EU, Norway, and UK joint request on a long-term management strategy for North Sea autumn-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) in Subarea 4 and divisions 3.a and 7.d, (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)

ICES provides an answer to the request through the evaluation of combinations of F_target and B_trigger; these combinations provide a trade‑off between maximizing catch and minimizing interannual variability (IAV) in catch while ensuring a less than 5% probability of the spawning-stock biomass (SSB) falling below B_lim.

ICES advises that several management strategies (pairings of F_target and B_trigger) exist that are precautionary but require explicit consideration of trade-offs. High F_target–high B_trigger combinations result in a marginally higher yield but with a realized fishing mortality well below F_target, more variable catches, lower SSB, and less frequent use of stability mechanisms (e.g. total allowable catch (TAC) constraints). In contrast, low F_target–low B_trigger combinations result in marginally lower yield but with realized fishing mortality close to F_target, substantially less variable catches, higher SSB, and more frequent use of stability mechanisms.