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Profile updated on 3 February 2023

SUMMARY

SUMMARY

IDENTIFICATION

SCIENTIFIC NAME(s)

Micromesistius poutassou

SPECIES NAME(s)

Blue whiting, Poutassou

COMMON NAMES

poutassou

ICES considers blue whiting in ICES Subareas 1–9, 12, and 14 as a single stock for assessment purposes (ICES 2012). However, there is scientific evidence to support the hypothesis of two components (Keating et al. 2014, Pointin and Payne 2014) with some degree of mixing in the central overlap area (Mahe et al. 2016). The ICES Stock Identification Methods Working Group (SIMWG) reviewed this evidence in 2014 and recommended that blue whiting be considered as two stock units (ICES 2014). A recent report by ICES notes that there have been changes in the distribution of the species, likely linked to environmental conditions but that such changes did not affect proportions between TAC management areas (ICES 2017). Until a formal definition of the two distinct stocks, this profile refers to the NE Atlantic assessment unit.


ANALYSIS

Strengths
  • A long-term and precautionary management plan has been agreed upon by all coastal states and is in force since October 2016 (ICES 2022).

FISHSOURCE SCORES

Management Quality:

Management Strategy:

9.4

Managers Compliance:

10.0

Fishers Compliance:

10.0