EU/UK request to ICES on lemon sole, witch, turbot, and brill: review of ICES advice provided in 2018 on the contribution of TACs to fisheries management and stock conservation

ICES advises that its conclusions from 2018 remain valid, meaning that:

1. Removing the EU/UK TACs for the following stocks may generate a high risk of the stocks being exploited unsustainably: 

• Witch (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) in ICES Division 3.a, Subarea 4, and Division 7.d.
• Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in ICES Subarea 4.
• Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) in ICES Division 3.a, Subarea 4, and divisions 7.d and 7.e.

2. Removing the EU/UK TACs for lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) in ICES Division 3.a, Subarea 4, and Division 7.d stock may generate a lower risk of the stock being exploited unsustainably.

3. For all stocks, management should be using a single-species TAC covering the stock distribution area.