New information regarding vulnerable habitats in the NEAFC Regulatory Areas

ICES advises to maintain the existing closed areas to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). No additions to, or extensions of, the existing closed areas to protect VMEs in the NEAFC Regulatory Areas are advised at this time.

ICES notes that bottom-fishing activity was observed in a VME closure area on Rockall Bank in 2020 and occured outside of the existing NEAFC bottom-fishing areas on Hatton Bank and in NEAFC Regulatory Area 3 in the Barents Sea.

ICES advises that any bottom-contact fishing on VME habitats using static or mobile bottom-contacting gears will result in damage to these habitats and poses a risk of significant adverse impacts (as described by FAO [2009]). The inclusion of gear code in the daily catch