Proposed Northern Shelf Ling Fisheries Management Plan

Executive Summary

The Northern Shelf ling (Molva molva) 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.

The FMP sets out the policies and actions to manage the Northern Shelf ling stock at sustainable levels, ensuring that it can continue to play a 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 Northern Shelf ling within UK waters in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) areas 2a, 4a, 5.b, and 6 (denoted here as “Northern Shelf”), and has been developed in line with the fisheries objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 (the “2020 Act”) and as required by the JFS.

The two main management areas covered by this FMP are the UK waters of the North Sea (division 4.a) and UK’s western waters (subareas 6). These two areas fall within the ICES assessment for subareas 3, 4, 6–9, 12, and 14 (Northeast Atlantic and Arctic Ocean), which is a category 3 assessment. Additionally, this FMP covers the part of division 5.b which is within UK waters, and the part of division 2.a which is within UK waters. Division 5.b is subject to a separate, category 1 ICES assessment. Division 2.a falls within the ICES assessment for subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic), which is a category 3 assessment. As the UK portion of divisions 5.b and 2.a are geographically relatively small, and the quotas in these areas are minimal, the main focus of this FMP is on the fishery within UK waters of 4.a and 6.

Whilst the relevant fisheries policy authorities do not have sufficient evidence to estimate MSY reference points for the Northern Shelf ling covered by this FMP, the advice and management approach follows the ICES MSY approach under their framework for Category 3 stocks. It should also be noted that there is sufficient evidence to evaluate the likelihood of fishing below F(MSY) using a MSY proxy-based assessment.

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 ling are managed by total allowable catches (TACs). The setting of TACs can be an effective way 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 data limited nature of the Northern Shelf ling stock relevant to this FMP makes fisheries management challenging. Given the lack of available evidence, TACs for Northern Shelf ling are set on a precautionary basis as part of the UK/EU bilateral arrangements. There is an added difficulty, in that the stock is shared with Norway but not jointly managed as part of the trilateral arrangements.

Whilst the fisheries policy authorities are committed to improving the data relating to this stock, as well as considering the future management measures required to ensure the sustainable management of Northern Shelf ling, this is likely to take some time to deliver. Whilst ling forms an important component of the mixed whitefish fishery, and particularly so for the hook and longline portion of the fishing fleet, it is generally of lower commercial importance. Whilst the policies and actions within the FMP outline the importance of developing a roadmap for improving the stock’s evidence base, alongside improving international management, it is not possible to prioritise these for early action at this time due to other stocks taking precedence.