Strengths
Landings have in general been below the Set TACs. Discarding is considered negligible (ICES, 2011a).
Weaknesses
Available information on the stock is considered inadequate to assess the stock; the stock status is unknown. No management objectives are known, and reference points have not been defined yet. Scientific advice and Set TAC areas do not correspond; TACs have generally surpassed scientific advice. No TAC is set for Division IIIa (ICES, 2011a,b).
Options
Specific management objectives, with adequate reference points, should be developed. The TAC for this stock should include all areas in which North Sea horse mackerel are fished (Divisions IIIa, IVb, IVc and VIId). Independent data (e.g. egg surveys) should start to be collected, covering the spawning area of horse mackerel. Biological sampling programmes should be improved (ICES, 2011a,b).
Last updated on 25 November 2011
No analytical assessment is conducted due to insufficient information. Egg surveys were conducted from 1988-1991, and SSB estimates are available historically. However, the lack of coverage from the egg surveys and the fact that horse mackerel is now considered an indeterminate spawner, prevents SSB to be estimated reliably. Catch at age is also available, but is incomplete and only covers part of the fleet (ICES, 2011a,b).
Last updated on 25 November 2011
The available information is insufficient to evaluate exploitation status and to provide reliable information on stock trends. Therefore, advice for 2012, in line with ICES’ MSY framework for stocks with unknown stock trend and exploitation status (ICES, 2010c), is to reduce catch until more information is available (ICES, 2011a).
Currently, no TAC is set for Division IIIa. The TAC for this stock should include all areas in which North sea horse mackerel are fished: Divisions IIIa, IVb,c, and VIId (ICES, 2011b).
Reference Points
Last updated on 25 Nov 2011
No reference points have been defined for this stock (ICES, 2011a).
Last updated on 25 November 2011
There is insufficient information to evaluate stock trends and exploitation status. Therefore, the current stock status is unknown (ICES, 2011a).
Trends
Last updated on 25 Nov 2011
Annual catches from 1982–2010 have oscillated between 4000 t (1982) and 48 000 t (2000). During the period of 1982-1997, catches were relatively low with an average of 18,000 tonnes.year-1. Since 1998 catches have been substantially higher than in the previous period (ICES, 2011a,b). There is no available information on biomass or exploitation rates.
Last updated on 25 November 2011
This fishery encompasses jurisdiction areas of the United Kingdom, Russia, European Union, Faroe Islands and Norway. TAC is presently set by area and does not cover this stock’s entire range while encompassing some catches from the Western stock. No TAC is set for Division IIIa. From 2002-2010, ICES has advised that catches should not exceed the 1982-1997 average of 18,000 tons. However, set TACs have always exceeded ICES’ advised TACs (ICES, 2011a,b).
No specific management objectives are known for this stock.
Recovery Plans
Last updated on 25 Nov 2011
Not applicable.
Last updated on 5 December 2011
Historically, fishers’ compliance with set TACs has been strong. With the exception of 2009, catches have never exceeded set TACs. However, catches have always been higher than the advised TACs for the stock. Discards are considered negligible (ICES, 2011a).
Last updated on 2 December 2011
Several species of seabirds and marine mammals can be found in the north Sea. Dominant species of cetaceans are minke whales, harbour porpoises, and whitebeaked dolphins. Bycatch of harbour porpoise in gillnet fisheries has been an issue in some areas of the North Sea (ICES, 2008). There are no records of interactions between the north sea horse mackerel fishery and PET species, but information is scarce.
Last updated on 2 December 2011
In previous years, horse mackerel was mainly caught as bycatch in the small-mesh industrial fisheries; but in recent year a larger portion of catches has been taken in a directed horse mackerel fishery (ICES, 2011a,b). There is bycatch of other species, but quantities are not available (ICES, 2008). Discards are, however,considered negligible (ICES, 2011a). ICES advice for fisheries with small-meshed gears in the North sea: 1) bycatch of cod and other fish used for human consumption should be minimized; 2) fisheries should be conducted taking into account the single-stock exploitation limits for all other stocks (ICES, 2008).
Last updated on 5 December 2011
North sea horse mackerel is caught by small meshed gear, namely pelagic trawlers and purse seiners. Both pelagic trawling and purse seines operate are pelagic gears, hence impact on the seafloor is considered minimal. However, occasional contact is known to occur and can cause some damage to fragile ecosystems, particularly when targeting bentho-pelagic schooling species (Donaldson et al., 2010).
Marine Reserves
Last updated on 05 Dec 2011
In 2003, a joint ministerial meeting of the Helsinki and OSPAR commission (JMM), agreed to establish a Network of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in the Northeast Atlantic. Around 6.35% of the North sea area has been proposed for this OSPAR MPA Network (OSPAR Commission, 2011).
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Atlantic horse mackerel - North Sea