Stock Assessment Form Small Pelagics - Anchovy

Transcription

1 Stock Assessment Form version 0.9 (Adapted to the data of Ukraine, which does not use GFCM standards) Stock Assessment Form Small Pelagics - Anchovy Based on the research of YugNIRO of anchovy in the Sea of Azov and the Ukrainian sector of the Black Sea in Catch, population parameters, natural mortality and length composition for two stocks (Azov anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus maeoticus and Black Sea anchovy E. e. ponticus) were presented separately. For Azov anchovy stock assessment and short-term predictions, the data of lampara surveys were used. Status of the Azov anchovy is rated as Moderately exploited.

2 Stock Assessment Form version 0.9 Stock assessment form for Anchovy 1 Basic Identification Data Stock identification and biological information Stock unit Growth and maturity Fisheries information Description of the fleet Historical trends Management regulations Reference points Fisheries independent information Acoustic surveys Egg production surveys Lampara surveys Sampling of research surveys and commercial fisheries Biological data Ecological information Protected species potentially affected by the fisheries Environmental indexes Stock Assessment Stock predictions Short term predictions Medium- and long-term predictions Draft scientific advice

3 1. Basic Identification Data Scientific name: Common name: ISCAAP Group: Engraulis encrasicolus Anchovy 35 (Herrings, sardines, anchovies) Geographical sub-area: GSA Country: Ukraine Stock assessment method: direct Lampara survey Authors: Vladyslav SHLYAKHOV and Alexander MIKHAYLYUK, YugNIRO, Ukraine Affiliation: none 2 Stock identification and biological information 2.1 Stock units The Black Sea has two subspecies (geographical races) of the European anchovy the Black Sea anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus Aleksandrov and Azov anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus maeoticus Pusanov (Aleksandrov, 1927; Puzanov, 1936; Svetovidov, 1964). Anchovy is a pelagic planktivorous fish. A summer area of Azov anchovy is the Sea of Azov (GSA 30), and an area of the Black Sea anchovy is the Black Sea (GSA 29). Winter areas of both subspecies are located in the Black Sea and overlap in the East in the waters of Georgia, in the West in the waters of Ukraine. These subspecies are different units of the stock, and their regulation and recording to national statistics in Ukraine, as well as in the Russian Federation, are made separately. Azov anchovy spawns and fattens in the Azov Sea and migrates into the Black Sea in the winter. Azov anchovy stock is traditionally exploited by Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and it is present as by-catch in the waters of Georgia. Its Ukrainian fishing is exercised during wintering migrations to the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, in the Black Sea region of Kerch and Feodosiya, as well as during wintering near the Southern coast of Crimea. During the most powerful wintering migrations in Ukrainian waters, wintering habitat of the Azov anchovy expands to Cape Tarkhankut. The anchovy that winters in the west of the Chersonese Cape does not return to the Sea of Azov in spring and spawns in the North-Western part of the Black Sea. Black Sea anchovy is a fish with short lifespan, mainly maturing and beginning to spawn in less than one year of age. Its entire life cycle takes place in the Black Sea, the main wintering area is located in the waters of Turkey and Georgia; the area of the Southern coast of Crimea (the Ukrainian waters) is less important. The Black Sea anchovy is represented by a single population, which is used for fishing by all the Black Sea countries (Prodanov et al, 1997). Advanced research works of 1980th and 1990th concern the discovery of hybridization between the Black Sea and Azov anchovy populations (Сhashchin, 1985, 1998; Kalnin et. al, 1985). Moreover, migrations of Azov and/or hybrid types were established through electrophoretic and morphometric studies along the Bulgarian coast, primarily during autumn and winter (Mikhailov and Dobrovolov, 1991). 3

4 2.2 Growth and maturity Azov anchovy matures and spawns in the second year of life. Black Sea anchovy also mainly spawns at age 1 +. A small part of each new generation of the Black Sea anchovy reaches sexual maturity and spawns two-three months after hatching, at the end of the spawning season. Table 2.2-1: Maximum size, size at first maturity and size at recruitment of Azov anchovy Somatic magnitude measured FL, cm* Unit** Sex Fem Mal Both Unsexed 1 Maximum size observed Reproduction May-July 14.0 (historical) season Size at first maturity Reproduction Sea of Azov 6.5 areas Recruitment size 6.5 Nursery areas Sea of Azov * Fork length ** Azov anchovy (E. e. ponticus) Table Error! No text of specified style in document. -2: Maximum size, size at first maturity and size at recruitment of Black Sea anchovy Somatic magnitude measured FL, cm* Unit** Sex Fem Mal Both Unsexed 2 Maximum size observed Reproduction May-August 20.0 (historical) season Size at first maturity Reproduction Black Sea 6.0 areas Recruitment size 6.0 Nursery areas Black Sea * Fork length ** Azov anchovy (E. e. maeoticus) Table Error! No text of specified style in document. -3: Growth and length (FL, cm) weight model parameters of Black Sea anchovy Growth model Length weight relationship Sex Unit* female male both unsexed L K t Data source Shlyakhov et al., 1990 a b M (vector by length or age) 0.82 sex ratio (% females/total) * Black Sea anchovy (E. e. ponticus) 55.0% 4

5 3. Fisheries information In Ukraine, the data on fisheries activities are collected by Basin fisheries inspections under the aegis of the State Agency of Fisheries of Ukraine. Ukrainian classification of fishing vessels differs significantly from the International Classification of ships. Statistics (official) for most components of fishing effort (number of fishing days by fishing gear, the number of trips to fish, catch per unit effort, etc.) is either missing or incomplete, or strongly distorted. For harvesting of fish and other Marine Living Resources in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov almost all major types of gears are used: purse seine, pound nets, trawls, gill nets, dredges, hook gears (Long- & Hands-Lines). Information on their actual dislocations and the actually used amount of gears is very difficult to obtain, as it is officially reported missing. For this reason, we included the fisheries information, except appropriate tables from Stock Assessment Form version 0.9, to the additional tables. 3.1 Description of the fleet A common classification of fisheries on a board of the Black Sea fishing vessels implies its division into small-size vessels (bot, bajda, boat, yawl, etc.), small-tonnage vessels (SCHS, MRST, MRTK, PTR, RS, etc.) and medium-tonnage vessels (MPTP, TKHS, SRTM-K, etc.) (Commercial fisheries description, 1988; Shlyakhov et al, 2009), table Table 3.1-1: Description of operational units in the stocks of anchovy Country GSA Fleet Segment Fishing Gear Class Group of Target Species Species Operational Unit 1 Ukraine 29 MULTIPURPUSE (small size boats) Pound nets 35 E. encrasicolus Operational Unit 2 Operational Unit 3 Ukraine 29 Ukraine 29 TRAWLER- Seiners (small tonnage boats) MIDWATER TRAWLERS (medium size boats) Purse seines, Midwater trawls Midwater trawls E. encrasicolus E. encrasicolus Operational Unit 4 Ukraine 30 MULTIPURPUSE (small size boats) Pound nets 35 E. e. maeoticus Operational Unit 5 Ukraine 30 TRAWLER- Seiners (small tonnage boats) Purse seines 35 E. e. maeoticus Small- size vessels, i.e. vessels without stationary engine or with a low-power engine, not part of Classification Association. They are used for operations of fixed and passive fishing gear. 5

6 That is, they usually work in the narrow coastal zone, which is not available or not easily accessible for the other two categories of fishing vessels. Small-tonnage and medium-tonnage vessels belong to Classification Association. Smalltonnage vessels are multipurpose - they are used for the installation of active fishing gears (trawl, purse seine) and passive fishing gears (gillnets, longline). Some of the small-tonnage vessels were not meant for fishing constructively (e.g. VRD, PTS), but after the refit were used for that purpose. Medium-tonnage vessels use only trawls, some of them are intended for trawling constructively (MRTR, SRTM-K), and others are not intended, but refitted for trawls (Shlyakhov et al, 2006). Ukraine harvests both subspecies of anchovy - the Black Sea and the Azov Sea anchovy (Table 3.1.2). Separate statistics for anchovy catch of these two subspecies is not very reliable, as the exploitation of their mixed aggregation takes place often. Azov anchovy catches are often labeled as "Black Sea anchovy." This happens because the regulation of the Black Sea anchovy fishery in Ukrainian waters is less rigid. Table 3.1-2: Ukrainian landing of anchovy in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea in Year Sea of Azov Black Sea TOTAL E.a. maeoticus E.a. maeoticus E.a. ponticus Total Black Sea Anchovy In , the Ukrainian fleet was harvesting the Black Sea anchovy not only in its own waters, but also in the waters of Georgia, where wintering concentrations of these fish are every year. In the Ukrainian Black Sea waters, anchovy wintering aggregations exist not every year. In such years, its harvesting occurs during wintering migration. Anchovy is an object of both commercial purse-seine fishing during the migration time and on the wintering grounds, as well as midwater (pelagic) trawl fishery (formally, as by-catch), and small-scale (artisanal) fishery (with coastal pound nets in warm seasons). But the fraction of anchovy catch, when exercising artisanal fishery, is not significant and is usually not more than 1%. Discard of small size anchovy occurs usually at the beginning of the fishing season (October), and it is not registered as being prohibited by the Ukrainian legislation. IUU fishing 6

7 anchovy is also the case, it is usually exercised by prohibited fishing gear (e.g., trawls in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait). Research of discard anchovy and its IUU in Ukraine were never held due to lack of targeted funding. 3.2 Historical trends Effort and catch per unit of effort (CPUE) All primary information on the commercial use of marine living resources in Ukraine (in the form of fishers reports) is received and recorded in Basin (or Regional) Fisheries Inspections; there are four of them in Ukraine now. Also the system of collection of operational information concerning fishing efforts on the fishing of marine small pelagic fish (including the purse seines fishing anchovy) was functioning in Ukraine until Table presents data on fishing effort and CPUE for anchovy fishery in Duration of the fishing season, the amount of fishing effort and CPUE varied greatly depending on the capacity of wintering aggregations of anchovy off the coast of Crimea. Table 3.2-1: Fishing effort and CPUE on fishing anchovy purse seines in the Ukrainian sector of the Black Sea in Efforts, CPUE Boat number max Boat number average 26, ,7 13, Fishing season, days Days at sea Landing per years, tons Landing per 1 day at sea, tons 10,3 8,8 4,6 5,9 7,4 2,6 4,4 Landing per 1 day of fishing season, tons 9,2 5,4 3,3 3,1 4,8 1,2 3,5 Total landing per 1 fishing boat, tons Since 2007, the collection of information on fishing effort became fragmented (Table 3.2.2). Table 3.2-2: Fishing effort (N T number of trawls; N PS number of purse seine) and CPUE (L/T landing per 1 trawl by calendar years; L/PS landing per 1 purse seine by calendar years) in Year Maximum number of fishing gears engaged in anchovy harvesting Average number of fishing gears engaged in anchovy harvesting CPUE, tons N T N PS N T N PS L/T L/PS ,0 15, ,0 11, ,0 12, ,7 10, ,0 11, ,0 11,

8 3.3 Management regulations (regarding to anchovy fishery) Fishing effort In compliance with Ukrainian legislation, the use of natural resources is exercised within the limits of allowed volumes (Ukrainian Law On Protection of Natural Environment, No XII of 1991, Art. 41). In particular, it refers also to aquatic biologic resources (Ukrainian Law On Fish Industry, Commercial Fisheries and Fish Resources Protection, No VI of 2011). According to this law, limits are established for all species (groups of species) of the living aquatic resources subjected to commercial fishing, except those, which stocks are formed by means of artificial reproduction (Art. 29). The legislation of Ukraine provides the possibility of fishing effort regulation. Types, sizes and number of fishing vessels, fishing gears and their number can be regulated by the rules of commercial fishing (Art. 31). It is set, that the fishing with midwater trawls during the period from November 1 to March 31 in the Black Sea is allowed only for vessels with a displacement not exceeding 1,200 tons ( The Rules of Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, approved by decree of State Committee for Fisheries of Ukraine No. 164 of 1998, par. 14.6). So, the following measures for fishing effort regulation came in force for the Black Sea in 2012 ( The Regime of Fishing in the Black Sea Basin in 2012, approved by decree of Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine No. 545 of 2012): the number of the vessels fishing with midwater trawls from November 1 to December 31 is limited to 20 units (par.10). Number of vessels with purse seines is not limited. Area and time restrictions The following activities are forbidden by the rules of commercial fishing (regarding to anchovy) in the Black Sea in the course of all year: 1) any fishing in the area of the sea in front of the mouth of the Danube River (from Starostambulsky arm to Belgorod canal inclusive and 10 kilometers into the sea) in the areas one kilometer wide on both sides of each arm, starting from the middle of fairway and 5 kilometers into the sea ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 10.1); 2) the fishing with trawls in the areas restricted ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 10.8): - by meridians 35 05' EL and 35 50,5' EL, coastline and the line at the distance of 12 miles from the coast; - by coastline and the line passing across the southern boundary of Cape Evpatoria, points in 45 09' north latitude 33 16' EL and in 45 00' north latitude 33 04' EL, and further passing at the distance of 12 miles from the coast to the intersection with the line connecting Cape Tarkhankut and the Dniester-Constantinople lighthouse, and then to Cape Tarkhankut; - by the line connecting Cape Tarkhankut and the Dniester-Constantinople lighthouse from the South; - by meridian 30 00' EL from the East, coastline from the West and the state borderline from the South. In addition, the following types of fishing are allowed only in stated areas and prohibited outside the limits of these areas ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 14): - the fishing of Azov anchovy to the East of the meridian passing across the Chersonese Cape. In order to reduce large-scale fishing competition with small-scale (artisanal) fishing, restrictions are absent in Ukraine. 8

9 The following types of fishing are allowed in the Black Sea only during the certain period and are forbidden beyond this period ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 13 and 14): - the fishing with pound nets in Karkinitsky Bay - from January 1 to July 10 and from September 1 to December 31; - the fishing of Azov anchovy with purse seines - from October 1 to January 31. Fishing Gears and Methods Fishing gears allowed for the use in fishing activity, and their characteristics are defined by fishing rules; annually these rules can be specified (Ukrainian Law On Fish Industry, Commercial Fisheries and Fish Resources Protection, No VI of 2011, Art. 31). The following anchovy fishing gears (target, by-catch and indirect fishing) are allowed for the use in the Black Sea by fishing rules ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 13 and 14): - midwater trawls for the fishing of sprat and whiting; - purse seines for the fishing of so-iuy mullet, European anchovy, horse mackerel, mackerel, bluefish, bonito, grey mullet; - ring nets - for the fishing of so-iuy mullet, European anchovy, horse mackerel, mackerel, bluefish, bonito, grey mullet; - pound nets for undirected fishing, for the fishing of so-iuy mullet and grey mullet; - fyke nets - for undirected fishing, for the fishing of gobies; - beach seines - for undirected fishing, for the fishing of gobies, grey mullet, red mullet, Black Sea anchovy, Tyulka sprat, sand smelt. The use of other fishing gears is prohibited. Size of half mesh (is equal to the distance between two knots of netting) in the following fishing gears should be not less than (mm): - pound nets for undirected fishing 6 (in a pound), 10 (in a heart), 14 (in a lead line); - beach seines for undirected fishing 30 (in a bag), 36 (in the net inset between a bag and a wing), and 40 (in a wing); - midwater trawls for the fishing of sprat 6; - midwater trawls for the fishing of whiting 12; - purse seines and ring nets for the fishing of European anchovy and horse mackerel 6; - beach seines for the fishing of Black Sea anchovy, Tyulka sprat, sand smelt 6; - beach seines for the fishing of red mullet 10; - fyke nets the capture of shrimps from Kinburn Spit to Perekopsk Bay in ( The Regime of Fishing in the Black Sea Basin in 2012, par. 18.6); - hand beach seines and hand nets for the capture of shrimps 6. 16): It is prohibited ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. - to place set fishing gears in staggered order; - to carry out trawling with a midwater trawl without netsounders, and with otter boards touching ground; - to use the net inset between a bag and a wing (privod) with length more than a half of the length of respective wing in beach seines (the characteristic feature of a privod is that its size of half mesh is intermediate between size of half mesh in wings and size of half mesh in a bag); - to use funnel-shaped entrances with rings in pound nets with size of half mesh less than 20 mm. 9

10 Minimum sizes Commercial fishing is forbidden, if by-catch of fish or other aquatic organisms smaller than established value exceeds the established norms. For these purposes, the following minimal sizes of fish or other aquatic organisms are established in the Black Sea (cm): - Azov anchovy 6.5. The length of fish body is measured from the top of a snout to the beginning of middle rays of a caudal fin. The minimum length for the Black Sea anchovy current legislation does not established. It is allowed to carry out undirected fishing when the by-catch of individuals of nonfishing size does not exceed: - with the fishing gears with size of half mesh less than 20 mm: for Azov anchovy 20%. It is allowed to carry out directed fishing of objects when the number of by-catch of individuals of non-fishing size does not exceed: - for Azov anchovy 40%. In 2012 the by-catch of individuals of non-fishing size (except sturgeons) is allowed according to the norms established for undirected fishing when carrying out directed fishing ( The Regime of Fishing in the Black Sea Basin in 2012, par. 17). If a by-catch of individuals of non-fishing size in a catch exceeds the established norms, the fishermen must release all the catch into the water and change the place of fishing by not less than: 2 miles for trawls; 1 mile for purse seines and ring nets, beach seines, gillnets, longlines, dredges; or change depth of fishing not less than by 20 m. ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 17 and 18). When the by-catch of individuals of non-fishing size is heightened in any area, the fish protection authorities by consent with scientific organizations make decision on the prohibition of fishing or replacement of the fishing gears by other ones with bigger mesh in this area. The prohibition of fishing in this area is established in case of heightened by-catch of individuals of non-fishing size, which is defined as average not less than: when fishing with trawls, purse seines, ring nets, cast nets, beach seines in the different areas of shore, dredges after 5 hauls (trawlings); when fishing with beach seines in the same place, gillnets, longlines, pound nets, stationary covered traps and fyke nets as average of daily catches of not less than 4 gears in given area (if less than 4 gears are available, as average of their daily catches for not less than 4 hauls). ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 18). By-catch When carrying out directed (target) fishing of any objects, the by-catch of other objects should be less than 50%. The following cases are exceptions: - when fishing sprat and whiting with midwater trawls the amount of acceptable anchovy by-catch is not regulated (In 2012 the by-catch of Azov anchovy is not regulated only during the period when its fishing with purse seines is allowed The Regime of Fishing in the Black Sea Basin in 2012, par.15); - the amount of by-catch of objects, for which the minimum size is not established (for example Black Sea anchovy), is not limited when carrying out directed (target) fishing in the Black Sea in 2012 ( The Regime of Fishing in the Black Sea Basin in 2012, par. 8). 10

11 It is allowed to exercise fishing, if by-catch of sturgeon with body-length less than 110 cm and stellate sturgeon with body-length less than 110 cm does not exceed (by-catch of sturgeons should be released): - when fishing with the fishing gears with size of half mesh less than 12 mm, except gillnets and trawls, - 2 specimens per 100 kg of catch; - when fishing with trawls and longlines, - 2 specimens per 1 ton of catch. The state fish protection authorities should be informed of excess of allowed by-catch, and catch may be taken (exception for the living aquatic resources prohibited for fishing), than the place of fishing should be changed not less than by: - 2 miles for trawls; - 1 mile for purse seines and ring nets, beach seines, gillnets, longlines, dredges; - or change depth of fishing not less than by 20 m. ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par. 14, 15 and 18). In the case of heightened by-catch of the same objects during directed fishing of the other objects, the state fish protection authorities by the agreement with scientific organizations make decisions on fishing prohibition or replacement of the fishing gears by other ones with bigger mesh in this area. The prohibition of fishing is established by the average amount of by-catch, determined after not less than: - when fishing with trawls, purse seines, ring nets, cast nets, beach seines in the different areas of shore, dredges after 5 hauls (trawlings); - when fishing with beach seines in the same place, gillnets, longlines, pound nets, stationary covered traps and fyke nets as average of daily catches of not less than 4 gears in given area (if less than 4 gears are available, as average of their daily catches for not less than 4 hauls). ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par.15). It is forbidden for fishermen to throw a catch or its part overboard, if these living aquatic resources are not prohibited for fishing. ( The Rules of Special Commercial Fishing in the Black Sea Basin, par ). 3.4 Reference points According to Ukrainian Law On Fish Industry, Commercial Fisheries and Fish Resources Protection, No VI of 2011, limits may not be established for the species of the living aquatic resources, which stock volume cannot be reduced to alarming level due to the peculiarities of the distribution of these species or their availability for fishing (Art. 28). Such species in 2012 included the Black Sea anchovy. Its wintering aggregation in Ukrainian waters formed irregularly and their biomass is insignificant in comparison even with Georgian waters (main wintering clusters distributed in the waters of Turkey). Azov anchovy is a species with major fluctuations of population. Such species do not fit the standard scheme of precautionary approach directed at the fishing stabilization on the specific target level reasoned beforehand. By the assessment of the TAC for Azov anchovy, we use VNIRO approach (Babayan, 2000) directed at the conservation of reproductive capacity of a stock. The presence of two pairs of the reference points - Ftr1 and Btr2, Ftr2 and Btr1 is the special feature of this approach. Reference point Blim is selected as the smallest value of biomass during entire fishery history. In case of Azov anchovy stock decrease to level Blim or below this level, its commercial fishing is not recommended. In so doing, the target reference points on anchovy biomass are used (assessed according the data of lampara surveys and M=0.82 (Fig. 42): Blim = 10,000 t; Btr1 = 48,000 t; Btr2 = 208,000 t (when Bav. = 160,000 t) 11

12 Ftr1 = 0.9; Ftr2 = 0.5 (when M = ) Bi Btr1 Btr2 Blim Bav. Fig : Reference points (in Biomass) for management of the Azov anchovy Azov anchovy stock management is carried out as follows. If a stock decreases to the point below Btr1, fishing intensity is recommended to be not more than Ftr2 = 0.5 for TAC assessment. The rate of fishing mortality is recommended to be not more than Ftr1 = 0.9, if stocks are above Btr2. It should be noted that the capacity of Ukrainian and Russian fisheries fleet is not sufficient to ensure fishing intensity at the level Ftr1, if Azov anchovy stocks are high. Therefore only the reference point Ftr2 is used in practice. For this reason, after the 2009 stock Azov anchovy exploited significantly lower the optimum level (even with the catch in the waters of Georgia) and SSB tends to increase. 4. Fisheries independent information To estimate the stock of anchovy in the moment YugNIRO (Ukraine) and AzNIIRKH (Russian Federation) use the single method lampara survey of small pelagic fish in the Sea of Azov. Earlier YugNIRO carried out the hydroacoustic and ichthyoplankton surveys. After the cessation of Ukrainian fishing in waters of the Russian Federation (the main wintering area of the Azov anchovy) and Georgia (one of the major wintering areas of the Black Sea anchovy) these surveys are not made by us. Since the results the hydroacoustic and ichthyoplankton surveys have some historical value, they are listed below. 4.1 Acoustic surveys Hydroacoustic method of biomass assessment of the dense fish aggregations used an echo integrator. While carrying out the YugNIRO surveys, calibrated echo sounders EK-50 and EK- 400 for scientific research and echo integrators QD made by companies SIMRAD and also SIORS (USSR) were used (Artemov, Chashchin, 1982; Manual of Hydroacoustic, 1984) Determination of the fish target strength was made by fishing of their aggregations, using midwater trawls with calibrated trawl probe, sewn into the trawl net bag. In order to define the margins of fish aggregations distribution, preliminary reconnaissance survey was conducted. While carrying out the main survey, the vessel covered the area of fish aggregations distribution using tacks: the denser the aggregations were, the more often tacks were used. The detected aggregations with the echo integrator averaged means were drawn onto the tablet, sites with close values were combined into strata. 12

13 The anchovy surveys were conducted in the South-Eastern Black Sea near the coasts of Georgia (fig ). The Azov anchovy surveys were mainly conducted near the coasts of North Caucasus (Russian Federation waters). Fig : The area of the YugNIRO anchovy hydroacoustic surveys (Sukhumi-Batumi) Midwater trawls of common constructions were used for aggregations fishing. A special trawl with elongate codend was used to determine target strength of fish in the aggregations. Mesh size in the codend was 6.5 mm. Trawling was necessary for determining species and sizeweight composition of the fish aggregations. The data on the conducted in hydroacoustic surveys are given in Table After 2003, hydro-acoustic surveys of anchovy and other pelagic fish in the Black Sea Ukraine were not exercised. Table 4.1-1: Estimated biomass of anchovy aggregations in after YugNIRO hydroacoustic surveys (R/V Poiskovik ) Time Stocks Area Biomass of aggregations, thousand tons December 1994 Azov anchovy Near the coasts of North Caucasus 133 December 1997 March 1998 Anchovy* Georgia 190 December 1998 March 1999 Anchovy* Georgia 350 November 1999 Azov anchovy Near the coasts of North Caucasus 34 December 1999 Anchovy* Georgia 380 February 2000 Anchovy* Georgia 200 December 2000 Anchovy* Georgia 280 November 2001 Azov anchovy Near the coasts of North Caucasus 16 December 2001 Anchovy* Georgia 250 December 2002 March 2003 Anchovy* Georgia 250 * Fraction of the Black Sea anchovy in the surveys was over 90% 13

14 4.2 Egg production surveys Anchovy spawning stock assessments carried out according to YugNIRO ichthyoplankton surveys in Sette- Ahlstrom and Parker method were used (Arkhipov et al, 1987; Arkhipov et al, 1991). The results of surveys (after 1990) are given in table Table 4.2-1: Areas and results of YugNIRO ichthyoplankton surveys of the Black Sea small pelagics in Time Species Area SSB, thousand tons End of May-end of August 1991 End of May-end of August 1992 Mid June; end of Julybeginning of August Lampara surveys Anchovy, horse mackerel Anchovy Waters of the USSR, Romania, Bulgaria Waters of Ukraine and Russia Anchovy: 116 (Sette and Ahlstrom method) and 68 (Parker s method); Horse mackerel 4,7 Anchovy: 18 (Parker s method) Anchovy Waters of Ukraine Anchovy: 96 (Parker s method) Traditionally the leading place among the methods applied to the current assessment of Azov anchovy stock in YugNIRO arsenal is given to the area-coverage method (независимый от промысла метод) developed in the Azov Sea (Mayskiy, 1939) on the basis of lampara surveys. Lampara surveys cover all the Sea of Azov and are carried out in August (fig 4.3.1). Due to shallowness of the water in the Sea of Azov, lampara effectively fished the entire water column from the bottom to the surface, so it catchability coefficient is close to 1.0. The results of Azov anchovy stock assessments according to lampara surveys are given in Table Only these assessments are the basis for determining the annual TAC in Azov anchovy regulation, which is implemented by bilateral Ukrainian-Russian Commission on fisheries in the Azov Sea (hereinafter - the Ukrainian-Russian Commission). Table 4.3-1: Estimated biomass of Azov anchovy in after YugNIRO lampara surveys, thousand tons Year SSB Sampling of research surveys and commercial fisheries Sampling intensity of Engraulis encrasicolus in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea in 2012 is shown in Table Samples were collected from the anchovy catches of trawls, lampara and pound nets. In the Sea of Azov, the YugNIRO scientific team in 2012 took samples monthly (May-November) and measured 10,721 anchovy individuals, in the Black Sea except the second and almost entire third quarters. A total of 2,275 otoliths were taken for age reading in the Sea of Azov and 480 otoliths - in the Black Sea. 4.5 Biological data In 2012, the biological data available for anchovy consisted of 11 consolidated (monthly) sets of length frequencies data collected in the Sea of Azov and Ukrainian sector of the Black Sea by the YugNIRO scientific team. 14

15 In the Sea of Azov, the fork length (FL) of the anchovy E. e. maeoticus ranged from 50 mm to 125 mm, and in the Black Sea from 55 mm to 130 mm with mode of lengths mm (Table 4.5.1). In the Black Sea, the length of the individuals varied between 50 and 130 mm with a modal length of mm. Table 4.4-1: Sampling intensity of Engraulis encrasicolus (2012) by areas and fishing gears Sampled Fishing gear I II III IV 2012 Sea of Azov Number of fish measured Trawl Number of fish aged Number of fish measured Lampara Number of fish aged Number of fish measured Pound net Number of fish aged Number of fish measured Purse seine Number of fish aged Total catch in tons Number of fish measured All Number of fish aged Black Sea Number of fish measured Trawl Number of fish aged Number of fish measured Pound net Number of fish aged Number of fish measured Purse seine Number of fish aged Total catch in tons Number of fish measured All Number of fish aged

16 а б в г д е ж з L L и L L L L L к L L л L L L L L L м L L н L L L L L L L о L L L п L L L L L L L L р L L L L с L L L L L L L L L L т L L L у L L L L L L ф L L L L L х L L L L L L L L L ц ч щ L L Fig : Scheme of lampara stations (L) in YugNIRO survey of small pelagic in Sea of Azov in August 2012 L 16

17 Table 4.5-1: Length composition of anchovy in Ukrainian catches in Sea of Azov and the Black Sea 2012 E.e. maeoticus E.e. ponticus FL, mm Sea of Azov Black Sea Black Sea N% W, g N% W, g N% W, g ,05 0, ,5 0,61 1, ,3 1,36 1, ,0 2,20 1, ,6 0,94 2, ,4 1,50 4, ,2 4,12 4, ,7 9,22 6, ,4 21,44 6, ,1 19,76 7, ,8 16,57 8, ,4 11,42 9, ,6 7,44 10, ,6 2,76 11, ,5 0,42 12, ,0 0,19 16,8 Measured ind./ Wav., g 10721/ / /7.6 Age composition is characterized by a predominance of two-year anchovy fish, but the proportion of Azov anchovy younger year classes in 2012 was higher (Table 4.5.2). This table does not include those samples that are collected anchovy aggregations mixed from both subspecies. Table 4.5-2: Age composition of anchovy Ukrainian in catches in 2012 Age E.e. maeoticus 14,7 30, ,3 5,6 0,3 E.e. ponticus 10,1 20,2 33,0 20,4 15,3 1,0 5. Ecological information 5.1 Protected species potentially affected by the fisheries The protection of endangered species of animals and plants are provided by Ukrainian Law On the Red Data Book of Ukraine (No III of 2002). Such species are included in documents The Red Data Book of Ukraine: Animal Kingdom and The Red Data Book of Ukraine: Vegetable Kingdom respectively. The capture of animals and plants included in the respective Red Data Books are forbidden in cases of commercial and recreational fishing, and their accidental by-catch should be returned to the natural environment. The following protected animal species living in the Black Sea maybe potentially affected by Ukrainian fishery of anchovy: Crustacea Hemimysis anomala Hemimysis serrata 17

18 Lysmata seticaudata Upogebia pusilla Carcinus aestuarii Pilumnus hirtellus Eriphia verrucosa Xantho poressa Pachygrapsus marmoratus Fish Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Acipenser stellatus Huso huso Syngnathus variegatus Syngnathus tenuirostris Hippocampus guttulatus Chelidonichthys lucernа Sciaena umbra Umbrina cirrosa Mammals Tursiops truncatus Delphinus delphis 5.2 Environmental indexes According to the opinion of Ukrainian scientists, global climatic and oceanographic environmental changes take place in the Black Sea, and they influence the distribution and behaviour of small pelagic fishes, including anchovy. According to modern research (Polonskiy, Popov, 2011) the differences are indicated in formation of waters of cold intermediate layer (CIL) of the Black Sea depending on a type of winters. At the present time, mild winters prevails, when the waters of cold intermediate layers are renovated only partially, and their volume decreases. In the interannual changeability of the frequency of upwellings, the tendency toward the increase is observed in recent several years. The statistics of the frequency of upwellings for the Black Sea waters of Ukraine is given in the table Table 5.2-1: The number of days with upwelling in the fishing areas of Ukraine in the Black Sea during the period from May to September Year The eastern part of The northern part Yalta Feodosiya the North-Western of the Northregion region area Western area Total, days

19 6. Stock Assessment According acceptance standards of Ukrainian-Russian Commission for the evaluation of small pelagic fish stocks, including the Azov anchovy, only direct methods, based on data from trawl and lampara surveys, are applied. Indirect methods of anchovy stock assessment were deemed unsuitable for the following reasons: - fishery statistics for Azov anchovy in the Ukrainian Black Sea waters is reliable insufficiently due to the difficulty in identifying subspecies (race) catch composition; - there are no data on the Azov anchovy catch in the waters of Georgia, which are comparable with the total catch of this fish in the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and they possibly exceed it; - the majority of indirect methods are unsuitable for anchovy as a species having a short lifespan and high recruitment fluctuations. Currently, in Ukraine stock assessment (direct and indirect) for the Black Sea anchovy are not made. 7. Stock predictions 7.1 Short term predictions Short-term forecasts of stock assessment (SSBforec) and catch volume / limit (corresponding TAC) Azov anchovy is developing for the coming year, the Working Group on Research, Evaluation and Rational Use of Aquatic Biological Resources of the Ukrainian- Russian Commission (hereinafter - the Working Group). These forecasts adopted at the sessions of the Russian-Ukrainian Commission, then assert in accordance with the national legislation of Ukraine (see section 3.3) and the Russian Federation. In accordance with Protocols 24 and 25 sessions of the Ukrainian-Russian Commission adopted the following stock assessment and catch volume / limit Azov anchovy in : 2013: 270,000 tons SSB, the limit of 80,000 tons; 2014: 280,000 tons SSB, the limits 80,000 tons. Defined as conditions for the realization of limits: - Azov anchovy catch within the limit provided for the Azov and Black Seas; - Azov anchovy fishery is carried out without dividing the total catch / limit on national quotas. Exchange of information on the amount of the catch of each species produced by the Parties during the fishery as of the 1st and 15th of each month. After exploitation of 80% of the volume / limit, each type of information is exchanged every day, and after the exploitation of 95% - fishing is suspended. The use of residue volume of extraction (limit) is determined by the Working Party on the Protection and Control Catch Aquatic Biological Resources. According to statistics, in 2012 the total catch of the Azov anchovy by Russian Federation and Ukraine amounted to Y = 37,600 tons. Such catch corresponds to F = at the actual value of the stock size by the lampara survey 2012, SSBactual = 510,000 tons, while predicted SSBforec = 300,000 tons and F = (Table 7.1.1). It is clear that the above estimates of F are strongly underestimated, as in the waters of Abkhazia, where winters mainly Azov anchovy, caught about 50,000 tons of anchovy (Öztürk et al, 2012). Currently, the stock assessment (direct and indirect) and short-term forecasts for its state of the Black Sea anchovy are not made in Ukraine. 19

20 Table 7.1-1: Actual and predicted estimates the Azov anchovy SSB, in Criterion Units SSBactual by lampara survey tons SSBforecast tons TAC tons Y tons Uactual2012-0, Uforecas - 0,333 0,296 0,286 Factual - 0, Fforecast 0,432 0,392 0, Medium- and long-term predictions The Working Group was unable (and had no tasks) to make medium - or lond-term projections for the Azov anchovy stock because of the strong interannual variation in abundance and the short lifespan of this species. Currently, stock assessment (direct and indirect) and the medium - or long-term projections for the Black Sea anchovy are not made in Ukraine. 8. Draft scientific advice Current stock status of the Azov anchovy on classification GFCM is defined as follows. If we take into account only the fishing of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the status of the Azov anchovy stock corresponds to Moderately exploited, as Factual < Ftr2. If we assume that in the waters of Georgia in ,000 tons of Azov anchovy was caught, then Factual increase to 0,252. This value leaves about 50% Ftr2, therefore the stock status is not changed. In our opinion, the improvement of the Azov anchovy stock assessments (including the use of indirect methods) will be possible only after the start of the regular data collection on catches, subspecies structure, their length-age composition and amount of the catch in the waters of Georgia (including Abkhazia). References 1. Aleksandrov A. I. Anchovies Azov-Black Sea basin, their origin and taxonomic position. Proc. of the Kerch scientific fisheries station 1927 v. 1, issue 2-3, (in Russian). 2. Arkhipov A. G., Andrianov D. P., Lisovenko L. A., Using the method of Parker to estimate spawning stock biomass of spawning fish portions on the example of the Black Sea anchovy / Journal of Ichthyology, USSR, 31 (6), (in Russian). 3. Arkhipov A. G., Ershova O. V., Chashchin A. K., Evaluation of spawning fish stock by ichthyoplankton survey method / Journal Fish Industry (in Russian). 4. Artemov, A. G.; Chashchin, A. K. Assessment of the anchovy aggregations biomass by hydroacoustic method. Fisheries, 1982, # 12, Pp , 79 (in Russian). 5. Babayan V.K. Precautionary approach to assessment of Total Allowable Catch (TAC): Analysis and practical recommendations. Moscow: VNIRO Publishing, p. (in Russian). 6. Chashchin A. K On changes of population structure of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (L) in the Black and Azov seas. Voprosy ikhtiologii (Problems of ichthyology). V. 25, issue 4, (in Russian). 20

21 7. Chashchin, A.K The anchovy and other pelagic fish stock transformations in the Azov-Black Sea basin under environmental and fisheries impact. The proceedings of the First International Symposium on Fisheries and Ecology, Commercial fisheries description of the Black Sea. Reference manual / Eds. Dubinets G. A., Gubanov E. P. GU navigation and cartography MOs Publ., USSR, Moscow (in Russian). 9. Kalnin V. V., Kalnina O. V., Chaschin A. K., Novoselova G. N. Structure of anchovy populations in the Black and Azov Seas under anthropogenic effects // Biological resources of the Black Sea // Oceanographic and fisheries research of the Black Sea. Collected papers. Moscow: VNIRO, (in Russian). 10. Manual of Hydroacoustic surveying. Moscow, VNIRO, p. (in Russian). 11. Mayskiy V. N. On methodology of fish stocks calculation in the Azov Sea Fish Industry, 3, 1939, p (in Russian) 12. Öztürk B., Keskin Ç. And Ergin. Some remarks on the cathes of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758), in Georgian Waters by Turkish Fleet Between 2003 and 2009 // The state of the Turkish Fisheries/ Tokaç A., Gücü A. C., Öztürk B. (Eds.) Publication Number: 34, Published by Turkish Marine Research Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey P Polonskiy A. B.., Popov Yu, I. Conditions of formation of the cold intermediate layer of the Black Sea / / Marine Hydrophysical Institute NASU. Sevastopol, (in Russian). 14. Prodanov K., Mikhailov K., Daskalov G. M., Maxim K., Chashchin A., Arkhipov A., Shlyakhov V., Ozdamar E, Environmental management of fish resources in the Black Sea and their rational exploitation. Studies and Reviews. GFCM. 68, FAO, Rome: Puzanov I. I. Anchovy / / Proceedings of the Gorkov State University (in Russian). 16. Svetovidov A. N. (1964) The Black Sea fish. Moscow-Leningrad: USSR, Moscow:Nauka, 546 pp (in Russian) 17. Shlyakhov V. A., Chashchin A. K., Korkosh N. I. Intensity of fisheries and dynamics of the Black Sea anchovy stocks // Biological resources of the Black Sea // Biological resources of the Black Sea. Collected papers. Moscow: VNIRO, P (in Russian). 18. Shlyakhov et al Recommend number of fishing gears and vessels required for the realization of limits of anchovies, sprat, horse mackerel, tyulka, Azov-Don shad, Black Sea turbot, dogfish, skates and soiuy mullet in the Azov and Black Sea for YugNIRO, Kerch, 26 p. / Funds of Sc.Technical Library of YugNIRO. (Unpublished). 21