FIRMS - Marine Resource fact sheets - Angler fish - Bay of Biscay and Iberian Basin

Angler fish - Bay of Biscay and Iberian Basin

Fact Sheet Title Fact Sheet

ICES Advice 2009

Angler fish - Bay of Biscay and Iberian Basin

Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa)

Owned by

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) – ownership

Monitoring Range Max2009. Monitoring Evolution: Angler - Bay of Biscay South and Portuguese Waters East
; Blackbellied angler - Bay of Biscay South and Portuguese Waters East
.

ident Block

ident Block

Species List:

Lophius spp

Species Ref: en - Monkfishes nei, fr - Baudroies nca, es - Rapes nep

ident Block Angler fish - Bay of Biscay and Iberian Basin

Aq Res Ident

ident Block

Aq Res
Biological Stock: Biological Stock Value: Sub-Regional Management Unit: Management Unit Reference Year: 2008

Table of Contents

Habitat Bio - Geo Dist - Water Area Overview - Management - Bio Assess - Exploit - Aq Res State Trend - Sources

Aq Res State Trend

Aq Res State Trend
	Aq Res State Trend	Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State Trend	Undefined	Uncertain/Not assessed
Aq Res State Trend	Undefined	Uncertain/Not assessed

Spawning biomass in relation to precautionary limits

Fishing mortality in relation to precautionary limits

Fishing mortality in relation to high long-term yield

Fishing mortality in relation to agreed target reference points

Comment

Undefined

L. piscatorius – Overfished

L. budegassa – Appropriate

L. piscatorius- B < B_MSY

L. budegassa - B < B_MSY

In the absence of defined reference points, the state of the stock cannot be evaluated in relation to these. The assessment is only considered indicative of stock trends and provides relative measures of stock status.

Biomass (in 2009) of L. piscatorius is estimated to be below B_MSY and despite the decrease in fishing mortality since 2005, F (in 2008) is still above F_MSY. The fishing mortality in 2008 is estimated to be 1.6 times higher than F_MSY.

Fishing mortality for L. budegassa shows a decreasing trend since 1999 and in 2008 is below F_MSY. This has led to an increase in biomass but in 2009 it is still below B_MSY.

Habitat Bio

Depth Zone: Shelf 50 200m. Vertical Dist: Demersal/Benthic.

Geo Dist

Geo Dist: National

Water Area Overview

Spatial Scale: Spatial Scale

Water Area Overview

Aq Res Struct

Biological Stock: Biological Stock

Exploit

Factors affecting the fisheries and the stock

Regulations and their effects

Hake, Nephrops, anglerfishes and megrim are partly caught in the same mixed fisheries. Since the implementation of the southern hake and Nephrops recovery plan implemented in January 2006, fishing mortality of both anglerfish stocks has declined. Although ICES has not conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the recovery plan, the overshooting of annual TACs suggests that the plan has not been fully effective.

Impacts of the environment on the fish stock

Spawning of Lophius sp. involves the extrusion of eggs in a buoyant, gelatinous ribbon, which may measure more than 10 m. This can lead to a highly clustered distribution of eggs and newly emerged larvae. Although this could result in recruitment being sensitive to environmental variations, this has not been observed.

Bio Assess

Assess Models

Methodology

Scientific basis

Data and methods

A surplus production model (ASPIC) was used to estimate stock biomass and fishing mortality relative to their respective maximum sustainable yield (MSY) values (see Figure 7.4.3.1). Two commercial lpue series were used in the model for each species.

Uncertainties in assessment and forecast

The assessment of anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa was performed separately for each species which allows the evaluation of the status of each species separately. The assessments are completely dependent on commercial lpue data which may be biased due to targeting, local depletions, and changes in efficiency.

Large amounts of small L. budegassa were observed in the 2006 and 2007 landings and these fish may have generated the good catch rates recorded in 2008. Discards are not included in the assessment, but data indicate that the level of discarding is low.

Comparison with previous assessment and advice

The 2009 assessments are consistent with the 2007 assessments. No assessments were performed in 2008. This year the advice was based on high-long term yield (F_MSY) and to reach B_MSY in the short term (2011) for L. piscatorius (the stock in poor condition).

Results

Figure 7.4.3.1 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa). ASPIC results 80% confidence intervals (dotted lines) and point estimates of the F/FMSY and B/BMSY ratios are indicated.

Figure 7.4.3.2 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa). Total landings.

Table 7.4.3.2 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius). Landings (in tonnes) by country and main fishing fleets, as estimated by the Working Group.

Table 7.4.3.3 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. budegassa). Landings (in tonnes) by country and main fishing fleets, as estimated by the Working Group.

Table 7.4.3.4 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa). Total landings for both species (in tonnes) by country and main fishing fleets, as estimated by the Working Group.

Ref Point

Precautionary reference points have not been defined for these stocks.

F_MSY could be considered as a candidate for a reference point consistent with high long-term yield

Projection

Outlook for 2010 Basis L. piscatorius: F(2009) / FMSY = F(2008) / FMSY = 1.57; B(2010) / BMSY = 0.28; landing (2009) = 2470 t. Basis L. budegassa: F(2009) / FMSY = F(2008) / FMSY = 0.61; B(2010) / BMSY = 0.92; landings (2009) = 1272 t.

	L. pisc.	L. bud.	Combined species		L. piscatorius			L. budegassa
Rationale	Landings (2010)	Landings (2010)	Landings (2010)	Basis	F (2010) / F_MSY	B (2011) / B_MSY	% B change ¹⁾	F (2010) / F_MSY	B (2011) / B_MSY	% B change ¹⁾	% TAC change ²⁾
Zero catch	0	0	0	F=0	0	0.50	+79%	0	1.34	+46%	-100%
F_MSY	1831	2375	4206	L. pis.: F(2008)0.64 L. bud.: F(2008)1.64	1	0.36	+29%	1	0.95	+3%	139%
Reduction of 69%	971	525	1496	F(2008)*0.31	0.49	0.43	+49%	0.19	1.26	+37%	-15%
Reduction of 50%	1487	828	2315	F(2008)*0.50	0.79	0.39	+39%	0.30	1.21	+32%	32%
Reduction of 40%	1736	981	2717	F(2008)*0.60	0.94	0.37	+32%	0.37	1.19	+29%	54%
Reduction of 30%	1970	1131	3101	F(2008)*0.70	1.10	0.35	+25%	0.43	1.16	+26%	76%
Reduction of 20%	2192	1278	3470	F(2008)*0.80	1.26	0.33	+18%	0.49	1.14	+24%	97%
Reduction of 10%	2400	1421	3821	F(2008)*0.90	1.41	0.31	+11%	0.55	1.11	+21%	117%
Status quo	2597	1560	4157	F_sq	1.57	0.30	+7%	0.61	1.09	+18%	136%
TAC weights in tonnes. ¹⁾ B 2011 relative to B 2010. ²⁾ Landings 2010 relative to TAC 2009 (1 760 t).

Sci Advice

Single-stock exploitation boundaries

ICES advises on the basis of exploitation boundaries in relation to high long-term yield, low risk of depletion of production potential and considering ecosystem effects. In order to reach B_MSY the 2010 catches should be zero or a management plan should be developed. The advice accounts for the poor condition of L. piscatorius stock.

Exploitation boundaries in relation to high long term yield, low risk of depletion of production potential and considering ecosystem effects

L. piscatorius fishing mortality equal to zero is not expected to bring the stock to B_MSY until 2013.

L. budegassa fishing mortality equal to F status quo is expected to bring the stock to B_MSY in 2011Short-term implications

Table 7.4.3.1 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa). Single stock exploitation boundaries (advice), management, and landings.

Year	ICES Advice / Single-Stock Exploitation Boundaries from 2004 onwards	Predicted catch¹⁾ corresp. to advice / Single-Stock Exploitation Boundaries	Agreed TAC¹⁾	ICES Landings¹	Landings of L. *piscat*.	Landings of L. *budeg*.
1987	Not dealt with	-	12.0	8.9	5.1	3.8
1988	Not dealt with	-	12.0	10.0	6.3	3.7
1989	Not dealt with	-	12.0	7.6	5.0	2.6
1990	Not dealt with	-	12.0	6.1	3.8	2.3
1991	No advice	-	12.0	5.8	3.6	2.2
1992	No advice	-	12.0	4.2	3.4	2.1
1993	No long-term gain in increasing F	-	13.0	4.5	2.3	2.2
1994	No advice	-	13.0	3.6	2.0	1.6
1995	If required a precautionary TAC	-	13.0	3.6	1.8	1.8
1996	If required a precautionary TAC	-	13.0	4.6	3.0	1.6
1997	If required a precautionary TAC	-	13.0	5.5	3.7	1.8
1998	Restrict catch to < 80% recent levels		10.0	5.1	3.0	2.1
1999	Reduce F to F_pa	4.2	8.5	3.8	1.9	1.9
2000	60% reduction in F	1.6	6.8	2.6	1.3	1.4
2001	50% reduction in F	2.8	6.0	1.8	0.8	1.0
2002	30% reduction in F	3.5	4.8	1.8	1.0	0.8
2003	5% reduction in F	3.2	4.0	3.2	2.3	0.9
2004	²⁾F = 0 or recovery plan	²⁾0	2.3	4.1	3.1	1.0
2005	F = 0 or recovery plan	0	2.0	4.5	3.6	0.9
2006	F = 0 or recovery plan	0	2.0	4.1	3.0	1.1
2007	F = 0 or recovery plan	0	2.0	3.6	2.3	1.3
2008	F = 0 or recovery plan	0	2.0	3.3	2.3	1.0
2009	Same advice as last year	0	1.8
2010	F = 0 or management plan	0
Weights in ‘000 t. ¹⁾For both species combined. ²⁾Single-stock boundary and the exploitation of this stock should be conducted in the context of mixed fisheries protecting stocks outside safe biological limits.

Management

Management: Management

Objectives

There are no explicit management objectives for these stocks.

Advice

Management considerations

Although combined landings have declined from 2006 onwards, the TAC has been exceeded every year since 2004. Measures should be taken to ensure that the agreed TAC effectively restricts the fishery.

The two species are managed under a common TAC. They are usually caught and recorded together in the landing statistics. It is impossible to manage each species separately under a common TAC. This problem is highlighted by the different status of the two stocks. L. piscatorius (the stock in poor condition) constitutes around 70 % of the total anglerfish landings.

Stock status for L. piscatorius has remained unchanged since the last assessment in 2007, while stock status for L. budegassa has improved considerably with the current F below F_MSY. Since they are caught together in most fisheries and managed under a common TAC, the advice depends on the stock in the poorer condition. Even setting L. piscatorius fishing mortality equal to zero is not expected to bring the stock to B_MSY until 2013. Therefore, in order to reach B_MSY as soon as possible, ICES reiterates its previous advice of zero catches for both stocks. Moreover, ICES recommends a rebuilding plan. A rebuilding plan should take into account that the two stocks of anglers are caught together and are part of a mixed fishery for hake, megrim and Nephrops.

Following the EU Commission consultation paper on TACs for 2010 (ACOM(2009) 224, 12 May 2009) this stock would be categorised as being overfished with respect to the fishing mortality that will deliver maximum sustainable yield. A 15% reduction in TAC in 2010, would generate more than a 37% increase in SSB in both anglerfish stocks between 2010 and 2011. ICES has not evaluated the proposed option in relation to the precautionary approach.

Sources

ICES.2009.Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2009. ICES Advice, 2009.

Fisheries and Resources Monitoring System