Mixed-fisheries advice for Subarea 4, Division 7.d, and Subdivision 3.a.20 (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak)

This is the first time ICES presents options for mixed fisheries in the North Sea. This advice is based on the single-stockassessments  combined  with  knowledge  on  the  species  composition  in  catches  in  North  Sea  fisheries.  Five example scenarios of fishing opportunities considering mixed fisheries are presented, taking into account the single stock advice for  fisheries  catching  cod,  haddock,  whiting,  saithe,  plaice,  sole,  and Nephrops.  Without  specific  mixed-fisheries management  objectives,  ICES  cannot  recommend  specific  scenario(s).  From  the  scenarios  presented  here,  the  most  precautionary option would be the ‘Minimum’ scenario where fishing stops when the first TAC is fished.