Blue Whiting
(Sub-areas I-IX, XII and XIV)

The ICES advice, based on the MSY approach, is that catches in 2016
should be no more than 776,391 t. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes
that this stock has been subject to the landing obligation since 2015. There
is no proposed quota uplift as ICES considers discards to be negligible.
This stock falls into ICES Category I and its assessment was benchmarked
in 2012. Fishing mortality has increased from a historical low in 2011 to
above FMSY in 2014. Spawning-stock biomass increased from 2010 to 2014
and is currently above MSY Btrigger. Recent recruitments are estimated above average, but with
high uncertainty. Additional survey information indicates that recruitment is above average in
2014 and 2015. This is taken into account in the short-term forecast.
FEAS notes that this stock should be subject to multi-annual advice and that any multi-annual plan
contains a constraint on TAC fluctuation.
There is currently no agreed management plan for this stock as parties have failed to agree on
sharing arrangements since 2013. A new plan has been proposed by the Coastal States in 2015.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
In 2005, the coastal states (EU, Norway, Iceland and Faroe

Islands) agreed a sharing arrangement for the blue whiting
stock with catches allocated as follows: EU 30.5%, Faroe
Islands 26.125%, Norway 25.745% and Iceland 17.63%.
Russia is accommodated by transfers from the Faroe Islands
and additional catches in the NEAFC regulatory area.

in EC & International Waters
The above sharing arrangements have not been followed by

all parties.
FRA 20952 t
Ireland has a share of the EU quota, in Sub-areas I-VII, VIIIa,

VIIIb, VIIId, VIIIe, XII and XIV. In 2015 this EU share was
197,195 t and the Irish quota was 23,313 t.
Separate EU quotas exist for VIIIc, IX and X, and for

Norwegian and Faroese waters. There are no Irish quotas
in these areas.
The EU TAC may be adjusted subject to transfers in the EU Norway agreement.
ICES ADVICE
IRE 23313 t
DEN 30106 t
GER 11706 t
NL 36711 t
UK 39065 t
SPA 25524 t
POR 2371 t
SWE 7447 t
9.3.8 Blue Whiting Combined Stock (Subareas IIX, XII, and XIV)
ICESstockadvice
403
Blue Whiting

Fishing mortality (F) has increased from a historical low in 2011 to above FMSY in 2014. Spawning-stock
biomass (SSB) increased from 2010 to 2014 and is above MSY Btrigger. Recent recruitments are estimated above
average, but with an uncertainty. Additional survey information indicates recruitment above average in 2014
and 2015 and this is taken into account in the short-term forecast.
Figure9.3.8.1
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Summaryofstockassessment.Recruitmentfor2014and2015
isthe75thpercentileofrecruitment19812012.Predictedvaluesarenotshadowed.

Table9.3.8.1
Maximum
sustainable yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Stateofthestockandfisheryrelativetoreferencepoints.
Fishing pressure
Stock size
2012 2013
2014
2013
2014
2015
FMSY
Above
MSY Btrigger
Abovetrigger
Fpa, Flim
Increased risk
Bpa, Blim
Full reproductive
capacity
Not
applicable
SSBMGT
FMGT
Not applicable
Catchoptions
Table9.3.8.2
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Thebasisforthecatchoptions.
Variable
Value
Source
Notes
F ages 35 (2015)
0.501
ICES (2015a)
Catch constraint (1.3 million tonnes)
SSB (2016)
3.618 million tonnes
ICES (2015a)
Rage1 (2014)
23.3 billion
ICES (2015a)
75% percentiles of recruitment 19812012
Rage1 (2015)
23.3 billion
ICES (2015a)
75% percentiles of recruitment 19812012
Rage1 (2016)
13.4 billion
ICES (2015a)
GM (19812012)
Rage1 (2017)
13.4 billion
ICES (2015a)
GM (19812012)
Estimated by ICES based on declared quotas and
Total catch (2015)
1.3 million tonnes
ICES (2015a)
expected uptake.
404
Blue Whiting
Table9.3.8.3
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Thecatchoptions.
Catch
F
Rationale
Basis
SSB (2017)
(2016)
2016
MSY framework
776.391 FMSY = 0.30
0.30
3827.988
Zero catch
0 F=0
0
4569.654
F = 0.18
489.605
0.18
4100.934
F = 0.20
539.449
0.20
4053.403
F = 0.22
588.451
0.22
4006.712
F = 0.25
660.414
0.25
3938.210
Fpa 0.32
821.443 Fpa
0.32
3785.232
Multiplier on the intermediate
1.0 F(2015)
1198.073
0.50
3429.248
year F
Multiplier on the intermediate
1.50 F(2015)
1637.036
0.75
3018.104
year F
Status quo catch
1300.000 Catch 2016 = Catch 2015
0.56
3334.140
* SSB 2017 relative to SSB 2016.
** Catch 2016 relative to estimated catch in 2015 (1300 kt).
% SSB
change *
6
26
13
12
11
9
5
% Catch
change **
40
100
62
59
55
49
37
17
26
Basisoftheadvice
Table9.3.8.4
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Thebasisoftheadvice.
Advice basis
MSY approach.
Management plan
Currently there is no management plan for blue whiting in this area.
This years assessment gave a substantial downward revision of the historical SSB and recruitment and a small
upward revision of F. The revisions are mainly caused by low abundance indices from the 2015 acoustic survey
for the adult part of this stock. These abundance indices were lower than expected, given the perception of the
stock from last years assessment, especially for the older age groups. Although the weather conditions were
less favorable than in the two previous years, the survey was conducted as planned. Despite some divergence in
the age structure in a few commercial samples, overall it was considered that the age structure of the 2015 catch
was not in conflict with the survey data. The 2015 survey was considered robust and was used in the assessment.
The uncertainty of the assessment and forecast is considered higher than in previous years. The model estimated
very high F and catch values for 2015 in order to fit the low 2015 survey (MarchApril) abundance indices. This
is considered unrealistic. Overall the approach chosen may have resulted in a higher than 50% probability of
overestimating the stock.
Figure9.3.8.2
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Historicalassessmentresults(finalyearrecruitmentestimates
included).
405
Blue Whiting
Referencepoints
Table9.3.8.5
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Referencepoints,values,andtheirtechnicalbasis.
Reference
Framework
Value
Technical basis
Source
point
MSY Btrigger
2.25 million t Bpa
ICES (2013a)
MSY
approach
FMSY
0.30 Equilibrium stochastic simulations
ICES (2013a)
Blim
1.50 million t Approximately Bloss
ICES (2013a)
2.25 million t Blim exp(1.645 ), with = 0.25.
ICES (2013a)
Precautionary Bpa
approach
Flim
0.48 Equilibrium stochastic simulations
ICES (2013a)
Fpa
0.32 Based on Flim and assessment uncertainties
ICES (2013a)
Table9.3.8.6
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Thebasisoftheassessment.
ICES stock data
1 (ICES, 2015b).
category
Age-based analytical assessment (SAM; ICES, 2015a) that uses catches for the model and the
Assessment type
forecast.
Commercial catches from international catches, ages and length frequencies from catch
sampling.
One survey index (International blue whiting spawning stock survey (IBWSS) 20042015,
excluding 2010). Qualitative estimate of recruitment from surveys: Norwegian bottom trawl
survey in the Barents Sea, International Ecosystem Survey in the Nordic Seas in May (IESNS;
age groups 1 and 2), International Blue Whiting Spawning Stock survey (IBWSS; age groups 1
Input data
and 3), the Faroese bottom trawl surveys in spring, and the Icelandic bottom trawl survey in
spring are used as qualitative indices of recruitment.
Fixed maturity estimated in 1994 by combining maturity ogives from the southern and northern
areas.
Natural mortalities fixed at 0.2, derived in the 1980s from age compositions before the targeted
fishery started.
Discards included since 2014.
Indicators
None.
Other information
The stock was benchmarked in 2012 (WKPELA; ICES, 2012).
Working group
A pre-meeting between ICES scientists and representatives of the EU pelagic industry was held on 19 August
2015, to discuss information from the fishing industry and any ongoing development to address data needs. The
EU industry reported that the fishery for blue whiting in 2015 was very good. High catch rates were maintained
all through the season.
406
Blue Whiting
Table9.3.8.7
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.HistoryofICESadvice,theagreedTAC,andICESestimatesof
catch.
Predicted catch
Agreed
ICES
Year
ICES advice
corresp. to advice
TAC
catch
1987 TAC for northern areas; no advice for southern areas
950
665
832
558
630
627
600
562
670
370
1992 No advice
475
1993 Catch at status quo F (northern areas); no assessment for southern areas
490
481
1994 Precautionary TAC (northern areas); no assessment for southern areas
485
650*
459
1995 Precautionary TAC for combined stock
518
650*
579
500
650*
646
540
672
650
1125
1999 Catches above 650 000 t may not be sustainable in the long run
650
1256
2000 F should not exceed the proposed Fpa
800
1412
2001 F should not exceed the proposed Fpa
628
1780
2002 Rebuilding plan
0
1556
2003 F should be less than the proposed Fpa
600
2321
2004 Achieve 50% probability that F will be less than Fpa
925
2378
2005 Achieve 50% probability that F will be less than Fpa
1075
2027
2006 F old management plan
1500
2100**
1966
2007 F should be less than the proposed Fpa
980
1847***
1612
2008 F should be less than Fpa
835
1250^
1246
2009 Maintain stock above Bpa
384
606^^
636
2010 Follow the agreed management plan
540
548
540
2011 See scenarios
40223
40
105
391
391
384
643
643
626
948.950
1200
1155
839.886
1260^^^
2016 MSY approach
776.391
* NEAFC proposal for NEAFC regions 1 and 2.
** Agreed TAC from four Coastal States of 2 million tonnes, and an additional allocation to Russia in the international zone
of 100 000 t.
*** Agreed TAC from four Coastal States of 1.7 million tonnes, and an additional allocation to Russia and Greenland of
147 000 t.
^ Agreed TAC from four Coastal States of 1.1 million tonnes, and an additional allocation to Russia and Greenland.
^^ Agreed TAC from four Coastal States of 0.59 million tonnes, and an additional allocation to Russia (0.016
million tonnes).
^^^ Agreed TAC by the Coastal States, no agreement on the share between the parties, total catch in 2015 (1 300 000 t)
estimated by ICES.

Table9.3.8.8
Total catch
1155 kt
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Catchdistributionbyfleetin2014asestimatedbyICES.
Landings
Discards
98% pelagic trawl
2% bottom trawl
7 kt
1148 kt
407
Blue Whiting
408
Blue Whiting
Table9.3.8.9
Country
Denmark
Estonia
Faroes
France
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
UK (England
+Wales)
UK(Northern
Ireland)
UK(Scotland)
USSR/Russia
Greenland
Unallocated
TOTAL
38150
225163
14147
6176
72106
329100
1968456
104539
332226
2026953
1612330
1246465
173
149650
635639
43540
236369
12926
57028
346762
2377568
10035
7356
2593
523832
5496
112553
2475
103592
1331
45841
27
3499
385297
6305
88303
2866
626036
8166
120674
2133
1232
4100
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Historyofcatches,ICESestimatedvaluesarepresentedbycountry.Discardsincludedsince2014.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
89500
41450
56979
48659
18134
248
140
165
340
2167
322322
266799
321013
317859
225003
58354
49979
16405
43290
85768
8046
18009
16638
11723
8831
7839
4337
9799
8978
15293
22823
36437
34404
25259
5044
9108
278
6239
11418
379643
265516
309508
236538
159307
120202
87942
5887
63056
104918
75393
73488
54910
31132
22852
8776
8324
1195
7557
13205
4635
9812
5338
95311
147783
102711
79875
78684
35686
33762
4595
26526
51635
957684
738490
642451
539587
418289
225995
194317
20539
118832
196246
3937
5190
5323
3897
4220
2043
1482
603
1955
2056
15612
17643
15173
13557
14342
20637
12891
2416
6726
15274
19083
2960
101
467
4
3
50
1
4
199
24630
152256
1155279
2205
11
2014
35256
224700
10410
24487
182879
21466
4717
38524
399520
2150
32065
2

Table9.3.8.10
Area
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Catches(tonnes)bymainareas.
NorwegianSea
Fisheryinthe
Directedand
fishery(SAs1+2; spawningarea mixedfisheries
Divs.Va,XIVa (SAXII;Divs.Vb, intheNorthSea
b)
VIab,VIIac) (SAIV;Div.IIIa)
Totalnorthern
areas
Totalsouthern
areas(SAs
VIII+IX;Divs.
VIIdk)
Grandtotal
1988
55829
426037
45143
527009
30838
557847
1989
42615
475179
75958
593752
33695
627447
1990
2106
463495
63192
528793
32817
561610
1991
78703
218946
39872
337521
32003
369524
1992
62312
318081
65974
446367
28722
475089
1993
43240
347101
58082
448423
32256
480679
1994
22674
378704
28563
429941
29473
459414
1995
23733
423504
104004
551241
27664
578905
1996
23447
478077
119359
620883
25099
645982
1997
62570
514654
65091
642315
30122
672437
1998
177494
827194
94881
1099569
29400
1128969
1999
179639
943578
106609
1229826
26402
1256228
2000
284666
989131
114477
1388274
24654
1412928
2001
591583
1045100
118523
1755206
24964
1780170
2002
541467
846602
145652
1533721
23071
1556792
2003
931508
1211621
158180
2301309
20097
2321406
2004
921349
1232534
138593
2292476
85093
2377569
2005
405577
1465735
128033
1999345
27608
2026953
2006
404362
1428208
105239
1937809
28331
1966140
2007
172709
1360882
61105
1594695
17634
1612330
2008
68352
1111292
36061
1215704
30761
1246465
2009
46629
533996
22387
603012
32627
635639
2011
20599
72279
7524
100401
3191
103592
2012
24391
324545
5678
354614
29401
384016
2013
31759
481356
8749
521864
103973
625837
2014
45580
885483
28596
959659
195620
1155279
409
Blue Whiting

Table9.3.8.11
inthousands.
Year
BluewhitinginSubareasIIX,XII,andXIV.Assessmentsummarywithweights(intonnes).Recruitment
Recruitment
(Age 1)
High
Low
SSB
1981
4106000
6592000
2558000 2917000
1982
5554000
8924000
3456000 2318000
1983
21617000 34410000 13580000 1901000
1984
20978000 32910000 13372000 1860000
1985
10252000 16020000
6561000 2251000
1986
7074000 10878000
4601000 2390000
1987
8598000 13201000
5600000 1918000
1988
6274000
9670000
4071000 1615000
1989
8521000 13165000
5515000 1550000
1990
17418000 27392000 11075000 1334000
1991
9426000 14955000
5941000 1732000
1992
7297000 11460000
4646000 2546000
1993
5325000
8429000
3365000 2637000
1994
7467000 11640000
4790000 2523000
1995
9830000 15302000
6315000 2294000
1996
28948000 44831000 18692000 2180000
1997
45627000 70591000 29491000 2471000
1998
28233000 43345000 18390000 3757000
1999
20999000 32530000 13556000 4611000
2000
36763000 57058000 23687000 4291000
2001
55450000 85652000 35898000 4648000
2002
46782000 72603000 30144000 5184000
2003
49625000 76721000 32099000 6934000
2004
31611000 49805000 20063000 6689000
2005
18532000 29268000 11734000 5850000
2006
6859000 10862000
4331000 5885000
2007
3734000
5958000
2340000 4672000
2008
4574000
7376000
2837000 3489000
2009
4965000
8352000
2952000 2610000
2010
15007000 24964000
9021000 2538000
2011
20563000 34694000 12187000 2572000
2012
18718000 32540000 10767000 3396000
2013
11162000 20881000
5966000 3918000
2014
23271000*
**
** 3965000
2015
23271000*
Average
3277286
* Version 2: 75% percentile of recruitment 1981-2012.
** Version 2: no high-low estimates available.
410
High
Low
Total
Catch
3638000
2852000
2275000
2213000
2695000
2817000
2252000
1878000
1801000
1569000
2145000
3196000
3277000
3083000
2732000
2565000
2940000
4534000
5601000
5031000
5441000
6099000
8219000
7815000
6885000
6948000
5521000
4183000
3241000
3244000
3357000
4416000
5298000
5746000
2339000
1883000
1589000
1563000
1881000
2028000
1634000
1389000
1335000
1135000
1399000
2028000
2121000
2065000
1927000
1853000
2077000
3112000
3796000
3659000
3971000
4405000
5850000
5725000
4971000
4986000
3953000
2909000
2103000
1986000
1970000
2611000
2897000
2736000
923000
550000
553000
616000
678000
847000
665000
558000
627000
562000
370000
475000
481000
459000
579000
646000
672000
1125000
1256000
1412000
1780000
1556000
2321000
2378000
2027000
1966000
1612000
1246000
636000
540000
105000
384000
626000
1146000
Mean F
(Ages 3
7)
0.278
0.222
0.264
0.323
0.342
0.46
0.425
0.434
0.511
0.541
0.264
0.232
0.207
0.192
0.248
0.307
0.3
0.418
0.356
0.471
0.457
0.502
0.471
0.556
0.531
0.441
0.452
0.422
0.267
0.21
0.044
0.121
0.197
0.428
952265
0.350
High
Low
0.354
0.28
0.328
0.397
0.417
0.555
0.516
0.527
0.619
0.67
0.338
0.297
0.263
0.243
0.309
0.38
0.368
0.509
0.433
0.57
0.552
0.606
0.567
0.666
0.643
0.539
0.559
0.535
0.349
0.28
0.059
0.158
0.272
0.669
0.219
0.175
0.212
0.262
0.281
0.38
0.35
0.358
0.421
0.436
0.207
0.181
0.162
0.152
0.198
0.248
0.244
0.344
0.292
0.39
0.378
0.415
0.392
0.464
0.438
0.362
0.366
0.333
0.204
0.158
0.033
0.092
0.143
0.274
Blue Whiting

Anon. 2015. International blue whiting spawning stock survey (IBWSS), spring 2015. Working Document to
WGWIDE 2015.
ICES. 2008. EC/Faroe Islands/Iceland/Norway request on long-term management of blue whiting. In Report of
the ICES Advisory Committee, 2008. ICES Advice 2008, Book 9, Section 9.3.2.9.
ICES. 2012. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Pelagic Stocks (WKPELA2012), 1317 February 2012,
ICES. 2013a. NEAFC request to ICES to evaluate the harvest control rule element of the long-term management
plan for blue whiting. Special request, Advice May 2013. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2013.
ICES Advice 2013, Book 9, Section 9.3.3.1.
ICES. 2013b. NEAFC request on additional management plan evaluation for blue whiting. Special request,
Advice October 2013. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2013. ICES Advice 2013, Book 9, Section
9.3.3.7.
Section 1.2.
411
Blue Whiting
North Atlantic Albacore Tuna

The Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) of the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is responsible for the assessment of the albacore tuna stocks and
provides management advice to ICCAT, who subsequently set the TAC for the stock. The last advice provided
by ICCAT SCRS was in 2013, and this is available in the 2013 Stock Book.

ICCAT conducted an updated assessment in 2013. The SSB is estimated to be below SSBMSY (94%
of SSBMSY), while F is estimated to be below FMSY (72% of FMSY).
ICCAT projections at the current TAC level (28,000 t) indicate that the stock would rebuild by
2019 with 53% probability or by 2016 if the TAC is 20,000 t. FEAS notes that a probability of 53%
implies that there is almost as great a likelihood of the target not being met. It is noted that
ICCAT risk policy for bluefin tuna rebuilding is 60%.
FEAS advises that the decision on the TAC for 2016 and subsequent years be based on the
timeline to reach the target and the acceptable risk level. Based on ICCAT policies, FEAS
interprets the target as being SSB > SSBMSY and F < FMSY, and that this be achieved over as short a
period as possible. The EC aims to achieve exploitation at FMSY by 2020. Based on these
considerations, managers may choose a TAC based on the following levels of risk (probability) as
considered appropriate:
Probability (with explanation)
by 2020
53% (almost neutral)

60% (as per ICCAT bluefin tuna rebuilding plan)
75% (as per ICES salmon stocks)
28,857 t
27,000 t
22,000 t
This stock has been subject to the landing obligation since 1 January 2015. There is no proposed
quota uplift as ICCAT considers discards to be negligible.
There is no management plan for this stock, however one is being developed by the EU.
Year
TAC
2000
Effort restriction
2001
34,500
2002
2003
Total catch
Irish
Quota (t)
Irish
catch(t)
ICCAT
Advice(t)
34,500
3,274
< 34,000
26,592
3,158
2,004
< 34,000
34,500
22,685
3,158
1,100
< 34,000
<34,000
34,500
25,505
3,158
755
< 34,000
< 31,000
2004
34,500
25,605
3,158
175
< 34,000
< 31,000
2005
34,500
35,830
3,158
306
< 31,000
< 31,000
2006
34,500
36,077
5,679
521
< 31,000
< 31,000
2007
34,500
21,549
8,326
596
< 31,000
< 31,000
2008
30,200
20,225
6,696
1,517
< 30,000
< 30,000
2009
30,200
15,364
6,696
1,997
< 28,000
< 28,000
2010
28,000
19,647
4,356
< 28,000
2011
28,000 (EC TAC= 27,917)
20,044
3,554
755
3,597
2012
28,000 (EC TAC= 26,939)
25,680
3,896
3,575
< 28,000
< 28,000
2013
28,000 (EC TAC= 26,939)
24,634
2,371
2,231
<28,000
< 28,000
2014
28,000 (EC TAC= 26,535)
26,539
2.699
2,485
20,000 28,000
22,000 27,000
2015
28,000 (EC TAC= 26,543)
20,000 28,000
22,000 27,000
2016
28,000
20,000 28,000
22,000 27,000
2,511
412
< 28,000
FEAS
Advice(t)
< 28,000
Recent average
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The management area and the assessment area for North

Atlantic albacore tuna cover the whole of the Atlantic,
north of 5 N, and excluding the Mediterranean Sea.
A 1998 recommendation that limits fishing capacity to the

average of 1993-1995, remains in force. This limits the
number of Irish vessels that may fish for tuna to a
maximum of 50 vessels.
IRE 2511 t
FRA 4422 t
UK 196 t
SPA 17691 t
The international TAC in 2014 is 28,000 t, and the EC

TAC is 26,535 t. The Irish quota in 2014 is 2,699 t. Ireland
is entitled to 11% of the EC quota.
Ireland has had almost full quota uptake in the past 4 years.
Unused quota in 2015 may be carried over until 2019 only.
The maximum allowed carryover is 25% of the initial quota in
those years. ICCAT undertakes to implement additional
measures if carried over quota leads to a TAC in excess of
28,000 t.
The EU is currently developing a management plan for North

Atlantic albacore tuna.
POR 2120 t
60,000
Official landings
TAC
50,000
tonnes
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
2009
2012
2015
Figure 1.1. Northern albacore tuna: landings data 1982 to 2014 and TAC to 2015.
413
Figure 1.2. Stock status of northern albacore tuna according the 2013 ICCAT assessment.
414
Bluefin Tuna
(East Atlantic and Mediterranean)
The Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) of the International Commission for the
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is responsible for the assessment of tuna stocks, and provides
management advice to ICCAT, who subsequently set the TAC for the stock.

FEAS notes that, based on ICCAT projections, the TACs agreed for 2015-2017 are consistent with
the goal of achieving FMSY and BMSY through 2022 with greater than 60% probability. Therefore FEAS
advises that the TAC in 2016 should be no more than 18,911 t.
In 2014 ICCAT carried out an updated assessment. In 2015 ICCAT examined new biological and
catch information. While evaluations all continue to show that there has been a recent increase in
SSB, the magnitude and rate of the increase remain highly uncertain.
In 2014 ICCAT agreed a 20% annual increase in TAC from 2015- 2017. In 2015 SCRS advises that
these TACs are not expected to undermine the success of the rebuilding plan and are consistent
with the goal of achieving FMSY and BMSY through 2022 with at least 60% probability. A new
assessment will take place in 2016.
Ireland has no target fisheries and by-catches in pelagic fisheries are subject to an unallocated
bycatch quota for EU vessels (32.97 t in 2015). This by-catch allowance may be very restrictive as the
stock rebuilds. FEAS advises that when the stock can be shown to have rebuilt with at least 60%
probability, the rebuilding measures should be replaced with a long term management strategy.
Such a strategy should contain adequate provision for unavoidable by-catch in non-target fisheries.
This stock has been subject to the landing obligation since 1 January 2015. There is no proposed
quota uplift as ICCAT considers discards to be negligible.
A rebuilding plan has been in place for this stock since 2006.
Year
TAC
2003
2004
2005
2006
International
Irish
catch
32,000
32,000
32,000
32,000
Estimated Catch
31,164
31,381
35,845
30,069
3
1
1
2
2007
29,500
34,516
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016*
2017*
28,500
22,000
13,500
12,900
12,900
13,400
13,400
15,821
18,911
22,705
23,849
19,751
11,148
9,774
10,852
13,133
13,243
-
1
1
2
4
10
13
19
-
FEAS Advice
Catches above 26,000 t are not sustainable
Catches < 15,000 t and develop
management plan
Catches much less than 15,000 t
Catches less than 13,500 t
Catches less than 13,400 t.
-
*Not yet in EU regulations.
415
Bluefin Tuna
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC for 2015 is 15,821 t. The EC has a large share of this TAC (9,372 t) but Ireland has no quota. An
EC by-catch quota of 32.97 t that is otherwise unallocated is available to Ireland. By-catches by Ireland and
other countries not having a quota must not exceed this level.
The TAC covers the entire North Atlantic Ocean east of 45oW and the also the Mediterranean Sea.
In 2006, the Commission adopted a recovery plan for this stock. This plan includes various conservation
measures, including a TAC together with extended time/area closures and minimum size. Management
measures to reduce fishing mortality were introduced in 2008. These measures included lower TACs,
increased control and enforcement measures, particularly within the Mediterranean Sea, and a
requirement for all purse seine vessels targeting bluefin tuna for farming in cages to carry observers on
board.
EU member states recreational catches must be deducted from available quotas. Bluefin tuna is the only
marine species subject to this provision.
Figure 1.1
Bluefin tuna in East Atlantic and Mediterranean: landings data.
Figure 1.2
Irish landings of bluefin tuna. There are no records prior to 1997.
416
Bluefin Tuna
Swordfish
(North Atlantic)
The Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) of the International Commission for the Conservation
of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is responsible for the assessment of tuna and certain bycaught stocks, and provides
management advice to ICCAT, who subsequently set the TAC for the stock.

North Atlantic swordfish was last assessed by SCRS in 2013. Results indicated that there is a
greater than 90% probability that the northern swordfish stock has rebuilt to or above BMSY.
Therefore ICCATs rebuilding plan goal has been achieved. SCRS projections indicate that the
current TAC level (13,700 t) would maintain SSB in a rebuilt state in all future years with at least
83% probability, whilst maintaining a level biomass. Future TACs above 15,000 t were projected to
result in 50% or lower probabilities of the stock biomass remaining above BMSY over the next
decade (with resulting probability of F exceeding FMSY within four years. FEAS notes that a
probability of 50% implies that there is as great a likelihood of the stock not remaining in a rebuilt
state.
FEAS advises that the decision on the TAC for 2016 and subsequent years should be based on the
acceptable risk level. Based on ICCAT policies, FEAS interprets the target as being SSB > SSBMSY
and F < FMSY, with low risk. The EC aims to achieve exploitation at FMSY by 2020 at the latest. Risk
averse TAC options (SSB > SSBMSY and F < FMSY in 2020) include 13, 967t (75% risk, as per ICES
salmon stocks) and 14,243 t (60% risk as per ICCAT bluefin tuna rebuilding plan).
This stock has been subject to the landing obligation since 2015. There is no proposed quota uplift
as ICCAT considers discards to be negligible.
Table 1.1
Official landings (tonnes), by Ireland and total international landings in the N Atlantic of
swordfish, with the Total Allowable Catch.
Year
Total
Landings
Ireland
Landings
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
19,513
17,250
15,672
14,934
15,394
16,738
15,501
16,872
15,222
13,025
12,223
11,622
11,453
0
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
15
15
132
81
35
2001
10,011
17
TAC
Year
Total
Landings
Ireland
Landings
TAC
11,300
11,000
10,700
10,600
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
9,654
11,442
12,175
12,480
11,473
12,302
11,050
12,081
11,553
12,523
13,972
12,018
10,801
5
12
1
1
3
2
2
1
1
2
5
2
3
10,400
14,000
14,000
14,000
14,000
14,000
14,000
14,000
13,700
13,700
13,700
13,700
13,700
10,500
2015
417
13,700
Swordfish in the North Atlantic
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC for 2015 is 13,700 t. The EC has a large share of this TAC (8,347 t), but this is mainly split
between Spain and Portugal. An EC by-catch quota of 144.8 t that is otherwise unallocated is available to
Ireland. By-catches by Ireland and other countries not having a quota must not exceed this level.
The TAC covers the entire North Atlantic Ocean.
There are two minimum size options that are applied to the entire Atlantic: 125 cm Lower Jaw-Fork
Length (LJFL) or 25 kg weight, with a 15% tolerance, or 119 cm LJFL or 15 kg weight with zero tolerance
and record keeping of discarding.
Figure 1.1 Total reported international and TAC for swordfish in the North Atlantic.
418
Swordfish in the North Atlantic
Boarfish in the Northeast Atlantic

(Sub-areas VI,VII and VIII)

2016 should be no more than 42,637 t. FEAS agrees with this advice and
notes that this stock has been subject to the landing obligation since
1st January 2015. There is no proposed quota uplift as ICES considers
discards to be negligible.
This is an ICES category 3 stock with a survey based assessment that is
indicative of trends. The ICES exploratory assessment indicates that the
stock declined rapidly between 2013 and 2015 and fishing mortality is low,
but increasing.
FEAS advises that the long term management plan proposed by the Pelagic Advisory Council in
2015 also implies catches of less than 42,637 t in 2016.
ICES and FEAS note that the proposed management strategy follows the rationale for TAC
setting procedures used in the ICES advice, but with some additional caution. ICES and FEAS
therefore consider that the proposed management strategy is precautionary.
The long term management plan, proposed by the PAC, has not been enshrined in legislation to
date. This plan follows a previous long term plan and an earlier interim management plan.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The TAC for 2015 for VI, VII and VIII is 53,296 t. Ireland
has a quota of 36,830 t.
In October 2010, the European Commission notified

member states that species not specifically identified in
Annex I of Regulation 850/98 (and cited as "all other
species), such as boarfish may not be targeted with nets
of mesh size smaller than 100mm. This was changed in
2011 allowing fishing using mesh sizes ranging from 32 to
54 mm for boarfish only.
2015 EU
Quota Allocations
IRE 36830 t
DEN 13079 t
UK 3387 t
A closed season from 15th March to 31st August has been followed by participating vessels on a
voluntary basis in 2011-2015, as anecdotal evidence suggested that mackerel and boarfish are caught in
mixed aggregations during this period.
A closed season was also proposed in Division VIIg from 1st September 31st October to prevent
catches of Celtic Sea herring, known to form feeding aggregations in this region at these times.
The management plan further proposes that if catches of a single species other than boarfish totals
more than 5% of the total catch in the boarfish fishery, by day and by ICES statistical rectangle, and this
species is covered by a TAC, then the boarfish fishery must cease in that rectangle.
419
Management plan proposed by the Pelagic AC in 2015

Thismanagementstrategyaimstoachievesustainableexploitationofboarfishinlinewiththeprecautionary
approach to fisheries management, FAO guidelines for new and developing fisheries, and the ICES form of
advice.
1) TheTACshallbesetinaccordancewiththefollowingprocedure,dependingontheICESadvice
a) Ifcategory1advice(stockswithquantitativeassessments)isgivenbasedonabenchmarked
assessment,theTACshallbesetfollowingthatadvice.
b) If category 1 or 2 (qualitative assessments and forecasts) advice is given based on a non
benchmarkedassessmenttheTACshallbesetfollowingthisadvice.
c) Ifcategory3,4,5or6adviceisgiven,theTACshallbesetfollowingthatadvice.Categories36are
describedbelowasfollows:
i) Category 3: stocks for which surveybased assessments indicate trends. This category includes
stockswithquantitativeassessmentsandforecastswhichforavarietyofreasonsareconsidered
indicativeoftrendsinfishingmortality,recruitment,andbiomass.
ii) Category4:stocksforwhichonlyreliablecatchdataareavailable.Thiscategoryincludesstocks
forwhichatimeseriesofcatchcanbeusedtoapproximateMSY.
iii) Category5:landingsonlystocks.Thiscategoryincludesstocksforwhichonlylandingsdataare
available.
iv) Category 6: Category 6 negligible landings stocks and stocks caught in minor amounts as
bycatch
2) Notwithstandingparagraph1,if,intheopinionofICES,thestockisatriskofrecruitmentimpairment,a
TACmaybesetatalowerlevel.
3) Ifthestock,estimatedintheeitherofthe2yearsbeforetheTACistobeset,isatorbelowBlimorany
suitableproxythereof,theTACshallbesetat0 t.
4) TheTACshallnotexceed75 000 tinanyyear.
5) TheTACshallnotbeallowedtoincreasebymorethan25%peryear.Howeverthereshallbenolimiton
thedecreaseinTAC.
6) Closed seasons, closed areas, and moving on procedures shall apply to all directed boarfish fisheries as
follows:
a)Aclosedseasonshalloperatefrom31Marchto31August.Thisisbecauseitisknownthatherringand
mackerelarepresentintheseareasandmaybecaughtwithboarfish.
b)AclosedareashallbeimplementedinsidetheIrish12milelimitsouthof5230from12Februaryto31
October,inordertopreventcatchesofCelticSeaherring,knowntoformaggregationsatthesetimes.
c)IfcatchesofotherspeciescoveredbyaTACamounttomorethan5%ofthetotalcatchbydaybyICES
statisticalrectangle,thenallfishingmustceaseinthatrectanglefor5consecutivedays.
420
ICES ADVICE
9.3.9 Boarfish in Subareas VIVIII (Northeast Atlantic)
ICESstockadvice
ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in 2016 should be no more than 42 637
tonnes.
The stock status relative to reference points is currently unknown. Survey indices and an exploratory assessment
indicate that the stock has declined sharply since the peak in 20102013 and is currently close to the 1991
level. Fishing mortality (F) has risen in the last three years.
Figure9.3.9.1
Boarfish in Subareas VIVIII. Summary of the assessment (weights in thousand tonnes). Bottom left
panel: relative fishing mortality (average 20022014). Bottom right panel: relative stock biomass
(average19912015),regardedasanindicatoroftherecentdevelopmentofthestock.Thedashedline
indicatestheaveragevaluesoftherespectiveyears.
Table9.3.9.1
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Stateofthestockandfisheryrelativetoreferencepoints.
2012
Maximum
sustainable yield
Precautionary
approach
Management plan
Qualitative
evaluation
Fishing pressure
2013
2014
2013
Stock size
2014
2015
FMSY
Undefined
MSY Btrigger
Undefined
Fpa, Flim
Undefined
Bpa, Blim
Undefined
Not applicable
SSBMGT
Increasing
FMGT
-
421
Not applicable
Stable
Catchoptions
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks was applied (Method 3.1; ICES, 2012). The Schaefer surplus
production model provides an index of total stock biomass (TSB) which is used as the index of stock
development. The advice is based on a comparison of the two latest index values (index A) with the three
preceding values (index B), multiplied by the recent advised catch.
The index is estimated to have decreased by more than 20% in the period 20132015 and thus the uncertainty
cap was applied to calculate the catch advice. Reference points are not defined, and the assessment model does
not provide absolute estimates of F. However, recent F is estimated by pseudo-cohort analyses to be 0.18
(Figure 9.3.9.2), while ICES estimate of natural mortality (M) is 0.16. For this species, which is known not to be
an important prey item, M is considered a proxy for Fpa. Given that F is estimated to be approximately equal to
M, the precautionary buffer was not applied. Discarding is known to take place and the discard ratio has been
estimated, based on 2014 estimates.
Table9.3.9.2
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.ForstocksinICESdatacategories36,onecatchoptionisprovided.
Index A (2014, 2015)
0.623
Index B (2011, 2012, 2013)
1.564
Index ratio (A/B)
0.398
Uncertainty cap
Applied
0.8
Recent advised catch for 2015
53296 t
Discard rate (2014)
0.04
Not applied
Catch advice*
42637 t
Landings corresponding to the catch advice
40932 t
* (Recent advised catch) cap.
Basisoftheadvice
Table9.3.9.3
Advice basis
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Thebasisoftheadvice.
AmanagementstrategyhasbeenproposedbythePelagicAC.ICESisprovidingadvicefor
Management plan
thisstockfollowingthestandardprocedureswhichconformstotheproposedstrategyfrom
thePelagicAC.
The acoustic survey data were considered reliable estimates within the survey area, though they may not fully
cover the stock area, but there is high uncertainty in the estimates of total biomass due to the short time-series.
Bottom-trawl survey indices were considered indicative of trends in their respective areas. The commercial
catch data are thought to be quite complete, including discards from other fisheries from 2003 onwards. It is
thought that discarding due to bycatch fisheries prior to 2003 were likely to have been small in comparison with
subsequent catches.
The current assessment and management unit is appropriated with the exception of a small northern portion of
Division IXa based on preliminary genetic results (ICES, 2015b). Based on analyses of IBTS data (ICES,
2015b) and the lack of boarfish in the PELACUS acoustic survey in spring 2015, biomass in northern Division
IXa is expected to be small relative to the overall biomass in the TAC area. There is no evidence of significant
immigration to or emigration from the TAC area from populations to the south or from oceanic waters.
422
Figure9.3.9.2
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Fishingmortality(ages714)estimatedfrompseudocohortcatchcurvesfor
theyears2007to2014.
Figure9.3.9.3
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Catchintonnes(upperleftpanel).Surveyindicesfromtheboarfishacoustic
survey (BFAS), five individual international bottomtrawl surveys (WCSGFS, SPPGFS, SPNGFS, IGFS,
EVHOE), and the English Celtic Sea Groundfish Survey (ECSGFS), with modelled catch per unit effort
estimates from exploratory surplus production assessment (blue line) and 95% confidence intervals
(dashedlines).
Referencepoints
423
Table9.3.9.4
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Thebasisoftheassessment.
3 (ICES, 2015a).
Assessment type
Exploratory Bayesian Schaefer surplus production model (ICES, 2015b).
Commercial catches (international landings and discards). Two combined acoustic surveys
MSHAS & BFAS; and six bottom-trawl survey indices EVHOE, Q4; IGFS, Q4; WCSGFS,
Input data
Q1 and Q4; SPPGFS, Q3; SPNGFS, Q3/Q4; and ECSGFS, Q4. Annual maturity data from
(Farrell et al., 2015; Hssy et al., 2012a, 2012b). Natural mortality from King (1995).
Discards from non-directed fisheries since 2003 have been included in the assessment.
Distribution, abundance from PELACUS Q1/Q2 surveys, IBTS survey time-series, and
Indicators
commercial catch curve estimates of mortality.
Working group
The low uptake of national boarfish quotas in 2014 is thought to be due primarily to economic reasons.
Table9.3.9.5
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.HistoryofICESadvice,theagreedTAC,andICESestimatesofcatch.
Predicted catch
Year
ICES advice
TAC*
Bycatch quota**
ICES catch
corresp. to advice
2001 None
None
None
0.1
2002 None
None
None
0.9
2003 None
None
None
11.3
2004 None
None
None
5.0
2005 None
None
None
5.9
2006 None
None
None
7.1
2007 None
None
None
21.0
2008 None
None
None
33.8
2009 None
None
None
89.9
2010 None
None
None
143.9
2011 None
33
9.8
36.9
82
82
9.9
80.7
2013 MSY approach
82
82
9.5
75.4
2014 MSY approach
133.957
133.957
7.1
45.2
2015 DLS approach
53.296
53.292
4.8
2016 Precautionary approach
42.637
* EU and international waters of Subareas VI, VII, and VIII.
** The maximum permitted bycatch (5%) of boarfish allowed to be subtracted from the EU quotas for western and for North
Sea horse mackerel. The 5% applies to boarfish, whiting, and haddock and/or mackerel.
Table9.3.9.6
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Catchdistributionbyfleetin2014asestimatedbyICES.
Total catch (2014)
Landings
Discards
100% pelagic fishery
45 231 t
1 813 t
43 418 t
424
Table9.3.9.7
Year
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Historyofcatchandlandings,boththeofficialandICESestimatedvaluesare
presentedforeachcountryparticipatinginthefishery.Weightsintonnes.
Estimated
Ireland
Denmark
Scotland
Total landings
Total catch
discards
120
0
0
120
NA
120
91
0
0
91
NA
91
458
0
0
458
10929
11387
675
0
0
675
4476
5151
165
0
0
165
5795
5959
2772
0
0
2772
4365
7137
17615
0
772
18387
3189
21576
21585
3098
0.45
24683
10068
34751
68629
15059
0
83688
6682
90370
88457
39805
9241
137503
6544
144047
20685
7797
2813
31295
5802
37096
55949
19888
4884
80720
6634
87355
52250
13182
4380
69812
5598
75409
34622
8758
38
43418
1813
45231
Table9.3.9.8
BoarfishinSubareasVIVIII.Assessmentsummary(weightsintonnes).
Year
Relative
Relative
Relative
F relative
F relative
F relative
Landings
TSB
TSB
TSB high*
low
(ages
high
low*
(ages
115+)
(ages
115+)
115+)
0.269
1.088
1991
0.543
0.423
1.622
1992
0.822
0.506
1.91
1993
0.984
0.587
2.24
1994
1.153
0.531
2.008
1995
1.023
0.537
2.003
1996
1.034
0.474
1.733
1997
0.895
0.636
2.341
1998
1.207
0.495
1.83
1999
0.947
0.404
1.538
2000
0.787
0.456
1.611
2001
0.847
120
0.398
1.414
2002
0.742
91
0.362
1.256
2003
0.666
0.20
0.41
0.70
458
0.508
1.783
2004
0.945
0.06
0.13
0.22
675
0.466
1.631
2005
0.865
0.07
0.17
0.28
165
0.553
1.91
2006
1.018
0.08
0.17
0.29
2772
0.479
1.652
2007
0.870
0.29
0.60
1.02
18387
0.588
2.017
2008
1.066
0.38
0.81
1.36
24683
0.584
1.913
2009
1.028
1.07
2.33
4.00
83688
2010
0.891
3.002
1.621
1.08
2.38
4.21
137503
2011
0.785
2.682
1.421
0.30
0.64
1.07
31295
2012
1.076
3.388
1.839
0.57
1.19
1.91
80720
2013
0.818
2.68
1.431
0.63
1.33
2.20
69812
2014
0.361
1.186
0.634
0.85
1.85
3.11
43418
2015
0.319
1.186
0.611
n/a: Not available.
* Version 2: corrected.
425
Discards
n/a
n/a
10929
4476
5795
4365
3189
10068
6682
6544
5802
6634
5598
1813
Catches
120
91
11387
5151
5959
7137
21576
34751
90370
144047
37096
87355
75409
45231

Farrell, E. D., Carlsson, J. E. L., and Carlsson, J. 2015 Preliminary results of an investigation of the genetic population
structure of boarfish (Capros aper) for assessment and management purposes. Working Document for the Working Group
on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE), 2531 August, 2015, Pasaia, Spain. ICES CM 2015/ACOM:15.
Hssy, K., Coad, J. O., Farrell, E. D., Clausen, L. W., and Clarke, M. W. 2012a. Age verification of boarfish (Capros aper)
in the Northeast Atlantic. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 3440.
Hssy, K., Coad, J. O., Farrell, E. D., Clausen, L. W., and Clarke, M. W. 2012b. Sexual dimorphism in size, age, maturation
and growth characteristics of boarfish (Capros aper) in the Northeast Atlantic. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: 1729
1735.
ICES. 2012. ICES Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM 2012/ACOM
68. 42 pp.
ICES. 2015a. Advice basis. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2015. ICES Advice 2015, Book 1, Section 1.2.
ICES 2015b. Report of the Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE), 2531 August 2015, Pasaia, Spain.
King, M. 1995. Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. Fishing News Books. 34 pp.
426
Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Sharks

For latest information, see: http://www.ices.dk and http://www.iccat.int
ICES now provides advice on the status of pelagic sharks on a two year or greater cycle. The ICES advice
provided in 2015 applies from 2016-2017 or 2019, depending on species. ICCAT also provides advice on
pelagic shark, particularly blue shark..
Basking shark and great white shark are prohibited species in European fisheries legislation. This means it is
illegal to fish for, to retain on board, to transship or to land either species in all Community and nonCommunity waters. The situation whereby ICES and ICCAT both give advice on pelagic sharks has led to
confusion. Some sharks such as porbeagle are subject to management by the EU, but not by other ICCAT
contracting parties.
Summary of previous advice:
Basking Shark in the Northeast Atlantic:

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, no targeted fisheries should be
permitted and bycatch should be minimized. This advice is valid for 2016 to 2019. FEAS agrees
with this advice. FEAS agrees with this advice and notes that notes that this stock will not be
subject to the landing obligation as fishing for this species is prohibited.
The low productivity and aggregating nature of this species makes it particularly susceptible to
overexploitation.
Basking shark is thought to be particularly slow growing, has a high age-at-maturity and a low
reproductive capacity. The stock structure is unknown and, in the absence of such information,
there is presumed to be a single stock in the NE Atlantic.
The basking shark has a high conservation status, is legally protected on the national wildlife
legislation of some EC member states, and is included on Appendix II of CITES.
Landings
6000
Landings
5000
tonnes
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
2016
Figure 1.1 Basking shark in the North-east Atlantic. Landings 1976-2014.
427
Porbeagle in the Northeast Atlantic

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, no targeted fisheries should be
permitted and bycatch should be minimized unless there are reliable estimates of current
exploitation rates and sufficient data to assess productivity. FEAS agrees with this advice and
notes that notes that this stock will not be subject to the landing obligation as fishing for this
species is prohibited.
Porbeagle are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, because the population productivity is low
(long-lived, slow-growing, high age-at-maturity, low fecundity, and a protracted gestation
period) and they have an aggregating behavior.
Fishing by EU vessels or vessels in EU waters, is currently prohibited for this species.
This species is listed in the Appendix II of CITES.
Figure 1.2 Porbeagle in the North-east Atlantic. Landings 1925-2014.
Blue Shark in the North Atlantic

ICCAT has responsibility for providing advice for this species. The 2015 blue shark assessment
indicates that the stock was not overfished and that overfishing is not occurring, although
assessment results are uncertain and should be treated with caution. Catch records from the
bycatch in tuna and swordfish fisheries may be underestimated. Therefore, FEAS agrees with
ICCAT recommendations that catch records of blue shark are required for accurate
assessments. ICCAT recommends that recent catch levels do not increase. FEAS agrees with
this advice and notes that this species is not subject to the landing obligation as it is not subject
to catch limits.
428
Spurdog in the Northeast Atlantic

(Sub-areas I-XIV)
For the latest ICES information, see: http://www.ices.dk

Advice for this species is now provided on a four-year cycle. In 2014 ICES
advised on the basis of the MSY and the precautionary considerations that
there should be no target fishery and that by-catch should be minimised.
Survival of discards is highly variable. Bycatch should be managed as part of
a rebuilding plan, including close monitoring of the stock and fishery. FEAS
agrees with this advice and notes that this stock will not be subject to the
landing obligation in 2016
This stock falls into category 1, stocks with full analytical assessments.
The stock suffered a high fishing mortality for more than four decades, spawning biomass and
recruitment have declined substantially since the 1960s and are now stable at a very low level.
Exploitation is estimated to be below FMSY. However, considering the low stock size over the last
two decades and the very low productivity of the stock, it is not possible to identify any non-zero
catch that would be compatible with the MSY approach.
Spurdog have low productivity and are vulnerable to fishing because they form dense aggregations
that can be easily fished. The stock currently appears stable at a low level, but the recent period of
stability is short compared to the longevity of the species. Given this longevity, stock recovery will
be slow.
FEAS notes that there is no management plan for this stock and advises that that a rebuilding plan
be established, including spatial avoidance measures preventing large accidental catches.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The EU TAC for spurdog in 2015 is set at zero.
A maximum landings size of 100cm was in place in 2009 and 2010 before the TAC was set at zero in 2011.
Further information on this stock can be found in the 2014 Stock Book.
429
Spurdog in the Northeast Atlantic
Ecosystem overview for Deepwater

Stocks
FEAS - ECOSYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS
FEAS advises that the following considerations should be taken into account when developing
ecosystem based management objectives for deepwater fisheries:
Due to their low reproductive output and longevity, many deepwater fish species are
very vulnerable to overfishing. High levels of exploitation have led to the depletion of
many deepwater fish stocks in ICES subareas VI and VII.
ICES considers that three species currently counted as deepwater species do not
qualify, on scientific grounds, as deep-water species. These species are: silver
scabbardfish (Lepidopus caudatus), blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus), and ling
(Molva molva).
Fisheries management has addressed the difficulties of ensuring sustainable deepwater

exploitation, resulting in a drastic reduction of fishing opportunities for deepwater fleets
in the last 10 years. The fisheries for some of the most vulnerable deepwater species
such as deepwater sharks and orange roughy are now closed.
Deepwater fishing opportunities should be considered in a mixed fisheries context,

taking into consideration all species, including the most vulnerable bycatch. Zero TACs
without allowing a bycatch can potentially lead to discarding if existing fisheries overlap
with the distribution of protected or depleted species. The lack of fisheries dependant
data and independent monitoring programmes means there is currently insufficient
data to examine the recovery of depleted stocks in ICES Areas VI and VII. Careful
monitoring of the spatial overlap of existing fisheries with their distribution as well as
proportion of vulnerable/depleted species in the catch composition is required to
manage their protection and recovery.
Zero catch advice for deepwater sharks is in place since 2006, but there have been no
concrete measures to reduce the catch of these severely depleted species. The 0-TACs
in place are not effective because sharks continue to be caught, and discarded.
NEAFC and the EU have already closed a number of areas on the Rockall Bank, the
Hatton Bank, the Porcupine Bank and the western European Slope to bottom
impacting fishing gear, where cold water corals are known to occur. However, many
areas in the deepsea ecoregion remain to be surveyed for Lophelia pertusa. In addition,
the impact of fishing on other biogenic habitats such as deepwater sponge beds needs to
be considered and evaluated further.
Deepwater species are dependent on nutrient input from the upper ocean layers via
planktonic snow, mesopelagic species and fall of carcasses. This should be taken into
account when considering the development of commercial fisheries for mesopelagic
species.
A new EU deepwater fishing regulation has been proposed, which aims to address some
of these issues, particularly fishing effort and vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems.
Physical Features
Bathymetry
The dominant topographical features of the continental slope region are the northeast to
southwest trending Rockall Trough (1,000m at 60N to 4,000m depth at 53N) and the
Porcupine Seabight (350-3,000m). Both open out onto the Porcupine Abyssal Plain. The
Rockall Trough is bounded to the north by the Wyville-Thompson Ridge, the Rockall
and Hatton Banks to the west, the Slyne and Erris Basin to the east and the Porcupine
Bank and Ridge to the south. The Porcupine Seabight is bordered to the east by the Irish
continental shelf, to the west and north by the Porcupine Bank and Ridge and the Goban
Spur to the south.
430
Deepwater Stocks South of 630N
Substrates
The seabed consists of fine sediments (silts/clays) and mixed substrata including sands
and gravelly sands on the slopes (MESH Atlantic). Seabed features include carbonate
mound systems e.g. the Logachev Mounds, Pelagica Mounds and Porcupine Bank
Canyon Mounds, which are made up of layers of foraminifera and coral debris (Kenyon
et al., 2003) and volcanic seamounts e.g. Hebrides Terrace and Anton Dohrn Seamount
whose topography and current regime provide suitable environmental conditions for a
wide diversity of marine species. Carbonate mounds and seamounts have been included
on OSPARs list of threatened and/or declining habitats and species (OSPAR, 2008).
Pockmarks, canyons, slides, channels, sandbanks, iceberg scours, contourites and drifts
are also found on the continental slope and the abyssal seabed (Sacchetti et al., 2011).
Circulation
Deepwater oceanography to the west of Ireland is complex. Near-surface layers (500700m) consist of the saline Eastern North Atlantic Water (ENAW), a poleward Shelf
Edge Current (SEC) and a branch of the North Atlantic Current (NAC). Intermediate
depth water masses (700-2,000m) include the Labrador Sea Water (LSW) (1,6001,900m) which flows from the west and the dense Norwegian Sea Deep Water (NSDW)
which flows southwards over the Wyville-Thomson Ridge. Where the two mix a salinity
maximum known as the North East Atlantic Deep Water (NEADW) is formed at about
2,500m. Below 3,000m, the salinity again decreases, indicating the likely presence of the
fresher silicate-rich Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) (New and Smythe-Wright, 2001).
Temperature
and salinity
The deep waters of the NEA <800m experienced a period of temperature decline in the
1990s, but temperature has increased since 2000. The relatively stable salinity in the first
period of measurements (1950 to mid-1970s) was followed by a slow decline through
the subsequent 15 years; since 1992, it has stabilized again (ICES, 2013).
Biological Features
Benthos
reef
and
Fish community
Deep soft sediments support diverse communities of polychaetes and bivalves.

Megabenthos groups include: porifera, cnidarians, echinodermata, crustaceans,
branchiopoda and fish (Rice, 2004). Cold water habitat-forming corals Lophelia pertusa
and Madrepora oculata are found in Irish waters at depths ranging from 500-1,200m
(Wheeler et al., 2007) and can tolerate temperatures from 4-13C and salinities
between 32-38.8 (Freiwald et al., 2004). Living at depth in the dark they have no
symbiotic algae and rely on a supply of current-transported particulate organic matter
and zooplankton for food. Their branching carbonate frames support a diverse
community of over 1,300 species (Roberts et al., 2006). Updated distribution of coral
findings in the NEA is published annually by ICES (2014c&d).
The deepwater slopes to the west of Ireland provide habitat for a rich and diverse fish
community. Over 170 fish species have been caught and identified by Irish deepwater
trawl surveys (Marine Institute, 2012). The number of species peaks at ca. 1200 to
1600m depth. Grenadiers such as roundnose, spearsnouted and Gunthers are very
abundant as are smooth rat tails, Bairds smoothhead, Lepidion eques and black scabbard.
Roundnose grenadier and black scabbard still support limited deepwater fisheries. Many
shark species can be considered true deepwater species as they occupy large depth and
horizontal ranges on the continental slope. Two species, Centrophorus squamosus and
Centroscymnus coelolepis have historically supported commercial fisheries. Many of the
other species such as Centroscymnus crepidater and Centroscyllium fabricii are caught
commercially as bycatch. On occasion these are landed but generally they are discarded.
Deepwater elasmobranchs, chimaerids and rhinochimaerids, also known as rabbit fish,
are widespread throughout the area.
431
Fishing effort
(>10m vessels)
2000-2012
Overall fishing
mortality
2000-2013
The main human activities in the deepwater region are:

Fishing
Transport
Offshore energy
Pressures associated with deepwater commercial fisheries are:
The status of most deepwater stocks is unknown. Exploitation of these stocks has
substantially decreased in recent years due to stringent management measures and
increased fuel prices. There has been a reduction in deepwater fishing effort of over 75%
in ICES Areas VI and VII from peak levels in 2002 to current levels. Of the 15 deepwater
stocks for which Ireland has a quota, three are believed to be depleted, while two stocks
are believed to be at or above biomass reference points. Where exploitation rates are
known, stocks are currently fished at sustainable levels, although this only includes 3
stocks. The decline in deepwater fishing effort has led to the subsequent reduction in
discarding of threatened or vulnerable elasmobranch species. However, their status is
still of concern with biomasses below any possible reference points. Due to their late
age at maturity and low levels of fecundity, it will take time before these stocks can
recover to previous levels.
Biogenic habitat such as those formed by the cold water coral Lophelia pertusa occur
along the slope, on the offshore banks (Rockall and Hatton), on the mid-Atlantic Ridge
and on seamounts supporting rich and diverse faunal assemblages. Deepwater trawling as
well as set nets and longlining are known to have negative impacts on these habitats
(ICES, 2012d).
432

Management advice on deepwater species is biennial and was last given in 2014 or 2015 depending
on stocks. EU fishing opportunities for deepwater species are also biennial except for tusk, ling,
greater silver smelt and blue ling in ICES Areas V, VI and VII which are managed by annual TACs.
While deep water species still present an opportunity for the Irish fleet, with increased fuel prices,
low TAC share and sustainability issues, they are now of minor importance, with the exception of
Ling. Therefore FEAS does not offer advice for deepwater species, except for Ling in Divisions IIIa
and IVa, and in Subareas VI, VII, VIII, IX, XII, and XIV (other areas). This advice can be found in the
West of Scotland section.
As regards the stocks of roundnose grenadier, scientific advice and recent discussions in the North
East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) indicate that catches of this species may be
misreported as catches of roughhead grenadier. In this context, it is appropriate to establish a TAC
covering both species while enabling a separate reporting for each of them.
This years chapter on deepwater fisheries includes a summary of the 2014/2015
scientific advice by ICES and the proposed EU TACs for 2015 and 2016 for deepwater
species with an Irish quota.
Table 1. Proposed 2015 and 2016 EU TACs for deep water stocks with Irish quota Council regulation (EU)
No 1367/2014.
Species:
ICESZones
2015
TAC
2015
Irish
Quota
2016
TAC
2016
Irish
Quota
DeepSeaSharks
V,VI,VII,VIII,IX
DeepSeaSharks
XII
Blackscabbardfish
Alfonsinos
V,VI,VII,XII
III,IV,V,VI,VII,VIII,IX,X,XII,
XIV
Vb,VI,VII
3,649
296
0
104
9
3,357
296
0
96
9
4,010
260
4,078
265
VIII,IX,X,XII,XIV
3,644
3,279
Roundnoseand
roughheadgrenadier
Roundnoseand
roughheadgrenadier
Orangeroughy
Orangeroughy
Orangeroughy
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Redseabream
Forkbeards
VI
VII
I,II,III,IV,V,VIII,IX,X,XI,
XII,XIV
VI,VII,VIII
V,VI,VII
374
2,434
5
312
183
2,434
5
312
Blueling
Vb,VI,VII
5046
Blueling
II,IV
Silversmelt
III,IV
1,028
Silversmelt
V,VI,VII
4,316
Tusk
Ling
V,VI,VII
VIXIV
3,860
14,164
53
433
14
4
7
305
53
623
Summary of 2014/2015 ICES stock status and management advice for NEA
deepwater stocks for which Ireland has a quota.
Table 2. Stock status and management advice for NEA deep water stocks, with Irish quota. Advice is for
2014/2015, depending on stocks. Ticks are at or below reference level for F, and at or above
reference level for SSB. Crosses are above the reference level for F and below the reference level for
SSB. Green/red on white symbols are qualitative estimates; white on green/red are quantitative
estimates; arrows indicate directional trends.
Species:
ICES Zones
Stock status
F~msy
ICES Advice
SSB~
Btrig
Deep Sea Sharks
NEA
No catches of Portuguese dogfish, leafscale gulper

shark and no targeted fishery for kitefin shark.
Black scabbardfish
Aphanopus carbo
Vb, VI, VII, XIIb
Catches should be no more than 2,802 tonnes
Alfonsinos
Beryx spp
I, II, III, IV,V, VI, VII,

VIII, IX, X,XII, XIV
Catches should be no more than 280 tonnes
Roundnose grenadier
Coryphaenoides rupestris
Vb, VI, VII, XIIb
Catches should be no more than 5,433 t in 2015

and 5,511 t in 2016
Roundnose grenadier
MAR ( Xb, XIIc, Va1,

XIIa1, XIVb1)
Catches should be no more than 717 t in each of

the years 2016 and 2017
Roundnose grenadier
Subareas I, II, IV, VIII,

and IX, Division XIVa,
and Subdivisions Va2
and XIVb2
Landings should be no more than 65t in each of the

years 2016 - 2017
Orange roughy
Hoplostethus atlanticus
NEA
No directed fishery
Blue ling
Molva dypterygia
Vb, VI, VII
Catches should be no higher than 5,046 t in 2015

or 2016
Blue ling
Molva dypterygia
IIIa and IVa, and

Subareas I, II, VIII, IX,
and XII
No directed fisheries and reduction in bycatch
Red seabream
Pagellus bogaraveo
VI, VII, and VIII
No directed fisheries, and bycatch should be

minimised
Greater Forkbeard
Phycis blennoides.
NEA
Landings should be no more than 2,628 tonnes in

2015 or 2016
Ling
IIIa, IVa, VI, VII, VIII,

IX, X, XII, XIV
Catches should be no more than 14,746 tonnes in

each of the years 2016 and 2017
Tusk
Brosme brosme
Divisions IIIa, Vb, VIa,

and
XIIb,
and
Subareas IV, VII, VIII,
and IX (other areas)
Catches should be no more than 8,415 tonnes in

each of the years 2016 and 2017.
Greater Silver Smelt
Subareas I, II, IV, and

Division IIIa
Landings should be no more than 13,047 tonnes in

each of the years 2016 and 2017
Greater Silver Smelt
Subareas VII, VIII, IX,

X, and XII, and
Division Vb
Landings should be no more than 15 tonnes in each

of the years 2016 and 2017
434
Industrial Fisheries
Industrial fisheries are here defined as those that catch fish for rendering into fishmeal and not for human
consumption.
Sandeel
Division VIa
FEAS--SINGLE
SINGLESTOCK
STOCKCONSIDERATIONS
CONSIDERATIONS
FEAS
ICES does
provide
this stock.
There isfor
no2013
new information
to change
perception
of
There
is no not
TAC
for thisadvice
stock.for
In 2012
ICES advised
and 2014, based
on thethe
ICES
approach
this
stock.
FEAS
adviceand
for the
fishery
2010 is the
the same
as that
given forin2009.
FEAS
recommends
to
data
limited
stocks,
taking
intoinaccount
absence
of landings
recent
years,
that no
that a precautionary
TAC should
be setunless
at the there
level of
landings.
FEAS
advises
that the impact
the
increase
of catches should
take place
is recent
evidence
that this
will
be sustainable.
Thereofare
sandeel
fisheries
the ecosystem
should be
part of an
overall
no
new data
thaton
change
the perception
of considered
this stock; as
therefore
the
samemanagement
advice is alsoplan.
applicable for
2015 and 2016. FEAS agrees with this advice. This stock will not be subject to the landing obligation
in 2016.
This stock falls into Category 6, as landings are negligible.
Given their importance as forage fish, FEAS recommends that fisheries should not be allowed to
develop until sufficient information is available to assess the resource, the impact of the fisheries on
the resource, and the role of sandeel in the ecosystem.
Figure 1. International reported Sandeel landings in VIa
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There is no TAC for Sandeel in VIa. A TAC was introduced in the neighbouring North Sea in 1998.
The ICES advice for Sandeel in Sandeel Area 7 (Shetlands) also covers VIa.
EC vessels are restricted to using gears of no less than 16 mm in targeting this species.
435
Table 1 . Sandeel, Division VIa Landings (tonnes), 1981-2014, as officially reported to ICES
Denmark
Faroe Is.
Scotland
Total
1981
5972
5972
1982
10873
10873
1983
13051
13051
1984
14166
14166
1985
18586
18586
1986
24469
24469
1987
14479
14479
1988
24465
24465
1989
18785
18785
1990
16515
16515
1991
8532
8532
1992
4985
4985
Denmark
Faroe Is.
Scotland
Total
1993
80
6456
6236
1994
10627
10627
1995
7111
7111
1996
13257
13257
1997
12679
12679
1998
5320
5320
1999
2627
2627
2000
5771
5771
2001
295
295
2002
706
706
2003
0
2004
566
566
Denmark
Faroe Is.
Scotland
Total
2005
0
2006
0
2007
57
57
2008
0
2009
0
2010
0
2011
0
2012
0
2013
0
2014
0
Norway pout
Division VIa

There is no TAC for this stock. In 2012 ICES advised for 2013 and 2014, based on the ICES approach
to data limited stocks, and taking into account the absence of landings in recent years, that no
increase of catches should take place unless there is evidence that this will be sustainable. There are
no new data that change the perception of this stock, therefore the same advice is also applicable for
2015 and 2016. This stock will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016
This stock falls into Category 6, as landings are negligible.
Given Norway pouts importance as forage fish, FEAS recommends that fisheries should not be
allowed to develop until sufficient information is available to assess the resource, the impact of the
fisheries on the resource, and their role in the ecosystem.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There is no TAC for Norway pout in VIa. A provisional TAC is put in place each year in Divisions IIIa,
IVa and IIa. EC vessels are restricted to using towed nets with mesh size of between 16 and 31 mm in
targeting this species.
436
Figure 2. International reported Norway pout landings from Division VIa (West of Scotland)
Table 2
Norway pout in Division VIa. Officially reported landings (tonnes). Source FAO
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
28180
3316
4348
5147
7338
14147
24431
6175
9549
7186
4624
2005
3214
11
Germany
Netherlands
UK (Eng, Wal
& NI)
10
UK - Scotland
140
13
TOTAL
28196
3316
4348
5158
7338
14148
24439
6322
9562
7186
4625
2005
3214
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Denmark
4815
6395
2281
32
na
Denmark
Faeroe Islands
Faeroe Islands
na
Germany
na
Netherlands
UK (Eng, Wal
& Nl)
na
na
UK - Scotland
na
4819
6397
2285
32
TOTAL
437
Lanternfish,
Species
Pearlsides
and
Other
Mesopelagic
Sub-areas VI and VII

ICES does not provide advice for these species, nor is there is a TAC. There have been recent fishing
trials by Scottish and Irish vessels. Iceland began a fishery in 2009, and in the early 2000s Russia had a
fishery in Faroese waters. These stocks will not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016
Though not assessed by ICES, these stocks would belong to Category 6, as only landings information
is available.
Results from exploratory fishing, and from recent blue whiting acoustic surveys in Subareas VI and
VII showed that the most abundant species are Muellers pearlside, glacial lantern fish and lancet fish,
as well as Euphausid crustaceans, though Muellers pearl side constituted a clean catch in the
exploratory fishery. These species are well-documented food fish, especially for mackerel, hake and
blue whiting. Given their importance as food fish, FEAS advises that fisheries should not be allowed
to develop in VI and VII, or elsewhere unless the impact of outtake on the ecosystem in particular
on predators - is understood, the sustainable harvest rates are identified, and there is adequate
information on the levels and species composition of any by-catch. In particular it will be necessary
to have detailed information on food web interactions of these species with the wider
pelagic/deepsea ecosystem.
There is no management plan for these stocks.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
There are no TACs for mesopelagic species in the NE Atlantic.

EC vessels are not allowed to target these species, or any other non-listed species, with a cod end or
extension piece attached, or suitable for attachment, to any towed net with mesh sizes of less than 100
mm, under Regulation 850/98, Article 3b, Annex 1.
In 2013, Irish and Scottish industry-funded exploratory voyages were conducted under derogations from
Regulation 850/98, allowing use of mesh sizes of less than 100 mm.
Table 3. Lanternfish. Officially reported landings (tonnes). Source FAO

Subarea
IIa
Va
Vb1
VIa
VIb
XII
XIVb
Total
2000
998
998
2001
1412
1803
3215
2002
842
9026
11
293
10172
2003
46
460
180
686
2004
9
166
175
2005
2
1
187
190
2006
1
1
438
2007
8
13
1
2
24
2008
15
10
25
2009
46206
46206
2010
17912
17912
2011
-
2012
-
2013
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
2014
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
na
Arctic Stocks (Cod, Haddock and

Saithe)
There are a number of Arctic stocks in which Ireland has an interest. EU quota allocations for this area include
a portion of the annual TAC for the Irish fleet.
Ireland has taken part in these fisheries in recent years and the main catches have been taken by a small
number of trawlers that started fishing in the 1990s. These fisheries are important to Norway and Russia but a
number of other countries including Iceland, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Spain, Poland and Greenland also
take catches.
The main stocks that are exploited by the Irish fleet are Cod, Haddock and Saithe. Summaries of the state of
each stock and of the ICES advice for each stock are presented below. The full ICES advice on these stocks
are available on the ICES web site http://www.ices.dk/advice/icesadvice.asp
Cod in Sub-areas I and II
North-East Arctic Cod

The ICES advice is based on the joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission management
plan and stipulates that catches in 2016 should be no more than 805 kt.
This stock falls into category 1 as there is a full analytical assessment and forecast. SSB is
currently decreasing from a record high in 2013. Fishing mortality has been increasing since
2012 and is now above both the management plan target (0.40) and FMSY (0.40). Applying the
management plan reduces the TAC but caps this reduction at 10%. This would lead to a 2%
reduction in SSB although this is well above Bpa.
FEAS agrees with the ICES advice.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The current management plan has been in place since 2004 (amended in 2009). ICES considers the
amended plan to be in accordance with the precautionary approach and not in contradiction with the MSY
approach. The plan aims to maintain F at Fpa (0.40) and to restrict between-year TAC changes to 10%.
However, should F fall below 0.3, the TAC should be increased (without restriction) to a level
corresponding to a fishing mortality of 0.30. The plan stipulates that should SSB fall below Bpa, the target F
should be reduced with no limitation on year-to-year variation in TAC.
The 2015 TAC is 894,000 t. The EU allocation (Norwegian waters only) is 20,524 t and the Irish
allocation in 2015 is 307 t.
439
Arctic stocks
Haddock in Sub-areas I and II
North-East Arctic Haddock

The ICES advice is based on the joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission management
plan and stipulates that landings in 2016 should be no more than 223 kt. FEAS agrees with the
ICES advice and notes that this stock will be subject to the landing obligation in 2016. Until such
time that the approach for quota uplift is decided upon, it is not possible to determine what the
TAC and resultant Irish quota will be in 2016.
This stock falls into category 1 as there is a full analytical assessment and forecast. SSB has
increased since 2000 and is currently well above Bpa. Current fishing mortality is well below FMSY,
which is the basis for the management plan.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
A management plan has been in place since 2004. In 2007 it was modified from a three-year rule to a oneyear rule. The HCR is based on FMSY with TAC changes limited to +- 25%, provided SSB remains above Bpa.
More stringent action is taken in the event of spawning stock biomass falling below Bpa.
The management plan is to remain in place until 2015.
The 2015 TAC for this stock is 178,500 t. The EU allocation (Norwegian waters only) is 1,200 t. There is
no Irish allocation for this stock.
Saithe in Sub-areas I and II
North-East Arctic Saithe

The ICES advice is based on the Norwegian management plan and stipulates that catches in 2016
should be no more than 140 kt. FEAS agrees with the ICES advice and notes that this stock will
not be subject to the landing obligation in 2016.
SSB declined considerably from 2007 to 2011 but has increased since and is estimated to be well
above Bpa in 2015. Fishing mortality has been reducing since 2010 and is now likely below Fpa. No
MSY reference points are undefined for this stock.
The management plan is in place for this stock.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
The management plan has been in place since 2007 and aims to maintain F at Fpa (reduced from 0.35 to
0.32 in 2013) with between-year TAC changes limited to +/- 15% unless SSB falls below Bpa when more
stringent action is required.
The 2015 TAC set by Norwegian authorities for Sub-areas I and II is 122,000 t. The EU has a quota for
2015 of 2,550 t. There is no Irish allocation for this stock.
In addition to TAC regulations there are minimum mesh sizes, minimum catch size (increased in 1999) and
closed area regulations in operation.
440
Arctic stocks
Capelin in the Iceland, East Greenland, Jan

Mayen area
(Sub-areas V and XIV and Division IIa west of 5W)

The ICES advice is based on precautionary considerations and recommends that for the
2015/2016 fishing season, the initial quota should be no more than 53,600 t. This initial quota
should be revised based on in-season acoustic survey information in autumn 2015 and a final
TAC should be set on the basis of further survey information from winter 2015/2016. This
stock has been subject to the landing obligation since 1 January 2015. There is no proposed
quota uplift as ICES considers discards to be negligible.
As capelin is a short-lived species, SSB is comprised of only one or two age groups and is
therefore highly dependent on recent recruitment. It is estimated that 460,000 t spawned in
March 2015 which is the average of the last ten years. The autumn 2014 acoustic survey
estimate of the immature 1-and 2-year-old capelin is close to the long-term average.
Recruitment in the last 11 years has been around 50% of that of the previous 25 years.
FEAS agrees with the ICES advice. FEAS also notes that ICES has not evaluated the
management plan.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
A new methodology for setting the TAC was introduced in 2015 which takes into account uncertainty in
the acoustic survey estimates and the size of the main predatory stocks. The TAC is initially set such that
there is a very low probability that it will exceed the final advised TAC. The final TAC is set once the
results from a winter acoustic survey are available (after the start of the fishing season). This final TAC is
set such that SSB has a 95% probability of remaining above Blim (150kt).
Immediate, temporary area closures in the fishery are introduced when high abundance of juveniles are
measured in the catch (i.e. if more than 20% of the catch is composed of fish less than 13 cm). These
closures are enforced using on board observers.
Ireland has not participated in this fishery to date. However, the EU negotiates an annual quota share with
Denmark and Greenland and Ireland is entitled to a share of this.
441
Capelin
Sardines
(Sub-areas VI,VII and Divisions VIIIa, b, d & e)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, catches in Sub-area VII and
Divisions VIIIa,b,d should be no more than 33,065 t in each of the years 2016 and 2017. FEAS
agrees with this advice. There is no ICES advice for Sub-area VI. This stock will not be subject
to the landing obligation in 2016.
The stock size in Divisions VIIIa,b,d shows an increasing trend over the last five years. The
current harvest rate is close to the long-term mean and is likely to be close to Fmsy.
Sardine in Sub-area VII and Divisions VIIIabd is an ICES Category 3 stock. Recent data
(landings and surveys) do not change the perception that the exploitation rate is likely to be
sustainable.
FEAS notes that if fisheries develop on this species in future years, landings of both herring and
sardine should be monitored to verify species composition.
CURRENT MANAGEMENT
No management regulations or TACs exist for sardine fisheries in ICES Sub-areas VI, VII and Divisions
VIIIa,b,d,e.
No TAC exists for the VIIIc/IXa fishery although advice for 2016 is for catches of no more than 1,587 t.
International sardine landings

50000
45000
40000
Tonnes
35000
VI
VII
VIIIabde
Total
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014
Year
Figure 1. Official reported sardine landings figures, 1992-2014.
442
Sardines
Appendix I
Nephrops Functional Units (FUs)

around Ireland
443
Appendix I
Appendix II
Restrictions on Mackerel & Herring
(Map courtesy of B.I.M.)
444
Appendix II
Appendix III
Herring Spawning Boxes off the South Coast
445
Appendix III
Appendix IV
Approximate Locations of Herring Spawning Grounds and Areas
446
Appendix IV
Appendix V
Fisheries Management 2015
(Map courtesy of B.I.M. & Le Tene Maps)

447
Appendix V
Appendix VI
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454
Appendix VII
Fisheries and stocks to be covered by the landing obligation in 2016
(from EC COM C(2015) 6833 final)
Table1.FisheriesinICESAreaVIWestofScotlandandUnionWatersofAreaVb
Fishery
GearCode
Fishinggear
description
Mesh
Size
LandingObligation
Cod,
Haddock,
Whiting&
Saithe
OTB,SSC,OTT,PTB,
SDN,SPR,TBN,TBS,
TB,SX,SV,OT,PT,TX
Trawls&Seines
All
Wheretotallandingspervesselofall
speciesin2013and2014consistof
morethan10%ofthefollowing
gadoids;cod,haddock,whitingand
saithecombined,thelandingobligation
shallapplytoHaddock.
Nephrops
OTB,SSC,OTT,PTB,
SDN,SPR,FPO,TBN,
TB,TBS,SX,SV,FIX,
OT,PT,TX
Trawls,Seines,Pots,
Traps&Creels
All
Wherethetotallandingspervesselof
allspeciesin2013and2014consistof
morethan30%Nephrops,thelanding
obligationshallapplytoNephrops.
Table2.FisherieswithcombinedTACforICESAreasVIandVIIandUnionWatersofAreaVbHake
Fishery
GearCode
Fishinggear
description
Mesh
Size
LandingObligation
Hake
OTB,SSC,OTT,PTB,SDN,
SPR,TBN,TBS,TB,SX,
SV,OT,PT,TX
Trawls&Seines
All
morethan30%Hake,thelanding
obligationshallapplytoHake.
Hake
GNS,GN,GND,GNC,
GTN,GTR,GEN
AllGillNets
All
AllcatchesofHakearesubjecttothe
landingobligation.
Hake
LL,LLS,LLD,LX,LTL,LHP,
LHM
AllLonglines
All
AllcatchesofHakearesubjecttothe
landingobligation.
Table3.FisherieswithTACcoveringallofICESAreaVIINephrops
Fishery
GearCode
Nephrops OTBSSC,OTT,PTB,SDN,
SPR,FPO,TBN,TB,TBS,
SX,SV,FIX,OT,PT,TX
Fishinggear
description
Mesh
Size
LandingObligation
Trawls,Seines,Pots,
Traps&Creels
All
morethan30%Nephrops,thelanding
obligationshallapplytoNephrops.
455
Appendix VII - Landing obligation fisheries and stocks
Table4.FisheriesinICESVIIaIrishSea
Fishery
GearCode
Fishinggear
MeshSize
LandingObligation
Cod,
Haddock,
Whiting&
Saithe
OTB,SSC,OTT,PTB,
SDN,SPR,TBN,TBS,TB,
SX,SV,OT,PT,TX
Trawls&Seines
All
saithecombined,thelanding
obligationshallapplytoHaddock.
Table5.FisheriesinICESVIIdEasternChannel
Fishery
GearCode
Fishinggear
Common
Sole
TBB
Common
Sole
OTT,OTB,TBS,TBN,
TB,PTB,OT,PT,TX
Trawls
Common
Sole
GNS,GN,GND,GNC,
GTN,GTR,GEN
AllTrammelnets&Gill
nets
All
AllcatchesofCommonSole are
subjecttothelandingobligation.
Cod,
Haddock,
Whiting&
Saithe
OTB,SSC,OTT,PTB,
SDN,SPR,TBN,TBS,
TB,SX,SV,OT,PT,TX
TrawlsandSeines
All
obligationshallapplytoWhiting.
AllBeamtrawls
MeshSize
All
LandingObligation
<100mm
Wherethetotallandingspervessel
ofallspeciesin2013and2014
consistofmorethan5%Common
Sole,thelandingobligationshall
applytoCommonSole.
Table6.SoleFisheryinICESVIIeWesternChannel
Fishery
Common
Sole
GearCode
Fishinggear
TBB
AllBeamtrawls
Mesh
Size
LandingObligation
All
applytoCommonSole.
456
Table7.FisheriesinICESVII(excludingVIIa;VIIdandVIIeforCommonSole)CelticSea&WesternChannel
Fishery
GearCode
Fishinggear
Mesh
Size
LandingObligation
Common
Sole
TBB
AllBeamtrawls
All
applytoCommonSole.
Common
Sole
GNS,GN,GND,GNC,
GTN,GTR,GEN
AllTrammelnets&Gill
nets
All
Cod,
Haddock,
Whiting&
Saithe
OTB,SSC,OTT,PTB, Trawls&Seines
SDN,SPR,TBN,TBS,
TB,SX,SV,OT,PT,TX
All
obligationshallapplytoWhiting.
Note:SeeGearCodeAcronymTablebelow
GearCodeAcronymTable
Gear
Code
OTB
Gear
Code
GNS
Typeofgear
BottomOtterTrawl
Typeofgear
GillnetsAnchored(Set)
OTT
OtterTwinTrawls
GND
Gillnets(Drift)
OT
OtterTrawls(NotSpecified)
GNC
Gillnets(Circling)
PTB
BottomPairTrawl
GTN
CombinedGillnetsTrammelNets
PT
PairTrawls(NotSpecified)
GTR
TBN
NephropsTrawl
GEN
TBS
ShrimpTrawl
LLS
TrammelNet
Gillnets and Entangling Nets (Not
Specified)
SetLonglines
TX
OtherTrawls(NotSpecified)
LLD
DriftingLonglines
SDN
DanishAnchorSeine
LL
LonglinesNotSpecified
SSC
ScottishSeine(FlyDragging)
LTL
TrollingLines
SPR
ScottishPairSeine(FlyDragging)
LX
TB
BottomTrawls(NotSpecified)
LHP
SX
SeineNets(NotSpecified)
LHM
HooksandLines(notspecified)
Handlines and Pole Lines (Hand
Operated)
HandlinesandPoleLines(Mechanised)
SV
BoatorVesselSeine
FPO
Pots
TBB
BeamTrawl
FIX
Traps(NotSpecified)
GN
Gillnets(NotSpecified)
457
Appendix VIII
Basis for ICES advice
1.2
Advicebasis
1.2.1
GeneralcontextofICESadvice
ICESadvisescompetentauthoritiesonmarinepolicyandmanagementissuesrelatedtotheimpactsofhumanactivitieson
marineecosystemsandthesustainableuseoflivingmarineresources.
AnimportantpartofICESadviceregardsthemanagementoftheexploitationoflivingmarineresources.Thecontextfor
thispartofICESadviceissetbyseveralinternationalagreementsandpolicies:
UnitedNationsConventionontheLawoftheSea(UN,1982(knownasUNCLOS)),whichincludesacallfora
maximumsustainableyield(MSY)approachtomanagingfisheries;
UnitedNationsConferenceonEnvironmentandDevelopment(UN,1992a(knownasUNCED)),includingChapter
17ofAgenda21whichhighlightsaprecautionaryapproach;
UnitedNationsStraddlingFishStocksAgreementof1995(UN,1995(knownastheUNFishStocksAgreementor
UNFSA))andtheFAOCodeofConductforResponsibleFisheries(FAO,1995),bothofwhichcallforaprecautionary
approach;
ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(UN,1992b(knownasCBD)),whichcallsforconservationofbiologicaldiversity
throughanecosystemapproach;
JohannesburgDeclarationoftheWorldSummitonSustainableDevelopment(UN,2002(knownasWSSD)),which
callsforanecosystemapproachandrebuildingfisheriestomaximumsustainableyield.
In addition, ICES advice responds to the policy and legal needs of ICES Member Countries and multinational and
intergovernmentalorganizationsthatusetheadviceasthescientificbasistomanagehumanactivitiesthataffect,andare
affectedby,marineecosystems.Someapplicablepolicyandlegalinstrumentsare:
TheCommonFisheriesPolicyoftheEuropeanUnion(EU,2013)
TheMarineStrategyFrameworkDirective(EC,2008)
NorwegianMarineResourcesAct(Lovdata,2008(Lovomforvaltningavviltlevandemarineressursar))
RussianFederalLawonFisheriesandconservationofbiologicalresourcesinthewaters.N166P320/12/2004
(Anon.,2004)
IcelandicFisheriesManagementAct(No.38,15May1990)(Anon.,1990)
FaroeIslandsFisheriesManagementAct(Lgtingslgnr.28umvinnuliganfiskiskapfr10.mars1994)(Anon.,1994)
1.2.2
AdvisoryproductsandICESadvisory process
TheadvisoryproductsprovidedbyICEScanbeclassifiedintwocategories:
AdvicewhichisadoptedbyICESAdvisoryCommittee(ACOM),and
ServicesprovidedbytheACOMLeadershipand/ortheSecretariatundertheoversightofACOM
Advice:
Themajorityoftheadviceisprovidedinresponsetostandingrequests(recurringadvice)fromICESclients(theEuropean
Commission, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), and the North East Atlantic Fisheries
Commission(NEAFC)).InadditiontotherecurringadviceICESalsoprovidesadviceinresponsetospecialrequestsfromthe
CommissionsmentionedaboveandfromtheHelsinkiCommission(HELCOM),theOSPARCommission(OSPAR)andICES
MemberCountries.
ICESaimsatproducingadvicebasedonthebestavailablesciencethatischaracterizedbyqualityassurance,developedin
atransparentprocess,unbiased,independent,andisrecognizedbyallpartiesasbeingrelevanttomanagement.
458
The advisory process is illustrated in Figure 1.2.1. The scientific basis for the advice is developed by expert groups. An
advicedraftinggrouppreparestheadvicebasedonthefindingsoftheexpertgroups.Theadvicepreparedbytheadvice
draftinggroupisfinalizedandadoptedbyICESAdvisoryCommittee(ACOM).
In accordance with ICES quality policy, ICES operates a peerreview system. The scientific basis for responses to non
recurringrequestsforadviceissubjecttoapeerreviewprocess,beforeorinconjunctionwiththeadvicedraftinggroup.
Forrecurring adviceICEShasimplemented abenchmarkprocessin whichthe methods, includingthedata seriesto be
usedbytheexpertgroupsinaddressingtherequests,aredeveloped.Theresultsfromthebenchmarksaresubjectedtoa
peerreviewprocesssimilartotheprocessfornonrecurringrequests.
Advice request
Benchmark
Advice Drafting Group
ACOM
Advice
Figure1.2.1
OverviewoftheICESadvisoryprocessforrecurrentadvice.
Thebenchmarkinggroups,advicedraftinggroups, andthefinalACOMapprovaloftheadviceareopentostakeholders
whohaveobserverstatustoICES.ICESclientscanattendtheentireadvisoryprocessasanobserver.
Services:
AServiceistheprovision ofscientificinformation ora processthat producesscientificinformation askedforby policy

makers.Theservicemayincluderecommendationsmadebyindividualorgroupsofscientists,butitdoesnotincludea
recommendationonbehalfofICES(excepttoreiteratearecommendationpreviouslyagreedbyACOM).
WhileServicesarenotICESapprovedadvice,theysharethesamecharacteristicsofqualityassuranceanddevelopedina
transparentprocessthatisunbiasedandpoliticallyneutral.
TheseServicesfallintofourcategories:
1.
TechnicalServices:Thisserviceistheprovisionoffactualinformationwithnoorminimalinterpretation,e.g.
provisionofdataandresearchresults.
2.
ClarificationofAdvice:ThisservicehelpsusersunderstandadvicepreviouslyprovidedbyICES.
459

3.
ProcessServices:Thisservicefacilitatesdeliveryof,e.g.areportofbestscientificunderstandingofanissue,in
caseswhereICESisnotrequestedtoofferadvicebutisaskedtoprovidescientificintegritytoaprocess.
4.
ReviewServices:Thisservicecoverspeerreviewofscientificactivity(includingresearchproposals,surveyor
samplingdesigns,orresearchresultsconductedoutsideICES).Inprovisionoftheservice,ICESisresponsiblefor
selectingqualifiedexpertswithoutavestedinteresttoprovidereviews,butitdoesnotinterpretthereviewsor
recommendactionsthatshouldbetakeninresponsetothereviews.
1.2.3
Ecosystemandprecautionaryapproaches
ICESadvisoryapproachisbasedonanecosystemapproach,withinaprecautionaryapproachtomanagement.
Anecosystemapproachhasbeendefinedinvariouswaysbutmainlyemphasizesamanagementregimethatmaintains
thehealthoftheecosystemalongsideappropriatehumanusesoftheenvironment,forthebenefitofcurrentandfuture
generations.
Anecosystemapproachisexpectedtocontributeto achievinglongterm sustainabilityfortheuseofmarineresources,

includingthefisheriessector.Anecosystemapproachservesmultipleobjectives,involvesstrongstakeholderparticipation,
andfocusesonhumanbehaviourasthecentralmanagementdimension.
ICESisintheprocessofregionalizingitsadviceandbuildingthescientific foundationforintegratedregional ecosystem

advice,whichwillsummarizetheecosystemstateandpressuresdocumentedinecosystemoverviews.Theseoverviews
will focus on ecosystem processes in order to enable ecosystem drivers to be incorporated into traditional fish stock
assessmentsandtoenableoperationaladvicetobegiven.
Aprecautionaryapproach(PA)isdescribedintheUNFishStocksAgreement(UN,1995)asfollows:
Statesshallbemorecautiouswheninformationisuncertain,unreliableorinadequate.Theabsenceofadequate
scientificinformationshallnotbeusedasareasonforpostponingorfailingtotakeconservationandmanagement
measures.
Thisimpliesthatasinformationbecomesincreasinglylimitedand/orlesscertain,ICESadviceonmanagementwillbemore
conservativewithrespecttopossibleimpactonthemarineecosystem.
1.2.4
ICESadviceontopics otherthanfishing opportunities
ICEShasdevelopedasetofadvicerulestobeappliedwhenaddressingrequestsforadviceonfishingopportunities(see
Section1.2.5below).Therequestsforadviceonothertopicsthanfishingopportunitiescoveraverywiderangeofsubjects
anditisnotpossibletodevelopgenericadvicerulesfortheserequestssimilartotheonesforfishingopportunities.The
approachtakenbyICESwhenaddressingnonfisheriesrequestsforadvicemaythereforebeclassifiedasadhocadopted
toeachspecificrequest.However,itwillinallcasesbebasedontheecosystemapproachandapplytheprecautionary
approach.Theaimistoaddresstherequestwhileensuringthattheadviceisconsistentwithmaintaininghealthymarine
ecosystems.
ToaddresstheserequestsICESisdependentontheclientshavingdefinedclearobjectivesandcriteriatobeappliedwhen
developingtheadvice.Animportantelementoftheadvisoryprocessisthedialoguewiththeclienttoachieveacommon
understandingonhowtointerprettherequest,thetypeofadvicetheclientexpects,andwhatICEScandeliver.
1.2.5
ICESadviceonfishingopportunities
The ICES approach to advice on fishing opportunities integrates the ecosystem and precautionary approach with the
objective of achieving maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The aim is, in accordance with the aggregate of international
guidelines, to inform policies for high longterm yields while maintaining productive fish stocks within healthy marine
ecosystems.
460
Annex2oftheUNFishStocksAgreement(UN,1995)containsguidelinesforapplyingaprecautionaryapproachwithinan
MSYframework.Inaccordancewithaprecautionaryapproach,populationsneedtobemaintainedwithinsafebiological
limits to make MSY possible. However, within safe biological limits, an MSY approach is necessary to achieve MSY. A
precautionaryapproachisanecessary,butnotasufficientconditionforMSY.
Maximumsustainableyieldisabroadconceptualobjective,aimedatachievingthehighestyieldoverthelongterm.Itis
nonspecificwithrespectto:(a)thebiologicalunittowhichitisapplied;(b)themodelsusedtoprovidescientificadvice;
and(c)themanagementmethodsusedtoachieveMSY.TheMSYconceptcanbeappliedtoanentireecosystem,afish
community,orasinglestock.ICESappliestheMSYconcepttosinglestocksaswellastogroupsofstocksinthecontextof
biological interaction and mixed fisheries, where stocks are caught together in a fishery. ICES interpretation of MSY is
maximizationofaveragelongtermyieldfromsustainablestocks.
Manyofthemodels(mathematicalandconceptual)used toestimate MSYandassociatedparameterstypicallyassume

thatfactorsnotexplicitlyincludedinthemodelsremainconstantorvaryaroundahistoricallongtermmean.However,
marineecosystemsaredynamicandfishstockswillchangenotonlyinresponsetothefisheries,butalsotochangesin
fishingpatternsandfishingpressuresontheirpreyortheirpredators.ICESconsidersMSYestimatestobevalidonlyinthe
shorttermandtobesubjecttoregularreestimation.
To support the European stock by stock management system, the ICES framework for fisheries advice needs to be
applicabletoindividualstocks.Thisdoesnotremovetheneedtomodifystockspecificadvicetotakeaccountoftechnical
interactions(e.g.bycatchinmixedspeciesfisheries)orofbiologicalinteractions(e.g.predatorpreyrelationship),butthe
underlyingbasisforICESfisheriesadviceremainstheindividualfishstock.
TheadviceruleappliedbyICESindevelopingtheadviceonfishingpossibilitiesdependsonmanagementstrategiesagreed
byrelevantmanagementbodiesandtheinformationandknowledgeavailablefortheconcernedstocks.
Iftherelevantmanagementauthoritieshaveagreedonamanagementplanorstrategyandtheplan/strategyhasbeen
evaluated by ICES to be consistent with the precautionary approach, ICES will provide advice in accordance with the
plan/strategy.
Ifnomanagementplan/strategyhasbeenagreedbyallrelevantmanagementpartiesortheagreedplan/strategyhasbeen
evaluatedbyICESnottobeconsistentwiththeprecautionaryapproach,ICESwillprovideadviceapplyingtheICESMSY
adviceruleortheprecautionaryapproach(seebelowfordetailsonwhentousetheMSYadviceruleortheprecautionary
approachforprovidingadvice).
ICESMSYadvicerulerequiresarelativehighlevelofdataandknowledgeonthedynamicsofthestocksconcerned.Ifthe
dataandknowledgerequirementsarenotfulfilledICEScannotprovideadviceconsistentwithMSY;insteadICESapplies
anadvicerulethatisonlybasedonprecautionaryconsiderations.
Forthepurposesofidentifyingtheadviceruletobeappliedwhengivingadviceonfishingpossibilities,ICESclassifiesthe
stocksintosixmaincategoriesonthebasisofavailableknowledge.
Category1stockswithquantitativeassessments.Includesthestockswithfullanalyticalassessmentsandforecastsas
wellasstockswithquantitativeassessmentsbasedonproductionmodels.
Category 2 stocks with analytical assessments and forecasts that are only treated qualitatively. Includes stocks with
quantitativeassessmentsandforecastswhichforavarietyofreasonsareconsideredindicativeoftrendsin
fishingmortality,recruitment,andbiomass.
Category3stocksforwhichsurveybasedassessmentsindicatetrends.Includesstocksforwhichsurveyorotherindices
areavailablethatprovidereliableindicationsoftrendsinstockmetrics,suchastotalmortality,recruitment,
andbiomass.
461
Category4stocksforwhichonlyreliablecatchdataareavailable.Includesstocksforwhichatimeseriesofcatchcanbe
usedtoapproximateMSY.
Category5landingsonlystocks.Includesstocksforwhichonlylandingsdataareavailable.
Category6negligiblelandingsstocksandstockscaughtinminoramountsasbycatch.Includesstockswherelandingsare
negligibleincomparisontodiscardsandstocksthatareprimarilycaughtasbycatchspeciesinothertargeted
fisheries.
Forcategory1and2stocksICESprovidesadviceinaccordancewithagreedmanagementplans/strategiesevaluatedtobe
consistentwiththeprecautionaryapproach.Ifsuchplans/strategiesarenotagreedorhavebeenevaluatedbyICESnotto
beprecautionary,ICESwillgiveadviceonthebasisoftheICESMSYapproachor,intheabsenceofdefinedFMSY reference
point,ontheprecautionaryapproach.
For category 36 stocks the available knowledge is insufficient to apply the ICES MSY approach and the advice rule is
therefore based on the precautionary approach. ICES is in the process of developing an MSY approach for stocks in
categories3and4.
Limitations on fisheries may be required to achieve environmental objectives, especially regarding biodiversity, habitat
integrity,andfoodwebs.Thiswillnotaffectthecatchthatcanbetakenfromastockinaccordancewiththeobjectivesof
MSY and the precautionary approach and will therefore not affect ICES advice on fishing possibilities. However, the
limitationsmayaffectthepossibilitiesforthefisheriestofullyutilizetheadvisedfishingpossibilities.ICESmay,ifrequested,
adviseonthelikelyimpactofsuchlimitationsonthecatchbutwill,asexplained,notincludesuchconsiderationsinthe
adviceonfishingopportunities.
TheCommonFisheriesPolicyadoptedin2013(EU,2013)includestheintroductionoflandingobligations(discardbans)
formostofthecommercialspecies.Forstocksforwhichthebanentersintoforcebefore2017,ICESprovidescatchadvice
for2016ontheassumptionthatcatchespreviouslydiscardedwillnowbelanded.Toprovideaclearlinkagetoprevious
adviceoncatchandlandingstheadvisedcatchesaresplitintotwocomponents,thewantedcatchandtheunwantedcatch.
WantedcatchisusedtodescribefishthatwouldbelandedintheabsenceoftheEUlandingobligation.Theunwanted
catchreferstothecomponentthatwaspreviouslydiscarded.Thissplit,basedonthepastperformanceofthefishery,is
expectedtoevolveandtherelativemagnitudeofthesecomponentswillchange.
1.2.5.1ICESMSYadvicerule
Fisheries directly affect fish stocks through catches. The fishing mortality (F) is a measure for fishing pressure, the
proportionofthenumberoffishinayearclassthatistakenbyfisheriesduringoneyear.Thefishingmortalityreferredto
inICESadviceisestimatedastheaverageovertheyearclassesthatdominateinthecatches.Foraverysmallnumberof
stocks,suchasIcelandiccodandsaitheandsomeNephropsstocks,ICESusesharvestrates(HR)insteadoffishingmortality.
Theharvestrateisdefinedasthefractionofareferencebiomassthatiscaughtduringayear.Thereferencebiomasscan
betotalstockbiomass,spawningstockbiomass,orbiomassaboveaminimumsizeorminimumage.
Theproductioninafishstockcanbehighlyvariable.Itisrelatedtostocksize(oftenexpressedasspawningstockbiomass,
SSB)andthesizestructureinthestock,whichinturndependalsoonthefishingmortalityandfishingpattern.
Surplusproductionofastockisthecatchthatcanbeharvestedwithoutchangingtheaverageproductioninthelongterm.
For a given fishing pattern there is a level of fishing mortality that in the long term will generate the highest surplus
production.ThispeakofthesurplusproductionistheMSY,andthefishingmortalitygeneratingthispeakisFMSY.
Fishing mortality is the only variable that can be directly controlled by fisheries management. Fisheries management
cannot directly control the stock size, it can only influence it through the fishing mortality. Stock size is also subject to
natural variability that on a yeartoyear basis can overwhelm the influence of fishing. MSY is a longterm average. A
managementstrategythatharvestsvariableyieldsinresponsetothenaturalvariabilityinstocksizewillonaveragegive
yields closer to the longterm MSY than a strategy operating with the maximum constant yield that could be taken
sustainably.
462
Duetothenaturalvariabilityinstocksizetheremaybesituationswherethespawningstockissolowthatreproductionis
atsignificantriskofbeingimpaired.Aprecautionaryapproachimpliesthatfisheriesmanagementinsuchsituationsshould
bemorecautious.Forstockswherequantitativeinformationisavailable,areferencepointBlim maybeidentifiedasthe
stocksizebelowwhichtheremaybereducedrecruitment.Aprecautionarysafetymarginincorporatingtheuncertaintyin
ICESstockestimatesleadstoaprecautionaryreferencepointBpa,whichisabiomassreferencepointdesignedhavealow
probabilityofbeingbelowBlim.Inmostcasesthesafetymarginistakenasastandardvalue,suchthatinmostcasesBpa =
Blim 1.4.WhenthespawningstocksizeisestimatedtobeaboveBpa,theprobabilityofimpairedrecruitmentisexpected
tobelow.
Forshortlivedspecies,thebiomasscanfluctuatewildlybetweenyears.Aprecautionaryapproachinthissituationimplies
thataminimumstocksize,Bescapement,shouldremainintheseaeveryyearafterfishing.
FlimisthefishingmortalitywhichinthelongtermwillresultinanaveragestocksizeatBlim.FishingatlevelsaboveFlim will
resultinadeclineinthestocktolevelsbelowBlim.Again,toaccountfortheuncertaintyintheassessment,ICESappliesa
precautionarybufferFpa toavoidthattruefishingmortalityisaboveFlim.
BiomassReferencePoints
900
Recruitment
800
MSYBtrigger
700
or
600
Bpa
500
or
MSY Bescapement
400
300
200
100
0
0
100
Blim200
300
BMSY
400
500
SSB
Figure1.2.2
Illustrationofbiomassbasedbiologicalreferencepoints.Blim andBpa areprecautionaryreferencepointsrelated

to the risk of impaired reproductive capacity, while MSY Bescapement(often equal to Bpa) is used in the advice
frameworkforshortlivedspecies.MSYBtrigger istheparameterintheICESMSYframeworkwhichtriggersadvice
onareducedfishingmortalityrelativetoFMSY.BMSY istheexpectedaveragebiomassifthestockisexploitedat
FMSY.DiamondsshowthevariablerecruitmentversusSSBthathavebeenobservedovertheyears.Recruitment
canbeseentobegenerallylowerwhenSSBisbelowBlim.
Somefisheatotherfish,whichmeansgrowthforthepredatorandmortalityfortheprey;fishpopulationsalsocompete
forfoodorhabitat.Thismeansthatthesizeandproductivityofafishstockmaydependonthestateofotherstocksas
well as on its own abundance. It also means that as a population of fish increases one cannot expect that growth and
mortality for that species remains constant as there will be increasing competition for food and habitat within that
population.
463

ICESincorporatessuchspeciesinteractionconsiderationsintothesinglespeciesframeworkbyapplyingnaturalmortality
andgrowthratesderivedfrommodelsofspeciesinteractions,usingsize,age,andstomachdataforseveralspeciesinthe
Baltic,theBarentsSea,andtheNorthSea.ICESroutinelyincorporatesshorttermchangesingrowthandmaturationin
shortterm projections to account for competition and food supply. ICES also expects to update MSY reference points
(typicallyaspartofthebenchmarkprocess)toensuretheyreflectcurrentdynamics.
1.2.5.2Longlivedcategory 1and2stocks
Forlonglivedcategory1and2stocks,ICESbasesitsMSYapproachonattainingafishingmortalityrateofnomorethan
FMSY whilemaintainingthestockaboveBlim withatleast95%probability.
Inthisapproach,ICESusesthefishingmortalityandbiomassreferencepointsFMSY andMSYBtrigger.FMSY isestimatedasthe

fishing mortality with a given fishing pattern and current environmental conditions that gives the longterm maximum
yield. To ensure that fishing at FMSY is sustainable, FMSY is not allowed to be above Fpa. This is appropriate since a
precautionaryapproachisanecessaryboundarytoensuresustainability,eventhoughitisinitselfnotasufficientcondition
forachievingthemaximumsustainableyieldimpliedbytheMSYframework.
MSYBtrigger isconsideredthelowerboundofspawningstockbiomassfluctuation aroundBMSY.Itisabiomassreference

pointthattriggersacautiousresponse.Thecautiousresponse,incaseswherethespawningstockfallsbelowMSYBtrigger,
istoreducefishing mortalitytoallowastocktorebuildtolevelsallowingforMSY. Thereductioninfishingmortalityis
proportionaltotheratiobetweenthesizeofthespawningstockandMSYBtrigger.
Theadviceruleleadstocatchadvicecorrespondingtoafishingmortalityof:
F=FMSY whenthespawningstockbiomassisatoraboveMSYBtrigger,and
F=FMSYspawningstockbiomass/MSYBtrigger whenthestockisbelowMSYBtrigger.
IfthestockisbelowBlim ICESadviceisbasedonbringingthestockaboveBlimintheshortterm.Thismayresultinadviceof
zerocatch.
TheapproachdoesnotuseaBMSY estimate.BMSY isanotionalvaluearoundwhichstocksizefluctuateswhenfishingatFMSY.

BMSY strongly depends on the interactions between the fish stock and the environment it lives in, including biological
interactionsbetweendifferentspecies.HistoricalstocksizetrendsmaynotbeinformativeaboutBMSY (e.g.,whenFhas
exceeded FMSY for many years or when current ecosystem conditions and spatial stock structure are, or could be,
substantiallydifferentfromthoseinthepast).
DeterminationofMSYBtrigger requirescontemporarydatawithfishingatFMSY toidentifythenormalrangeoffluctuations

inbiomasswhenstocksarefishedatthisfishingmortalityrate.Iftheobservationonfluctuationinbiomassisinsufficient
toestimateMSYBtrigger,thereferencepointisnormallysetatBpa (whenthisreferencepointisavailable)andthereisno
sound basis for using a different value). In the future, when sufficient observations of SSB fluctuations associated with
fishingaroundFMSY areavailable,theMSYBtrigger shouldbereestimatedtocorrespondtothelowerboundoftherangeof
stocksizesassociatedwithMSY.
Conceptually, spawningstock biomass in the advice rule is the estimated spawning stock size at the beginning (or at
spawningtime)oftheyeartowhichtheadviceapplies(adviceyear).Forexample,foranassessmentperformedin2015
usingdatathrough2014,thereferencespawningstocksizewillformoststocksbetheprojectedsizeatthebeginningof
2016.
Mostfisheriescatchamixtureofspeciesanditisnotentirelypossibletocontrolwhichspeciesandhowmuchofeachis
caught.Forstocksexploitedbymixedspeciesfisheries,itmaynotbepossibletoachievethesinglestockMSYcatchadvice
forallthestockssimultaneously.EithertheadvisedcatchesforsomestockswillbeexceededintryingtocatchtheTACsof
otherstocks,ortheTACsforsomestockswillnotbecaughtinordertopreventovershootingtheTACsofotherstocks.ICES
hasdevelopedamixedspeciesfisheriesmodeltoaddressthis(ICES,2009a,2010);forthemaindemersalstocksinthe
464
NorthSeaandtheCelticSeaICESprovidesinformationoncatchcompositionofdifferentfisheriesstrategiestoillustrate
thetradeoffsbetweenthestrategies.
1.2.5.3Shortlivedcategory 1and2stocks
Thefuture size ofa shortlived fish stock is very sensitive to recruitment because ofthe fewage groups in the natural
population. Incoming recruitment is often the main or only component of the fishable stock. In addition, caremust be
giventoensureasufficientspawningstocksizeasthefutureofthestockishighlydependentonannualrecruitment.For
shortlived species, estimates or predictions of incoming recruitment are typically imprecise, as are the accompanying
catchforecasts.
Formostshortlivedstocks,similartothelonglivedones,theICESMSYapproachisaimedatachievingahighprobability
(95%)ofhavingtheminimumamountofbiomassrequiredtoproduceMSY(Blim)lefttospawnthefollowingyear.Todo
thisICESusestworeferencepoints,MSYBescapement (seeFigure1.2.2)andFcap.MSYBescapement isestimatedeachyeartobe
robustagainstlowSSBandincludesabiomassbuffertoaccountforuncertaintyintheassessmentandcatchadvice.Fcap is
definedtolimitexploitationrateswhenbiomassishigh.Alargestockisusuallyestimatedwithgreateruncertainty,i.e.
whenthecatchistaken,theuncertaintyintheescapementbiomassisgreater.BycappingtheF,theescapementbiomass
isincreasedinproportiontostocksize,maintainingahighprobabilityofachievingtheminimumamountofbiomassleft
tospawn.
TheadvisedyearlycatchescorrespondtotheestimatedstockbiomassinexcessoftheMSYBescapement,butconstrainedto
allowafishingmortalitythatisnohigherthanFcap.
Forsomeshortlivedspecies,assessmentsaresosensitivetoincomingrecruitmentthattheamountofbiomassinexcess
ofthetargetescapementcannotbereliablyestimateduntildataontheincomingyearclassisavailable.Formostofthe
stocksconcernedsuchdataisobtainedjustbeforethefisherystarts(orduringthefishingyear).Therefore,theadviceon
fishingpossibilitiesisoftengivenjustpriortothestartofthefishingseasonorafterthefisherieshasstarted.
1.2.5.4Category36stocks
AsubstantialpartofthestocksforwhichICESprovidesadvicedonothavepopulationestimatesfromwhichcatchoptions
canbederivedusingtheMSYframework.ICEShasthereforedevelopedaprecautionaryframeworkforquantitativeadvice
regardingsuchstocks.
Theoverallaimoftheapproachforthesestocksistoensurethattheadvisedcatchissustainable.Theunderlyingprinciples
oftheapproacharethat(a)theavailableinformationshouldbeused,(b)theadviceshould,wherepossible,bebasedon
thesameprinciplesasappliedforstockswithanalyticalassessmentsandcatchforecasts,and(c)aprecautionaryapproach
should be followed. The latter implies that as information becomes increasingly limited, more conservative reference
pointsshouldbeusedandafurthermarginofprecautionshouldbeadoptedwhenthereislimitedknowledgeofthestock
status.Themarginofrisktoleranceisamanagementprerogative,butintheabsenceofanyproposalbymanagersICES
appliesthevaluesgivenbelow.
In order to apply a precautionary approach for categories 36 the framework for these stocks includes the following
considerationsregardinguncertaintyandprecautionwhichhavebeenappliedinsequence:
Asthemethodologiesusedtoestimatestockstatus,trends,andforecasts,duetothelimiteddataorknowledge
abouttheirbiology,areexpectedtobemoresusceptibletonoisethanmethodsusedtoproduceforecastsfor
datarich stocks, a change limit of 20% (uncertainty cap) has been applied in the advice. This change limit is
relativetothereferenceonwhichitisbasedandmaybe,e.g.recentaveragecatchesoraprojectionofatrend.
A principleofan increasingprecautionary margin with decreasing knowledgeaboutthe stock status has been
applied:
o Thereferencepointsforexploitationusedhave,whenproxiescouldbeidentified,beenselectedonthe
lowermarginsofFMSY eitheratthelowerrangeofaninterval,asF0.1,orsimilar.
465
Aprecautionarymarginof20%(precautionarybuffer)hasbeenappliedforthosecaseswhenitislikely
thatF>FMSY orwhenthestockstatusrelativetocandidatereferencepointsforstocksizeorexploitation
isunknown.Exceptionstothislatterrulehavebeenmadeincaseswhereexpertjudgementdetermines
thatthestockisnotreproductivelyimpaired,andwherethereisevidencethatthestocksizeisincreasing
significantlyorexploitationhasreducedforinstance,basedonsurveyindicesorareductioninfishing
effortinthemainfisheryifthestockistakenasabycatchspecies.
Theadviceisapplicabletoatimeframewhichiscompatiblewithameasurableresponseinthemetricsusedasthebasis
fortheadvice.Wheretheleastamountofinformationisavailable,includingcaseswherethe20%precautionarymargin
hasbeenapplied,ICESthereforeconsidersthattheadviceisnotexpectedtobechangedforafixedanddeterminedperiod
suchas,forexample,threeyears,unlessimportantnewknowledgeemergesregardingastockwhichmayjustifyarevision
oftheadvice.
Theadviceruleusedtoprovidequantitativeadviceonfishingpossibilitiesdependsontheavailableinformation,andICES
hasdevelopedseparateadvicerulesforeachofthestockcategorieslistedinSection1.2.5.1.
Category3.Stocksforwhichsurveybasedassessmentsindicatetrends.Theadviceisbasedontherecentadvice;catchor
landingsdataareadjustedtochangeintheabundanceindexforthetwomostrecentvaluesrelativetothethreepreceding
values.Otherreferenceyearsmaybeused,basedontheknowledgeofthebiologyofthestock(e.g.specieswitharelatively
largelongevity)orthequalityofthedata.
Category4.Stocksforwhichreliablecatchdataareavailable.Theapproachistousecatchinformationtoevaluatewhether
thestockisfishedsustainablyorwhetherareductionincatchisrequiredtoachievesustainability.Decreasesorincreases
incatchareincrementalandslow.
Categories5and6.Landingsonlystocksornegligiblelandingsstocksandstockscaughtinminoramountsasbycatch.In
situationswhereonlylandingsdataareavailable,andnorelevantlifehistoryorfisheryinformationcanbegleanedfrom
similar stocks or species in the ecoregion or beyond, ICES will normally provide advice on the basis of recent
catches/landings,applyingtheprecautionarybuffer.Ifcatcheshavedeclinedsignificantlyoveraperiodoftimeandthis
couldrepresentareductioninstocksizeICESmayadvisezerocatchortheimplementationofamanagementstrategy.
1.2.5.5ICESapproachtoprovidestockstatus
ICESusesspecificterminologyandsymbolsorpictogramstodescribethestatusofstocks.Theterminologyaimstousea
nomenclaturewhichislesspronetomisinterpretation,butatthesametimeallowsforamatchtothelegaldescription,
whichstillusessafebiologicallimits(stockwithinsafebiologicallimitsisdefinedintheCFP(EU,2013)asastockwith
ahighprobabilitythatitsestimated spawningbiomassattheendofthepreviousyearishigherthan thelimitbiomass
referencepoint(Blim)anditsestimatedfishingmortalityrateforthepreviousyearislessthanthelimitfishingmortality
ratereferencepoint(Flim)).
Theterminologynowusesdifferentwordingdependingontheapproach(MSYapproach,aprecautionaryapproach,and
existingandimplementedmanagementplans).ThestructureandtheassociatedsymbolsandtextaregivenbelowinTables
1.2.1 and1.2.2forMSYandprecautionaryapproaches:
466
Table1.2.1
SymbolsandtextforMSYstatus.
MSYreferencepoints
Explanation
Fishingmortality(FMSY) F<FMSYand
F<<<FMSY(~0)
F>FMSY
Noreferencepointdefined
Stockstatusunknown(evenif
referencepointisdefined)
Biomass(MSYBtrigger)
SSB=MSYBtrigger orSSB>MSYBtrigger
SSBMSYBescapement
SSB<MSYBtrigger
SSB<MSYBescapement
Noreferencepoint
Stockstatusunknown
Sign
Text
Appropriate
Below
Above
Undefined
Unknown
Attriggerorabovetrigger
Atoraboveescapement
Belowtrigger
Belowescapement
Undefined
Unknown
Table1.2.2
Symbolsandtextforprecautionarystatus.
Precautionary
Explanation
referencepoints
F=<Fpa
Flim>F>Fpa
F>Flim
Fishingmortality
(Fpa,Flim)
Noreferencepoint
Biomass(Bpa,Blim)
Sign
Text
Harvestedsustainably
Increasedrisk
Harvestedunsustainably
Undefined[orBelowpossible
referencepoints]
[or ,ifis
Appropriate]
Stockstatusunknown
SSBBpa
Blim<B<Bpa
SSB<Blim
Noreferencepoint
[or
trigger]
,ifisAbove
Stockstatusunknown
Unknown
Fullreproductivecapacity
Increasedrisk
Reducedreproductive
capacity
Undefined[orAbovepossible
referencepoints]
Unknown
Inthecaseofmanagementplans,theterminologychangesdependingonthecharacteristicsofaspecificreferencepoint;
namely,ifthereferencepointisconsideredatargetoralimit.Ifconsideredatarget,thisreferencepointwouldusually
comewithatargetrange,whichmeansthatagreensymbolcanbeusedwhenthestockiswithintheestimatedordefined
range, although for most ofthe stocksa rangehas notbeen defined.It isnecessary to identify whether the reference
pointsaredefinedastargetsoraslimitsforeachindividualplan.
Table1.2.3
Symbolsandtextforstatusofstocksfishedundermanagementplans.
Managementplan 1
Explanation
Sign
referencepoints
Fishingmortality(FMP)
F<Fmgttarget/limit
Fwithindefinedrange
F>Fmgttarget/limit
Biomass(SSBMP)
SSB>target,limitortriggerbiomass
SSBwithindefinedrange
SSB<target,limitortriggerbiomass
Text
Below
AtorWithinrange
Above
Above
AtorWithinrange
Below
Insituationswhereverylimitedinformationisavailableandthestockstatustableisfilledwithgreyquestionmarksymbols,
ICESprovidesadditional,qualitativeinformationwhereavailable.Forexample,thisinformationcouldbebasedonsurvey
informationandgiveanindicationofstockstatusortrend.
Only included when plan is considered consistent with PA by ICES and agreed on by all relevant clients
467

Table1.2.3
Symbolsandtextforstockswithlimitedinformation.
Qualitative
Explanation
Sign Text
evaluation
Ifthereis anideaoftheexploitation of this stock in relation toany possible referencepoints:
Fishingmortality
IfFisveryhighi.e.F>possiblereference
Abovepossiblereferencepoints[orothershort
description]
orexploitation
points
rate
Belowpossiblereferencepoints [orothershort
IfFisverylowi.e.F<possiblereferencepoints
description]
Biomass
Ifthereis anideaofthestate of this stock in relation to anypossible referencepoints:
IfSSB isverylow,i.e.SSB<possiblereference
Belowpossiblereferencepoints [orothershort
description
points
IfSSBisveryhighi.e.SSB>possiblereference
Abovepossiblereferencepoints[orothershort
description]
points
Ifonlytrendsare
Ifparameterincreases
Increasing
known
Ifparameterdecreases
Decreasing
Iftrendisstable
Stable
1.2.6
Fisheriesmanagementstrategyevaluations
MultiannualmanagementplansandstrategieshavebeenagreedforanumberoffishstocksorfisherieswithintheICES
area,andnewplansarebeingproposed.ICEShasevaluatedsuchmanagementplansaccordingtotheircompliancewitha
precautionaryapproachregardingriskstomaintenanceofreproductivecapacity,andaccordingtothelikelihoodthathigh
yieldswillbeproducedinthelongterm.Stakeholdersandauthoritiesmayhaveraisedotherissuesthathavealsobeen
addressedinaspecificmanagementplanevaluation,suchasstabilityofyieldandrisksunderspecificrecruitmentregimes.
ICEShasadoptedaprecautionarycriterionforlonglivedstocksandasecondsimilarcriterionforshortlivedstocks.
Longlivedstocks
a) Themanagementplan/strategyisprecautionaryifthemaximumprobabilitythatSSBisbelowBlim is5%,where
themaximum(oftheannualprobabilities)istakenoverallyearsintheplan/strategy(i.e.shortandlongterms).
Shortlivedstocks
a) If,undernaturalconditionsofnofishing,thelongtermannualprobabilityofSSBbeingbelowBlim5%,thenthe
samecriteriaasforlonglivedstocksisused.
b) If,undernaturalconditionsofnofishing,thelongtermannualprobabilityofSSBbeingbelowBlim>5%,thenthe
managementplan/strategyisprecautionaryifthemaximumprobabilitythatSSBisbelowBlimis5%(afterthe
fishery)inanyyearwhenafisherytakesplace.Inallotheryearsthefisheryshouldbeclosed.Acceptedplanswith
theaboveormorestringentcriteriashouldnotimplyanincreaseofthelongtermannualprobabilityofSSBbeing
belowBlimbymorethanafactorof2comparedtonaturalconditionsofnofishing.
The management plans/strategies in placeby 2012 were generally agreed prior to the introduction of MSYin the ICES
advice, and on the basis of management plan compliance with a precautionary approach. Some plans have since been
evaluatedwithregardtogeneratinghighlongtermyields,andtheseplansareconsideredalsotobeinaccordancewith
anMSYapproach.
Itisanticipatedthatinthefuturecompetentauthoritieswillaimatmanagementplans/strategiesthatareconsistentwith
MSY.Evaluationswillbeconductedtodeterminehowplansperformintermsoflongtermaveragecatch,averagestock
size,averagefishingmortalityrate,andthestatisticaldistributionsofthesevariables.Unlessmanagersagreeonspecific
performancecriteria,themanagementplan/strategyevaluationcanonlybecomparative;thatis,ICESwillnotrecommend
oneplan/strategyoveranotherandwouldhavenobasisforrejectingamanagementplan/strategyifitisconsistentwith
anMSYapproachanditdoesnotviolatetheprecautionaryapproach.
468
Sources
Anon.1990.IcelandicFisheriesManagementAct(No.38,15May1990).
Anon.1994.FaroeIslandsFisheriesManagementAct(Lgtingslgnr.28umvinnuliganfiskiskapfr10.mars1994).
Anon.2004.RussianFederalLawonFisheriesandconservationofbiologicalresourcesinthewaters.N166P320/12/2004.
Beddington,J.R.,andMay,R.M.1977.HarvestingNaturalPopulationsinaRandomlyFluctuatingEnvironment.Science,197(4302):
463465(DOI:10.1126/science.197.4302.463).
De Oliveira, J.A.A., Darby, C.D., Earl, T.J. and O'Brien, C. M. 2010.Technical Background Evaluation of Annex IV Rules. ICES CM
2010/ACOM:58:28pp.
EC.2002.CouncilRegulation(EC)No.2371/2002of20December2002ontheconservationandsustainableexploitationoffisheries
resourcesundertheCommonFisheriesPolicy.
EC.2006.ImplementingsustainabilityinEUfisheriesthroughmaximumsustainableyield.CommunicationfromtheCommissiontothe
CouncilandtheEuropeanParliament.COM(2006)360(final).
EC.2008.Directive2008/56/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof17June2008establishingaframeworkforcommunity
actioninthefieldofmarineenvironmentalpolicy(MarineStrategyFrameworkDirective).
EU.2013.Regulation(EU)no1380/2013oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilof11December2013ontheCommonFisheries
Policy,amendingCouncilRegulations(EC)No1954/2003and(EC)No1224/2009andrepealingCouncilRegulations(EC)No2371/2002
and(EC)No639/2004andCouncilDecision2004/585/EC.
FAO.
1995.
Code
of
Conduct
for
Responsible
Fisheries.
350.http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/FISHERY/agreem/codecond/codecon.asp.
FAO
Fisheries
Technical
Paper
FAO.2001.ReykjavikConferenceonResponsibleFisheriesintheMarineEcosystem.Iceland,14October2001.
http://www.refisheries2001.org/.
ICES. 2004. Report of the Thirteenth ICES Dialogue Meeting: Advancing scientific advice for an ecosystem approach to management:
collaboratingamongstmanagers,scientists,andotherstakeholders.Dublin,Ireland,2627April2004.ICESCooperativeResearchReport,
267.
ICES.2008.ReportoftheICESAdvisoryCommittee2008.ICESAdvice,2008.
ICES.2009a.ReportoftheAdhocGrouponMixedFisheriesintheNorthSea(AGMIXNS),34November2009.ICESCM2009/ACOM:52.
ICES.2009b.Introduction,OverviewsandSpecialRequests.ReportoftheICESAdvisoryCommittee2009.ICESAdvice,2009.Book1.
ICES.2010.ReportoftheWorkingGrouponMixedFisheriesAdvicefortheNorthSea(WGMIXFISH),31August3September2010.ICES
CM2010/ACOM:35.
ICES.2012a.ReportoftheWorkshopontheDevelopmentofAssessmentsbasedonLIFEhistorytraitsandExploitationCharacteristics
(WKLIFE),1317February2012,Lisbon,Portugal.ICESCM2012/ACOM:36.121pp.
ICES.2012b.ICESimplementationofadvicefordatalimitedstocksin2012.ReportinsupportofICESadvice.ICESCM2012/ACOM:68.
ICES.2012c.ReportofTheWorkshoptoFinalizetheICESDatalimitedStock(DLS)MethodologiesDocumentationinanOperational
Formforthe2013AdviceSeasonandtomakeRecommendationsonTargetCategoriesforDatalimitedStocks(WKLIFE2).ICESCM
2012/ACOM:79.
Lovdata.2008.LovomforvaltningavviltlevandemarineressursarLOV2008060637.http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl20080606
037.htmlhttp://www.lovdata.no/all/hl20080606037.html.
Russel,F.S.1931.Sometheoreticalconsiderationsontheoverfishingproblem.JCons.Cons.Int.Explor.Mer.6(1)327.
Sissenwine,M.P.1978.Is MSYand adequate foundation foroptimum yield?Fisheries,3:2242. (doi:10.1577/1548
8446(1978)003<0022:IMAAFF>2.0.CO;2).
UN.
1982.
United
Nations
Convention
on
the
Law
of
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_convention.htm.
UN. 1992a United Nations Conference on Environment
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/res_agenda21_00.shtml.
and Development
(UNCED),
the
Rio
Sea
de
(UNCLOS).
Janeiro,
Brazil.
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469
PLAICE - Southwest of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIh-k)

PLAICE - West of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIb,c)
SOLE - Celtic Sea Sole (Divisions VIIf,g)
SOLE - Southwest of Ireland Sole (Divisions VIIh-k)
SOLE - West of Ireland Sole (Divisions VIIb,c)
NEPHROPS - FU 16 Porcupine Bank Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 17 Aran Grounds Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 19 South Eastern and South Western Coasts of Ireland Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 20-21 Celtic Sea Nephrops
NEPHROPS - FU 22 The Smalls Nephrops
SAITHE - West of Ireland and Celtic Sea Saithe (Sub-area VII)
HERRING - Celtic Sea Herring (Division VIIaS, VIIg-h, VIIj-k)
SPRAT - Celtic Sea and West of Scotland Sprat (Sub-area VI & Divisions VIIa-c and f-k)
SEA BASS - Irish Sea, Celtic Sea etc. (Divisions IVbc, VIIa, and VIIdh)
RAYS and SKATES - Celtic Sea and West of Scotland Rays and Skate (Sub-areas VI and VII)
260
266
272
280
286
292
302
310
317
323
330
332
342
351
358
Ecosystem Overview for Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks

HERRING - Northeast Atlantic Herring (Sub-areas I & II)
MACKEREL - Northeast Atlantic Mackerel
HORSE MACKEREL - Western Horse Mackerel
HORSE MACKEREL - North Sea Horse Mackerel
BLUE WHITING - (Sub-areas I-IX, XII and XIV)
ALBACORE TUNA - North Atlantic
BLUEFIN TUNA - East Atlantic and Mediterranean
SWORDFISH - North Atlantic
BOARFISH - Northeast Atlantic
PELAGIC SHARKS - Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Sharks
SPURDOG - Northeast Atlantic Spurdog
364
368
375
389
397
403
412
415
417
419
427
429
Ecosystem Overview for Deepwater

DEEPWATER STOCKS SOUTH OF 630 N
430
433

INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES
ARCTIC STOCKS - Cod, Haddock and Saithe
CAPELIN - (Sub-areas V and XIV and Division IIa west of 5W)
SARDINES - (Sub-areas VII and Divisions VIIIa, b, d & e)
435
439
441
442
Appendices
Appendix I - Nephrops Functional Units (FUs) around Ireland
Appendix II - Restrictions on Mackerel & Herring
Appendix III - Herring Spawning Boxes off the South Coast
Appendix IV - Approximate Locations of Herring Spawning Grounds and Areas
Appendix V - Fisheries Management in 2015
Appendix VII - Fisheries and Stocks to be Covered by the Landing Obligation in 2016
Definition of Fisheries Technical Terms and Acronyms
443
444
445
446
447
448
455
458
471
Table of Contents
Definition of fisheries technical terms and acronyms

Abundance Index Information obtained from samples or observations and used as a measure of the weight or
number of fish which make up a stock.
ACOM Advisory Committee is the sole competent body for ICES for scientific advice in support of the
management of coastal and ocean resources and ecosystems. It is a merger of the former ACFM, ACE and
ACME advice groups.
Acoustic surveys Acoustic surveys use sound waves emitted from a "transducer" to estimate the density of
plankton and fish shoals. The survey vessel tows the transducer under water, which is linked to an echo
sounder in the vessel which records the shoals of fish as "marks" on a screen or paper trace. The density of
these marks is used to calculate total biomass of a stock.
Age The number of years of life completed, here indicated by an Arabic numeral, followed by a plus sign if there is
any possibility of ambiguity (age 5, age 5+)
Benthic Anything living on, or in, the sea floor.
Boreal species Species originating in a temperate climate e.g. Northern Europe.
BIM An Bord Iascaigh Mhara, The Irish Sea Fisheries Board, charged with responsibility for development of the
fishing and aquaculture industries in Ireland. (see http://www.bim.ie)
Biomass Measure of the quantity, usually by weight in metric tons (2,205 pounds = 1 metric ton), of a stock at a
given time.
Biological reference points Various reference points can been defined for fished stocks. These can be used as a
management target or a management trigger (i.e. point where more stringent management action is required)
Examples include fishing mortality reference points F0.1, Fmax, Fmed, Fpa and biomass reference points Bpa and Blim.
Blim The Blim is the limit of the spawning stock biomass, below which recruitment is impaired or the dynamics of the
stock are unknown.
BMSY Spawning stock biomass (SSB) that results from fishing at FMSY for a long time.
Bpa Bpa is the Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) level above which the stock should be maintained to ensure a low risk
to recruitment impairment. In stocks where there has been no evidence of reduced recruitment below a
certain SSB size, Bpa has been calculated by multiplying Bloss (the lowest observed SSB) by uncertainty factor (e1.645) to take into account assessment uncertainty.
Btrigger BMSY-trigg is a biomass reference point that triggers a cautious response, The cautious response is to reduce
fishing mortality to reinforce the tendency for a stock to rebuild and fluctuate around a notional value of BMSY
(even though the notional value is not specified in the framework) when F FMSY.
By-catch Refers to discarded catch (see Discards) plus incidental catch not purposely targeted by the fishermen.
Catchability The fraction of a fish stock which is caught by a defined unit of the fishing effort
CECAF Fisheries Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic a committee of FAO (see below) and web page
http://www.fao.org/fi/body/rfb/cecaf/cecaf_home.htm
CFP / Common Fisheries Policy The instrument of fisheries management within the European community (see
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/ reform/index_en.htm)
Collapse FEAS consider a stock to have collapsed when the spawning stock biomass has been below Blim for three
consecutive years.
CPUE /Catch Per Unit of Effort The catch of fish, in numbers or in weight, taken by a defined unit of fishing
effort e.g Kg/hour or numbers/hr. CPUE is used as a proxy for stock abundance for some stocks and often an
input to assessment models.
Closed areas Various temporal and spatial area closures have been implemented as fisheries management and
environmental conservation tools. Normally these involve a prohibition on the use of certain fishing gears for a
defined area and/or period.
Data Rich stocks those stocks for which a quantitative population estimate and forecast is available (e.g ICES
Category 1 & 2).
Data limited stocks those stocks for which there is not a population estimate & forecast available whether
through reason of lack of appropriate data or adequate time series (e.g. ICES categories 3-6).
471
DCF / Data Collection Framework EU Commission Regulation 665/2008 establishes the Data Collection
Framework (DCF), a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries
sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Under this regulation the
European Commission requires Member States to collect data on Biological and Economic aspects of many
European fisheries and related fisheries sectors. (see: https://datacollection.jrc.ec.europa.eu/)
DELASS Developing Elasmobranch Stock Assessments An EU-funded project aimed at species identification, stock
identification and discrimination, as well as data preparation and exchange on elasmobranch species such as sharks and
rays.
Demersal Fish, such as cod, whiting, haddock, sole, plaice, skates and rays, that normally swim in mid-water at or
close to the sea floor.
Discard Discards are defined as that part of the catch returned to the sea as a result of economic, legal or other
considerations.
Discard rate The percentage (or proportion) of the total catch which is discarded.
Ecosystems are composed of living animals, plants and non living structures that exist together and interact
with each other. Ecosystems can be very small (the area around a boulder), they can be medium sized (the area
around a coral reef) or they can be very large (the Irish Sea or even the eastern Atlantic).
Ecosystem approach Ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Management that takes into account the
effects of fisheries on the ecosystem and the effects of the ecosystem on the fish stocks.
Effective fishing effort Fishing effort or intensity standardised in some way e.g. hours fished in an area.
Elasmobranchs Fish, such as skates, rays, sharks and dogfish, whose skeletons are cartilagenous rather than boney
(as in the teleost species such as cod, whiting, plaice and herring).
Emergency Measures Measures adopted by the EU prior to the introduction of cod and hake as part of the recovery plan.
Exploitation boundary Threshold on exploitation (catch, mortality, effort) that is consistent with a management strategy
or international agreement (e.g. exploitation boundary consistent with precautionary approach).
Exploitation pattern The distribution of fishing mortality over the age composition of the fish population
determined by the type of fishing gear, area and seasonal distribution of fishing, and the growth and migration of
the fish. The pattern can be changed by modifications to fishing gear, for example, increasing mesh or hook size,
or by changing the ratio of harvest by gears exploiting the fish (e.g., gill net, trawl, hook and line, etc.).
Exploitation rate The proportion of a population at the beginning of a given time period that is caught during that
time period (usually expressed on a yearly basis). For example, if 720,000 fish were caught during the year from
a population of 1 million fish alive at the beginning of the year, the annual exploitation rate would be 0.72.
FAO Fisheries and Agriculture Organization Based in Rome, this organization is part of the United Nations
(see http://www.fao.org/fi/default.asp).
Fcube (Fleet and Fisheries Forecast). Method to forecast simulations of stocks and fleet dynamics are
performed to evaluate the consequences of various management scenarios (Ulrich et al 2011).
FEAS / Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services One of five service areas of the Marine Institute, FEASs
mission is to Assess, Research and Advise on the marine fisheries resource in Irish waters (see:
http://www.marine.ie/)
Fecundity In general, the potential reproductive capacity of an organism or population expressed in the number of
eggs (or offspring) produced during each reproductive cycle. Fecundity in fish usually increases with age.
Fishery Group of vessel voyages targeting the same (assemblage of) species and/or stocks, using similar gear, during
the same period of the year and within the same area (e.g. the Irish flatfish-directed beam trawl fishery in the
Irish Sea).
Fishing Effort The total fishing gear in use for a specified period of time. When two or more kinds of gear are
used, they must be adjusted to some standard type
Fleet A physical group of vessels sharing similar characteristics in terms of technical features and/or major activity
(e.g. the Irish beam trawler fleet < 300 hp, regardless of which species or species groups they are targeting).
F / Fishing Mortality Deaths in a fish stock caused by fishing. Instantaneous Rate of Fishing Mortality. When
fishing and natural mortality act concurrently, F is equal to the instantaneous total mortality rate (Z), multiplied
by the ratio of fishing deaths to all deaths. Expressed on an exponential scale: F=0.5 means that 1-EXP(0.5)=39% are removed.
Flim is the limit fishing mortality. Flim should be avoided with high probability because it is associated with unknown
stock dynamics or stock collapse.
472
Fmax The fishing mortality for a given exploitation pattern rate of growth and natural mortality, that results in the
maximum level of yield-per-recruit.
Fmed Fishing mortality rate F corresponding to a SSB/R equal to the inverse of the 50th percentile of the observed
R/SSB.
FMP Fishing mortality reference point as defined in management plans.
FMSY The fishing mortality rate, which, if applied constantly, would result in Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). The
largest annual catch that may be taken from a stock continuously without affecting the catch of future years; a
constant long-term MSY is not a reality in most fisheries, where stock sizes vary with the strength of year
classes moving through the fishery. For practical purposes, ICES uses proxies such as Fmax, F35%spr or F0.1 for FMSY.
F0.1 The fishing mortality at which the increase in yield-per-recruit in weight for an increase in a unit-of-effort is only
10 percent of the yield-per-recruit produced by the first unit of effort on the unexploited stock (i.e., the slope
of the yield-per-recruit curve for the F0.1 is only one-tenth the slope of the curve at its origin).
Fpa is a precautionary reference point designed to ensure that there is a high probability that Flim will be avoided and
that spawning stock biomass will remain above the threshold (Bpa).
Fsq is some estimate of recent fishing mortality. A three year average is used for most stocks since in most
assessments the most recent F estimate is the most uncertain.
Front The transition from one ecological regime to another e.g. where mixed and stratified (see below) waters
converge
Gadoids An important family of food fish, including cod, haddock, rocklings, hake, whiting, blue whiting and ling.
Usually characterised by the presence of a barbel on the chin.
Gill nets Static nets suspended in the water column to trap fish by the gills.
Groundfish Species of demersal fish such as cod, whiting, haddock, sole, plaice, skates and rays, dwelling on, or
close to the sea floor, as targeted in the annual FEAS groundfish surveys around the Irish coast.
Growth overfishing Occurs when fishing mortality exceeds Fmax.
Harvest Control Rule (HCR) A predefined rule governing the exploitation of fish stock such that management
targets are achieved. These vary from the simple to the extremely complex.
Harvest rate (= harvest ratio) Ratio between landings and total stock abundance (e.g. as estimated from TV
surveys for Nephrops).
Hydrodynamic Studies into the motion of water/fluids.
ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Seas Ireland shares the Total Allowable Catches TACs for
many stocks we exploit with our European Union partners. Because of this international dimension many stocks
need to be assessed in an international fora such as ICES. (see: http://www.ices.dk/)
ICCAT International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (see: http://www.iccat.int/en/)
IFI / Inland Fisheries Ireland the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of
Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. (see: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/)
IFREMER Frances national marine research agency (see: http://www.ifremer.fr/anglais/)
Infralittoral zone The algal dominated zone to approximately five metres below the low water mark
Inshore fisheries There are various definitions of inshore fisheries including those fisheries that are conducted within
12 miles of the shore, including demersal, pelagic, shellfish and sea angling fisheries.
ISWPAC Irish South and West Pelagic Advisory Committee.
Keystone species A species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community and
whose impact on the community is greater than would be expected based on its relative abundance or total
biomass. Without these species an ecosystem would be structured differently or cease to exist.
LPUE /Landings Per Unit of Effort The landing of fish in weight taken by a defined unit of fishing effort e.g.
kg/hr. Lpue is normally based on landings and effort reported in commercial logbooks and maybe subject to
various biases. Lpue is used as a proxy for stock abundance for some stocks and often an input to assessment
models.
Lusitanian Species with a southern/Mediterranean origin.
Macrofauna Marine species that can be retained on a 0.5mm sieve.
473
Management Plan is a agreed plan to mange a stock. With defined objectives, implementation measures, review
processes and stakeholder agreement and involvement.
Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) The largest average catch or yield that can continuously be taken from a
stock under existing environmental conditions. (For species with fluctuating recruitment, the maximum might be
obtained by taking fewer fish in some years than in others.) Also called maximum equilibrium catch, maximum
sustained yield, sustainable catch.
Marine Institute The Marine Institute is Ireland's national agency with the following general functions : "to
undertake, to co-ordinate, to promote and to assist in marine research and development and to provide such
services related to marine research and development, that in the opinion of the Institute will promote
economic development and create employment and protect the environment." Marine Institute Act, 1991
(see: http://www.marine.ie/)
Megafauna Species larger than the meiofauna and macrofauna (see above and below).
Meiofauna Generally defined as organisms that can pass through a 1 mm sieve but will be retained by a 0.5mm
sieve.
Metapopulation consists of a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some
level.
Mtier Homogeneous Subdivision of a fishery by vessel type (e.g. the Irish flatfish-directed beam trawl fishery by
vessels < 300 hp in the Irish Sea).
MPA / Marine Protected Area A conservation area in the sea usually designated for the protection and
maintenance of biological diversity and natural and cultural resources.
MSY Maximum Sustainable Yield. The largest average catch or yield that can continuously be taken from a stock
under existing environmental conditions.
MSY Bescapement A biomass reference point for short-lived species within the ICES MSY framework (see ICES
Advice, Section 1.2) where the target is to leave the reference spawning stock biomass to spawn the next year.
MSY Btrigger A biomass reference point that triggers a cautious response within the ICES MSY framework (see ICES
Advice, Section 1.2).
Natural Mortality Deaths in a fish stock caused by predation, illness, pollution, old age, etc., but not fishing.
NEAFC / North Eastern Atlantic Fisheries Commission A commission that manages fisheries off
Scandinavia and north-eastern Europe - (see http://www.neafc.org/)
Nominal catch The sum of the catches that are landed (expressed as live weight or equivalents). Nominal catches
do not include unreported discards.
NOAA / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration FEAS co-operate with NOAA, our US
counterparts, on a number of strategic projects. (see http://www.noaa.gov)
OSPAR The Oslo and Paris Commissions, which have the objective of protecting the Northeast Atlantic against
pollution. Member countries range from Finland to Portugal and Iceland.
Pelagic Fish that spend most of their life swimming in the water column, as opposed to resting on the bottom, are
known as pelagic species.
Precautionary Approach The precautionary approach should be widely applied to conservation, management and
exploitation of living aquatic resources in order to protect them and preserve the aquatic environment. The
absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take
conservation and management measures.
Quota A portion of a total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to an operating unit, such as a Vessel class or size, or a
country.
RAC Regional Advisory Councils are stakeholder-led organisations established by the Commission in order to
deepen stakeholder participation in policy making. e.g. Pelagic RAC.
(see http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/partners/regional_advisory_councils/index_en.htm)
Rate Of Exploitation The fraction, by number, of the fish in a population at a given time, which is caught and
killed by man during the year immediately following. The term may also be applied to separate parts of the
stock distinguished by size, sex, etc. Also called fishing coefficient.
Rebuilding Plan (See Recovery Plan)
474
Recovered FEAS consider a stock to have recovered when the spawning stock biomass has been above Bpa for
three consecutive years
Recovery Plan This is a multi-annual plan to recover seriously depleted stock. The plans general involve agreed
Harvest control Rules, Technical Measures, effort controls and various control and enforcement measures.
Recruitment The amount of fish added to the exploitable stock each year due to growth and/or migration into
the fishing area. For example, the number of fish that grow to become vulnerable to the fishing gear in one year
would be the recruitment to the fishable population that year. This term is also used in referring to the number
of fish from a year class reaching a certain age. For example, all fish reaching their second year would be age 2
recruits.
Recruitment overfishing The rate of fishing above which the recruitment to the exploitable stock becomes
significantly reduced. This is characterised by a greatly reduced spawning stock, a decreasing proportion of older
fish in the catch, and generally very low recruitment year after year.
SACs Special Areas of Conservation, sites designated under the European Community Habitats Directive, to
protect internationally important natural habitats and species.
Sample A proportion or a segment of a fish stock which is removed for study, and is assumed to be representative
of the whole. The greater the effort, in terms of both numbers and magnitude of the samples, the greater the
confidence that the information obtained is a true reflection of the status of a stock (level of abundance in terms
of numbers or weight, age composition, etc.)
Shellfish Fisheries Those fisheries were the target species are either crustaceans (e.g. Nephrops, lobsters, crabs
and crayfish) or molluscs (Cephalopods, scallops, oysters etc.).
SSB / Spawning Stock Biomass The total weight of all sexually mature fish in the population. The size of SSB for
a stock depends on abundance of year classes, the exploitation pattern, the rate of growth, fishing and natural
mortality rates, the onset of sexual maturity and environmental conditions.
Spawning stock biomass-per-recruit (SSB/R) The expected lifetime contribution to the spawning stock
biomass for a recruit of a specific age (e.g., per age 2 individual). For a given exploitation pattern, rate of
growth, and natural mortality, an expected equilibrium value of SSB/R can be calculated for each level of F. A
useful reference point is the level of SSB/R that would be realised if there were no fishing. This is a maximum
value for SSB/R, and can be compared to levels of SSB/R generated under different rates of fishing. For
example, the maximum SSB/R for Georges Bank haddock is approximately 9 kg for a recruit at age 1.
STECF The Scientific Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries. Established by the European Commission
and comprises fisheries scientists and economists from the member states. The role of STECF is to advise the
European Commission on scientific, technical and economic issues related to the management of fisheries
resources that are exploited worldwide by members of the European Union. (see
https://stecf.jrc.ec.europa.eu/)
Stock A "stock" is a population of a species living in a defined geographical area with similar biological parameters
(e.g. growth, size at maturity, fecundity etc.) and a shared mortality rate. A thorough understanding of the
fisheries biology of any species is needed to define these biological parameters.
Stocklettes Is a small localised population of a species living in a defined geographical area that mixes with other
populations at a meta-population level perhaps during breeding phase of the life-cycle but may have different
biological parameters and mortality rates.
Stratification When water masses with different properties e.g. salinity, density or temperature form layers that
act as barriers to water mixing. The least dense water masses sit above the more dense layers. Stratification
creates barriers to nutrient mixing between layers and can affect primary production by limiting photosynthetic
processes.
Sublittoral zone An area that is permanently submerged and spans from the low tide mark to the edge of the
continental shelf.
Sustainable yield The number or weight of fish in a stock that can be taken by fishing without reducing the stock
biomass from year to year, assuming that environmental conditions remain the same.
TAC / Total Allowable Catch is the total regulated catch from a stock in a given time period, usually a year.
Tangle nets Static nets lain on the bottom of the sea, aimed at trapping fish and shellfish by entanglement in their
meshes.
Teleost Type of fish such as cod, mackerel, plaice and sole - have skeletons made of bone, as opposed to
elasmobranches such as sharks and rays whose skeleton is composed of cartilage.
TCM / Technical Conservation Measures These measures take the form of closed areas, increased mesh sizes
and gear modifications (such as separator panels) and are aimed at protecting specific stocks, or age-classes
within that stock, from overfishing (See also Recovery Plans).
475
U An index of exploitable biomass.

Ulim For deepwater stocks has been calculated as 0.2 * Umax (may be a smoothed abundance index).
Upa For deepwater stocks has been calculated as 0.5 * Umax. For redfish Upa = 0.6 * Umax.
Unaccounted mortality Any mortality that is not accounted for properly in a stock assessment model. Potential
causes of unaccounted mortality include illegal or misreported landings; escapement or avoidance mortality that
occurs when fish are injured by fishing gear but are not captured; and ghost fishing mortality, caused by lost gear
(e.g., traps and gillnets) that continues to catch fish.
Unaccounted removals Any removal that are not accounted for properly in a stock assessment model. Potential
causes include unaccounted mortality, migrations changes in natural mortality due to starvation, competition,
predation, disease or mass mortality events.
Upwelling Wind-driven motion of dense, cool, and usually nutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface, replacing
the warmer, usually nutrient-depleted surface water.
VPA Virtual Population Analysis. An algorithm for computing historical fishing mortality rates and stock sizes by age,
based on data on catches, natural mortality, and certain assumptions about mortality for the last year and last
age group. A VPA essentially reconstructs the history of each cohort, assuming that the observed catches are
known without error (Powers & Restrepo, 1992). VPA is often used as a generic description of an age-based
stock assessment but this is not necessarily true because many stock assessments are based on different
(statistical) assumptions.
Whitefish Term used to describe demersal species such as cod, plaice, ray etc., as opposed to pelagic or salmonid
species.
WWF World Wide Fund for Nature - The Conservation Organization (known as World Wildlife Fund in certain
countries)
XSA Extended Survivors Analysis; Stock assessment method.
Year class (or cohort) Fish in a stock born in the same year. For example, the 1987 year class of cod includes all
cod born in 1987, which would be age 1 in 1988. Occasionally, a stock produces a very small or very large year
class which can be pivotal in determining stock abundance in later years.
Yield-per-recruit The expected lifetime yield-per-fish of a specific age (e.g., per age 2 individual). For a given
exploitation pattern, rate of growth, and natural mortality, an expected equilibrium value of Y/R can be
calculated for each level of F.
476

Ireland's Fisheries Stock Book 2015

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Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services,

THE STOCK BOOK

Annual Review of Fish Stocks in 2015 with

Marine Institute Headquarters

Ecosystem Overview for the Irish Sea

Ecosystem Overview for West of Scotland and Rockall

Ecosystem Overview for the Celtic Sea

PLAICE - Southwest of Ireland Plaice (Divisions VIIh-k)

Ecosystem Overview for Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks

Ecosystem Overview for Deepwater

Other Stocks of Interest to Ireland

ICES Fishing Areas

ICES Fishing Areas

ICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish Coast

-20 -18 -16 -14 -12 -10

ICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish Coast

Irish Sea Stocks

% Share of 2015 EU TAC By Ireland & Other EU1 Members

IIa, IVa, VI, VIIa-c, VIIe

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII,

ALBACORE TUNA North Atlantic

VI, VII and VIII

Skates & Rays

VIa, VIb, VIIa-c and VII

VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII

IVb, IVc, VIId

GREENLAND HALIBIIa, IV, Vb and VI

VIb, West Vb,XII,XIV

Vb, VI, VII

Rationale for ICES Advice and the Commission Proposal on Fishing

IIa IVa VI VIIa-c,e-k VIIIabde

Western Horse mackerel

Herring in the NE Atlantic

Porbeagle in the NE Atlantic

X Not implemented in that year

East Atlantic & Mediterranean

VI, VII, VIII

Annual TAC regn.

MPs since 2000 under Coastal States

EC cod recovery plan

RP followed since 2014

MP followed since 2013, RP since 2009

EU plan followed 2008-13, discontinued

p.m. R.P. since 2006, later in EU law.

New plan proposed by PAC, 2015

Prohibited species not to be taken in any

Annual TAC regn.

Annual TAC regn.

Ban on commercial fishing IRL, since 1990 SI 230, 2006

Prohibited species not to be taken in any

X X X p.m. MPs since 1997 under Coastal States

Ban on commercial fishing IRL, since 1990 SI 230, 2006

Rebuilding plan complete, as targets met

Annual TAC regn.

Annual TAC regn.

Prohibited species not to be taken in any

Adopted in law 2008, previous plans not

p.m. MP under EU-Norway since 2000

EU cod recovery plan

EU cod recovery plan

X X p.m. MPs since 2003 under Coastal States

Basking Shark in the NE Atlantic Northeast Atlantic

VIa, VIIb, and VIIj