Norway lobster

A data-limited assessment is conducted by ICES based on habitat area, estimated burrow density and data from the fishery. LPUE and mean size are used as indicators. The assessment is expected to improve as data-limited methods are improved (ICES, 2012a). Landings and effort data are available from Nephrops-directed fleets, but a change to the French definition of effort has introduced some uncertainty. Other sources of uncertainty stem from a possible underestimation of LPUE and the incompleteness of the time series of discards (ICES, 2012a).

A data-limited assessment is conducted by ICES based on habitat area, estimated burrow density and data from the fishery. LPUE and mean size are used as indicators. The assessment is expected to improve as data-limited methods are improved (ICES, 2012a). Landings and effort data are available from Nephrops-directed fleets, but a change to the French definition of effort has introduced some uncertainty. Other sources of uncertainty stem from a possible underestimation of LPUE and the incompleteness of the time series of discards (ICES, 2012a).

ICES previously advised for this fishery together with the remainder of the Celtic Sea fishery. Advice has been provided separately for Functional unit (FU) 20-21 for the first time in 2012. Based on the data-limited approach, landings are advised to be kept below 2,500 tons in 2013. This was determined based on average historical landings, known habitat area and assumed density of Nephrops, along with the known range of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) harvest rates for other Nephops units in the area. Management measures should be implemented at the FU level (ICES, 2012a).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

No reference points are defined (ICES, 2012a).

ICES previously advised for this fishery together with the remainder of the Celtic Sea fishery. Advice has been provided separately for Functional unit (FU) 20-21 for the first time in 2012. Based on the data-limited approach, landings are advised to be kept below 2,500 tons in 2013. This was determined based on average historical landings, known habitat area and assumed density of Nephrops, along with the known range of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) harvest rates for other Nephops units in the area. Management measures should be implemented at the FU level (ICES, 2012a).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

No reference points are defined (ICES, 2012a).

Landings per unit effort (LPUE) series have decreased in recent years, indicating a decrease in abundance, but no reference points are set and stock status is not known. Mean size in landings and discarding rates suggest no major changes in status however (ICES, 2012a).

Harvest rates have recently decreased and are estimated to be within MSY ranges but could be even lower than those estimated (ICES, 2012a).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

The stock appeared to be in a stable state for a long period, based on indications from LPUE, mean size and discarding rates. Strong recruitment led to an increase in LPUE in 2008 and 2009, but a decrease has occurred since then (ICES, 2012a).

Landings were stable during the 2000s, with small increases reported in 2002-2003 and 2008-2009, coinciding with lower mean size in landings and potentially due to recruitment increases. Landings fell in 2010 and 2011, possibly due to decreased targeting of Nephrops (ICES, 2012a).

Landings per unit effort (LPUE) series have decreased in recent years, indicating a decrease in abundance, but no reference points are set and stock status is not known. Mean size in landings and discarding rates suggest no major changes in status however (ICES, 2012a).

Harvest rates have recently decreased and are estimated to be within MSY ranges but could be even lower than those estimated (ICES, 2012a).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

The stock appeared to be in a stable state for a long period, based on indications from LPUE, mean size and discarding rates. Strong recruitment led to an increase in LPUE in 2008 and 2009, but a decrease has occurred since then (ICES, 2012a).

Landings were stable during the 2000s, with small increases reported in 2002-2003 and 2008-2009, coinciding with lower mean size in landings and potentially due to recruitment increases. Landings fell in 2010 and 2011, possibly due to decreased targeting of Nephrops (ICES, 2012a).

Current management sets a TAC for the entire ICES Subarea VII, and ICES warns that under this strategy localized effort could cause depletions within functional units (FUs). This TAC was set at 21,759 tons for all ICES Subarea VII in 2012. No management plan is in place.

Both minimum landing sizes and minimum mesh sizes are in use but vary by fleet (ICES, 2012b). The larger French minimum landing size has reportedly led to greater discarding by this fleet although increasing “tailing” has led to greater retention of previously discarded sizes (ICES, 2012a). Discarding of Nephrops is thought to be substantial although discarding by the Irish fleet has apparently decreased in recent years (ICES, 2012b). The substantial discarding is taken to mean that current fishing gear is not the most efficient at selecting marketable Nephrops (ICES, 2012b).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

None in place.

Current management sets a TAC for the entire ICES Subarea VII, and ICES warns that under this strategy localized effort could cause depletions within functional units (FUs). This TAC was set at 21,759 tons for all ICES Subarea VII in 2012. No management plan is in place.

Both minimum landing sizes and minimum mesh sizes are in use but vary by fleet (ICES, 2012b). The larger French minimum landing size has reportedly led to greater discarding by this fleet although increasing “tailing” has led to greater retention of previously discarded sizes (ICES, 2012a). Discarding of Nephrops is thought to be substantial although discarding by the Irish fleet has apparently decreased in recent years (ICES, 2012b). The substantial discarding is taken to mean that current fishing gear is not the most efficient at selecting marketable Nephrops (ICES, 2012b).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

None in place.

Overall, total landings in ICES Subarea VII have historically been below the set TACs for the area. Landings for Subarea VII have also generally been below the sum of advised catch limits over the Subarea. At the level of the Celtic Sea, the scale at which ICES previously advised (FU 20-22), landings have generally exceeded ICES’ advice (ICES, 2012a). A degree of underreporting is thought to have occurred prior to 2007, subsequently reduced by Buyers and Sellers legislation in the UK and “sales notes” in Ireland, and an increase in the TAC in 2007 (ICES, 2012a). UK and Irish landings are currently close to their quotas whereas French and Spanish catches are well below quotas (ICES, 2012a).

Overall, total landings in ICES Subarea VII have historically been below the set TACs for the area. Landings for Subarea VII have also generally been below the sum of advised catch limits over the Subarea. At the level of the Celtic Sea, the scale at which ICES previously advised (FU 20-22), landings have generally exceeded ICES’ advice (ICES, 2012a). A degree of underreporting is thought to have occurred prior to 2007, subsequently reduced by Buyers and Sellers legislation in the UK and “sales notes” in Ireland, and an increase in the TAC in 2007 (ICES, 2012a). UK and Irish landings are currently close to their quotas whereas French and Spanish catches are well below quotas (ICES, 2012a).

There is no specific information on the impact of this fishery on Protected, Endangered and Threatened species.

There is no specific information on the impact of this fishery on Protected, Endangered and Threatened species.

Nephrops occur in several discrete areas of muddy sediment and fisheries targeting different areas have very different size structures of catches. These fisheries also have differences in non-Nephrops bycatch composition (cod, whiting, and to a lesser extent haddock and hake). Discarding rates are relatively high (ICES, 2012a).

Nephrops occur in several discrete areas of muddy sediment and fisheries targeting different areas have very different size structures of catches. These fisheries also have differences in non-Nephrops bycatch composition (cod, whiting, and to a lesser extent haddock and hake). Discarding rates are relatively high (ICES, 2012a).

Nephrops are distributed in discrete patches, limited by sediment suitable for burrowing. There is a larval phase where there may be some mixing with Nephrops from other areas depending on the oceanographic conditions, but the mechanisms for this in the Celtic Sea are not currently known.

The characteristics of Nephrops sediment also mean that the seabed is vulnerable to trawling impacts, and trawl marks remain visible for some time. Although fishing intensity is very high in some regions, burrowing fauna can be seen re-emerging from freshly trawled grounds, implying that there is some resilience to trawling (ICES, 2012a).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

No known marine protected areas are declared within FUs 20 and 21. Ireland and the UK have several (mostly coastal) MPAs declared under EU directives.

Nephrops are distributed in discrete patches, limited by sediment suitable for burrowing. There is a larval phase where there may be some mixing with Nephrops from other areas depending on the oceanographic conditions, but the mechanisms for this in the Celtic Sea are not currently known.

The characteristics of Nephrops sediment also mean that the seabed is vulnerable to trawling impacts, and trawl marks remain visible for some time. Although fishing intensity is very high in some regions, burrowing fauna can be seen re-emerging from freshly trawled grounds, implying that there is some resilience to trawling (ICES, 2012a).

Last updated on 04 Jan 2013

No known marine protected areas are declared within FUs 20 and 21. Ireland and the UK have several (mostly coastal) MPAs declared under EU directives.