Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 4.b, Functional Unit 34 (central North Sea, Devil’s Hole)

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, and under the assumptions that discarding would occur only

below minimum conservation size (MCS) and that fishery selection patterns do not change from the average (2008–2011),

catches in each of the years 2017 and 2018 should not exceed 492 tonnes. This would imply wanted catch of no more than

459 tonnes.

In order to ensure the stock in this functional unit (FU) is exploited sustainably, management should be implemented at the

functional unit level.