EU standing request on catch scenarios for zero TAC stocks 2023: whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea) ...

• Main Author: ICES
• Format: Report
• Language: unknown
• Published: ICES Advice: Technical Services 2024
• Subjects: Celtic Seas ICES Ecoregion; Greater North Sea ICES Ecoregion; Oceanic Northeast Atlantic ICES Ecoregion; Fisheries and aquaculture; Tac; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.24558295; https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/report/EU_standing_request_on_catch_scenarios_for_zero_TAC_stocks_2023_whiting_i_Merlangius_merlangus_i_in_Division_7_a_Irish_Sea_/24558295

Whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ) in Division 7.a is taken as bycatch, with no targeted fisheries for this stock permitted. The current ICES advice is that when the MSY approach is applied with precautionary considerations, there should be zero catch in each of the years 2024 and 2025 (ICES, 2023a). The mixed-fisheries analysis shows that whiting is caught as a bycatch species by both demersal and, to a lesser degree, pelagic fisheries in the Irish Sea. The EU multiannual plan (MAP) for stocks in Western Waters and adjacent waters (EU, 2019) takes into account the bycatch of this species. There is no agreed shared management plan between the EU and UK for this stock.This technical service provides four illustrative catch scenarios: one based on expected bycatch of status quo fishing effort, a second based on a rollover of the current TAC, and two further options based on fishing pressures predicted to maintain stable whiting SSB or increase whiting SSB by 20% between 2024 and 2025.For whiting in Division ...