ICES Advice 2007, Book 5 - Celtic Sea and West of Scotland

5 CELTIC SEA AND WEST OF SCOTLAND 1

5.1 Ecosystem Overview 1

5.1.1. Ecosystem components 1

5.1.2 Major environmental signals and implications 8

5.2 The human impacts on the ecosystem 9

5.2.1 Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities 9

5.3 Assessments and advice 13

5.3.1 Assessments and advice regarding protection of biota and habitats. 13

5.3.2 Assessment and advice regarding fisheries 13

5.3.3 Special requests 36

5.3.3.1 Review of conclusions in WESTHER report. 36

5.3.3.2 Trevose closure 38

5.3.3.3 EC Request for advice on deep-water coral reefs off the coast of Ireland 44

5.4 Stock summaries 47

5.4.1 Cod in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 47

5.4.2 Cod in Divisions VIIe-k (Celtic Sea Cod). 54

5.4.3 Haddock in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 64

5.4.4 Haddock in Divisions VIIb-k 69

5.4.5 Whiting in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 74

5.4.6 Whiting in Divisions VIIe-k 79

5.4.7 Plaice in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 84

5.4.8 Celtic Sea Plaice (Divisions VIIf and g) 92

5.4.9 Plaice in Division VIIe (Western Channel) 101

5.4.10 Plaice Southwest of Ireland (Divisions VIIh-k) 109

5.4.11 Plaice West of Ireland (Division VIIb,c). 112

5.4.12 Sole in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 115

5.4.13 Sole in Division VIIf and g (Celtic Sea) 124

5.4.14 Sole in Division VIIe (Western Channel) 133

5.4.15 Irish Sea herring (Division VIIa) 143

5.4.16 Celtic Sea and Division VIIj herring 146

5.4.17 Herring in Divisions VIa South and VIIb,c 152

5.4.18 Sprat in Divisions VIId,e. 158

5.4.19 Megrim (L. whiffiagonis) in Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b,d 161

5.4.20 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa) 166

5.4.21 Cod in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 175

5.4.22 Cod in Division VIb (Rockall) 182

5.4.23 Haddock in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 183

5.4.24 Haddock in Division VIb (Rockall) 192

5.4.25 Whiting in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 201

5.4.26 Whiting in Division VIb (Rockall) 206

5.4.27 Saithe in Subarea VI (West of Scotland and Rockall) 207

5.4.28 Megrim in Subarea VI (West of Scotland and Rockall) 208

5.4.29 Anglerfish in Division IIa (Norwegian Sea), Division IIIa (Kattegat and Skagerrak), Subarea IV (North Sea), and Subarea VI (West of Scotland and Rockall) (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) 212

5.4.30 Herring in Division VIa North 222

5.4.31 Norway pout in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 231

5.4.32 Sandeel in Division VIa 233

5.4.33-36 Nephrops Advice - Please Refer to ICES Advice 2006 – Book 5 235

5.4.37 Sole Southwest of Ireland (Division VIIh-k) 236

5.4.38 Sole West of Ireland (Division VIIb,c) 239