Cuttlefish in ICES subdivisions VIId, e (English Channel), Pots. Overview. Stock Status less risk more risk. Management less risk more risk

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1 Cuttlefish in ICES subdivisions VIId, e (English Channel), Pots Content last updated 22nd Feb 2017 Stock: Cuttlefish in ICES subdivisions VIId, e (English Channel) Management: EU Cuttlefish in ICES subdivisions VIId, e (English Channel), Pots Overview The common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) is a large commercial cephalopod that attains a mantle length (ML) of about 45 mm and a body weight of about 4 kg. They are widely distributed inhabiting the continental shelve of the East Atlantic from Mauritania to Norway and the Mediterranean Sea at depths ranging from 0 to 200 m. Cuttlefish feed on worms, molluscs, small crustaceans and cannibalism is common when prey abundances are low; and they are preyed on by other fish, marine mammals and sea birds. Juvenile cuttlefish inhabit nursery grounds in estuaries and semi-enclosed coastal areas for the first year of life before migrating to deeper, offshore waters. Adult cuttlefish reproduce between spring and early summer, with some individuals maturing and spawning at the end of the first year of life, but typically most spawning activity takes place in the second year of life. Cuttlefish die after investing vast amounts of energy into a single spawning event. Fecundity is between several hundred to potentially several thousand eggs. Cuttlefish enter the fishery between 60 and 120 days of age (Challier et al., 2005) and live either one or two years. Stock Status less risk more risk Cuttlefish in Divsions VIId and VIIe has been scored a low risk. This is because the vulnerability score of 30/100 (SeaLifeBase, 2014) is relatively low compared to other cuttlefish stocks in the world and the population biomass has been relatively stable throughout the time-series. Management less risk more risk The management of cuttlefish in Divisions VIId and VIIe has been scored a moderate risk. This is because there are some management measures in place to protect the stock from overexploitation, but the effectiveness of these measures remains unclear. Cuttlefish in Divisions VIId and VIIe have been assessed since 2013, and the assessment is based on both fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data. Bycatch less risk more risk The bycatch risk of this fishery has been scored low risk. This is because the bycatch in pot cuttlefish fishery is considered to be negligible compared to other fisheries. Catch of protected, endangered and threatened species is minimal. Ghost fishing by lost pots is not considered to be a problem. Habitat less risk more risk The habitat risk of this fishery has been scored a low risk. This is because traps, although positioned on the sea bed, do not move across it and therefore do not damage sea floor habitats. In addition, there are spatial restrictions, prohibiting the setting of traps in vulnerable or conservation areas. Outlook Current risk status Outlook Reason Stock status Low Stable This is because the stock is fluctuating without any historical trend, there is no discernable stock-recruitment (that is relationship between numbers of adults and offspring) relationship, and the stock is currently in good condition. Stock management Moderate improving Stock assessment has recently commenced, and will be continued on an annual basis. B lim is defined as the minimum observed biomass during the studied period (ca. 10,000 t). The fishery is rigorously managed off French shores, but isn t in U.K. waters, although, the main spawning ground off Torbay is partially protected by overlapping with an MCZ area. Bycatch Low Improving Bycatch is negligible in trap fishery. Habitat Low Stable Pots result in low habitat impact. Type Current Risk Status Outlook Reason

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3 Stock Status Details less risk more risk Time-trends Originally considered as a pest species in the United Kingdom due to its low value and copious ink production (Dunn, 1999), cuttlefish have become a commerciallyimportant species over the last few decades, increasing the economic value of landings. Landings of cuttlefish varied in the range of 5000 to tonnes between 2002 and Spawning stock biomass fluctuated between to tonnes from 1992 to No stock recruitment relationship has been identified for this stock, which is characteristic of cephalopods. The status of the cuttlefish stock in Divisions VIId and VIIe is considered to be good (ICES, 2013; ICES WGCEPH, 2015). Figure 1: Sepia officinalis abundance indices in division VIId. CPUEs (kg/h) for BTS survey carried out by Cefas in July and CGFS survey carried out by Ifremer in October. All values are divided by the first value of the time series (ICES, 2015). Figure 2. Estimation of the cuttlefish biomass using two-stage model. Years are set from July to June so the year 2013 account for July-2013-June 2014 (ICES 2015). Stock structure and recruitment For management purposes, the cuttlefish population in the English Channel has been split into two stocks. These two stocks are: Division VIId (Eastern Channel) and Division VIIe (Western Channel). There is a degree of exchange of individuals (i.e. connectivity) between stocks, with both recruits and adults migrating between Division VIId and Division VIIe (ICES, 2013). Cuttlefish stocks in the English Channel, Northeast Atlantic, western Mediterranean and eastern Mediterranean are genetically distinct. The cuttlefish population in Divsions VIId and VIIe has traditionally been defined and managed as a discrete spawning stock, separate from other populations in its northern distribution, namely, those in the Bay of Biscay and the North Sea (Royer et al., 2006; Bloor et al., 2013). Data gaps and research priorities Further information on the impact of pots on the breeding stock at spawning grounds is required. More specifically, how pots and traps impact sex selectivity and the mortality of eggs laid by non-captured females remains unclear (Bloor, 2012). References Bloor, I. (2012). The ecology, distribution and spawning behaviour of the commercially important common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in the inshore waters of the English Channel. Ph.D., Plymouth University. Bloor, I.S.M., Attrill, M.J., Jackson, E.L. (2013). A review of the factors Influencing spawning, early life stage survival and recruitment variability in the common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis). Advances in Marine Biology, 65: Challier, L., Dunn, M.R., Robin, J.P. (2005). Trends in age-at-recruitment and juvenile growth of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, from the English Channel. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 62, Dunn, M R. (1999). Aspects of the stock dynamics and exploitation of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), in the English Channel. Fisheries Research. Vol 40, Issue 3, p ICES. (2013). Report of the Working Group on Cephalopod Fisheries and Life History (WGCEPH), June 2013, Caen, France. ICES CM 2013/SSGEF: pp. ICES. (2015). Report of the Working Group on Cephalopod Fisheries and Life History (WGCEPH), 2015, In press. Palomares, M.L.D. and D. Pauly. Editors SeaLifeBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. version (06/2014). Pierce, G. J., Allcock, L., Bruno, I., Bustamante, P., González, Á., Guerra, Á., Jereb, P., et al. (2010). Cephalopod biology and fisheries in Europe. ICES Cooperative

4 Research Report No pp. Royer, J., Pierce, G.J., Foucher, E., Robin, J.P. (2006). The English Channel stock of Sepia officinalis: Modelling variability in abundance and impact of the fishery. Fisheries Research, 78:

5 Management Details less risk more risk TAC Information Catch 2015 (t) Advised Catch 2016 (t) Agreed TAC 2016 (t) Advised Catch 2017 (t) Advised and agreed catches Landings of cuttlefish in Divisions VIId and VIIe by UK vessels have increased over the past three decades, rising from approximately 26 tonnes in 1980 to tonnes between 2010 and French landings of cuttlefish in Divisions VIId and VIIe are around t per year. In both the UK and France, landings of cuttlefish are primarily from demersal otter trawls and beam trawls which harvest juveniles and adults in autumn and winter either as a target species or as bycatch from commercial finfish fisheries. Pots target spawning individuals in spring and contribute only a minor proportion of UK landings (Pierce et al., 2010; ICES, 2013; ICES WGCEPH, 2015). Stock Harvest strategy Cuttlefish in Divisions VIId and VIIe have been assessed by ICES since The assessment is based on a time-series of international fishery landings from the United Kingdom and France and indices of abundance derived from the results of two standardised research surveys (ICES, 2013). Surveillance and enforcement Both the United Kingdom and France have highly effective surveillance systems. Regulated and agreed voluntary arrangements which are regularly enforced and independently verified; including VMS, logbook reports, dockside monitoring and other measures appropriate to the fishery. French fisheries: Trawling for cuttlefish within 3 nautical miles off the French coast requires an administrative authorisation issued under the framework of the Normandy Regional Orders (Pierce et al., 2010; ICES, 2013). A restriction on the numbers of trawlers authorised to fish for cuttlefish within 3 nautical miles is in operation. In addition, restrictions on the numbers of pot and trap fishing licences are also in place. Access is limited by licence and according to vessel characteristics, with only vessels < 12 m in length able to obtain a licence. Since 1998, the number of licensed boats has remained at 127. If the income from a boat depends almost exclusively on cuttlefish potting and trapping, up to 500 traps can be carried. The fishing season and number of fishing days are not limited. The status of the fishery and the resource are reviewed every year, but it has not been found necessary to amend the regulations since There are no specific limits on cuttlefish fishing beyond the 3 nautical mile limit, although EU regulations for multispecies bottom trawling apply. Spring trawling is restricted to April and June each year, but is dependent on the migratory movement of adult cuttlefish during spring. This spring trawling period is adjusted every year in relation to the probability and timing of the arrival of cuttlefish into spawning grounds (Wang, et al., 2003). An 80 mm minimum mesh size for trawlers has been established. Pot and trap fishing is subject to issue of licences by the Regional Fisheries Councils (Comité Régional des Pêches Maritimes CRPM) (CPMR) under a regional order and there is a defined geographical area inshore where it is authorised. In France, there is a minimum landing size of 100 mm in Divisions VIId and VIIe. No minimum landing size and no restrictions on the fishing season have been established for cuttlefish in the United Kingdom (Pierce et al., 2010; ICES, 2013). UK fisheries: No minimum landing size and no restrictions on the fishing season have been established for cuttlefish in the United Kingdom (Pierce et al., 2010; ICES, 2013). The most important cuttlefish spawning grounds off the United Kingdom have been included, at least partially, in the establishment of a new marine conservation zone (Marine Conservation Zones, 2013). Both the United Kingdom and France have highly effective surveillance systems. Regulated and agreed voluntary arrangements which are regularly enforced and independently verified; including VMS, logbook reports, dockside monitoring and other measures appropriate to the fishery. The most important cuttlefish spawning grounds off the United Kingdom have been included, at least partially, in the establishment of a new marine conservation zone (Marine Conservation Zones, 2013). References ICES Report of the Working Group on Cephalopod Fisheries and Life History (WGCEPH), June 2013, Caen, France. ICES CM 2013/SSGEF: pp. Marine Conservation Zones Natural England advice to Defra on proposed Marine Conservation Zones for designation in Annex 5: Site-specific advice ( Pierce, G. J., Allcock, L., Bruno, I., Bustamante, P., González, Á., Guerra, Á., Jereb, P., et al Cephalopod biology and fisheries in Europe. ICES Cooperative Research Report No pp. Wang J., Pierce G. J., Boyle P. R., Denis V., Robin J-P., and Bellido J. M. (2003). Spatial and temporal patterns of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) abundance and environmental influences a case study using trawl fishery data in French Atlantic coastal, English Channel, and adjacent waters. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 60:

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7 Bycatch Details less risk more risk Targeting and behaviour Cuttlefish pots or traps are specifically designed to target cuttlefish and are usually larger and lighter than crustacean pots with multiple entrances. Inshore cuttlefish traps are baited with a live female which attracts males into the trap. Males attract more females into the trap to mate and lay eggs. Traps baited with artificial plastic attractants are less effective. Evidence of bycatch risk Bycatch of crabs and some fish (small pouting, whiting, codling, sole, dab and conger eel) is negligible (Arkley et al., 1996). However, numerous females lay eggs on the outer surface of traps without being caught. Theoretically this might be considered as bycatch as these batches of eggs will be removed from the population, which in turn, may have a potential impact on recruitment. However, estimated numbers of eggs destroyed by one trap during a season is in the region of 1,000-3,000, this equates to a potential life fecundity of one female cuttlefish (Bloor, 2012). Impact on endangered, threatened or protected (ETP) species. There is no available evidence of capture of ETP species by cuttlefish traps fisheries in the English Channel. Mitigation measures No mitigation measures exist, because of the near absence of bycatch of other species. In respect to the cuttlefish egg bycatch, during the CRESH project the issue of egg mortality from cuttlefish traps was discussed with South Devon fishermen and novel mitigation measures proposed. The first involved the conversion of cuttlefish traps to fish for spider crab at the end of the fishing season, enabling pots to be worked whilst the eggs hatch. The second involved addition of a removable egg receptor to the pots to allow egg removal and redeployment. These mitigation measures have already trialled in France but not in the South West fisheries (Various authors, 2014). References Arkley, K., Jacklin, M.S., Boulter, M., Tower, J The cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis): a guide to its exploitation in the U.K. waters. Seafish report No SR pp. Bloor, I The ecology, distribution and spawning behaviour of the commercially important common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in the inshore waters of the English Channel. Ph.D., Plymouth University. Various authors, (2014). SR672 Ecological Risk Assessment of the effects of fishing for South West fisheries; ICES Divisions VII e,f,g & h ; [Date accessed: 31-Dec- 15]

8 Habitat Details less risk more risk Gear effects, targeting and behaviour Since pot fisheries are static the areas of seabed affected by each gear is likely to be insignificant compared with the widespread effects of mobile fishing gears and with the general effects of sediment transport in the area. Evidence of habitat risk There have been several studies looking into habitat impacts and evidence suggests that these range from insignificant to substantial cumulative damage from mechanical abrasion on deployment and retrieval of pots especially to sessile, slow-growing or friable flora and fauna such as ross coral or sabellaria (Grieve et al., 2015, ABPmer, 2015). Pot fisheries exert minimal impact upon ecological system structure and functioning (Eno, 2001, MSC, 2007) Mitigation measures The most important cuttlefish spawning grounds off the U.K. shores (Torbay), are included, at least partially, into a new MCZ (Marine Conservation Zones, 2013). This will protect, in part, vulnerable habitat from fisheries impacts. Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) from the European Union (Council Directive 56/2008), Member States have committed to aim towards good environmental status (GES) for the seabed habitats by The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the OSPAR Convention ), which was signed up to by 15 nations plus the European Union, is developing a coherent network of Marine Protected Areas to protect vulnerable marine habitats in the North-East Atlantic. The development of offshore Special Areas of Conservation under the European Habitats Directive (Council Directive 43/1992) contributes to this process as does the UK Marine Act designating Marine Protected Areas in UK waters. Marine Protected Areas will cover almost 10% of the North Sea (OSPAR, 2013). The UK Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is engaging in a programme designed to assess the effects of fisheries and implement management measures where sites are considered at risk. Similar initiatives are taking place in other European countries. References ABPmer, Summary of Evidence Sources on Impacts of Potting on Designated Features. Workshop 25th February ABPmer. P1-9. Eno, N. C., MacDonald, D. S., Kinnear, J. A. M., Amos, C. S., Chapman, C. J., Clark, R. A., Bunker, F. St P. D., and Munro, C Effects of crustacean traps on benthic fauna ICES Journal of Marine Science, 58: Grieve C, Brady D.C. and Polet H. (2014) Best practices for managing, measuring and mitigating the benthic impacts of fishing Part 1. Marine Stewardship Council Science Series 2: Marine Conservation Zones Natural Englands advice to Defra on proposed Marine Conservation Zones for designation in Annex 5: Site-specific advice [ [Accessed 15-Jan-2016] MSC, Certification report for NESFC lobster fishery. Client: North East Sea Fisheries Committee. Ref: v5. 89 pp. Napier, I.R Potential Marine Protected Areas Around Shetland. NAFC Marine Centre University of the Highlands and Islands. 14 pp. OSPAR, Status Report on the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas. 65 pp. [ [Date Accessed: 17-Dec-15] Swarbrick, J. and Arkley, K The evaluation of ghost fishing preventers for shellfish traps, Defra Commission MF 0724 under the programme Impact of fishing. Seafish report No SR549. Seafish Industry Authority, Hull. 42 pp. UK Government, Revised approach to the management of commercial fisheries in European Marine Sites: overarching policy and delivery. [ [Date Accessed: 16-Dec-15] All content 2018 Seafish. Origin Way, Europarc, Grimsby, DN37 9TZ. This page created on 24th August 2018 at 03:07am.