Ireland’s fisheries Stock Book 2015

Report to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Annual Review of Fish Stocks in 2015 with Management Advice for 2016

NOVEMBER 2015

THE STOCK BOOK

Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland

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.

Marine Institute Headquarters Rinville

Oranmore Co. Galway

Ireland

Telephone: +353 (0)91 387 200 Facsimile: +353 (0)91 387 201

E-mail Information: [email protected]

E-mail Webmaster: [email protected] Website: www.marine.ie

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.

1

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 1 ICES Fishing Areas 3 Introduction 5 Summary of 2016 Scientific Advice for the Main TAC Stocks 14 Progress Towards the Landing Obligation in EU Fisheries 16 The Importance of Catch Sampling for Fisheries Advice 18

Ecosystem Overview for the Irish Sea 20

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

Ecosystem Overview for West of Scotland and Rockall 80

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

Ecosystem Overview for the Celtic Sea 186

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

2 Table of Contents

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

Ecosystem Overview for Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks 364

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

Ecosystem Overview for Deepwater 430 DEEPWATER STOCKS SOUTH OF 630 N 433

Other Stocks of Interest to Ireland

INDUSTRIAL FISHERIES 435 ARCTIC STOCKS - Cod, Haddock and Saithe 439 CAPELIN - (Sub-areas V and XIV and Division IIa west of 5W) 441 SARDINES - (Sub-areas VII and Divisions VIIIa, b, d & e) 442

Appendices

Appendix I - Nephrops Functional Units (FUs) around Ireland 443 Appendix II - Restrictions on Mackerel & Herring 444 Appendix III - Herring Spawning Boxes off the South Coast 445 Appendix IV - Approximate Locations of Herring Spawning Grounds and Areas 446 Appendix V - Fisheries Management in 2015 447 Appendix VI - Ecosystem Overview References 448 Appendix VII - Fisheries and Stocks to be Covered by the Landing Obligation in 2016 455 Appendix VIII - Basis for ICES advice 458 Definition of Fisheries Technical Terms and Acronyms 471

3

ICES Fishing AreasICES Fishing AreasICES Fishing Areas

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4

ICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish CoastICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish CoastICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish Coast

ICES Fishing Divisions around the Irish Coast

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5 Introduction

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

6 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 Other Stocks of Interest to Ireland

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.

7 Introduction

Species TAC Area Irl. Tonnes Est. Value of Irl Quota

Est. Value of EU TAC

MACKEREL Vb,VI,VII,VIIIabde, IIa, 89,220 66,019,848 245,278,313NEPHROPS VII 7,973 43,390,544 74,264,061HORSE MACK. IIa, IVa, VI, VIIa-c, VIIe 21,621 13,719,809 40,682,238BLUE WHITING I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, 23,313 11,376,421 84,852,005MEGRIMS VII 2,878 8,664,560 43,675,045ANGLERFISH VII 2,540 8,268,822 100,840,568HAKE Vb,VI,VII,XII,XIV 2,810 6,798,051 116,447,460WHITING VIIb-k 5,029 5,723,835 14,469,500ALBACORE TUNA North Atlantic 2,511 4,653,358 45,277,106BOARFISH VI, VII and VIII 36,830 4,511,161 2,016,855HERRING VIIghjk 13,527 4,069,176 639,240HADDOCK VIIb-k,VIII,IX,X 1,854 3,072,144 10,750,846SAITHE VII,VIII,IX,X 1,491 2,738,511 3,094,829COD VIIbc,e-k,VIII,IX,X 901 2,180,084 10,092,263ANGLERFISH Vb,VI,XII,XIV 531 1,728,640 15,567,523POLLACK VII 1,030 1,651,165 19,982,306MEGRIMS Vb,VI,XII,XIV 535 1,610,681 10,820,163SOLE VIIhjk 171 1,529,591 1,887,390PLAICE Vlla 768 1,410,581 606,109Skates & Rays VIa, VIb, VIIa-c and VII 1,048 1,351,362 9,005,642HADDOCK Vb,VIa 743 1,231,177 6,285,135NEPHROPS Vb,VI 192 1,044,900 76,179,711HERRING Vb,VIaN,VIb 3,427 1,030,906 5,794,672HADDOCK VIIa 511 846,745 1,110,214COD I,II 330 798,477 52,520,415LING VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII 623 762,241 9,593,473SAITHE Vb,VI,XII,XIV 389 714,474 10,944,859HERRING I,II (Atlanto-Scandic) 1,634 491,538 5,050,747PLAICE Vb,VI,XII,XIV 261 479,377 729,167SOLE Vb,VI,XII,XIV 46 411,469 98,395HERRING VIIa 1,264 380,235 1,079,939PLAICE VIIfg 202 371,012 475,704SOLE Vlla 38 339,909 465,139HADDOCK VIb,XII,XIV 203 336,378 3,938,773SOLE VIIbc 36 322,019 53,670COD VIIa 120 290,355 150,017SOLE VIIfg 27 241,514 7,370,662HORSE MACK. IVb, IVc, VIId 347 220,192 7,172,425PLAICE VIIbc 63 115,712 20,204PLAICE VIIhjk 59 108,365 139,589WHITING Vb,VI,XII,XIV 79 89,915 209,422POLLACK Vb,VI,XII,XIV 56 89,772 546,648GREENLAND HALIBIIa, IV, Vb and VI 17 76,500 6,673,500WHITING VIIa 46 52,356 38,698Tusk V, VI and VII 53 42,035 701,114COD VIb, West Vb,XII,XIV 16 38,714 140,338GREATER SILVER SMV, VI and VII 305 30,500 401,100BLUE LING Vb, VI, VII 14 11,956 4,041,128BLUE LING II, IV 4 3,416 41,846GREATER SILVER SMIII and IV 7 700 102,100

205,441,203 1,052,318,267

Fig. 1.1 % Share of 2015 EU TAC By Ireland & Other EU1 Members and approximate2 value of Irish Quota & EU TAC

1 Only TAC areas where Ireland has a share of the TAC are included above. 2 Est. value per tonne based on 2014 average values of Irish Landings in Irish Ports.

8 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.

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rea

199719981999

Table 1.1 Long term management strategies in place for stocks of Irish interest, History of implementation of strategies shown in each case

9

10 Introduction

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.

6 For a Key to Stock Status Symbols used in ICES Advice and Summary Table of Stock Book please see Appendix VIII

11 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.

12 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.

FishingMortalityStatus SSBStatus Stock 2011 2012 2013 2014 2011 2012 2013 2014Albacoretuna_NorthAtlantic 1 2 3 3 1 2 1 1Anglerfish_VI,IIa,IIIa,IVa 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Anglerfish_VII&VIII 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2BaskingSharkintheNEAtlantic_NortheastAtlantic 2 2 2 2 2 2Bluewhiting_NortheastAtlantic 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3Bluefintuna_EastAtlantic&Mediterranean 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1Boarfish_VI,VII,VIII 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2Cod_VIa 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Cod_VIb 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Cod_VIIa 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1Cod_VIIek 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 1Dipturusspecies_VIandVII 1 1 1 1Greygurnard_VI&VII(excl.VIId) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Haddock_IV,IIIaandVIa 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3Haddock_VIb 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 3Haddock_VIIa 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Haddock_VIIbcek 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3Hake_II,III,IV,VI,VII,VIII 2 3 1 1 3 3 3 3HerringintheNEAtlantic_III 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3Herring_VIaN 1 3 1 1 3 2 Herring_VIaSVIIbc 1 2 1 2 2 2 Herring_VIaN&VIaSVIIbc 3 1Herring_VIIaN 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3Herring_VIIaSVIIg,j 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3Leucorajacircularis_VIandVII 2 2 2 2Leucorajafullonica_VIandVII 2 2 2 2Leucorajanaevus_VI,VII,andVIIIa,b,d 1 1 2 2Ling_IIIa,IVa,VI,VII,VIII,IX,XII,andXIV 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Megrim_VIaandIV 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3Megrim_VIb 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2Megrim_VIIbk&VIIIabde 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2NEAmackerel_NortheastAtlantic 1 2 3 1 3 2 3 3Nephrops_FU11 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3Nephrops_FU12 3 1 3 3 3 3 3 3Nephrops_FU13 1 1 3 1 3 3 3 3Nephrops_FU14 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3Nephrops_FU15 1 1 1 1 3 3 3 3Nephrops_FU16 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2Nephrops_FU17 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 3Nephrops_FU18&otherrectangles 2 2 2 2Nephrops_FU19 3 1 1 3 2 2 2 2Nephrops_FU2021 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2Nephrops_FU22 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2Nephrops_VIrectanglesoutsideFUs 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2NorthSeahorsemackerel_IVb,IVcandVIId 2 2 2 2 2 2Otherskates_VIandVII 2 2 2 2Plaice_Vb(EUwaters),VI,XII,XIV Plaice_VIIa 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2Plaice_VIIbc 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Plaice_VIIfg 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2Plaice_VIIhjk 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2Pollock_VI 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Pollock_VII 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2PorbeagleintheNEAtlantic_NortheastAtlantic 2 2 2 2 2 2Rajabrachyura_VIIa,f,g 1 1 2 2Rajaclavata_VI 2 2 2 2Rajaclavata_VIIa,f,g 3 3 2 2Rajamicrocellata_VIIf,g 2 2 2 2Rajamontagui_VI,VIIb,j 2 2 2 2Rajamontagui_VIIa,e,f,g 1 1 2 2Rajaundulata_VIIb,j 1 1 1 1Saithe_IV&VIandIIIa 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1Saithe_VII,VIII,IX,X, Seabass_IVbc,VIIa,andVIIdh 1 1 2 1Seabass_VIa,VIIb,andVIIj 2 2 2 2Skates&Rays_VI&VII(excl.VIId) 2 2 2 2 Sole_Vb(EU),VI,XII,XIV Sole_VIIa 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1Sole_VIIbc 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2Sole_VIIfg 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 3Sole_VIIhjk 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2Sprat_VIandVII(excl.VIIdandVIIe) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2SpurdogintheNEAtlantic_NortheastAtlantic 3 3 3 3 1 2 1 1Swordfish_NorthAtlantic 3 3 3 3WesternHorsemackerel_IIaIVaVIVIIac,ekVIII 1 2 1 3 2 2 3 3Whiting_VIa 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1Whiting_VIIa 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1Whiting_VIIbcek 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

13 Introduction

Table 1.5 Stocks with a status change between the 2014 and 2015 Stock Books.

FishingMortalityStatus SSBStatus Stock 2011 2012 2013 2014 2011 2012 2013 2014Bluewhiting_NortheastAtlantic 3 3 3 1 3 3 3 3Boarfish_VI,VII,VIII 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2Cod_VIIek 3 1 1 1 3 3 3 1Haddock_VIb 3 3 1 1 3 3 1 3HerringintheNEAtlantic_III 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 3Herring_VIaN 1 3 1 1 3 2Herring_VIaSVIIbc 1 2 1 2 2 2 Herring_VIaN&VIaSVIIbc 3 1NEAmackerel_NortheastAtlantic 1 2 3 1 3 2 3 3Nephrops_FU13 1 1 3 1 3 3 3 3Nephrops_FU14 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3Nephrops_FU17 3 1 1 1 2 2 2 3Nephrops_FU19 3 1 1 3 2 2 2 2Plaice_VIIa 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2Saithe_IV&VIandIIIa 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1Sole_VIIa 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1WesternHorsemackerel_IIaIVaVIVIIac,ekVIII 1 2 1 3 2 2 3 3Whiting_VIa 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 1Whiting_VIIa 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1

F ~

MS

YS

SB

~ B

trig

Cod

VIIa

124

58%

214

115

0no

new

adv

ice

018

212

02

Had

dock

VIIa

9318

%51

848

81,

072

481

481

1,18

151

13.

2.0

Whi

ting

VIIa

1043

%23

1,97

50

00

8046

2P

laic

eV

IIa12

344

%28

21,

196

1,24

434

334

31,

098

768

3.2.

0S

ole

VIIa

4343

%99

70

00

9038

1N

ephr

ops

FU15

2,93

834

%8,

613

1,41

88,

682

7,38

87,

388

1N

ephr

ops

FU14

315%

679

321,

272

1,19

71,

197

1N

ephr

ops

FU18

& o

ther

rect

angl

es11

968

%17

4na

na23

523

56.

2.0

Raj

a cl

avat

aV

IIa,f,

g63

8%78

7na

na1,

235

1,23

58,

032

1,04

83.

2.0

Raj

a m

onta

gui

VIIa

,e,f,

g51

5%96

4na

na1,

118

1,11

88,

032

1,04

83.

2.0

Raj

a br

achy

ura

VIIa

,f,g

404

35%

1,15

6na

na89

789

78,

032

1,04

83.

2.0

Her

ring

VIIa

N11

92%

5,20

80

4,57

54,

575

4,57

54,

854

1,26

41

Cod

VIIe

-k1,

159

30%

3,87

974

1na

3,56

93,

569

5,07

290

11

Had

dock

VIIb

ce-k

2,08

021

%9,

855

3,17

78,

590

6,07

86,

078

8,34

21,

854

1W

hitin

gV

IIbce

-k6,

851

53%

12,8

473,

895

19,0

76 +

4,1

7515

,395

+ 2

,330

15,3

95 +

2,3

3017

,742

5,02

91

Pol

lock

VII

1,01

219

%5,

215

10na

4,20

013

,495

13,4

951,

030

4.1.

2S

aith

eV

II, V

III, I

X, X

1,02

678

%1,

311

nana

nana

na3,

176

3,17

61,

491

naP

laic

eV

IIfg

5012

%41

01,

158

1,50

042

042

046

120

23.

2.0

Pla

ice

VIIb

c17

74%

23na

3074

7463

6.2.

0P

laic

eV

IIhjk

7846

%16

972

na13

513

513

559

3.2.

0S

ole

VIIf

g28

3%1,

042

2176

074

574

585

127

1S

ole

VIIb

c23

85%

270

3030

4242

366.

2.0

Sol

eV

IIhjk

8133

%24

30

205

205

382

382

171

3.2.

0N

ephr

ops

FU19

459

98%

468

161

793

542

542

1N

ephr

ops

FU20

-21

1,34

273

%1,

837

821

3,04

52,

225

2,22

54.

1.4

Nep

hrop

sFU

222,

443

93%

2,61

541

53,

027

2,63

42,

634

1N

ephr

ops

FU17

766

100%

766

4899

191

591

51

Nep

hrop

sFU

1681

368

%1,

189

01,

850

1,85

01,

850

1M

egrim

VIIb

-k &

VIII

abde

2,39

118

%13

,277

2,17

9na

18,2

1614

,421

+ 3

,725

17,3

852,

878

3.2.

0A

ngle

rfish

VII

& V

III3,

226

13%

25,3

0010

,757

+ 2

6,69

1 31

,666

42,4

962,

540

3.2.

0H

ake

II, II

I, IV

, VI,

VII,

VIII

2,59

83%

89,8

009,

100

109,

592

96,6

5196

,651

90,8

492,

810

1B

ass

IVbc

, VIIa

, and

VIId

h

00%

2,68

213

4na

na54

1na

na1

Bas

sV

Ia, V

IIb, a

nd V

IIj0

0%2

0na

na5

nana

6.2.

0G

rey

gurn

ard

VI &

VII

(exc

l. V

IId)

6.2.

0Le

ucor

aja

naev

usV

I, V

II, a

nd V

IIIa,

b,d

769%

830

nana

1,99

81,

998

8,03

21,

048

3.2.

0Le

ucor

aja

fullo

nica

VI a

nd V

II

52%

211

nana

186

186

8,03

21,

048

5.2.

0Le

ucor

aja

circ

ular

isV

I and

VII

0

0%17

5na

na68

688,

032

1,04

85.

2.0

Raj

a m

icro

cella

taV

IIf,g

00%

124

nana

188

188

8,03

21,

048

3.2.

0R

aja

undu

lata

VIIb

,j0

na0

nana

00

00

6.3.

0O

ther

ska

tes

VI a

nd V

II18

813

%1,

476

nana

789

789

8,03

21,

048

5.2.

0D

iptu

rus

spec

ies

VI a

nd V

II0

0%1

nana

00

00

6.3.

0S

prat

VI a

nd V

II (e

xcl.

VIId

and

VIIe

)2,

852

65%

4,39

20

3,50

03,

500

3,50

0na

na5.

2.0

Her

ring

VIIa

S V

IIg,j

17,2

8788

%19

,574

644

23,1

6422

,423

19,6

9715

,652

13,5

271

Irish Sea

7,97

321

,619

Inte

rnat

iona

l La

ndin

gs

2014

Inte

rnat

iona

l D

isca

rds

2014

Spe

cies

Sto

ck a

rea

Irela

nd

2014

La

ndin

gs

Irela

nd's

%

of 2

014

Land

ings

ICE

S S

tock

Sta

tus

2014

Celtic Sea

7,97

321

,619

2016

ICE

S/IC

CA

T C

atch

Adv

ice

2016

ICE

S/IC

CA

T La

ndin

gs A

dvic

e20

16 F

EA

S

Land

ings

Adv

ice

TAC

201

5Iri

sh Q

uota

20

15

ICE

S

Cat

egor

y

Table 1.6 Marine Institute Summary on the Status, Scientific Advice for 2016 for those Stocks of Interest to Ireland

14

F ~

MSY

SSB

~ Bt

rig

Cod

VIa

1230

%35

71,

311

00

00

01

Cod

VIb

640

%15

117

1717

7416

6.2.

0

Had

dock

IV, I

IIa a

nd V

Ia

653

16%

4,00

080

074

,854

61,9

3061

,930

47,7

5174

31

Had

dock

VIb

956%

1,67

527

43,

932

3,22

53,

932

2,58

020

31

Whi

ting

VIa

8849

%18

193

20

00

263

791

Angl

erfis

hVI

, IIa

, IIIa

, IVa

572

4%13

,283

416

18,4

3517

,642

17,6

425,

313

531

3.2.

0

Meg

rimVI

a an

d IV

246

10%

2,50

030

98,

567

7,53

97,

539

6,21

253

51

Meg

rimVI

b23

067

%34

3na

na34

134

14,

129

535

3.2.

0

Plai

ceVb

(EU

wat

ers)

, VI,

XII,

XIV

2130

%71

nana

nana

na65

865

826

1-

Sole

Vb(E

U),

VI, X

II, X

IV14

80%

17na

nana

nana

5757

46-

Raj

a m

onta

gui

VI, V

IIb,j

3835

%10

9na

na53

538,

032

1,04

83.

2.0

Raj

a cl

avat

aVI

79

35%

227

nana

205

205

8,03

21,

048

3.2.

0

Nep

hrop

sFU

110

0%3,

235

773,

770

3,67

73,

677

1

Nep

hrop

sFU

1217

1%3,

161

233

6,16

36,

163

6,16

31

Nep

hrop

sFU

130

0%6,

185

696

6,56

86,

568

6,56

81

Nep

hrop

sVI

rect

angl

es o

utsi

de F

Us

3012

%24

5N

Ana

326

326

6.2.

0

Saith

eIV

& V

I and

IIIa

128

2%6,

782

577

7,05

46,

448

6,44

86,

848

389

1

Ling

IIIa,

IVa,

VI,

VII,

VIII,

IX, X

II &

X66

04%

17,0

24na

14,7

0014

,700

14,7

0017

,629

623

3.2.

0

Pollo

ckVI

2153

%40

na4,

200

397

397

564.

1.2

Her

ring

VIaN

, VIIa

S an

d VI

Ibc

5,56

521

%26

,946

~00

00

22,6

903,

427

1

NEA

mac

kere

lN

orth

east

Atla

ntic

103,

178

7%1,

388,

003

6,45

166

7,38

566

7,38

566

7,38

51.

24m

89,2

201

Blue

whi

ting

Nor

thea

st A

tlant

ic21

,466

2%1,

155,

279

7,50

077

6,39

177

6,39

177

6,39

11,

260,

000

23,3

131

Wes

tern

Hor

se m

acke

rel

IIa IV

a VI

VIIa

-c,e

-k V

III32

,667

26%

127,

129

1,89

612

6,10

312

6,10

312

6,10

397

,604

21,6

211

Nor

th S

ea h

orse

mac

kere

lIV

b, IV

c an

d VI

Id0

0%13

,380

815

,200

15,2

0015

,200

15,2

0034

75

Her

ring

in th

e N

E At

lant

ic

I II

706

0%46

1,30

60

316,

876

316,

876

316,

876

328,

000

1,21

51

Spur

dog

in th

e N

E At

lant

icN

orth

east

Atla

ntic

1359

%22

nana

00

00

1

Porb

eagl

e in

the

NE

Atla

ntic

Nor

thea

st A

tlant

ic0

0%7

nana

00

00

-

Bask

ing

Shar

k in

the

NE

Atla

ntic

Nor

thea

st A

tlant

ic0

na0

nana

00

00

-

Boar

fish

VI, V

II, V

III34

,622

80%

43,4

181,

813

42,6

3742

,637

42,6

3753

,292

36,8

303

Alba

core

Tun

aN

orth

Atla

ntic

2,69

810

%26

,539

020

,000

- 28

,000

20,0

00 -

28,0

0020

,000

- 28

,000

28,0

002,

510

1

Swor

dfis

hN

orth

Atla

ntic

2.6

0%10

,801

013

,700

or 1

5,00

013

,700

or 1

5,00

013

,700

13,7

0014

4 (u

nallo

c.)

1

Blue

fin T

una

East

Atla

ntic

& M

edite

rran

ean

190%

13,2

430

18,9

1118

,911

18,9

1115

,821

33 (u

nallo

c.)

1

Widely Distributed Highly Migratory

Inte

rnat

iona

l D

isca

rds

2014

West of Scotland & Rockall Stocks

14,1

9019

2

Spec

ies

Stoc

k ar

eaIre

land

20

14

Land

ings

Irela

nd's

%

of 2

014

Land

ings

ICES

Sto

ck S

tatu

s 20

14TA

C 2

015

Irish

Quo

ta

2015

20

16 IC

ES/IC

CAT

C

atch

Adv

ice

2016

ICES

/ICC

AT

Land

ings

Adv

ice

2016

FEA

S La

ndin

gs A

dvic

e

Inte

rnat

iona

l La

ndin

gs

2014

ICES

C

ateg

ory

Table1.6continued

15

16 Landing Obligation in EU Fisheries

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

17 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)

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 Celtic Sea and the Channel (ICES Areas VIIb-j)

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 < 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.

18 The Importance of Catch Sampling

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.

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.

An otolith from a 4 year old cod

19 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/

20 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.

Ecosystem overview for the Irish Sea

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).


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)

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).

Zooplankton Overall Abundance

(19582010)

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


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.


Letter code for stocks A Cod VIIa

B Haddock VIIa

C Whiting VIIa

D Plaice VIIa

E Sole VIIa

F Thornback ray VIIafg

G Spotted ray VIIafg

H Blonde ray VIIafg

I Nephrops (FU15) VIIa

J Nephrops (FU14) VIIa

K 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.


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.

25 Irish Sea Cod

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.

2015 Quota Allocations

IRE 120 t

BEL 2 t

FRA 7 t

NL 1 t

UK 52 t

Irish Sea Cod (Division VIIa) For latest information, see: http://www.ices.dk

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

The TAC Area covers Division VIIa and corresponds to the assessment area.

The 2015 TAC was 182 t with an associated Irish quota of 120 t. A spawning closure was introduced in 2000 for 10 weeks from

mid-February to maximise the reproductive output of the stock (EU Regulations 304/2000 and 2549/2000). Conservation 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.

26 Irish Sea Whiting

FEAS SINGLE STOCK CONSIDERATIONS 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.


ICES ADVICE 5.3.64 Whiting in Division VIIa (Irish Sea)

IRE 46 t

FRA 3 t

UK 31 t

Irish Sea Whiting (Division VIIa) For latest information, see: http://www.ices.dk

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.

ICESstockadviceICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be no directed fisheries and all catches should be minimized in 2016.


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1984 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009 2014

1000to

nnes

CatchesDiscards Landings

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).

Figure5.3.64.1 Whiting inDivisionVIIa.Catch reported to theWG (in thousand tonnes,19912002estimates includesampledbasedestimatesof landingsatanumberof IrishSeaports),andmeanstandardized:SSB,andrecruitmentestimates,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 Fpa, Flim Undefined Management Plan FMGT - - - Not applicable Qualitative evaluation - Unknown

Stock size

2013 2014 2015 MSY Btrigger

Undefined Bpa, Blim

Undefined SSBMGT - - - Not applicable -

Below possible reference points


CatchoptionsThe 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 0 tonnes Discard rate 97%Catch advice* 0 tonnes

* [recent advised catch] BasisoftheadviceTable 5.3.64.5 Whiting in Division VIIa. The basis of the advice.

Advice basis Precautionary approach Management plan There is no management plan for whiting in this area

QualityoftheassessmentDiscard 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. IssuesrelevantfortheadviceThe 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.

Gear Grouping 2012 2013 2014 Discards Landings Catch Discards Landings Catch Discards Landings Catch Nephrops Otter Trawls (TR2) 1581 5 1586 911 18 929 1975 10 1985

Fin-fish Otter Trawls (TR1) 0 0 0 8 12 20 0 6 6

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

ReferencepointsThe previous defined reference points are no longer appropriate and no new reference points are defined. BasisoftheassessmentTable 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.

Input data Survey indices (NIGFS-WIBTS-Q1 and NIGFS-WIBTS-Q4); fixed maturity ogive from surveys; constant natural mortality assumed.

Discards and bycatch Not needed to be included in the current assessment. Discard estimates are available for the 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).


InformationfromstakeholdersThere 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.

Year ICES Advice

Predicted catch

corresp. to advice

Agreed TAC

Official landings

ICES landings*** 33E2&E3 Disc.

** ICES catch

1987 Reduce F 16.0 18.2 11.7 - - -

1988 No increase in F enforce mesh regulations 12.0 18.2 11.5 10.24 1.90 12.14

1989 F = Fhigh; enforce mesh regulations 11.0 18.2 11.3 11.30 2.00 13.30

1990 No increase in F; TAC 8.3* 15.0 8.2 8.21 2.70 10.911991 Increase SSB to SSB(89) 6.4* 10.0 7.4 7.35 2.70 10.051992 80% of F(90) 9.7* 10.0 7.1 8.59 4.30 12.891993 70% of F(91) ~ 6 500 t 6.5 8.5 6.0 6.52 2.70 9.221994 Within safe biological limits - 9.9 5.6 6.76 1.20 7.961995 No increase in F 8.3* 8.0 5.5 4.89 2.20 7.091996 No increase in F 9.8* 9.0 5.6 4.33 3.50 7.831997 No advice given - 7.5 4.5 2.28 1.90 4.181998 20% reduction in F 3.8# 5.0 3.4 2.23 1.30 3.531999 Reduce F below Fpa 3.5# 4.41 2.0 1.67 1.10 2.772000 Reduce F below Fpa


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 discards used by ICES** 1611 2103 2444 2598 4203 2707 1173 2151 3631 1928 1304

Estimated Discards from IR-OTB 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 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Belgium 46 30 27 22 13 11 10 4.2 3 2 2 France 150 59 25 33 29 8 13 3.7 3 2 - Ireland 509 353 482 347 265 96 94 55.3 187 68 78 Netherlands 6 1 - - - - - - - - - UK(Engl. & Wales)* 1229 670 506 284 130 82 47 21.7 3 11 20 Spain - - - - 85 - - - - - - UK (Isle of Man) 5 2 1 1 1 1 - - 1 1 - UK (N.Ireland) - - - - - - - - - - - UK (Scotland) 44 15 25 27 31 6


Table 5.3.64.10 ctd.Country 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014* Belgium 5 4 5 2 2 France 3 3 1

32 Irish Sea Haddock


IRE 511 t

BEL 19 t

FRA 85 t

UK 566 t

Irish Sea Haddock (Division VIIa) For latest information, see: http://www.ices.dk

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

Documents

Ireland’s fisheries Stock Book 2015