European Union and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: written record 2024

Spurdog

*the species is also referred to as Picked dogfish and Spiny Dogfish.

a) The Delegations noted ICES advice (published on 4 October 2023) that when the MSY approach is applied, catches of spurdog, Squalus acanthias, in subareas 1-10, 12 and 14 should be no more than 17 855 tonnes in 2024. 

b) The Parties agreed that the total advised catches would inform the 2024 TACs for Western (DGS/15X14), North Sea (DGS/2AC4-C) and Skagerrak (DGS/03A-C).

c) The Delegations continue to recognise the NEAFC Recommendation on Conservation and Management Measures for Spurdog (Squalus acanthias) in ICES subareas 1-10,12, and 14 for 2023 and 2024, which reopened the fishery on the basis of the precautionary approach, requiring effective management by ensuring that the fishery only expands gradually with significant caution, bearing in mind that until 2023 all targeted fishery was prohibited.

d) The Delegations continue to recognise the biological distribution of the stock, and the importance of responsible international fisheries management. Noting that the stock is not currently managed at a wider coastal State level, the Parties decided that the agreed TACs should continue to take account of other coastal State catches, as set out in Table A below. The Parties agreed that for 2024 this overall deduction should be set at 1 955 tonnes (this is 10.95% of the ICES advice), derived from historic catch data.

e) The Parties agreed that the apportionment and sharing arrangements set out in paragraph 4(f) of the 2023 Written Record would be applied again for 2024. These are summarised in Table B below.

f) The Parties agreed that the precautionary measure of a maximum size to discourage the targeting of spurdog individuals over 100cm in length (from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin) introduced in 2023 should continue to apply in 2024.

g) The Parties agreed that the effectiveness of the current maximum size in protecting mature females should be reviewed in the SCF and that potential alternative measures should also be explored as part of this review. The Parties agreed to convene technical meetings to consider this, and that any changes should be evidence-based, building on any scientific projects being conducted by the Parties.

h) The Delegations continue to note the importance of suitable and robust monitoring mechanisms to detect and react as appropriate to significant changes from historic fishing patterns and agreed that they will continue to formally review catch data regularly through the SCF as necessary.

i) Access arrangements for spurdog are detailed in paragraph 6(b).

j) For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agreed that all the arrangements concerning spurdog are without prejudice to arrangements in future years.

Table A - Overall spurdog catch figure in 2024

Table B - TAC appointment, UK EU shares and values in 2024