Proposed North Sea and Eastern Channel Whiting Fisheries Management Plan

Executive Summary

The North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting (Merlangius merlangus) fisheries management plan (FMP) is one of 43 FMPs set out in the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). The FMP has been developed by the Scottish Government in collaboration with UK scientists, regulators, statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs) and stakeholders.

This FMP sets out the policies and actions to continue to maintain the North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting stock at sustainable levels, ensuring that it can continue to play a key role in providing positive socio-economic benefits to the UK, whilst also setting out a number of actions to improve management where this is needed. The FMP applies to the sustainable management of the North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting fishery within UK waters in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) areas 4 (North Sea) and 7.d (Eastern Channel), in line with the objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 (the ‘2020 Act’) and as required by the JFS.

This FMP covers the management of the North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting stock in UK waters. Overall management of this fishery is shared with Coastal States partners. This international context is important to understand when considering sustainability and wider management issues. Fishing opportunities for North Sea and Eastern Channel are managed by total allowable catches (TACs). The setting of TACs is one of the most effective ways of managing fishing pressure on fish stocks. TACs and other joint management measures, are agreed through international negotiations which are guided by the best available scientific advice, whilst also balancing environmental, social and economic factors. The principles followed by the UK in relation to international fisheries negotiations are laid out in the JFS under section 4.2.

The North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting is a stock which has a high level of data available. On this basis, there is sufficient available scientific evidence for the relevant fisheries policy authorities to make annual maximum sustainable yield (MSY) assessments for the North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting.

The North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting stock relevant to this FMP is currently being fished sustainably within MSY limits.

This FMP therefore describes a vision with policies and actions which set out how management can continue to support an MSY approach^[1] for the North Sea and Eastern Channel whiting fishery, and highlights areas that could lead to refinements to management approaches in the future. Areas for action include those which support the wider delivery of policies within the JFS and which contribute to the delivery of the objectives contained within the 2020 Act.