ICES Advice 2005, Volume 6 - The North Sea

1 NORTH SEA 1

1.1 Ecosystem overview 1

1.1.1 Ecosystem components 1

1.1.2 Major environmental influences on ecosystem dynamics 6

1.1.3 Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities 6

1.1.4 Important topics for further research 6

1.1.5 Synthesis 7

1.1.6 References 7

1.2 The human use of the ecosystem 8

1.2.1 Overall impacts 8

1.2.2 Fisheries 8

1.3 Assessments and advice 13

1.3.1 Assessments and advice regarding fisheries 13

1.3.2 Special requests 37

1.3.2.1 Long-term Management Advice (DG FISH with Norway) 37

1.3.2.2 Sole in Division IIIa (DG FISH) 44

1.4 Stock summaries North Sea

1.4.1 Cod in the Kattegat 54

1.4.2 Cod in Subarea IV (North Sea), Division VIId (Eastern English Channel), and Division IIIa (Skagerrak) 64

1.4.3 Haddock in Subarea IV (North Sea) and Division IIIa (Skagerrak Kattegat) 76

1.4.4 Whiting in Division IIIa (Skagerrak Kattegat) 89

1.4.5 Whiting in Subarea IV (North Sea) and Division VIId (Eastern Channel) 92

1.4.6 Plaice in Division IIIa (Skagerrak Kattegat) 101

1.4.7 Plaice in Subarea IV (North Sea) 107

1.4.8 Plaice in Division VIId (Eastern Channel) 117

1.4.9 Sole in Division IIIa 122

1.4.10 Sole in Subarea IV (North Sea) 131

1.4.11 Sole in Division VIId (Eastern Channel) 143

1.4.12 Saithe in Subarea IV (North Sea), Division IIIa (Skagerrak), and Subarea VI (West of Scotland and Rockall) 151

1.4.13 Nephrops in Division IIIa (Management Area E) 162

1.4.14 Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) in Division IIIa and Division IVa East (Skagerrak and Norwegian Deeps) 169

1.4.15 Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) in Division IVa (Fladen Ground) 175

1.4.16 Pandalus in Farn Deeps (Division IVb) 178

1.4.17 Herring in Subdivisions 22 24 and Division IIIa (spring spawners) 179

1.4.18 Herring in Subarea IV, Division VIId, and Division IIIa (autumn spawners) 188

1.4.19 Sprat in Division IIIa 204

1.4.20 Sprat in the North Sea (Subarea IV) 208

1.4.21 North Sea horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) (Division IIIa (eastern part), Divisions IVb,c VIId) 212

1.4.22 Norway pout in Subarea IV (North Sea) and Division IIIa (Skagerrak Kattegat) 216

1.4.23 Sandeel in Division IIIa (Skagerrak Kattegat) 223

1.4.24 Sandeel in Subarea IV 224

1.4.25 Sandeel in the Shetland area 236

1.4.26 Nephrops in Division IVa, Rectangles 44 48 E6 E7+44 E8 (Management Area F) 238

1.4.27 Nephrops in Division IVa west of 2ºE, excluding Management Area F (Management Area G) 245

1.4.28 Nephrops in Division IVa, east of 2ºE + Rectangles 43 F5 F7 (Management Area S) 251

1.4.29 Nephrops in Division IVb,c, west of 1ºE (Management Area I) 256

1.4.30 Nephrops in Division IVb,c, east of 1ºE, excluding Rectangles 43 F5 F7 (Management Area H) 265

1.4.31 Demersal elasmobranchs in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and eastern English Channel 271