Herring (Clupea harengus) in Division 7.a North of 52°30’N (Irish Sea)

Please note that this advice was replaced in June 2025 (ICES, 2025)

ICES advises that when applying the precautionary approach to the Irish Sea stock, in order to protect the Celtic Sea herring stock, there should be zero catch of herring from the northern Irish Sea in 2025. The application of the precautionary approach is due to the presence of herring from other populations including the Celtic Sea for which ICES advises zero catch. ICES advises that when the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) framework is applied without accounting for precautionary considerations linked to stock mixing, catches of herring in the northern Irish Sea in 2025 should be no more than 5 223 tonnes. It is not possible for ICES to evaluate the risk of any management actions taken for the northern Irish Sea to the development of the weaker stocks.