ICES Advice 2008, 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

5.2 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 EC request to review 2008 Celtic cod advice 36

5.4 Stock summaries 41

5.4.1 Cod in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 41

5.4.2 Cod in Divisions VIIe-k (Celtic Sea Cod). 50

5.4.3 Haddock in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 61

5.4.4 Haddock in Divisions VIIb-k 66

5.4.5 Whiting in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 68

5.4.6 Whiting in Divisions VIIe-k 71

5.4.7 Plaice in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 73

5.4.8 Celtic Sea Plaice (Divisions VIIf and g) 82

5.4.9 Plaice in Division VIIe (Western Channel) 91

5.4.10 Plaice Southwest of Ireland (Divisions VIIh-k) 93

5.4.11 Plaice West of Ireland (Division VIIb,c). 95

5.4.12 Sole in Division VIIa (Irish Sea) 97

5.4.13 Sole in Division VIIf and g (Celtic Sea) 106

5.4.14 Sole in Division VIIe (Western Channel) 115

5.4.15 Irish Sea herring (Division VIIa) 127

5.4.16 Celtic Sea and Division VIIj herring 129

5.4.17 Herring in Divisions VIa South and VIIb,c 136

5.4.18 Sprat in Divisions VIId,e. 138

5.4.19 Megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) in Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b,d 140

5.4.20 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIb-k and VIIIa,b,d (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) 141

5.4.21 Cod in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 142

5.4.22 Cod in Division VIb (Rockall) 151

5.4.23 Haddock in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 152

5.4.24 Haddock in Division VIb (Rockall) 161

5.4.25 Whiting in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 170

5.4.26 Whiting in Division VIb (Rockall) 172

5.4.27 Saithe in Subarea VI (West of Scotland and Rockall) 173

5.4.28 Megrim in Subarea VI (West of Scotland and Rockall) 174

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) 177

5.4.30 Herring in Division VIa North 185

5.4.31 Norway pout in Division VIa (West of Scotland) 194

5.4.32 Sandeel in Division VIa 196

5.4.33 Nephrops in Division VIa 197

5.4.33.1 Nephrops in North Minch (FU 11) 203

5.4.33.2 Nephrops in the South Minch (FU 12) 207

5.4.33.3 Nephrops in the Firth of Clyde (FU 13) 211

5.4.34 Nephrops in Division VII 215

5.4.34.1 Nephrops in Irish Sea East (FU14) 221

5.4.34.2 Nephrops in Irish Sea West (FU 15) 226

5.4.34.3 Nephrops on Porcupine Bank (FU 16) 231

5.4.34.4 Nephrops on Aran Grounds (FU 17) 237

5.4.34.5 Nephrops off the southeastern and southwestern coasts of Ireland (FU 19) 251

5.4.34.6 Nephrops in the Celtic sea (FU 20–22) 246

5.4.35 Sole Southwest of Ireland (Division VIIh-k) 251

5.4.36 Sole West of Ireland (Division VIIb,c) 253

5.4.37 Demersal elasmobranchs in the Celtic Sea and West of Scotland. 255