European Union and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: written record 2024
Written record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2024.
Jointly managed stocks (TCA Annex 35)
a) the Delegations considered the jointly managed stocks listed in Annex 35 to the TCA and agreed to establish TACs for 2024, and for certain deep-sea stocks (ARU/1/2. Greater silver smelt (1, 2), ARU/3A4-C Greater silver smelt, North Sea) for 2024 and 2025, for those stocks, as described in Annex 1 to this Written Record.
b) the TACs referred to in paragraph (a) above represent the agreed catch before any adjustments are applied.
c) the TACs referred to in paragraph (a) above will be allocated between the Parties as indicated in Table 1 in Annex
d) should the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provide new scientific advice on TACs the Delegations agree to discuss its implications and consider whether any changes to these TACs are required.
e) the TACs referred to in paragraph (a) are established without prejudice to the future approach to TAC-setting in annual consultations, including the application of the TAC-setting principles set out in the Parties’ respective legislation.
f) Stocks with no ICES advice
In relation to those stocks which currently lack ICES advice (Herring (Western Channel and Bristol Channel) HER/7EF.; Plaice (West of Scotland) PLE/56-14; Saithe (Celtic Sea) POK/7/3411; Sole (West of Scotland) SOL/56-14.) the Parties agreed to continue to work together through the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF), and with ICES, to improve the availability of data and/or assessment methods to inform future scientific advice.
The Delegations noted the progress made in relation to engaging ICES to hold a workshop in 2024 to outline the further research and data needs for POK/7/3411 and HER/7EF.
g) Stocks with zero catch advice
i. There are certain stocks for which ICES has issued scientific advice for no catches. If the TACs for those stocks were set at the level indicated in the scientific advice the obligation to land all catches in mixed fisheries with by-catches from these stocks would lead to the phenomenon of ‘choke species’. In order to strike the right balance between socio-economic considerations and the need to achieve a good biological status for those stocks, taking into account mixed fishery considerations, the Delegations agreed that it is appropriate to establish specific TACs for by-catches for those stocks.
ii. The level of these TACs has been set with the objective of ensuring that the fishing mortality is not increased and of rebuilding the stock. The Delegations agreed for some stocks with zero TAC advice, to set a small TAC to allow for continued monitoring of the fishery.
h) Alignment of management areas
The Delegations recognised that alignment between TAC management areas and the relevant biological stocks is required to ensure the sustainable management of stocks. The Delegations also noted the commitment in Article 504 of the TCA to consider adjustments to the management areas of the stocks concerned with a view to making any consequential changes to the list of stocks and shares set out in Annex 35 of the TCA. During 2023 the SCF recommended (SCF Recommendation 02/2023 as regards the alignment of management areas for Lemon Sole, Witch, Turbot and Brill, and Recommendation 03/2023 as regards the alignment of management areas for Plaice and Whiting.) a realignment of the management areas for turbot & brill (T/B/2AC4-C), lemon sole & witch (L/W/2AC4-C), Celtic Sea whiting (WHG/7X7A-C) and English Channel plaice (PLE/7DE). The Parties have agreed new ‘of which’ footnotes in order to immediately achieve separate management of the relevant biological stocks, and to provide inter-area flexibility between two TACs within the same biological stock for which a Party holds shares in both. This has been applied for 2024 for T/B/2AC4-C, L/W/2AC4-C, WHG/7X7A-C, and PLE/7DE.
Apportionment shares for these TACs between the newly defined TAC areas are included in Annex 2 of Recommendation No 2/2023 of the SCF. Agreed tonnages for these newly defined TAC areas are included in Table 6 of Annex 1 of this Written Record.
iii. Celtic Sea whiting: Individual catch limits have been created under the Celtic Sea whiting TAC (WHG/7X7A-C) for whiting in 7d and 7b-c, e-k, by means of footnotes. The Delegations noted that ICES has issued zero catch advice for whiting in 7b-c, e-k for 2024, and the Parties agreed to set a bycatch TAC of 4 810 tonnes for whiting in 7b-c,e-k. Given that the TAC for 7d is agreed as part of the UK-EU-NO consultations, and that those consultations were ongoing at the time of signing this written record, the Parties agreed to set a provisional TAC for their respective TCA shares of the 7d component at a level, no more than that set in 2023. They agreed that this provisional TAC would be updated to reflect the confirmed TAC for this area when agreed trilaterally.
Apportionment shares for these new TACs are set at the same level as specified in the TCA for the overall Celtic Sea whiting (WHG/7X7A-C) TAC. Agreed tonnages for these newly defined TAC areas are included in footnotes in Table 1 of Annex 1 of this Written Record.
iv. English Channel plaice: Individual catch limits have been created for plaice in 7d and 7e, by means of footnotes. The Parties agreed to set TACs of 2 826t for plaice in 7d and 1 104t for plaice in 7e, in line with area-based advice provided by ICES, which takes into account migration between stocks.
Apportionment shares for these new TACs are set at the same level as the overall PLE/7DE TAC. Agreed tonnages for these newly defined TAC areas are included in footnotes in Table 1 of Annex 1 of this Written Record. The Parties also agreed for 2024 to exchange quota, with the UK receiving 500t of quota from the EU in 7e and the EU receiving 500t from the UK in 7d.
i) The Delegations note that, for some stocks, there can be substantial inter-annual changes in the advice. Such changes can create stability issues for the fleets concerned and can lead to substantive changes in fishing patterns. To lessen the inter-annual fluctuations and in line with Article 508 (1)(b) of the TCA, the Parties agree to consider, in the framework of the SCF, candidate stocks for which multi-year conservation and management strategies that incorporate inter-annual TAC constraints could be developed and assessed by ICES.
j) Deep sea stocks
The Delegations acknowledged the vulnerable nature of deep-sea stocks and the ecosystems of which they form a part. The Parties therefore committed to continuing to work jointly through the SCF to improve the management of relevant fisheries to ensure the long-term conservation of deep-sea stocks and where necessary their recovery.
i. Roundundnose grenadier and black scabbardfish: The Delegations noted the work undertaken in the SCF to agree a method for apportioning ICES advice to TAC areas for these stocks that appropriately account for catches made outside the TAC areas and by third Parties, and that reflect recent changes in fishing patterns. The Parties agreed to set TACs for roundnose grenadier (Western) (RNG/5B67-), roundnose grenadier (8,9,10,12,14) (RNG/8X14), black scabbardfish (Western) (BSF/56712), and black scabbardfish (8,9,10) (BSF/8910) in accordance with these approaches. The Parties agreed to attach papers of these methodologies to the minutes of the first SCF of 2024.
ii. Western red seabream: The Delegations noted that ICES continues to provide zero catch advice, with no information on abundance or exploitation (Category 5 stock) for the Western red seabream (SBR/678-). In such situations, ICES recommends that a precautionary reduction of catches should be implemented.
As of January 2023, the EU introduced new technical measures, with the aim to support the long-term recovery of this stock. These measures have been rolled over to 2024. In parallel, the implementation of EU measures to protect marine ecosystems has led to changes in fishing patterns in Western waters.
Western red seabream catch data covering the period January – October 2023 was exchanged during the annual consultations and indicated a possible reduction of catches in 2023 compared to 2022. Given the extent of this exchange, the Parties agreed to work within the framework of the SCF to continue to monitor the changes in fishing patterns, the effectiveness of implemented measures, and the progress on stock recovery, whilst also following up on the overarching commitment for the recovery and long-term conservation of deep-sea stocks.
The Parties agree that the results of this work should be used to inform the consultations in 2024. If fishing pressure shows no reduction, future TAC setting should be limited to a one-year period and a reduction of the TAC should be considered.
iii. Tusk: The Delegations noted the difference in methodologies in setting the Western and North Sea Tusk TACs. The Delegations will discuss in the SCF possible joint approaches to future TAC-setting and appropriate ways in which the total advice could be split in future years.
k) Blue Ling: In the Written Record for 2023 the Parties agreed that the SCF should consider whether there are sufficient grounds to request ICES to re-examine the distribution of blue ling stocks (Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in subareas 6-7 and Division 5.b (Celtic Sea and Faroes grounds) and; Blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in subareas 1, 2, 8, 9 and 12, and in divisions 3.a and 4.a (Northeast Atlantic).) in the North East Atlantic. During 2023 the UK identified that there is insufficient evidence available to present to ICES. Consequently, the UK Fisheries Administrations have commissioned a project to collect evidence to identify the biological source of blue ling taken in division 4a. Evidence will be collected and a report produced for the SCF to then consider making a joint request to ICES to advise of the potential (level and location) for blue ling caught within ICES Area 4 to have originated from the biological stock of blue ling in the Celtic Sea, English Channel and Faroese Grounds (bli.27.5b67).
l) Ling: the Delegations noted that the TACs which are agreed between the EU and UK for ling 3a (LIN/03A-C.), North Sea ling (LIN/04-C.) and Western ling (LIN/6X14.) are part of the same biological stock as defined by ICES. The delegations agree to TACs of 144t for ling 3a, 2 266t for North Sea ling, and 10 907t for Western ling. The UK has agreed, for 2024, to transfer its share of the TAC for ling 3a (11t) to the EU which will increase the EU quota to 144t.
m) Sole in the Irish Sea: the Delegations took note of the ICES zero-catch advice for sole in the Irish Sea (SOL/07A.) for 2024 (ICES (2023). Sole (Solea solea) in Division 7.a (Irish Sea). ICES Advice: Recurrent Advice. Report.) and that the stock will be subject to a benchmark process by ICES in February 2024. The Parties agreed that upon the completion of this benchmark exercise, a joint request will be submitted to ICES to publish revised advice based on the outcome of the benchmark. The Parties commit to amending the TAC for sole in the Irish Sea (SOL/07A.) in line with the revised advice. Recognising the need to manage this stock cautiously and to avoid a choke effect that would lead to the premature closure of other fisheries where sole is a by-catch, the Parties agreed a provisional by-catch TAC of 203 tonnes.
n) Sole in divisions 7h-k: the Delegations noted the uncertainty over the biological source of sole caught in divisions 7hjk and the initial work undertaken separately by the Parties on a possible genetic connectivity between sole in 7h and 7e. The Parties committed to discussing this issue further in the SCF including the possibility of making a joint request to ICES.
o) Cod (West of Scotland): The Delegations noted that the Northern Shelf cod advice from ICES establishes a new stock definition merging West of Scotland cod with North Sea cod forming a single assessment unit with three sub-stocks: northwestern, Viking, and southern. They noted that West of Scotland cod was previously agreed bilaterally between the UK and EU, whilst North Sea cod was agreed as part of the trilateral UK-EU-Norway consultations. As there is no longer separate ICES advice for West of Scotland cod, they agreed that the quota allocation to that area should be determined trilaterally in the UK-EU-Norway forum. As UK-EU-Norway consultations are ongoing at the time of signing this Written Record, each Party agreed to set a provisional TAC for its respective TCA share of West of Scotland cod, to be no more than that set by each Party in 2023, whilst noting that the stock is not subject to zero catch advice for 2024. This will be updated to reflect the confirmed TAC for this area when agreed trilaterally.
p) Skates and rays: The Delegations noted that the current group TAC management for skates and rays approach provides limited protection for vulnerable stocks and noted the two work streams that have been undertaken in 2023 through the SCF: a joint methodology that was developed to interpret the ICES advice in the TAC management areas, was agreed to serve as a short-term solution to the group TAC management, and an indicative roadmap that provides a starting point for developing medium to long term alternatives for those species included in the current group TACs. The Delegations noted the importance of the indicative roadmap and committed to taking up this task as one of the SCF priorities in 2024, recognising the valuable contribution of stakeholders in this process.
The Parties agreed to apply the joint methodology for interpreting ICES advice to set the skates and rays group TACs SRX/07D, SRX/2AC4-C and SRX/67AKXD (as well as the consultative TAC SRX/89-C.) for 2024. The joint methodology is based on the summing of implied landings, however for 2024 and 2025 ICES provided total dead catch advice, and not implied landings, for three stocks (Thornback ray in Subarea 4, and Divisions 3.a and 7.d, Blonde ray in Divisions 4.b, 4.c and 7.d and Spotted ray in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d). The Parties agreed for 2024 to apply the average discard rates over a 5-year period (2017-2021) to translate the total dead catch advice into an approximation of the implied landings for these stocks. On that basis, the joint methodology as finalised in the SCF was used to calculate the TAC levels for TACs SRX/2AC4-C and SRX/7D.
The Parties agreed to hold discussions in the SCF on possible ways to address situations where ICES provide total dead catch advice rather than implied landings for certain stocks.
The Parties agreed that scientific observation data collection programmes for small-eyed ray in area 7e will be permitted and allow a limited number of catches of small-eyed ray in area 7e to be retained in order to improve the availability of data and therefore quality of the 7de assessment. This is reflected in the accompanying footnote of the western skates and rays group TAC (SRX/67AKXD) in Annex 1. Only vessels participating in specific monitoring programmes, collecting relevant data to inform future assessments (data on catch rates, size compositions and/or biological information (length, weight, sex and maturity of individual fish) and associated samples)), would be able to land small-eyed ray in 7e. Data on these landings and from these programmes will be used to improve the understanding of the stock and contribute to assessments. The Parties will continue to monitor this in the SCF.
The Parties agreed to work together in the SCF, including the possibility of making a joint request to ICES regarding identification and quantification of bycatch, and separately the development of a roadmap to support a future benchmark, leading to an improved assessment of the stock. As part of an ICES request, the Parties will also seek advice on potential refinements, including the incorporation of recreational catches.
While the current advice on fishing opportunities for pollack in areas 6 and 7 for 2024 has been shown to be robust to a range of assumptions of recreational catch levels, the Delegations acknowledged that ICES note that recreational catches are likely to be a large component of the total catches. The Parties therefore agreed to increase their shared understanding of recreational pollack fishing in ICES area 6 and 7 and its impact on fishing mortality, with a view to the development and introduction (subject to each Party’s respective internal processes) where appropriate of proportionate, effective, and non-discriminatory limits for recreational fishing that are likely to reduce fishing mortality.
The Parties agreed to take forward this work jointly through the SCF as a matter of urgency during 2024.
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