Case Study 1c. Directed single-species fishery – less vulnerable – southern blue ling (Molva dypterygia) in Vb,VI, VII & XIIb.

Blue ling Age up to 30yrs Age of maturity 6-7 yrs Spawns in N. Atlantic in April/May High fecundity - millions of eggs.

Blue ling Found between 400-1200m, most common at around 1200m. Spawning aggregations targeted by fisheries

Cumulative historical landings circa 500,000 t Historically mainly a French trawl fishery with catches from a wide range of countries, but now mainly France, Faroes and UK(Scotland)

Assessments & advice Latest ICES advice (2008) based on time-series LPUE data from French reference fleet

Assessments and advice “There should be no directed fisheries for blue ling in Subdivisions Vb, VI, and VII and measures should beimplemented to minimize bycatches in mixed fisheries. Blue ling is susceptible to sequential depletion of spawning aggregations and closed areas to protect spawning aggregations should therefore be maintained and expanded where appropriate.” Exploratory assessments using stock reduction and CSA

Deliverables Review of development of fishery, catches and fleets Review of LHCs, stock structure and status Review of assessment methods used thus far Inventory of fisheries, biological, biodiversity,VME and socio-economic data. Impacts of fishery on biodiversity SWOT analysis of current historical management & monitoring procedures

Development of fishery, catches and fleets Spatial pattern in catches – at higher resolution. French & Irish VMS and observer data UK data already available

LHCs, stock structure & status LHCs and status straightforward Stock structure – review current work

Assessment methods used thus far Full description of methods Literature search focusing on use of stock reduction models for orange roughy stocks off NZ and past applications of CSA

Inventory of fisheries, biological, biodiversity,VME and socio-economic data. Fisheries data – focus on developing final iteration of French abundance indices. How we incorporate haul by haul data available from Industry Biological, biodiverisity and VME data – observer reports? Socio-economic data – considerable challenge Approach UK and French Fishing Companies/POs May have to focus on data available in public domain DCR?

Impacts of fishery on biodiversity Evaluate potential effects based on composition of commercial catches inc discards Focus on continental slope off NW Scotland – generic study.

SWOT analysis of current historical management & monitoring EU Sampling plans and observer data Stock identity Ageing Nursery areas and recruitment processes Monitoring effects of protection areas on abundance indices and F (POORFISH studies) HCRs and BRPs Length-based assessment methods Life history models – Gulland, Beddington and Cook, Kirkwood models - estimate of B0