Cod (Gadus morhua) in divisions 7.e–k (eastern English Channel and southern Celtic Seas)

The available information on landings, cpue, surveys, and stock structure are inadequate to establish reliable assessments and evaluate stock trends. Therefore the state of the stock is unknown and there is no basis for quantitative advice.

The stock is highly dependent on incoming recruitment levels. More than 50% of the stock abundance was composed of age 2 during the last four years. The total mortality estimated from the surveys does not show any trends other than a fluctuation within the span of the uncertainty. One of the noticeable points is the shrinking of the geographical area of the stock, shown by the international landings and lpue distribution maps. lpue has generally declined from 1995-2000 and remains at a low level.

Survey data indicate weak year class in 2002, 2003, and 2004 in line with the catch data. This was followed by slightly better recruitment in 2005, 2006, and 2007. These are below average compared with the time-series.