North Sea Horse Mackerel Fisheries Management Plan

Policies

As there is sufficient evidence for the fisheries policy authority to make an assessment of MSY for the Western horse mackerel stock, the FMP must contain policies which restore this stock to, or maintain it at, sustainable levels or contribute to that restoration or maintenance this stock. The introduction of a bycatch-only TAC for southern central North Sea and eastern Channel horse mackerel increases the risk that the scientific assessment will lose its Category 1 status due to reduced catch and survey information. While currently there is sufficient evidence for the fisheries policy authorities to make an assessment of the SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel stock, the situation may change upon receipt of updated ICES stock category advice. To address this, a joint request has been submitted to ICES seeking advice on options to maintain the evidence base and assessment quality at a level sufficient to support an MSY-based assessment. Maintaining a robust scientific understanding of the stock is important to restoring the biomass to sustainable levels.

In addition, in accordance with section 5.4 of the JFS, the design and structure of FMPs directly relate to the fisheries objectives identified in section 5.4.2 but may also address wider issues in fisheries management depending upon the specific goals or targets of each plan and may contribute to one or more of the remaining fisheries objectives.

To ensure effective ongoing management of the horse mackerel fisheries in UK waters, the FMP identifies six policies focussed on domestic and international management priorities. Each policy describes the outcome that is being worked towards, and the actions intended to support the delivery of those outcomes.

The policies are subject to the consideration of the consultation and will be prioritised to ensure realistic and measurable outputs. They were drafted to meet the requirements of section 6(3)(a) of the 2020 Act (policies 1a and 2a) for Western horse mackerel, section 6(3)(a) of the 2020 Act (policies 1b and 2b) for SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel, and policies set out in the JFS (policies 3, 4, 5 and 6) for both stocks.

For each policy, the plan sets out:

• a rationale;
• ongoing, short- and longer-term actions;
• how the actions support delivery of the fisheries objectives.

The policies of this FMP are to:

• Policy 1a: Harvest the Western horse mackerel stock in ICES division 4a sustainably, contributing to maintaining the biomass above the level capable of producing MSY.
• Policy 1b: Harvest the SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel stock sustainably, contributing to restoring the biomass above the level capable of producing MSY
• Policy 2a: Use the best-available scientific evidence to support management decisions relating to the setting of sustainable fishing opportunities for the Western horse mackerel stock in ICES division 4a
• Policy 2b: Use the best available science, including emerging evidence from ongoing research, to strengthen the management and support the recovery of horse mackerel in the southern and central North Sea and Eastern Channel
• Policy 3: Monitor catches of horse mackerel and ensure that where possible all catches are counted against quotas
• Policy 4: Deliver wider sustainable management by minimising the impact of the horse mackerel fishery on the marine ecosystem
• Policy 5: Support fishing businesses to deliver socio-economic and cultural benefits for communities
• Policy 6: Reduce the impact of fishing on climate change and support the fishing industry to adapt to the impacts of climate change

Western horse mackerel

Sufficient evidence is available to assess MSY for the Western horse mackerel stock in division 4a, and the stock is currently being managed sustainably. The latest assessments in 2025 show that the fishing mortality for western horse mackerel is below F_MSY, and the spawning-stock size is above MSY Btrigger.

SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel

The relevant fisheries policy authorities do not have sufficient evidence to estimate MSY fishing pressure reference points for the SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel fishery covered by this FMP. However, spawning stock size can be assessed, and the latest scientific assessment indicates that the spawning stock biomass is below B_lim which means that the catch advice is currently zero.

Despite the absence of fishing pressure reference points, the stock is currently classed as a Category 1 stock by ICES, although at the time of writing this is currently under review. Regardless of the outcome of that review, the evidence base underpinning the stock will need to be strengthened, particularly because the stock is now managed under a bycatch-only TAC, and there is a risk that the evidence available for assessment will differ from that collected historically through dedicated industry-science surveys and directed fishing activity.

Despite these changes the current evidence base is technically considered sufficient, therefore the policies and action for the SCNS and Eastern Channel horse mackerel stock are drafted to meet the requirements of section 6(3)(a) of the 2020 Act.