Overview. 11 th November 2015 Seafish Common Language Group Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ

Transcription

1 The state of North-east Atlantic stocks the alignment of CFP, MSFD and MSY; the December Council and the setting of TACs and quotas for 2016 in light of the implementation of the landing obligation (LO) for demersal stocks 11 th November 2015 Seafish Common Language Group Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Dr Carl O Brien Defra Chief Fisheries Science Adviser UK Delegate to ICES UK Member of ACOM Overview

2 Builds upon my last CLG presentation in June 2015 Builds upon my Buckland Professor 2015 lectures Builds upon my keynote to WSC 2015 Outline of presentation

3 Released dates: Baltic Sea fish stocks Arctic and North-western fish stocks Celtic Sea and North Sea fish stocks 30 th June 2015 Widely distributed stocks 30 th September 2015 Elasmobranch stocks 9 th October 2015 Celtic Sea Nephrops, anglerfish, megrim, plaice and sole (30 th October 2015) ICES advice in 2015 for 2016

4 Invasive species Food availability & competition Contaminants, litter Habitat quality & quantity Eutrophication, sea-floor integrity R Recruitment Individual size & health Predation Spawning stock Spawning stock Natural mortality Fishing mortality Number of individuals at age

5 Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Fisheries management measures critical MSFD - eleven descriptors

6 ICES has refrained from using any B MSY value as a reference point and focused on F MSY and a biomass safeguard for scientific quota advice (CFP): o Lower bound of biomass variability as a safety measure rather than a constant rebuilding target (MSFD) This reflects that biomasses are variable, influenced by fishing mortality but not directly managed by fisheries measures, and that an equilibrium B MSY may not make sense as a specific target or limit for policy. In the MSFD Descriptor 3 development, this has created a dilemma as B MSY is stated as an objective. o MSY B trigger (provisionally, B pa ) B MSY and the potential for conflict

7 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks Cod 29,189 33, % MSY, EU/Nwy Haddock 40,711 52, % MSY, EU/Nwy, LO, NS/WoS combined Herring 445, , % MP, EU/Nwy Plaice 128, , % MP, EU/Nwy, LO Whiting 13,678 11,626-15% MP, EU/Nwy ICES update Saithe 66,066 62,153-6% MP, EU/Nwy, LO uplift NS/WoS stock Nephrops 17,843 14,315-20% FU/MSY, Farn Deeps, LO uplift Sea region: North Sea

8 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Anglerfish IIa & IV Megrim IIa & IV Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks 9,390 11, % DLS VI 5,313 to 6,375 2,083 2, % MSY VI 4,129 to 5,220 Hake 90,849 96, % MSY, LO Ling VI-X, XII & XIV Ling IV Ling IIIa Tusk V, VI, VII Tusk IV 14,164 2, , ,339* 3,315* 119* 3,821* 233* + 37% - 1% Straddling stocks: NS/WoS/NWW DLS * Science / TAC areas do not correspond DLS/PA * Science / TAC (as above)

9 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks Cod 0 No directed fishery Whiting 263 No directed fishery Rockall haddock No change New survey data -100% New survey data 2,580 2, % MSY Nephrops 14,190 16, % FU/MSY Blue ling (inc to NOR/FAR) Herring VIb & VIaN West of Scotland 5,046 5,046 0% MSY, Rollover 22,690 Zero TAC -100% MSY, PELAC plan

10 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks Cod VIIbce-k 5,072 3,659-30% MSY Haddock VIIb-k 8,342 6,078-27% MSY Whiting VIIb-k 17,742 17, % MSY, Plus LO uplift Anglerfish VII 33,516 33,516 0% No new advice Herring CS VIIg-k Channel plaice 4,787 [6,233] Sole western 851 VIIe - eastern 3,483 15,652 23, % MSY 14, % [?%] 1, % 2,376-32% MSY Sea region: Celtic Sea & Channel MSY, Plus LO uplift AC Plan

11 Data-limited stocks (DLS): - Use evidence on stock trends - Maintain Annex - Skates & rays: o VIa-b & VIIa-c, e-k R/O o C.f. IIa & IV +4% o C.f. VIId +50% Sea bass (build on 2015 package) Celtic Sea: wider issues

12 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Mackerel (global TAC) Blue whiting 197,195 (EU) ASH 13,697 (EU) Western horse mackerel North Sea horse mackerel Pelagics Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks 1,054, ,000-37% -15% achieved. New LTMS. 118,317 (EU) 15,341 (EU) - 40% CS continue. EU/Norway. +12% CS talks continue. 97, , % (inc tonnage to FAR) 15,200 <15,200 No change (inc tonnage to NOR)

13 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks Boarfish 53,296 42,637-20% Moving further W off IE North Sea sprat 227, , % Channel sprat Clyde herring 583 (UK) 5,150 4,598-11% Annex rollover Due early 2016 Delegated TAC. Licence variation. Pelagics continued

14 Stock TAC 2015 (tonnes) Science Advice 2016 Change from 2015 Remarks Nephrops VII 21,619 17,719-18% FU/MSY, LO Haddock 1, % Precautionary, LO Herring 4,854 4,575-6% MSY Cod 182 LPL ndf MSY Whiting 80 LPL ndf Precautionary Sole 90 LPL ndf MSY Plaice 1, % Precautionary Irish Sea

15 Stocks subject to the landing obligation (LO) will be adjusted (Reg. 1380/2013). There are 17 stocks (of UK interest) subject to the LO. The uplift needs to be based on available science (ICES/STECF) and easy to understand. How quota uplifts will be calculated is not finalised. A number of proposals have been made. These are being investigated focussing on available science. This needs to be resolved before December Council. Quota uplifts

16 Cefas ad hoc contract with Cion / STECF

17 Thanks for listening! 17