Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in Division 4.b, Functional Unit 6 (central North Sea, Farn Deeps)

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, and assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of the years 2019–2021, catches in 2023 should be no more than 1604 tonnes.

To ensure that the stock in Functional Unit (FU) 6 is exploited sustainably, management should be implemented at the functional unit level. Any substantial transfer of the current surplus fishing opportunities from other FUs to FU 6 could rapidly lead to overexploitation.

ICES notes the existence of a management plan, developed and adopted by one of the relevant management authorities for Subarea 4. ICES considers this plan to be precautionary when implemented at the functional unit level.