Annex 1
SUMMARY OF AUTUMN 2002 ADVICE ON THE STATE
OF FISH STOCKS
1.1 Cod
The fish stock assessments for waters around
the UK are split to the North Sea, west of Scotland, Irish Sea,
SW approaches and Rockall. The North Sea stock (2001) is now at
an all time low, some 50 per cent lower than 2000. The ICES advice
states: "Given the very low stock size, the recent poor recruitments,
and continued high fishing mortality despite management efforts
to promote stock recovery, ICES recommends a closure of all fisheries
for cod as a targeted species or by-catch. In fisheries where
cod comprises solely an incidental catch there should be stringent
restrictions on the catch and discard rates of cod, with effective
monitoring of compliance with those restrictions. These and other
measures that may be implemented to promote stock recovery should
be kept in place until there is clear evidence of the recovery
of the stock to a size associated with a reasonable probability
of good recruitment and there is evidence that productivity has
improved. The current SSB is so far below historic stock sizes
that both the biological dynamics of the stock and the behaviour
of the fleets are unknown, and therefore historic experience and
data are not considered a reliable basis for medium term forecasts
of stock dynamics under various rebuilding scenarios." If
taken, this advice would result in greatly reduced harvesting
of other stocks where the fisheries take cod as part of a mixed
species fisheries, particularly haddock, whiting, plaice, and
Nephrops.
The report also states that "There is reason
to suspect that the landings for 2001 were under reported. The
TAC implied a reduction in fishing mortality of the order of 50
per cent, and the reported landings were less than the TAC. The
results of a time series analysis indicated predicted removals
in 2001 almost double the reported landings." This is cheating
stated in diplomatic terms.
The advice on West of Scotland and the Irish
Sea is the same as for the North Sea, while stock status on Rockall
is insufficiently known. Fishing on Rockall must be carried out
such as to ensure other stocks are not affected. The advice on
the SW stocks is that "fishing mortality should be reduced
. . . corresponding to landings of less than 3 800 t in 2003."
This represents a reduction in fishing mortality of 60 per cent.
1.2 Haddock
Haddock stocks are in better shape than cod,
but the large North Sea stock is very reliant on one year's (1999)
worth of fish reproduction. These fish are just growing to be
of a size catchable in fishing nets, but not landable. Haddock
landings in 2001 were 40,000 tonnes, but an incredible 118,000
tonnes were discarded. This figure can be regarded as reasonably
reliable as independent on-board observers were used to estimate
it. Haddock fishing rates are too high. The advice on North Sea
haddock is linked to that on cod "Since haddock is mostly
taken in demersal fisheries with cod and whiting, the advice for
cod determines the advice for haddock. Unless ways to harvest
haddock without incidental catch or discards of cod can be demonstrated
fishing for haddock should not be permitted". If, despite
this advice, haddock fishing is permitted, then fishing mortality
would need to be reduced by at least 40 per cent in order not
to overfish the haddock stock.
The stocks to the west of Scotland are in a
similar state to those in the North Sea, that is reliant on the
productivity of the 1999 year class, but at present are in a proportionately
stronger state. The excessive discarding that characterised the
North Sea fishery in 2001 does not appear to have occurred west
of Scotland. However, the advice on haddock is the same as the
North Sea in that it is linked to the poor state of the cod stock,
and that if fishing is permitted, fishing mortality need to be
reduced by 40 per cent. The haddock stock in the Irish Sea is
relatively small and not as well known as others. Fishing advice
here is the same as for the North Sea and west of Scotland stocks.
Stocks to the south-west of the UK and in the English Channel
are also relatively small and poorly known, but appear to be in
a comparatively good state at present. A TAC has been suggested
for this stock.
The final haddock stock considered by ICES is
that on the Rockall Bank. This Bank is now split between the EU
Fishery Zone and areas outside this. The haddock stock straddles
both areas, and while there has been some control on fishing within
the EU zone, the fishery outside has been fairly unregulated.
Both fishing mortality is too high and the stock biomass too low,
and an area of the Rockall Bank has now been closed to fishing.
ICES advice is "ICES recommends that fishing mortality in
2003 should be reduced to the lowest possible level".
1.3 Whiting
The North Sea stock is outside safe biological
limits, but fishing mortality is dropping and the stock has increased
from an historic low in 1998. As with haddock, the ICES advice
on whiting is driven by the bycatch of cod that occurs in the
whiting fishery "Since whiting is mostly taken in demersal
fisheries with cod and haddock, the advice for cod determines
the advice for whiting. Except where it can be demonstrated that
whiting can be harvested without by-catch or discards of cod,
fishing for whiting should not be permitted. As with haddock,
if whiting fishing is allowed, then fishing mortality rates would
still need to decline by at least 40 per cent. However, even then
there are problems, since a great deal of the whiting mortality
in the North Sea comes from discards from the Nephrops, shrimp
and flatfish fishery. Commonly 60 per cent by weight of the catch
of these fisheries is whiting, that is then discarded. Essentially
this means that a reduction in TAC for whiting without a reduction
in effort will just result in increased discarding.
The whiting stock to the west of Scotland is
in a very poor shape and fishing mortality is too high. The overall
ICES advice for whiting is the same as for Scotland. If there
is to be any fishing on the stock, ICES advises a cap of a mere
900 tonnes TAC. High levels of discarding also affect this fishery.
Approximately half of the annual catch weight is discarded and
no doubt reduction in this discard rate would help the stock.
Some measures (such as larger mesh size on nets) were brought
in during 2002 that may have helped this situation.
The situation in the Irish Sea is even worse.
Spawning stock biomass (SSB) is at an all time low, fishing mortality
is at an all time high and between 60-70 per cent of the catch
is discarded. ICES advice here is blunt "ICES recommends
that fishing mortality on whiting should be reduced to as close
to zero as possible in 2003. A rebuilding plan, including provisions
to effectively reduce directed harvest, discards and by-catch
in other fisheries should be developed and implemented in order
to rebuild SSB". Since the Nephops fishery in the Irish Sea
kills substantial quantities of whiting, measures are needed in
managing that fishery in order to allow the possibility for the
whiting to rebuild.
Stocks south and west of Ireland are in better
shape.
1.4 Saithe
Saithe live in deeper, cooler water to the north
and west of Scotland than their relatives, cod, haddock and whiting.
Their stocks are in a better condition than those of their relatives,
and a reasonable TAC has been recommended for 2003. Sadly for
UK fishermen, the majority of saithe quota is held by the French
and Norwegians and to a lesser extent, the Germans.
1.5 Hake
The "northern" stock of hake inhabits
waters all around the UK. The stock is outside safe biological
limits and fishing mortality is excessive. The precautionary approach
formula used by ICES would indicate that there ought to be no
fishing for this stock in 2003. However, ICES advice is "In
light of the general reduction in SSB and the generally poor recruitment
since 1997, ICES recommends that a recovery plan be implemented".
Their recommended recovery plan implies an effort reduction of
around 50 per cent in 2003. ICES add that if such a recovery plan
is not implemented (then) . . . fishing mortality on hake should
be as close to zero as possible. ICES adds that "Setting
the TAC at a low level has been shown to be ineffective due to
TAC overshoot and/or misreporting. ICES therefore recommends that
in addition to TAC constraints, restrictions in effort of fleets
exploiting/targeting hake should be implemented. Closed areas
and seasons may contribute to stock recovery, but only if accompanied
by major reductions in effort". This again is a discreet
way of saying that cheating has occurred and the only way to stop
this is to stop vessels fishing.
The "southern" stock of hake is in
a similarly poor state to that of its northern counterpart and
has been in a poor state for some time. This stock is fished mostly
by Spanish and Portuguese vessels in a mixed species fishery.
ICES advice is "In order to rebuild the stock, ICES recommends
that fishing mortality should be as close to zero as practicable.
Stocks managed in conjunction with the major fisheries for this
species should be managed accordingly to limit the catch of hake
to the greatest possible extent."
1.6 Plaice
The North Sea stock is outside safe biological
limits. ICES advice "implies a reduction in fishing mortality
of at least 40 per cent. Management of fisheries taking plaice
must respect the stringent restrictions on the catch and discard
rates advised for cod". As with other fish stocks, strong
year classes appear once in a while. Such a year class occurred
in 1996, but unfortunately, as with haddock from 1999, much of
the year class was caught under-size, discarded and therefore
wasted. A large year class appears to have hatched in 2001 and
ICES recommends "extra measures to reduce captures prior
to attaining marketable size would be appropriate and beneficial".
Irish Sea plaice are within safe biological
limits. ICES recommends "that fishing mortality should not
be allowed to increase above the present level, corresponding
to landings of less than 1,900 tonnes. This is consistent with
the advice for sole, which is taken in the same fisheries".
It seems anomalous that the by-catch of cod in this fishery is
not mentioned.
Plaice in the Celtic Sea is outside safe biological
limits and ICES recommends a reduction in fishing mortality of
at least 40 per cent bringing landings to below 660 tonnes in
2003 (compared with 720 tonnes landed in 2001 and 680 tonnes TAC
in 2002). Plaice in the eastern and western English Channel are
outside safe biological limits and reductions in fishing mortality
are recommended (by 50 per cent in the western Channel).
1.7 Sole
Sole fish stocks in the North Sea are in a similar
state to those of plaice in the North Sea, ie outside safe biological
limits. ICES advice "implies a reduction in fishing mortality
of at least 23 per cent. Management of fisheries taking plaice
must respect the stringent restrictions on the catch and discard
rates advised for cod". As with plaice, there were strong
year classes in 1996 and 2001.
As with plaice, sole in the Irish Sea is within
safe biological limits and ICES advice is to limit landings to
less than 1,010 tonnes in 2003. It seems anomalous that the by-catch
of cod in this fishery is not mentioned. Sole in the Celtic Sea
are harvested outside safe biological limits and ICES recommends
a reduction in 40 per cent from current levels of fishing mortality.
Sole in the Bay of Biscay and the western Channel
is outside safe biological limits and ICES recommends a recovery
plan for this area; in the absence of such a recovery plan "ICES
recommends that the fishing mortality should be reduced to the
lowest possible level in 2003".
In the eastern channel is in better shape and
a TAC has been set.
1.8 Mackerel
Mackerel spawn widely in waters from the Iberian
peninsula to north of Scotland. Stock differentiation is poorly
understood, but it is known that the North Sea spawning stock
is severely depleted. The combined stock is currently harvested
outside safe biological limits. ICES advises fishing mortality
corresponding to landings of less than 542,000 tonnes (a reduction
from landings of over 670,000 tonnes in 2001 and the TAC of 683,000
tonnes in 2002). The North Sea component requires special protection
and ICES advises complete closure of the central and south North
Sea, and the northern North Sea except when the western stock
appears in the area.
1.9 Anglerfish
The stocks have only recently come under the
attention of fisheries scientists and for the first time ICES
is advising on stocks occurring in the North Sea and to the west
of Scotland. It appears that harvesting is outside safe biological
limits. ICES advice is that fishing mortality needs to be reduced
to less than 6,700 tonnes in 2003, compared with a catch in 2001
of 15,700 tonnes. Stocks to the south and west of the UK are in
a poor state, with fishing mortality being much too high. ICES
recommends that fishing mortality should be reduced by 30 per
cent, which would correspond to landings of less than 16,400 tonnes
in 2003 compared with landings of 22,200 tonnes in 2001 and a
TAC of 23,700 in 2002.
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