North Sea Nephrops: proposed Fisheries Management Plan

Implementation and monitoring

Implementation

This FMP proposes new actions but does not implement them. The actions contained within this FMP will be taken forward following its publication. However, it is important to note that many of the actions are already underway and part of multi-year delivery programmes.

Indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of the plan and review process

This FMP contains a number of policies and actions intended to ensure that the North Sea Nephrops covered by this FMP continues to be fished sustainably with respect to an MSY approach and also to support improvements in the overall management approach.

ICES stock assessments assess how fish populations have changed over time, and the effect fishing pressure is having on stocks. Key biological indicators are provided as reference points, which give indication towards their MSY, fishing pressure and spawning stock biomass. Fisheries policy authorities undertake a review of ICES stock assessments on an annual basis, to determine how stocks are performing against these reference points, and any other reference points provided within the advice.^[29]

The health of the stock will continue to be reviewed in this way as part of the ongoing negotiations cycle, utilising the ICES stock assessment process, and will also be reviewed on a more in-depth basis as part of the ICES benchmark process (which varies from stock to stock). The health of the stocks will be the indicator used to monitor the effectiveness of this FMP in managing the fisheries sustainably.

The policies and actions within this FMP will be reviewed as part of the three-year review cycle for the JFS. In addition, as set out within the 2020 Act, this FMP will be reviewed at least every six years. An earlier review may be triggered in light of a change to relevant evidence, international obligations, or wider events. The decision to review earlier will be taken by the fisheries policy authorities.

The review of the FMP will include a report on individual policies and actions and whether they have been a) implemented and b) whether there have been any known interactions between the actions and health of the stock.