ICES Advice 2010, Book 9

ICES ADVICE 2010 AVIS DU CIEM

Books 1- 11

Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2010

Book 9 Widely Distributed and Migratory

Stocks

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour lExploration de la Mer

H.C. Andersens Boulevard 44-46 DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) 33 38 67 00 Telefax (+45) 33 93 42 15 www.ices.dk [email protected] Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management, 2010. Books 1 - 11 December 2010 Recommended format for purposes of citation: ICES. 2010. Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2010. ICES Advice, 2010. Book 9. 299 pp. For permission to reproduce material from this publication, please apply to the General Secretary.

ISBN 978-87-7482-088-8

ICES Advice 2010, Book 9 i

BOOK 9 Section Page 9 WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND MIGRATORY STOCKS .................................................................................. 1

9.1 Ecosystem overview ....................................................................................................................................... 1

9.2 The human impact on the ecosystem .............................................................................................................. 1 9.2.1 Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities........................................................................... 1

9.3 Assessments and advice ................................................................................................................................. 1

9.3.1 Assessments and advice regarding fisheries .................................................................................. 1 9.3.1.1 Widely distributed and migratory stocks ........................................................................... 1 9.3.1.2 Assessments and advice for deep-water fisheries............................................................... 5

9.3.2 Special requests .............................................................................................................................. 8 9.3.2.1 EC request for northern hake MSY fishing mortality ....................................................... 8 9.3.2.2 NEAFC request on Vulnerable deep-water habitats in the NEAFC Regulatory Area ..... 10 9.3.2.3 EC request on Raja undulate ........................................................................................... 15 9.3.2.4 EC request on Dipterus batis ........................................................................................... 28 9.3.2.5 EC request on 3 species of rays ........................................................................................ 36

9.4 Stock Summaries ....................................................................................................................................... 42

9.4.1 Hake in Division IIIa, Subareas IV, VI and VII and Divisions VIIIa,b,d (Northern stock) ......... 42 9.4.2 Mackerel in the Northeast Atlantic (combined Southern, Western and North Sea spawning components) ................................................................................................................................. 47 9.4.3 Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, VIIa-c, e-k, VIIIa-e (Western stock) ................................................................................................................ 65 9.4.4 Blue whiting in Subareas I-IX, XII and XIV (Combined stock) .................................................. 77 9.4.5 Herring in the Northeast Atlantic (Norwegian spring-spawning herring) .................................... 89 9.4.6 Spurdog (Squalus acanthias) in the Northeast Atlantic ............................................................... 99 9.4.7 Porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in the Northeast Atlantic ................................................................... 104 9.4.8 Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) in the Northeast Atlantic ................................................ 111 9.4.9 European Eel .............................................................................................................................. 115 9.4.10 Ling (Molva molva) in the Northeast Atlantic ........................................................................... 124 9.4.10.1 Ling (Molva molva) in Subdivisions I and II ............................................................... 127 9.4.10.2 Ling (Molva molva) in Division Va ............................................................................. 130 9.4.10.3 Ling (Molva molva) in Division Vb ............................................................................. 134 9.4.10.4 Ling (Molva molva) in Divisions IIIa and IVa, and in Subareas VI, VII, VIII,

IX, XII, and XIV (other areas) ................................................................................... 139 9.4.11 Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in the Northeast Atlantic ............................................................. 146 9.4.11.1 Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in Division Va and Subarea XIV (Iceland and

Reykjanes ridge) ......................................................................................................... 149 9.4.11.2 Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in Subdivision Vb, and Subareas VI, and VII ............... 153 9.4.11.3 Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in Divisions IIIa, and IVa and Subareas I, II, VIII, IX,

and XII ......................................................................................................................... 162 9.4.12 Tusk (Brosme brosme) in the Northeast Atlantic ....................................................................... 168

9.4.12.1 Tusk (Brosme brosme) in Subareas I and II (Arctic) ................................................... 171 9.4.12.2 Tusk (Brosme brosme) in Division Va and Subarea XIV ............................................ 176 9.4.12.3 Tusk (Brosme brosme) in XII excluding XIIb (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) .......................... 183 9.4.12.4 Tusk (Brosme brosme) in Division VIb (Rockall) ...................................................... 186 9.4.12.5 Tusk (Brosme brosme) in Divisions IIIa, Vb, Via XIIb and Subareas IV, VII, VIII,

IX (other areas) .......................................................................................................... 190 9.4.13 Greater Silver Smelt (Argentina Silus) in the Northeast Atlantic .............................................. 198 9.4.13.1 Greater silver smelt (Argentina silus) in Division Va .................................................. 201 9.4.13.2 Greater silver smelt (Argentina silus) in Subareas I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII,

and XIV, and Divisions IIIa and Vb (other areas) ..................................................... 206 9.4.14 Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in the Northeast Atlantic ......................................... 211 9.4.15 Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupenstris) in the Northeast Atlantic ........................... 217 9.4.15.1 Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) in Division IIIa ............................. 220 9.4.15.2 Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) in Subareas VI and VII, and Divisions

Vb and XIIb ................................................................................................................. 225 9.4.15.3 Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) in Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Xb, XIIc, Va1,

XIIa1, XIVb1) .............................................................................................................. 232

ii ICES Advice 2010, Book 9

9.4.15.4 Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) in all other areas (I, II, IV, Va2 VIII, IX, XIVa, and XIVb2) ................................................................................................. 237

9.4.16 Black scabbard fish (Aphanopus carbo) in the Northeast Atlantic ............................................ 242 9.4.16.1 Black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) in Subareas VI, VII, and Divisions Vb, XIIb 244

9.4.16.2 Black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) in Subareas VIII and IX ................................ 250 9.4.16.3 Black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) in other areas (Subareas I, II, IV, X, XIV and

Divisions IIIa, Va) ....................................................................................................... 254 9.4.17 Greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides) in the Northeast Atlantic ............................................... 259 9.4.18 Alfonsinos/Golden eye perch (Beryx spp.) in the Northeast Atlantic ....................................... 266 9.4.19 Red (=blackspot) seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in the Northeast Atlandic............................ 271 9.4.19.1 Red (=blackspot) seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in Subareas VI, VII, and VIII ....... 274 9.4.19.2 Red (=blackspot) seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in Subarea IX ................................ 278 9.4.19.3 Red (=blackspot) seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in Subarea X (Azores region) ...... 282 9.4.20 Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) and leafscale gulper shark

(Centrophorus squamosus) in the Northeast Atlantic ................................................................ 286 9.4.21 Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha) in the Northeast Atlantic ............................................................ 292

ICES Advice 2010, Book 9 1

9 WIDELY DISTRIBUTED AND MIGRATORY STOCKS 9.1 Ecosystem overview This Section has not been updated in 2010. The most recent ecosystem overview is available in ICES Advisory Report 2008, Section 9.1. This overview can also be found on the ICES website: http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/9.3.1%20Assessment%20and%20advice%20regarding%20fisheries.pdf.

Sources of Information

ICES. 2008. Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2008. ICES Advice, 2008. Book 9. 345 pp. 9.2 Human impacts on the ecosystem 9.2.1 Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities This Section has not been updated in 2010. The most recent description on Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities is available in ICES Advisory Report 2008, Section 9.2. This description can also be found on the ICES website:http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2008/2008/9.3.1%20Assessment%20and%20advice%20regarding%20fisheries.pdf.

Sources of Information

ICES. 2008. Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2008. ICES Advice, 2008. Book 9. 345 pp.

9.3 Assessments and Advice 9.3.1 Assessment and advice regarding fisheries The advice overview for widely distributed and migratory stocks and for deep-water stocks are presented in the two following sections. 9.3.1.1 Widely distribute stocks and migratory stocks The state and the advice of the individual stocks are presented in the stock sections. The state of widely distribute stocks and migratory stocks and advice are summarized in the table below.

2 IC

ES A

dvic

e 20

10, B

ook

9

Tabl

e 9.

3.1.

1.1

Stat

e of

the

stoc

k an

d ad

vice

for w

idel

y di

strib

uted

and

mig

rato

ry sp

ecie

s.

Stoc

k St

ate

of th

e st

ock

ICES

adv

ice

sum

mar

y

Fish

ing

mor

talit

y in

re

latio

n to

F M

SY

Fish

ing

mor

talit

y in

re

latio

n to

pr

ecau

tiona

ry

limits

(FPA

/Flim

)

Spaw

ning

bi

omas

s in

re

latio

n to

M

SY B

trig

ger

Spaw

ning

bi

omas

s in

re

latio

n to

pr

ecau

tiona

ry

limits

(BPA

/Blim

)

Tran

sitio

n to

an

MSY

ap

proa

ch

with

ca

utio

n at

lo

w st

ock

size

Cau

tious

ly

avoi

d im

paire

d re

crui

tmen

t (P

reca

utio

nary

A

ppro

ach)

Cau

tious

ly

avoi

d im

paire

d re

crui

tmen

t an

d ac

hiev

e ot

her

obje

ctiv

e(s)

of

a

man

agem

ent

plan

(e

.g. c

atch

stab

ility

)

Hak

e in

Div

isio

n II

Ia,

Suba

reas

IV

, V

I, an

d V

II,

and

Div

isio

ns

VII

Ia,b

,d)

(Nor

ther

n st

ock)

Unk

now

n U

nkno

wn

Unk

now

n U

nkno

wn

Less

than

50

600t

Le

ss

than

50

600

t n/

a

Mac

kere

l in

th

e N

orth

east

A

tlant

ic

(com

bine

d So

uthe

rn,

Wes

tern

, an

d N

orth

Se

a sp

awni

ng

com

pone

nts)

Abo

ve

at F

PA

Abo

ve

Abo

ve

Less

than

672

000

to

nnes

Le

ss

than

67

2 00

0 to

nnes

B

etw

een

592

000

and

646

000

tonn

es

Hor

se m

acke

rel

(Tra

chur

us tr

achu

rus)

in

Div

isio

ns II

a, IV

a,

Vb,

VIa

, VII

ac,

ek

, an

d V

IIIa

e (W

este

rn

stoc

k)

Bel

ow

Und

efin

ed

Und

efin

ed

Und

efin

ed

Less

than

229

000

to

nnes

1 na

18

1 00

0 to

nnes

1 Adv

ice

base

d on

MSY

fram

ewor

k w

ithou

t tra

nsiti

on

2 ICES Advice 2010, Book 9

ICES

Adv

ice

2010

, Boo

k 9

3

Stoc

k St

ate

of th

e st

ock

ICES

adv

ice

sum

mar

y

Fish

ing

mor

talit

y in

re

latio

n to

F M

SY

Fish

ing

mor

talit

y in

re

latio

n to

pr

ecau

tiona

ry

limits

(FPA

/Flim

)

Spaw

ning

bi

omas

s in

re

latio

n to

M

SY B

trig

ger

Spaw

ning

bi

omas

s in

re

latio

n to

pr

ecau

tiona

ry

limits

(BPA

/Blim

)

Tran

sitio

n to

an

MSY

ap

proa

ch

with

ca

utio

n at

lo

w st

ock

size

Cau

tious

ly

avoi

d im

paire

d re

crui

tmen

t (P

reca

utio

nary

A

ppro

ach)

Cau

tious

ly

avoi

d im

paire

d re

crui

tmen

t an

d ac

hiev

e ot

her

obje

ctiv

e(s)

of

a

man

agem

ent

plan

(e

.g. c

atch

stab

ility

)

Blu

e w

hitin

g in

Su

bare

as I

IX, X

II,

and

XIV

(Com

bine

d st

ock)

Abo

ve

Bet

wee

n B

elow

B

elow

50

700

to 2

23 0

00

for

trans

ition

to

th

e M

SY

fram

ewor

k by

20

11 a

nd

2015

, re

spec

tivel

y

Zero

land

ings

40

100

tonn

es

Her

ring

in

the

Nor

thea

st

Atla

ntic

(N

orw

egia

n sp

ring-

spaw

ning

her

ring)

at F

MSY

at

FPA

A

bove

A

bove

Le

ss

than

1.

17

mill

ion

tonn

es

Less

th

an

1.17

m

illio

n to

nnes

Le

ss

than

0.

988

mill

ion

tonn

es

Euro

pean

eel

Th

e ab

unda

nce

of th

e Eu

rope

an e

el s

tock

con

tinue

s to

dec

line

at a

n al

arm

ing

rate

-

ICES

rei

tera

tes

its p

revi

ous

advi

ce t

hat

all

anth

ropo

geni

c m

orta

lity

(e.g

. rec

reat

iona

l and

com

mer

cial

fish

ing,

bar

riers

to

pass

age,

hab

itat a

ltera

tion,

pol

lutio

n, e

tc.)

affe

ctin

g pr

oduc

tion

and

esca

pem

ent o

f ee

ls s

houl

d be

red

uced

to a

s cl

ose

to z

ero

as p

ossib

le u

ntil

ther

e is

cle

ar e

vide

nce

that

the

sto

ck i

s in

crea

sing

. A

con

certe

d ef

fort

by a

ll Eu

rope

an c

ount

ries

to

cons

erve

eel

hab

itats

is u

rgen

tly n

eede

d.

Giv

en t

he c

urre

nt r

ecor

d-lo

w a

bund

ance

of

glas

s ee

ls, I

CES

re

itera

tes

its c

once

rn t

hat

glas

s ee

l st

ocki

ng p

rogr

ams

are

unlik

ely

to c

ontri

bute

to

the

reco

very

of

the

Euro

pean

eel

st

ock.

Thi

s is b

ecau

se (a

) the

re is

no

surp

lus a

nyw

here

of g

lass

ee

l to

be re

dist

ribut

ed to

oth

er a

reas

and

(b) t

here

is e

vide

nce

that

sto

cked

/tran

sloc

ated

eel

s ex

perie

nce

impa

irmen

t of

the

ir na

viga

tiona

l abi

litie

s.


4 IC

ES A

dvic

e 20

10, B

ook

9

Tabl

e 9.

3.1.

1.2

Stat

e of

the

stoc

k an

d ad

vice

for E

lasm

obra

nch

stoc

ks/a

sses

smen

t uni

ts.

Stoc

k St

ate

of th

e st

ock2

IC

ES

advi

ce su

mm

ary3

Tran

sitio

n to

an

M

SY

appr

oach

with

cau

tion

at lo

w

stoc

k si

ze

Cau

tious

ly

avoi

d im

paire

d re

crui

tmen

t (P

reca

utio

nary

A

ppro

ach)

Cau

tious

ly

avoi

d im

paire

d re

crui

tmen

t an

d ac

hiev

e ot

her

obje

ctiv

e(s)

of a

man

agem

ent

plan

(e.g

. cat

ch st

abili

ty)

Spur

dog

(Squ

alus

ac

anth

ias)

in

th

e N

orth

east

Atla

ntic

U

nkno

wn

n/a

Zero

cat

ch

n/a

Porb

eagl

e (L

amna

nas

us)

in t

he N

orth

east

A

tlant

ic

Unk

now

n Ze

ro c

atch

es

Zero

cat

ches

n/

a

Bas

king

sha

rk (C

etor

hinu

s max

imus

) in

the

Nor

thea

st A

tlant

ic

Unk

now

n Ze

ro c

atch

es

Zero

cat

ches

n/

a

Portu

gues

e do

gfis

h (C

entro

scym

nus

coel

olep

is)

and

leaf

scal

e gu

lper

sh

ark

(Cen

troph

orus

squa

mos

us) i

n th

e N

orth

east

A

tlant

ic

Unk

now

n Ze

ro c

atch

es

Zero

cat

ches

n/

a

Kite

fin

shar

k (D

alat

ias

licha

) in

th

e N

orth

east

Atla

ntic

U

nkno

wn

Zero

cat

ches

Ze

ro c

atch

es

n/a

2 Sta

te o

f the

stoc

k in

rela

tion

to P

A a

nd M

SY re

fere

nce

poin

ts

3 The

adv

ice

for t

hese

stoc

ks is

bie

nnia

l and

app

licab

le fo

r 201

1 an

d 20

12




9.3.1.2 Advice June 2010 ECOREGION Widely distributed and migratory stocks Assessments and advice for deep-water fisheries The information on the state of most deep-water fish stocks is limited or poor despite recent initiatives to expand sampling and data analyses. These efforts should continue and in some cases expanded. It will take a long term commitment to ultimately improve assessments of deep-water fisheries. The information on stock status of deep-water species derives from several sources. In many cases the main source of information is catch rates from the commercial fisheries, although in some cases there is also information from research surveys. A number of research surveys have been initiated in recent years, and these are expected to aid the future knowledge on these species. In general, population size estimates are unavailable for deepwater stocks. Section 1.2 on the General Context of ICES Advice includes a table (under the subheading Stocks without population size estimates) that describes that approach used when population size estimates are unavailable. The table is generally applicable to deepwater stocks. However, many of these stocks have biological characteristics that create practical challenges to an MSY approach. These include: (i) maturation at relatively old ages; (ii) slow growth; (iii) long life expectancies; (iv) low natural mortality rates; (v) intermittent recruitment of successful year classes; and (vi) spawning that may not occur every year. As a result, many deepwater species have low productivity and are only able to sustain very low exploitation rates. Also, when these resources are depleted, recovery is expected to be long and is not assured. The great depths at which these species are caught pose scientific and technical challenges in providing scientific support for management. Together these factors mean that assessment and management of some deepwater species may be costly and subject to greater uncertainty (FAO, 2009). These practical challenges should be considered further in the future evolution of fisheries advice and management. This years assessments of deep-water stocks do not indicate any substantial differences from previous assessments (which is not surprising for so many long-lived species), and therefore, the advice is similar. However, this advice should be taken as an upper bound on ICES advice. As indicated in the Table in Section 1.2, catches should be reduced from recent levels even for stocks that are stable, unless it can be determined that the stock is being fished according to an MSY approach (such evidence rarely exists). For declining stocks, the catch should be reduced at a greater rate than the rate of decline. Recognizing the vulnerable nature of some deep-water stocks, further reductions in catch may be merited, and as ICES has advised in the past, some species should not be fished unless there is a sound scientific basis to determine that the fishery can be sustained. Sources FAO. 2009. International Guidelines for Management of Deep-sea Fisheries on the High Seas. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome, Italy. 73 pp

6

ICES

Adv

ice

2010

, Boo

k 9

The

stat

e an

d th

e ad

vice

of t

he in

divi

dual

stoc

ks a

re p

rese

nted

in th

e st

ock

sect

ions

. The

stat

e of

dee

p-w

ater

stoc

ks/a

sses

smen

t uni

ts a

nd a

dvic

e ar

e su

mm

ariz

ed in

the

tabl

e be

low

. Ta

ble

9.3.

1.2.

1 St

ate

of th

e st

ock

and

advi

ce fo

r dee

p-w

ater

stoc

ks/a

sses

smen

t uni

ts.

St

ock

Stat

e of

th

e st

ock1

IC

ES

advi

ce su

mm

ary2

Ling

(Mol

va m

olva

) in

Suba

reas

I an

d II

U

nkno

wn

C

onst

rain

cat

ches

to

8000

t un

til s

uch

time

ther

e is

suf

ficie

nt s

cien

tific

inf

orm

atio

n to

pro

ve t

he

fishe

ry is

sust

aina

ble.

Li

ng (M

olva

mol

va) i

n D

ivis

ion

Va

Unk

now

n N

ot e

xcee

d 75

00 t

until

suc

h tim

e th

ere

is s

uffic

ient

sci

entif

ic in

form

atio

n to

pro

ve th

e fis

hery

is

sust

aina

ble.

Li

ng (M

olva

mol

va) i

n D

ivis

ion

Vb

Unk

now

n N

o in

crea

se in

eff

ort a

nd a

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d in

ord

er to

be

cons

iste

nt w

ith

the

MSY

Li

ng (

Mol

va m

olva

) in

Div

isio

ns I

IIa

and

IVa,

an

d in

Sub

area

s V

I, V

II, V

III,

IX, X

II, a

nd X

IV

(oth

er a

reas

)

Unk

now

n C

onst

rain

cat

ches

to re

cent

ave

rage

(200

3-20

08) a

nd a

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d in

or

der t

o be

con

sist

ent w

ith th

e M

SY

Blu

e lin

g (M

olva

dyp

tery

gia)

in D

ivis

ion

Va

and

Suba

rea

XIV

(Ice

land

and

Rey

kjan

es ri

dge)

U

nkno

wn

No

dire

ct f

ishe

ry a

nd m

inim

um b

ycat

ch. A

rea

clos

ures

to p

rote

ct s

paw

ning

agg

rega

tions

sho

uld

be

mai

ntai

ned

and

expa

nded

as a

ppro

pria

te.

Blu

e lin

g (M

olva

dyp

tery

gia)

in S

ubdi

visi

on V

b,

and

Suba

reas

VI,

and

VII

U

nkno

wn

No

dire

ct f

ishe

ry a

nd e

ffor

t sho

uld

be m

ade

to li

mit

byca

tch

in th

e m

ixed

fis

hery

. A r

educ

tion

in

catc

hes s

houl

d be

con

side

red

in o

rder

to b

e co

nsis

tent

with

the

MSY

, nam

ely:

- C

urre

nt c

lose

d ar

eas

to p

rote

ct s

paw

ning

agg

rega

tions

sho

uld

be m

aint

aine

d, a

nd n

ew c

lose

d ar

eas

shou

ld b

e id

entif

ied

and

impl

emen

ted

whe

re a

ppro

pria

te;

- Clo

sed

area

s sh

ould

be

iden

tifie

d an

d im

plem

ente

d to

pro

tect

iden

tifie

d sp

awni

ng a

ggre

gatio

ns in

in

tern

atio

nal w

ater

s in

Div

isio

ns V

b an

d V

Ib.

Blu

e lin

g (M

olva

dyp

tery

gia)

in

Div

isio

ns I

IIa,

an

d IV

a an

d Su

bare

as I,

II, V

III,

IX, a

nd X

II

Unk

now

n - N

o di

rect

ed fi

sher

ies

for b

lue

ling,

and

a re

duct

ion

in c

atch

es s

houl

d be

con

side

red

until

suc

h tim

e th

ere

is su

ffic

ient

scie

ntifi

c in

form

atio

n to

pro

ve th

e fis

hery

is su

stai

nabl

e;

- Mea

sure

s sho

uld

be im

plem

ente

d to

min

imiz

e th

e by

catc

h;

- C

lose

d ar

eas

to p

rote

ct s

paw

ning

agg

rega

tions

sho

uld

be m

aint

aine

d an

d ex

pand

ed w

here

ap

prop

riate

. Tu

sk (

Bros

me

bros

me)

in

Suba

reas

I a

nd I

I (A

rctic

) U

nkno

wn

catc

hes

shou

ld b

e le

ss th

an 9

900

t and

a re

duct

ion

belo

w re

cent

leve

ls s

houl

d be

con

side

red

in o

rder

to

be

cons

iste

nt w

ith M

SY

Tusk

(B

rosm

e br

osm

e)

in

Div

isio

n V

a an

d Su

bare

a X

IV

Unk

now

n Le

ss th

an 6

000

t

Tusk

(Br

osm

e br

osm

e) i

n X

II e

xclu

ding

XII

b (M

id-A

tlant

ic R

idge

) U

nkno

wn

Fish

erie

s sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d an

d m

easu

res

shou

ld b

e co

nsid

ered

to li

mit

occa

sion

al

high

leve

ls o

f byc

atch

, in

orde

r to

be c

onsi

sten

t with

MSY

Tu

sk (B

rosm

e br

osm

e) in

Div

isio

n V

Ib (R

ocka

ll)

Unk

now

n R

educ

e ca

tche

s by

at le

ast t

he ra

te o

f dec

line

of th

e cp

ue

1 S

tate

of t

he st

ock

in re

latio

n to

PA

and

MSY

refe

renc

e po

ints

2 T

he a

dvic

e fo

r the

se st

ocks

is b

ienn

ial a

nd a

pplic

able

for 2

011

and

2012


ICES

Adv

ice

2010

, Boo

k 9

7

Stoc

k St

ate

of

the

stoc

k1

ICE

S ad

vice

sum

mar

y2

Tusk

(Bro

sme

bros

me)

in D

ivis

ions

IIIa

, Vb,

VIa

X

IIb

and

Suba

reas

IV, V

II, V

III,

IX (o

ther

are

as)

Unk

now

n Le

ss th

an 6

900

t, a

nd a

red

uctio

n fr

om r

ecen

t lev

els

catc

hes

shou

ld b

e co

nsid

ered

in o

rder

to b

e co

nsis

tent

with

MSY

G

reat

er s

ilver

sm

elt (

Arge

ntin

a si

lus)

in D

ivis

ion

Va

Unk

now

n R

educ

e ex

ploi

tatio

n ra

tes o

f the

fish

ery

to le

vels

that

occ

urre

d be

twee

n 20

01 a

nd 2

007

Gre

ater

silv

er s

mel

t (Ar

gent

ina

silu

s) in

Sub

area

s I,

II, I

V, V

I, V

II, V

III,

IX, X

, XII

, and

XIV

, and

D

ivis

ions

IIIa

and

Vb

(oth

er a

reas

)

Unk

now

n Fi

sher

y sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d, a

nd a

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

shou

ld b

e co

nsid

ered

, in

light

of

surv

ey d

ata

indi

catin

g a

rece

nt d

eclin

e

Ora

nge

roug

hy (

Hop

loste

thus

atla

ntic

us)

in t

he

Nor

thea

st A

tlant

ic

Unk

now

n N

o di

rect

ed fi

sher

ies f

or th

is sp

ecie

s and

mea

sure

s to

min

imiz

e by

catc

h sh

ould

be

take

n

Rou

ndno

se g

rena

dier

(Co

ryph

aeno

ides

rup

estri

s)

in D

ivis

ion

IIIa

U

nkno

wn

Con

stra

in c

atch

es to

100

0 t.

How

ever

, ree

stab

lishm

ent o

f a

fishe

ry s

houl

d be

acc

ompa

nied

with

a

mon

itorin

g pr

ogra

mm

e to

ass

ure

expl

oita

tion

cons

iste

nt w

ith M

SY.

Rou

ndno

se g

rena

dier

(Co

ryph

aeno

ides

rup

estri

s)

in S

ubar

eas

VI

and

VII

, an

d D

ivis

ions

Vb

and

XII

b

Unk

now

n Le

ss th

an 6

000

t and

a fu

rther

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

from

rece

nt le

vels

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d in

ord

er

to b

e co

nsis

tent

with

MSY

.

Rou

ndno

se g

rena

dier

(Co

ryph

aeno

ides

rup

estri

s)

in M

id-A

tlant

ic R

idge

(X

b, X

IIc,

Va 1

, X

IIa 1

, X

IVb 1

)

Unk

now

n Fi

sher

y sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d an

d a

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d in

ord

er to

be

con

sist

ent w

ith th

e M

SY.

Rou

ndno

se g

rena

dier

(Co

ryph

aeno

ides

rup

estri

s)

in a

ll ot

her

area

s (I

, II,

IV, V

a2 V

III,

IX, X

IVa,

an

d X

IVb2

)

Unk

now

n Fi

sher

y sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d, a

nd in

the

light

of t

he v

ulne

rabi

lity

of d

eep

sea

spec

ies

a re

duct

ion

in c

atch

es s

houl

d be

con

side

red

until

suc

h tim

e th

ere

is s

uffic

ient

sci

entif

ic in

form

atio

n to

pr

ove

the

fishe

ry is

sust

aina

ble.

B

lack

sc

abba

rdfis

h (A

phan

opus

ca

rbo)

in

Su

bare

as V

I, V

II, a

nd D

ivis

ions

Vb,

XII

b U

nkno

wn

Less

than

200

0 t.

Bla

ck

scab

bard

fish

(Aph

anop

us

carb

o)

in

Suba

reas

VII

I and

IX

Unk

now

n Le

ss th

an 2

800

t.

Bla

ck s

cabb

ardf

ish

(Aph

anop

us c

arbo

) in

oth

er

area

s (S

ubar

eas

I, II

, IV

, X, X

IV a

nd D

ivis

ions

II

Ia, V

a)

Unk

now

n Fi

sher

y sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d, a

nd a

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d un

til s

uch

time

ther

e is

suff

icie

nt sc

ient

ific

info

rmat

ion

to p

rove

the

fishe

ry is

sust

aina

ble.

Gre

ater

fo

rkbe

ard

(Phy

cis

blen

noid

es)

in

the

Nor

thea

st A

tlant

ic

Unk

now

n Fi

sher

y sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d, a

nd a

redu

ctio

n in

cat

ches

shou

ld b

e co

nsid

ered

, in

light

of

surv

ey d

ata

indi

catin

g a

rece

nt d

eclin

e.

Alfo

nsin

os/G

olde

n ey

e pe

rch

(Ber

yx s

pp.)

in th

e N

orth

east

Atla

ntic

U

nkno

wn

Fish

erie

s sh

ould

not

be

allo

wed

to e

xpan

d, a

nd in

the

light

of t

he v

ulne

rabi

lity

of d

eep

sea

spec

ies

a re

duct

ion

in c

atch

es s

houl

d be

con

side

red

until

suc

h tim

e th

ere

is s

uffic

ient

sci

entif

ic in

form

atio

n to

pr

ove

the

fishe

ry is

sust

aina

ble.

R

ed (=

blac

kspo

t) se

abre

am (P

agel

lus

boga

rave

o)

in S

ubar

eas V

I, V

II, a

nd V

III

Unk

now

n Th

e fis

hery

sho

uld

not

be a

llow

ed t

o ex

pand

and

a r

educ

tion

in c

atch

es s

houl

d be

con

side

red

in

orde

r to

be c

onsi

sten

t with

the

MSY

. R

ed (=

blac

kspo

t) se

abre

am (P

agel

lus

boga

rave

o)

in S

ubar

ea IX

U

nkno

wn

Less

than

500

t w

hich

is a

redu

ctio

n fr

om 2

008-

2009

land

ings

.

Red

(=bl

acks

pot)

seab

ream

(Pag

ellu

s bo

gara

veo)

in

Sub

area

X (A

zore

s reg

ion)

U

nkno

wn

Less

than

105

0 t a

nd a

red

uctio

n in

cat

ches

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d in

ord

er to

be

cons

iste

nt w

ith th

e M

SY.



9.3.2 Special Requests 9.3.2.1 Special request Advice June 2010 ECOREGION Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks SUBJECT Northern hake FMSY ICES Advice ICES advises that a target fishing mortality rate of 0.17 (average on ages 26) is not appropriate for exploiting the stock consistently with MSY. ICES advises that a fishing mortality rate of 0.24 (average over lengths 1580 cm, which corresponds approximately to ages 15) is consistent with MSY. ICES notes that the previously defined precautionary reference points, which are incorporated in the management plan proposal, are no longer appropriate. Request The Commission is aware that ICES will review certain aspects of the assessment of Northern hake early in 2010. The Commission requests that, in the light of such a review, ICES should advise on whether a target fishing mortality rate of 0.17 (averaged on ages 2 to 6) remains appropriate for exploiting the stock consistently with MSY. ICES is also invited to comment on any new implications that have arisen concerning the Commission's proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a long-term plan for the northern stock of hake and the fisheries exploiting that stock (COM/2009/039). Basis of advice Following concerns over bias in the ageing of hake (and its impact on the age-based stock assessment) and the impossibility for the assessment model to account in a satisfactory manner for discards, a benchmark workshop was conducted early 2010 (ICES, 2010a). Following this workshop, the assessment model has shifted from an age-based approach (XSA, Darby and Flatman, 1994) to a model (Stock Synthesis SS3, Methot, 1990, 2000) that allows direct use of the quarterly lengthcomposition data and explicit modelling of a retention process that partitions total catch into discarded and retained portions. Therefore age data are no longer used in the northern hake assessment. The benchmark assessment led to a complete revision of the previous assessment which was based on age data at present demonstrated to be biased. Growth rate, which is now estimated by the assessment model, was found to be faster than previously estimated and close to the results obtained from several tagging experiments. A natural mortality of 0.4 was found to be the best value to use for the assessment while before M was assumed to be equal to 0.2. Selectivity is now estimated at fleet level and discards are incorporated into the assessment which has also resulted in a change in the overall selection pattern estimated for this stock. All this has resulted in a modification of the yield per recruit curve (where yield refers to landings) and to the maximum value associated to it. The Fmax value (0.17) used as a proxy for FMSY and estimated from the previous assessment needs thus to be revised. The timeseries of spawning biomass and recruitment estimated in Stock Synthesis does not have sufficient contrast to allow direct estimation of FMSY. Reference points of F0.1, F35%SPR, F30%SPR, and Fmax were calculated within the SS3 assessment model to provide a range of potential proxies for FMSY. Fmax (=0.29) would be a potential candidate for FMSY, as the yield-per-recruit curve has a well-defined maximum and discards are incorporated in the assessment and taken into account in the yield-per-recruit computation. Moreover, SSB during the historic period has been capable of increasing under high fishing pressure, suggesting a productive stock. However, an F value of 0.29 corresponds approximately to F24%SPR (ICES, 2010b), whereas the guidelines provided by ICES (ICES, 2010c) suggest that F values larger than F30%SPR might lead to recruitment overfishing. ICES further indicated that values around F35%SPR should be robust FMSY proxies against stock-recruitment functions and recruitment variability (ICES, 2010c). Taking all this into account and the specific aspects of the northern hake stock, a fishing mortality in the range F35%SPR - Fmax (i.e. 0.20 0.29) should be selected as FMSY. If a single value is to be chosen within that range, F30%SPR=0.24 could be a suitable candidate. Due to the new perception of historic stock trends, resulting from the new assessment, the previous defined precautionary reference points are no longer appropriate. In particular, the absolute levels of spawning biomass, fishing mortality and recruitment have shifted to different scales.


Sources Darby C.D. and Flatman S. 1994. Virtual Population Analysis: Version 3.1 (Windows/DOS) User Guide. Information

Technology Series, No. 1(MAFF, Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft) 85 pp. ICES. 2010a. Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Roundfish (WKROUND), 916 February 2010, Copenhagen,

Denmark. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:36. 183 pp ICES. 2010b. Report of the Working Group on the Assessment of Southern Shelf Stocks of Hake, Monk and Megrim

(WGHMM), 5 11 May 2010, Bilbao, Spain, ICES CM 2010/ACOM:11. ICES. 2010c. Report of the Workshop on Implementing the ICES Fmsy framework , 2226 March 2010, Copenhagen,

Denmark. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:54. 83 pp. Methot, R. D. 1990. Synthesis model: an adaptable framework for analysis of diverse stock assessment data. Int. North

Pac. Fish. Comm. Bull., 50: 259-277. Methot, R.D. 2000. Technical description of the stock synthesis assessment program. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA

Tech. Memo. NMFS-NWFSC-43, 46 p.


9.3.2.2 Special request Advice August 2010 ECOSYSTEM Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks SUBJECT Advice to NEAFC on vulnerable deep-water habitats Advice Summary New information was available on vulnerable habitats within the NEAFC regulatory area. The data provide further confirmation of their presence inside closed areas. There were also sufficient new records of VMEs outside of the closed areas to suggest a revision of closure boundaries. No new information on fishing activity (VMS) was available to ICES. Extending closures on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge will protect any Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) in the areas concerned against significant adverse impacts resulting from bottom fishing activities on the Reykjanes Ridge. In the Sub-Polar Frontal Zone and in the north of the Azores, proposed closures will probably have no immediate effect in terms of reducing the risk of adverse impact from bottom fisheries as no current exploitation occurs in these areas. Request 1. Vulnerable deep-water habitats in the NEAFC Regulatory Area NEAFC requests ICES to continue to provide all available new information on distribution of vulnerable habitats in the NEAFC Convention Area and fisheries activities in and in the vicinity of such habitats. 2. Regarding vulnerable habitats and deep-water species Extending closures on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Based on a proposal by the European Community to expand the current closed areas in the Mid-Atlantic ridge, ICES is requested to evaluate the proposal and provide advice whether the proposed extension will protect VMEs in the areas concerned against significant adverse impacts resulting from bottom fishing activities. ICES Advice 1 Vulnerable deep-water habitats in the NEAFC Regulatory Area There are some new data available from research vessel surveys, observer programmes and the fishing industry on the presence of vulnerable deep-water habitats on Hatton and Rockall banks. In all cases the data confirm the presence of such habitats within current NEAFC closures, but importantly also show that indicator species for vulnerable deep-water habitats occur in areas close to the current closure boundary (Figure 1), which suggests that some revision of closure boundaries should be considered. No new VMS data (post 2006) on fishing activity of vessels operating within the NEAFC regulatory area were made available to ICES and therefore no new advice can be provided on this issue. 2 Regarding vulnerable habitats and deep-water species Additional closures on the Reykjanes Ridge will protect any VMEs in the areas concerned against adverse impacts resulting from bottom fishing activities. In the Sub-Polar Frontal Zone and to the north of the Azores, proposed closure extensions will probably have less effect in terms of reducing the risk of adverse impact from bottom fisheries because the majority of these areas is deeper than current fishing depths. Closure of currently fished areas on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, may displace fisheries towards previously unimpacted seabed areas. Recommendations As noted above, ICES has information that could be used to define or amend boundaries to closed areas. If NEAFC wish to receive advice on suitable areas to close to protect vulnerable deep-water habitats, then NEAFC should explicitly request ICES to advise on new areas that need to be considered for closure or whether the boundaries of currently closed areas under its regulation need to be revised in accordance with new information on vulnerable deep-water habitats.


If NEAFC wishes for ICES to describe fishing activities in the NEAFC area, then NEAFC should provide catch and VMS data each year to ICES. The temporal resolution of the VMS data should ideally be hourly. Catch data should be as complete as possible, disaggregated by gear and at the highest possible temporal (preferably haul by haul or at a minimum, daily) resolution. ICES has only been asked to comment on new closures. Should NEAFC wish to maximise protection of vulnerable deep-water habitats, ICES would not recommend re-opening of previously closed areas without good justification. ICES considers that a more efficient conservation process than closing specific large areas would be Freezing the fishing footprint in order to prevent impact on still pristine or little impacted vulnerable deep-water habitats as well as closing areas where such habitats could recover from the effects of human activities within the footprint. Basis of advice 1) New data on the presence of indicator species for vulnerable deep-water habitats from Dutch and Scottish

research vessel surveys, collaborative research between the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the Spanish fishing industry, and the Scottish fishing industry were available to ICES for the Hatton and Rockall bank areas. The data largely confirm that these banks are key areas for VME indicator species such as Lophelia, gorgonians, seapens and black corals. On Hatton Bank, the research data indicate that such species appear to be within the existing closure or within the closure boundary extension suggested by ICES in 2008. On Rockall Bank the data confirm the presence of vulnerable deep-water habitats in the North West Rockall closure and in the Empress of Britain Bank closure to the south. The data also suggest the presence of Lophelia reefs and gorgonians outside the NW Rockall closed area (Figure 1). These data have been appended to the database on vulnerable deep-water habitats which from next year will be held and administered by the ICES data centre.

VMS data are needed to assess fisheries activity in the vicinity of vulnerable deep-water habitats. NEAFC has provided ICES with VMS data for the period of 20022005. In 2009 ICES concluded the following:

The quality of the data is not yet sufficient to provide information on the spatial and temporal extent of current deepwater fisheries in the NE Atlantic. NEAFC could further improve the usefulness of the VMS and catch report data by:

a) including in catch reports the fishing gear used if available; b) increasing the frequency of reporting of VMS positions; c) improving completeness of catch reports (covering all species in the catch) and the frequency of their

transmission (ideally once a day and reported on haul by haul basis); d) requiring reporting of vessel speed and heading with each VMS position report; e) providing assistance in interpreting the data sets, preferably in the form of participation in ICES working

groups of an expert from NEAFC with detailed knowledge of the database and NEAFCs reporting protocols.

ICES appreciates a full scientific reporting system may not yet be possible, but reiterates the basic need for information on gear type, hourly resolution of VMS positions and daily or haul-by-haul catch information. 2) This advice assumes that the request applies to all current and proposed closures (Figure 2) on the Mid-Atlantic

Ridge, i.e. the proposal is that all current closures remain and some are expanded or added. Three features are part of the EU proposals for closed areas:

i. the Reykjanes Ridge north of the Sub-Polar Frontal Zone; ii. the Sub-Polar Frontal Zone, including the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone;

iii. A section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge north of the Azores, i.e. south of the Sub-Polar Front. A large proportion of the area proposed for closure is deeper than 3000 m. Currently, fisheries operate at depths shallower than 1500 m, therefore the closed areas cover mainly seabed that are not presently exposed to impact from fisheries. In this respect, it is likely that the proposed expansion of closures on the Reykjanes Ridge would have some additional protective benefit. The other amendments will not have significant added value in reducing the risk of adverse impacts from bottom fisheries currently conducted on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is rich in biodiversity and vulnerable deep-water habitats. The area has been studied by several international research projects (e.g. MarEco and EcoMar, Gebruk et al., 2010; Mortensen et al., 2008; Priede et al, 2009). These projects provide support for the occurrence of VME indicator species such as Lophelia pertusa, gorgonian


corals and deepwater sponge aggregations associated to the hills and seamounts all along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. There are no data specifically within the proposed extension zones but it is reasonable to assume that vulnerable deep-water habitats will be found in these zones. Information about areas where vulnerable deep-water habitats are most abundant or cover the larger proportion of the seabed is insufficient to evaluate the relative merit of protecting one area over another. Sources ICES. 2008. Report of the ICES/NAFO Joint working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC),1014 March 2008,

Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2008/ACOM:45. 126 pp. ICES. 2009. Report of the ICES/NAFO Joint working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC), 913 March 2009,

ICES CM 2009\ACOM:23. 94 pp. ICES. 2010. Report of the ICES/NAFO Joint working Group on Deep-water Ecology (WGDEC), 2226 March 2010,

Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:26. 160 pp. ICES. 2010. Report of the Working Group on the Biology and Assessment of Deep Sea Fisheries Resources

(WGDEEP), 713 April 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:17. 616 pp. Gebruk, A. V., Budaeva, N. E. and King, N. J. 2010. Bathyal benthic fauna of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the

Azores and the Reykjanes Ridge. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90: 114.

Mortensen, P. B., Buhl-Mortensen, L., Gebruk, A. V. and Krylova, E. M. 2008. Occurrence of deep-water corals on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge based on MAR-ECO data. Deep-Sea Research Part II-Topical Studies in Oceanography, 55: 142152.

Priede, I.G., King, N., Inall, M. A., Hoelzel, R., Brierley, A.S., Billett, D.S.M. and Miller, P. 2009. Ecosystems of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge The ECOMAR project. ICES International Symposium, Issues confronting the deep oceans, Horta, Faial, Azores, 27-30 April 2009 (book of abstracts).


Figure 1 Observed coral occurrence on Rockall Bank from dedicated video surveys conducted by Marine

Scotland, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, University of Plymouth and (UK) Department of Energy and Climate Change and from fisheries data supplied by the Scottish Fishermens Federation.


Figure 2 The North Atlantic showing current NEAFC closures and new boundaries proposed by the European Union to NEAFC in 2009.


9.3.2.3 Special request Advice October 2010 ECOSYSTEM Widely Distributed and Migratory Stocks SUBJECT EC Request - Advice on Raja undulata in Celtic Sea and Biscay-Iberia

Ecoregions Advice Summary There is no basis in the current or previous ICES advice for the listing of undulate ray as a prohibited species. Therefore it should not appear on the prohibited species list in either the Celtic Seas or the Biscay/Iberia eco-region fisheries legislation. Alternative measures proposed by ICES are given separately for the English Channel, SW Ireland, and Biscay/Iberia. In view of the poor knowedge and patch distribution of these populations, ICES recommends a precautionary approach to the exploitation of these populations of undulate ray. Therefore should be no target fishing unless information is available to show that such fisheries are sustainable. Request The Commission requests ICES, when providing its advice on elasmobranch species in 2010, to examine and assess the following elements regarding management considerations:

To what extent current scientific information regarding of the state of...[Raja undulate]... in the Celtic Seas and in the Bay of Biscay/Iberian waters supports the continuation of the measures provided for in the EU fishing opportunities regulation referred to above.

Where appropriate, ICES is invited to recommend any alternative measures it would consider as potentially more effective than those in force, taking into account the various fisheries taking place in each area and their impact on the stocks (e.g. by metiers)

ICES Advice The table below summarises the advice given for undulate ray for each area and also the legislation in place. No advice was provided for any year prior to 2009. It can be seen that no advice has ever been provided for Sub-areas VIII and IX, though the prohibition on landing undulate ray applies in these areas. Advice has been provided for the Celtic Seas eco-region, being that there should be no target fishery. ICES never advised that this species be added to a protected species list nor did ICES advise that all specimens being brought on board should be promptly released unharmed. The TAC for North Sea (II and IV) only allows for undulate ray to be taken as a by-catch. ICES Advice 1 In answer to the first point of the request ICES notes that there is no basis in the current or past ICES advice

for Raja undulata being listed as a prohibited species, that must not be retained on board. Therefore it should not appear on the prohibited species list in either the Celtic Seas or the Biscay/Iberia eco-region fisheries legislation.

2 In answer to the second point of the request, ICES suggests the following alternative measures: 2.1 It seems likely that the population of undulate ray in SW Ireland (VIIj) is a separate stock, discrete from the

rest of the Celtic Seas region. In order to afford maximum protection to this discrete and very localised population, there should be no target fishery for undulate ray in VIIj and measures to mitigate by-catch in coastal fisheries should be implemented.

2.2 Elsewhere in the Celtic Seas region (mainly English Channel, VIId,e) more information is required before management better advice can be provided. Available evidence is that there may be at least two discrete stocks in the English Channel. In view of the patchy distribution, and following the precautionary approach, ICES recommends that no target fisheries (defined in terms of percentage of total catch) should be permitted unless information is provided to show that these are sustainable. Such information should include information on distribution, stock identity and abundance trends. ICES points out that the current TAC regulation for rays in this eco region allows for target fisheries for species other than those that are listed as protected.


2.3 In Biscay and Iberia ICES does not have sufficient information upon which to base advice. However, ICES notes that there are evidence for several discrete stocks. Therefore, following a precautionary approach, ICES recommends that no target fisheries (defined in terms of percentage of total catch) should be permitted unless information is provided to show that these are sustainable. Such information should include information on distribution, stock identity and abundance trends. ICES points out that the current TAC regulation for rays in this eco region allows for target fisheries for species other than those that are listed as protected.

Summary of advice and management measures applicable for undulate ray. Year Area Advice Legislation 2008 All None None 2009 VI and VII (excl. VIId) No target fishery See note 1 2009 IV and VIId See note 2 IV: None; VII d see below 2009 VIId,e See IV and VIId above See note 1 2009 VIII and IX None See note 1 2010 VI and VII (excl. VIId) No target fishery See note 1 and note 3 2010 IV and VIId See note 2 IV: None; VII d see below

2010 VIId,e See IV and VIId above See note 1 and note 3

2010 VIII and IX None See note 1 and note 3

2011 VIIj No target fishery - 2011 VIId,e No target fishery - 2011 IV and VIId No target fishery - 2011 VIII and IX None - 2012 VIIj No target fishery - 2012 VIId,e No target fishery - 2012 IV and VIId No target fishery - 2012 VIII and IX None - Note 1: From EC TAC regulation: Catches of these species may not be retained on board and shall be promptly released unharmed to the extent practicable. Fishers shall be encouraged to develop and use techniques and equipment to facilitate the rapid and safe release of the species. Note 2: From ICES advice Target fisheries for these species should not be permitted and measures should be taken to minimize by-catch. Note 3: From EC TAC regulation: It shall be prohibited for EU vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship and to land Raja undulata in ICES zones VI, VII, VIII, IX and X. It shall be prohibited for third-country vessels to fish for, to retain on board, to tranship and to land Raja undulata in ICES zones VI, VII, VIII, IX and X. ICES has only provided advice on this species within the Celtic Seas eco-region, as insufficient data were available for the Biscay-Iberia eco-region. In terms of the status of undulate ray in the Celtic Seas eco-region, ICES (2008) stated: Uncertain. Given that this large-bodied species has a patchy distribution in the inshore waters of the Celtic Seas ecoregion, it is susceptible to localized over-exploitation. Undulate ray was listed within the no target fisheries category, with the advice stating Undulate ray has a patchy distribution, with some of these areas showing signs of depletion. As a precautionary measure, target fisheries for this species should not be permitted unless exploitation rates are shown to be sustainable. Additional Considerations ICES suggests the following measures could be worthy of consideration: Localised management on a small scale (regional or local) may be more appropriate, than by ICES division. In terms of precautionary management measures, a nominal TAC, a trip limit for undulate ray (x kg/day) or a ratio

(e.g. undulate ray should not constitute more than x% of skate catches) could in theory be potential measures to


prevent targeting, but in practice could be difficult for fishermen and enforcers to achieve, particularly in inshore fisheries.

Other potential management measures could include gear restrictions or some form of spatial management on ecologically important habitats for undulate ray, although there is currently insufficient scientific knowledge, either spatially or temporally, with which to base this on for any of the areas in which undulate ray is locally common.

An alternative measure could include size restrictions (e.g. maximum landing length) to deter the targeting of aggregations of mature females (as observed to occur in other skate species, and which would presumably occur in undulate ray), although the utility of such a measure would be dependent on discard survival.

Basis of advice The basis of the advice are survey and market data. Survey data are limited or unavailable for certain areas of the stock area, particularly for coastal waters. Recently supplied market data has highlighted a potentially large discrepancy between actual catch and officially reported species-specific landings (WGEF 2010, Table 3, Figure 2). These data need further investigation, and effort data for stock areas are required. In the request to ICES it is further stated: The advice issued by ICES regarding the conservation and management of elasmobranchs dates from 2008 and will be reviewed/updated this year on the basis of new information from research, survey results and data collection. In its 2008 advice, ICES indicated that the state of conservation of the undulate ray (Raja undulata) in the Celtic Seas is uncertain but with cause for concern. As for the common skate (Dipturus batis), it is assessed as depleted. ICES recommended avoiding targeted fishing for this species1. Regarding the Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters stocks, no specific advice on either of these species is provided in the 2008 advice. ICES issues a general advice whereby " a cautious approach to management should be considered, which could imply reducing landings compared to recent averages.", and " since elasmobranch species are caught as a bycatch in demersal fisheries, they would benefit from a reduction in the overall demersal fishing effort"2. Both France (regarding stocks in the Celtic Seas) and Portugal (regarding stocks in the Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters) contest the grounds on which the fishing opportunities regulation (EU) nr 53/2010 stipulates a ban on landings for these two species and the concomitant obligation immediately to release back to sea any individuals taken as by-catches. Raja undulata background information: Undulate ray Raja undulata, is a little known skate from the North-East Atlantic and western Mediterranean. It grows to a length of at least 114 cm, and possibly up to 120 cm (Wheeler, 1978; Baon et al., 2008), and the IUCN has classified it as Endangered (Gibson et al., 2008). Since 2009, undulate ray has been listed as a species not to be retained by commercial fishing vessels, and this measure has been contentious with some fishing communities in some localised areas. Here we provide a brief overview of the species and the data that are currently available. Undulate ray occurs in the eastern Atlantic from the British Isles southwards to north-western Africa, including the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea. It tends to occur in inshore waters and although some general fish books suggest it is most common in waters


Le Danois, 1913), and it was only after Regan Tate (1907, 1913) reported on the species off the south coast of England (Cornwall and Sussex) that it was accepted as part of the British ichthyofauna (Jenkins, 1925). Nevertheless, its presence in the English Channel along the French coast was documented (Moreau, 1881; Le Danois, 1913). Recent data would suggest that undulate ray is most common around the Channel Islands (in the Normano-Breton Gulf) and from Poole, the Isle of Wight and off Beachy Head. In French waters, Moreau (1881) stated that undulate ray was found along all French coasts, was quite common in the Mediterranean (e.g. Nice, Marseille, Sete), was common on the Atlantic coast (southern Bay of Biscay, coast of Poitou (e.g. north of La Rochelle), less common north of the Loire, off Brittany and Lorient, and in the English Channel (quite rare at Cherbourg, but less rare at other ports). Le Danois (1913) considered it common off Roscoff. Around the Iberian Peninsula, undulate rays have been taken off Santander (Lozano Rey, 1928), and in Galician waters, including in and outside the Ra de Muros e Noia, Ra de Arousa and Ra de Pontevedra (Rodrguez-Villanueva & Vzquez, 1992; Sanmartn et al., 2000; lvarez et al., 2006). Indeed, undulate ray may be locally abundant in some of the ras, and one of the main species taken in artisanal fisheries (Baon et al., 2008). Undulate ray has also been recorded around several parts of Portugal, including Matosinhos (near Porto), Buarcos (near Figueira da Foz), Tagus and Sado estuaries (including off Setbal), and along the Algarve coast, including at Lagos and Ra Faro-Olho (Nobre, 1935; Prista et al., 2003; Neves et al., 2008; Ribeiro et al., 2008), with undulate ray considered to be relatively frequent along the Algarve coast (Coelho & Erzini, 2006). Further east, along the southern coast of Spain, undulate ray are also taken in the Gulf of Cdiz, such as off Mazagon (near Huelva) and in the Baha de Cdiz (Arias, 1976; Gonalves et al., 2007). Many of the locations from where undulate ray have been reported are inshore sites with fluvial input, suggesting that undulate rays may favour shallow habitats with less saline waters for at least part of the life cycle. There have been few biological studies on the undulate ray, and most of these have been in Portuguese waters. Undulate ray feed mainly on brachyuran crabs, particularly swimming crabs (Portunidae), with smaller individuals also predating on natantid shrimps (e.g. Crangonidae) and larger individuals consuming a variety of fish species (Moura et al., 2008). The growth of undulate rays has been examined from caudal thorns (Moura et al., 2007) and vertebrae (Coelho & Erzini, 2002), and the growth parameters from the former study are given in Table 1. This study did not detect any significant differences in the growth parameters between the sexes, although there were significant differences between the main study sites (Algarve and Peniche). In a study off the Algarve, Coelho & Erzini (2006) recorded mature females across a length range of 75.588.2 cm (L50 = 76.16 cm), and mature males were observed from 70.783.2 cm long (L50 = 73.63 cm). A subsequent study based on samples off Peniche indicated that females first matured at a length of about 83.8 cm (95% maturity at 85.2 cm), with the lengths of first and 95% maturity for males 78.1 cm and 88.0 cm, respectively (Moura et al., 2007), although it should be noted that this was based on quite a small sample size. Nevertheless, such latitudinal clines in length and size at maturity have been suggested to occur in other elasmobranchs. Undulate ray may spawn in the winter, at least in the Algarve, as shown by a high gonadosomatic index and presence of encapsulated eggs (Coelho & Erzini, 2006). Several studies have reported that the juveniles occur in inshore waters, including estuaries and coastal lagoons, such as the Sado Estuary in Portugal (Moura et al., 2007) Parasites can act as useful biological markers to understand stock structure, and although there have been studies on the parasite fauna of undulate ray captured in Galician coastal waters (Sanmartn et al., 2000; Aragort et al., 2005; lvarez et al., 2006; Table 2), comparable data are lacking for other areas. Celtic Sea Ecoregion: UK (England) Eastern English Channel Beam Trawl Survey Undulate ray have generally been encountered at only 19 of the trawl stations (frequency of occurrence = 1.210.5%), resulting in a very low mean CPUE for the area as a whole. However, no undulate rays were reported in the years 20062007. Given the distinctive appearance of undulate ray and that experienced sea-going staff were present during the 20062007 surveys, it is not considered likely that they had been misidentified. Undulate ray re-appeared in the survey series in 2008. Average catch rates are low, and in the years that they have been present, the mean CPUE has ranged from 0.020.25 ind.h-1. Undulate ray are generally found in coastal waters, occurring from Poole to Dungeness along the English coastline, and off the Cherbourg Peninsula and off Dieppe along the French coast (Figure 9.3.2.3.1). Most of the undulate rays taken in this survey are immature fish, which may be due to adults inhabiting other areas at this time of the year, or a low


catchability of the gear for larger sized animals (although it should be noted that large, mature undulate ray can be taken off the Isle of Wight with other gears, see below). UK (England) Western English Channel Beam Trawl Survey Due to the short time series available, no temporal changes have been explored, although the distribution (presence only, figures 3 and 4) is shown. This survey does catch reasonable numbers of undulate ray, including in the Normano-Breton Gulf, and also takes some larger individuals, up to 95 cm length. Undulate ray appear to be taken quite frequently in the area between the Channel Islands and the Cherbourg Peninsula. Biscay-Iberia Ecoregion: According to the national fishery data, the landings of the undulate ray varied around 1 t per year for the last decade. Market sampling data The partial data shown in Sret, 2010, indicates that French landings of Raja undulata are much higher than the figures given in the official fishery data (Table 3). In Basse Normandie, the undulate ray is the main skate (# 77 % of skate catches in the western English Channel and 44 % in the eastern part) caught by various fisheries: netters, coastal trawlers and off shore trawlers. The mean production for this area (based on the Cherbourg fish market records) is 318 t per year for the whole fleet (of which vessels catching more than 5 t per year made up 273 t). These figures are from records of the Cherbourg fish market, which represent only a part of the total production: skates are also landed at Port en Bessin and Granville; furthermore it is estimated that only 60 % of the production is sold through fish markets. According to the CRPM of Basse Normandie, the catches by the netters are mainly composed of large individuals, with 87 cm TL and 5 kg in average, i.e. larger than the size maturity size (76 cm TL) resulting from the large mesh size (270 mm). Cantabrian Sea survey The SPNGFS (the Spanish groundfish survey coordinated by the IBTS on the Northern Spanish Shelf) has captured only 35 individuals (18 males and 17 females) ranging from 3594 cm, between 1992 and 2009. They were all captured in the Cantabrian Sea (Figure 5), although this survey cannot survey the shallower areas in Galicia where, as stated above, it is a locally abundant species. Miscellaneous Fisheries Independent Surveys (see methods for survey data available) The French Channel groundfish survey catches small numbers off the Cherbourg peninsula and off the south coast of England (see maps of species distributions in ICES, 2010). Data from the EVHOE survey in the Bay of Biscay were extracted from DATRAS (02 June 2010), with only four records of this species, with single specimens recorded in 1997 and 2007 and two specimens in 2000 (Table 4). Similarly, occasional individuals are recorded in Portuguese surveys, and also in the French beam trawl survey of the Bay of Biscay (summarised in Table 4). No data from the Gulf of Cdiz survey were available. Information from the French beam trawl survey of the Bay of Biscay would suggest that undulate ray are caught occasionally outside of the Gironde estuary and up to La Rochelle, and also further north, from Concarneau to south of Nantes, including outside of the Loire estuary. Records of undulate ray from the Portuguese IBTS, which uses a Norwegian Campelen Trawl (NCT) were typically from south-western Portugal, off Setbal, and along the stretch of coastline near Porto and Matosinhos, confirming the locations reported in other literature sources.. Spanish and Portuguese IBTS surveys tend to occur in waters >30 m deep, and the paucity of inshore stations could result in the low number of undulate ray being caught. The low catch rates of undulate ray in existing surveys in the Biscay and Iberian eco-regions prevents analyses of abundance trends. An on-going Defra-funded project (conducted by UK) to examine discard survival of commercially-caught skates has undertaken some field studies off the Isle of Wight on an inshore vessel using gillnets of 10.5-12 mesh size. Due to the amount of weed in the water, soak time was restricted to ca. 24 h, and it should be recognised that soak time could be longer at other times of the year. The batoids caught in this study are summarised in Table 4. Large undulate ray were taken regularly in the study area and, numerically, constituted 27.5% of all batoids caught. Given their larger size, they would also account for a greater proportion in terms of biomass. It is also worth noting that the sex ratio was heavily


skewed towards male fish, and females are likely to attain a larger size than males. All undulate rays captured were tagged with Petersen discs and released. The main conclusion from the survey data is that too few undulate ray are caught to allow a meaningful analysis of trends in abundance. Methods Celtic Sea Ecoregion Fisheries Independent Surveys: UK (England) Eastern English Channel Beam Trawl Survey This survey is described by Parker-Humphreys (2005). The gear used is a 4 m beam trawl with a chain mat, which is used to prevent large rocks entering the net, allowing coarser ground to be surveyed, however it may be that the chain mat could restrict the capture of larger batoids. This survey has fished most stations on an annual basis, although some stations in mid-Channel have not been fished in recent years, and some tows have been made in other parts of the general area on an ad hoc basis when time has allowed. Overall, 87 fixed stations have been fished on at least 12 occasions over the 17 year period, with surveys conducted in July. UK (England) Western English Channel Beam Trawl Survey This survey has been conducted in March from 20062010, and uses twin 4 m beam trawls over a stratified random survey grid. Due to the short time series available, no temporal changes have been explored. Biscary-Iberia Ecoregion Fisheries Independent Surveys: Cantabrian Sea Survey The French Channel groundfish survey EVHOE survey in the Bay of Biscay Portuguese IBTS survey French beam trawl survey of the Bay of Biscay Defra-funded project (conducted by Cefas) to examine discard survival of commercially-caught skates has

undertaken some field studies off the Isle of Wight on an inshore vessel using gillnets of 10.5-12 mesh size. Sources and References lvarez, M.F., Aragort, W., Leiro, J.M. & Sanmartn, M.L. 2006. Macroparasites of five species of ray (genus Raja) on

the northwest coast of Spain. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 70(12): 93100. Aragort, W., lvarez, M.F., Leiro, J.L. & Sanmartn, M.L. 2005. Blood protozoans in elasmobranchs of the family

Rajidae from Galicia (NW Spain). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 65(1): 6368. Arias, A. 1976. Contribucin al conocimiento de la fauna bentnica de la Baha de Cdiz. Investigacin Pesquera 40(2):

355386. Baon, R.; Quinteiro, R.; Garca, M.; Juncal, L.; Campelos, J.; Gancedo, A.; Lamas, F.; C Morales & Landn, J. 2008.

Composicin, distribucin y abundancia de rayas (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae) en aguas costeras de Galicia. Foro dos Recursos Marios e da Acuicultura das Ras Galegas 10, 325-331

CEC. 2009. Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009 fixing for 2009 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required.

CEC. 2010. Council Regulation (EU) No 23/2010 of 14 January 2010 fixing for 2010 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in EU waters and, for EU vessels, in waters where catch limitations are required and amending Regulations (EC) No 1359/2008, (EC) No 754/2009, (EC) No 1226/2009 and (EC) No 1287/2009.

Coelho, R. & Erzini, K. 2002. Age and growth of the undulate ray Raja undulata, in the Algarve (southern Portugal). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 82(6): 987990.

Coelho, R. & Erzini, K. 2006. Reproductive aspects of the undulate ray, Raja undulata, from the south coast of Portugal. Fisheries Research, 81(1): 8085.

Couch, J. 1864. A history of the fishes of the British Isles. Volume IIV. Goombridge & Sons, London. Day, F. 18801884. The Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland. Volume III. Williams and Norgate, London. Fahy, E & O'Reilly, R. 1990. Distribution patterns of rays (Rajidae: Batoidei) in Irish waters. Irish Naturalists' Journal,

23(8): 316320.


Gibson, C., Valenti, S.V., Fordham, S.V. & Fowler, S.L. 2008. The Conservation of Northeast Atlantic Chondrichthyans: Report of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group Northeast Atlantic Red List Workshop. viii + 76 pp.

Gonalves, J.M.S., Stergiou, K.I., Hernando, J.A., Puente, E., Moutopoulos, D.K., Arregi, L., Soriguer, M.C., Vilas, C., Coelho, R. & Erzini, K. 2007. Discards from experimental trammel nets in southern European small-scale fisheries. Fisheries Research, 88(13): 514.

Griffith, D.G. 1966. Raia undulata (Lacpde) a species new to Irish waters. Ir. Nat. J., 15(6):166168. Griffith, D.G. 1968. Further occurrences of Raia undulata (Lacpde) in Irish waters. Ir. Nat. J., 16(1):21. ICES. 2008. Demersal elasmobranchs in the Celtic Seas (ICES Areas VI, VIIa c, e k). ICES Advice 2008, Book 5,

Section 5.4.39, 13 pp. ICES. 2010. Report of the International Bottom Trawl Survey Working Group (IBTSWG), 2226 March 2010, Lisbon,

Portugal. ICES CM 2010/SSGESST:06. 267 pp. Jenkins, J.T. 1925. The fishes of British Isles. Frederik Warne & Co. Ltd., London, 408 pp. Le Danois, E. 1913. Contribution a ltude systmatique et biologique des poissons de la manche occidentale. Thses,

Facult des Sciences de Paris, 214 pp. Lozano Rey, L. 1928. Fauna Ibrica: Peces. Museo Nacional de Ciencias naturals, Madrid, 692 pp Moreau, E. 1881. Histoire naturelle des Poissons de la France. Paris, Volume I. Moura, T., Figueiredo, I., Farias, I., Serra-Pereira, B., Neves, A., Borges, M.F. & Gordo, L.S. 2008. Ontogenetic dietary

shift and feeding strategy of Raja undulata Lacepede, 1802 (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) on the Portuguese continental shelf. Scientia Marina, 72(2): 311318.

Moura, T., Figueiredo, I., Farias, I., Serra-Pereira,B., Coelho, R., Erzini, K., Neves, A. & Gordo, L.S. 2007. The use of caudal thorns for ageing Raja undulata from the Portuguese continental shelf, with comments on its reproductive cycle. Marine & Freshwater Research, 58(11): 983992.

Neves, A., Cabral, H., Figueiredo, I., Sequeira, V., Moura, T. & Gordo, L.S. 2008. Fish assemblage dynamics in the Tagus and Sado estuaries (Portugal). Cahiers de Biologie Marine, 49(1): 2335.

Nobre, A. 1935. Vertebrados (mammiferos, reptis e peixes). Fauna marinha de Portugal 1, 574 pp. Parker-Humphreys, M. 2005. Distribution and relative abundance of demersal fishes from beam trawl surveys in eastern

English Channel (ICES division VIId) and the southern North Sea (ICES division IVc) 19932001. Science Series Technical Report, CEFAS Lowestoft, 124: 92pp.

Prista, N., Vasconcelos, R.P., Costa, M.J. & Cabral, H. 2003. The demersal fish assemblage of the coastal area adjacent to the Tagus Estuary (Portugal): relationships with environmental conditions. Oceanologica Acta, 26(56): 525536.

Regan Tate C. 1907 Note on Raia undulata Lacep. Annals and Magazine of Natural History Series 7 (XX), 403404. Regan Tate C. 1913 Raia undulata Lacep., and its distribution on the British coasts. Annals and Magazine of Natural

History Series 8 (XI), 8082. Ribeiro, J., Monteiro, C.C., Monteiro, P., Bentes, L., Coelho, R., Gonalves, J.M.S., Lino, P.G. & Erzini, K. 2008.

Long-term changes in fish communities of the Ra Formosa coastal lagoon (southern Portugal) based on two studies made 20 years apart. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76(1): 5768.

Rodrguez-Villanueva, X.L. and Vzquez, X. 1992. Peixes do mar de Galicia (I): Lampreas, raias e tiburns. Edicins Xerais de Galicia, 199 pp.

Sanmartn, M.L., lvarez, M.F., Peris, D., Iglesias, R. & Leiro, J. 2000. Parasite community study of the undulate ray Raja undulata in the Ra of Muros (Galicia, northwest Spain). Aquaculture, 184(34): 189201.

Wheeler, A. 1978. Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe. Warne, London, 380 pp. WGEF 2010. Working Document #2010-04. Yarrell, W. 1836. A history of British fishes. John Van Voorst, London, 472 pp.


Table 9.3.2.3.1 Growth parameters for undulate ray (Adapted from

Documents

ICES Advice 2010, Book 9