Norway lobster (Nephropsnorvegicus) in Divisions VIIg and VIIh – FUs 20 and 21 (Celtic Sea)

ICES  advises  that  when  the  precautionary  approach  is  applied,  catches  in  2016  (assuming  zero  discards)  should  be  no  more  than  3045  tonnes.  If  instead  discard  rates  continue  at  recent  values  (average  of  2012–2014)  and  there  is  no  change  in  assumed discard survival rate, this implies landings of no more than 2500 tonnes.

To ensure that the stock in functional units (FUs) 20 and 21 is exploited sustainably, management should be implemented at the functional unit level.