Spotted ray (Raja montagui) in Subarea IV, and Divisions IIIa and VIId (North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and Eastern English Channel)

The advice given in 2012 for this stock is  valid for 2013–2015: “Based on ICES approach to data-limited  stocks,  ICES  advises  that  catches  could  be  increased  by  a  maximum  of  20%.  However,  as  species-specific landings data are not complete, it is not possible to quantify the current catch. ICES does not advise that an individual TAC be set for this species, at present.

Additional  measures  should  be  identified  that  can  regulate  exploitation.  Such  measures  may  include  seasonal  and/or  area  closures,  technical  measures,  and  tailored  measures  for  target  fisheries.  Such  measures  should  be  developed  by  stakeholder consultations, considering the overall mixed fisheries context.”

NB: the  advice  for  2015  is  the  same  catch  advice  than  for  2013  and  2014  (even  if  it  cannot  be  quantified)  not  that  a  further 20% increase in catch be implemented.

NB: new Advice will be provided in 2015