NEAFC request on discarding in the NEAFC regulatory areas

ICES has compiled available information on discarding in the NEAFC regulatory areas (RAs). This includes an overview of retained catch (landings) or catch (landings + discards) if available since 2018 for the main assessed species occurring inside and outside the RAs, the percentage taken by fleet, and information on whether discard rates are known and/or discard estimates are included in the stock assessments.

NEAFC vessel monitoring system (VMS) and logbook data are used to map distribution of catches of species in the NEAFC RAs to aid identification of spatial overlaps. Access to, and accurate reporting of, gear types used in all NEAFC-regulated fishing activities would allow for the identification of gears and areas with high bycatch and discard risk as requested by NEAFC.

A review was completed of both discard reduction measures within the NEAFC Scheme of Control and Enforcement (NCEM) and of NEAFC Current Management Measures, including which stocks these are targeted towards.

Technology is rapidly evolving that can enhance monitoring or reduce unwanted bycatch relevant to stocks fished in the NEAFC RAs. This, including devices to improve selectivity, remote electronic monitoring (REM), environmental DNA (eDNA), and artificial intelligence (AI), has been reviewed and shows some potential for application.

Details of a number of fisheries operating in the NEAFC RAs, along with their discard levels, have also been provided, although it is unclear to ICES what might be considered “elevated risk of discarding”. In general, demersal and deep‑water fisheries have higher bycatch and discard rates than pelagic fisheries. Effort in deep‑sea fisheries that are likely to have bycatches of some of the species for which NEAFC regulations state “No directed fisheries and minimise all bycatch” appear to have declined in recent years.

The request for recommendations for appropriate sampling approaches and levels to adequately collect data on discards from fisheries in the NEAFC RAs cannot be fully addressed at this time because of several key limitations, including lack of data, complex and variable fishing patterns, gaps in reporting, and potential for bias.