Working Group on elasmobranch fishes (WGEF)

• Main Author: ICES
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: ICES 2023
• Subjects: Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00864/97551/106420.pdf; https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.24190332; https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00864/97551/

ICES WGEF is responsible for providing assessments and advice on the state of the stocks of sharks, skates, and rays throughout the ICES area. In 2023, WGEF provided advice for 25 stocks of rays and skates distributed in the North Sea ecoregion, the Azores and Mid-Atlantic Ridge, catsharks (Scyliorhinidae) in the Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast ecoregions; smooth-hounds in the Northeast Atlantic; and tope in the Northeast Atlantic. Some of the advice changed greatly compared to previous advice as data and models were revised in a benchmark process for three stocks of skates: thornback ray and spotted ray in the greater North Sea, and blonde ray in the central and southern North Sea and eastern English Channel. For the latter, not only has the methodology been updated, but the stock's structure has also been redefined to incorporate data from the central North Sea (Subarea 4.b), drawing upon survey data, tagging data, and genetic information. The advice resulting from the new assessment method recommend much larger catches than previously. A SPiCT assessment for thornback ray (rjc.27.3a47d) and spotted ray (rjm.27.3a47d) was conducted using removals since 1999 and two series of biomass indices since 1989. Thornback ray is estimated to be harvested well below Fmsy with a biomass just above BMSY. Using the 15th percentile of the removals at FMSY is slightly below MSY and corresponds to a catch advice of 5274 tonnes, which is ~ 2 times higher than previous landings advice. Spotted ray is estimated to be harvested well below Fmsy with a biomass above Bmsy. The 15th percentile of the removals at Fmsy is below MSY, corresponding to a catch advice of 1517 tonnes being ~ 6 times higher compared to previous landings advice. For blonde ray (rjh.27.4bc7d) a SPiCT assessment using removals since 1999 and one series of biomass index was performed. This stock is estimated to be harvested well below Fmsy with a biomass above Bmsy. The 15th percentile of the removals at Fmsy is below MSY, ...