Policy paper

Fisheries management plan for Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species

Updated 16 December 2025

Applies to England

Executive summary 

The Southern North Sea demersal non-quota species (NQS) fisheries management plan (FMP) establishes a road map to achieve long-term sustainable management of the FMP species in English waters in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas 4b and 4c. This is in line with objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 (the Act).

The FMP covers:

• bony fish (john dory, red mullet, grey gurnard, red gurnard and tub gurnard)

• elasmobranchs (lesser spotted dogfish and starry smoothhound)

• cephalopods (common cuttlefish, common octopus, curled octopus, veined squid, long-finned squid, European common squid and common squid)

The FMP was developed in collaboration with a working group made up of fisheries stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishermen.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) also engaged with: 

• coastal communities 

• supply-chain businesses 

• scientists 

• statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs) 

• government agencies 

Defra sought contributions on strategic issues across all FMPs from environmental non-governmental organisations that were considered in the preparation of the FMP.

What is an FMP?

An FMP is an evidence-based action plan that charts a course to sustainable fisheries. The FMP is a long-term plan that must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least every 6 years.

It sets out both: 

• a vision and goals for the target fishery (or fisheries) 

• the policies and management interventions necessary to achieve these goals

To remain effective, FMPs will be reviewed and updated to ensure they respond to new evidence and practical experience.

Why an FMP for Southern North Sea demersal NQS?

Demersal fish are species living close to the seafloor. NQS are species that do not have quota allocated to them setting out how much can be landed, and by whom. 

The NQS in scope have ecological importance within the Southern North Sea ecosystem. For example, cuttlefish are a prey species but are generally data limited. There are little or no formal stock assessments or management in place to protect stocks from overexploitation.

Commercially, in 2021 landings of Southern North Sea demersal NQS by UK and European Union (EU) vessels fishing in UK waters, in ICES areas 4b and 4c totalled 2,094 tonnes (t). This was valued at £5.6 million. Nationally, recreational sea fishing is a high participation activity. It delivers economic and social benefits though recreational catch data in respect of the FMP species is limited.

There is insufficient available scientific evidence to assess maximum sustainable yield (MSY) reference points in English waters of the Southern North Sea for the majority of the species in the FMP.

At the point of publication, the MSY approach is only established for the red mullet north stock. Grey gurnard, red gurnard, lesser spotted dogfish and smoothhound have ICES category 3 data within the Southern North Sea but do not have MSY proxies. The remaining species have not been assessed by ICES. Where species (red mullet) have MSY proxies available, these have been assessed in accordance with our duties under Section 6, paragraph 3(a) of the Act.

FMP vision and goals 

The FMP policy goals will contribute towards delivering the Act’s objectives and are based on the following 3 key themes. 

Sustainable fisheries: 

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS fishing in English waters of the Southern North Sea 

• deliver effective management to contribute to improving wider biological sustainability 

Social and economic:

• better understand and optimise economic and social benefits 

• build opportunities for the industry to be able to input into matters affecting NQS fisheries management 

Evidence: 

• better understand wider NQS evidence gaps 

• develop the NQS evidence base

Recommended management measures 

During this first iteration, four proposed areas for priority management intervention have been identified. They have been developed through gathering evidence and engaging with stakeholders, who recognised that change is required to improve the sustainability of the stocks and fisheries. Further work and consultation will be needed to determine the application of each of these measures and refined where necessary. The priority areas are:

• considering restriction of future flyseining effort 

• monitoring the growing cephalopod fisheries 

• considering minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS)

• education, adoption of voluntary guidelines and codes of conduct 

All proposed measures will aim to increase or maintain stock levels for the species managed under this FMP.

The FMP recognises that Southern North Sea fisheries are distinct, given the physical characteristics that support differing habitats and fish assemblages. Therefore, management interventions will need to take spatial and temporal variability into consideration.

Introduction

The UK Government has responsibilities under international and domestic law and is committed to managing our fisheries in a sustainable way. Meeting our responsibilities will support vibrant, profitable, and sustainable fishing sector supported by a healthy and productive marine environment.

The 2018 Fisheries White Paper: Sustainable fisheries for future generations states the objective of ‘a more competitive, profitable and sustainable fishing industry across the whole of the UK and setting a gold standard for sustainable fishing around the world’.

The subsequent Fisheries Act 2020: 

• sets out the legal framework governing fisheries in the UK

• provides for UK fisheries policy authorities to prepare and publish FMPs 

• sets out policies designed to restore stocks or maintain them at sustainable levels 

This FMP has been prepared and published for the purposes of the Act, in accordance with the policies and proposals in the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). It meets the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (the SEA regulations). The relevant authority for this FMP is Defra.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the Act for FMPs, the FMP also supports the implementation of wider commitments to protect the marine environment, restore biodiversity, and address climate change. In particular, the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 restated the commitment to deliver FMPs. Each FMP also supports commitments under the: 

• UK Marine Policy Statement

• UK Marine Strategy

• marine wildlife bycatch mitigation initiative

• Climate Change Act 2008

Scope and status of the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries 

The FMP covers the following species.

Bony fish: 

• john dory (Zeus faber) 

• red mullet, striped red mullet, surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) – jointly referred to as red mullet

• grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) 

• red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus) 

• tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna) 

Elasmobranchs: 

• lesser spotted dogfish 

• lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) – jointly referred to as lesser spotted dogfish 

• starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias) – referred to as smoothhound

Starry smoothhound is considered to be the only species of smoothhound found in the FMP area, although is often misidentified as common smoothhound. For the purpose of this FMP, data for the two smoothhound species will be evaluated and addressed as smoothhound. 

Cephalopods: 

• common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) 

• common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) 

• curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) 

• common squid, European squid (Loligo vulgaris)

• European common squid (Alloteuthis subulata) 

• veined squid, long-finned squid (Loligo forbesii) 

All the species covered in this FMP are considered to be data poor. Many are subject to limited data collection regimes (landings data only). Only five are assessed by ICES within the Southern North Sea.

An overview of the stock status, biology and key evidence gaps relating to these species has been included in the FMP. Additional evidence has been included within the supporting evidence statement published in 2024.

At present, it is considered that the stock boundaries for all species sit partly or wholly within the scope of this FMP.

Stock status: stocks with ICES assessment 

Five of the species in the scope of the FMP have been assessed by ICES and are all considered data category 3, in the Southern North Sea. Category 3 includes stocks for which the data and knowledge are insufficient to conduct a full analytical assessment of their state and exploitation.

For red mullet, a proxy for MSY exists and provides an indication of a sustainable harvest level. More evidence gathering is required to improve data for these species within the Southern North Sea.

Red mullet, striped red mullet, surmullet (jointly referred to as red mullet) 

The details for these species are: 

• data category 3 – read ICES advice: Red mullet in subarea 4 and divisions 7d and 3a (North Stock)

• MSY proxy is in place for the north stock

• a precautionary buffer has been advised for catches – the north stock is truncated and showed significant exploitation of age zero-one fish

Grey gurnard

The details for these species are: 

• data category 3 stock – read ICES advice: Grey gurnard in subarea 4 and divisions 7d and 3a

• MSY proxy not in place 

• ICES advises a precautionary approach is applied to the stock

Red gurnard 

The details for these species are: 

• data category 3 stock – read ICES advice: Red gurnard in subareas 3–8 (Northeast Atlantic)

• MSY proxy not in place

• ICES advises a precautionary approach is applied to the stock 

• discarding is understood to be high – however, using survey trend data, the assessment provides a biomass index which shows an increasing trend up to the mid-2000s, and since then has fluctuated without trend - no ICES advice provided due to lack of reliable catch data

Lesser spotted dogfish

The details for these species are: 

• data category 3 stock – read ICES Subarea 4 and in divisions 3a and 7d

• MSY proxy not in place 

• ICES advises that the precautionary approach is applied – discarding is variable between fishing fleets and has not been fully quantified – discards are generally thought to be several times higher than landed quantities – discard survivability thought to be high

Smoothhound 

The details for these species are: 

• data category 3 stock – read ICES advice: Smooth-hound (Mustelus spp.) in subareas 1–10, 12, and 14 (Northeast Atlantic and adjacent waters) 

• MSY proxy not in place 

• ICES advises stock status relative to candidate reference points is unknown; therefore, the precautionary buffer was applied in the advice

Stock status: stocks lacking ICES assessment 

There is insufficient evidence to determine MSY or any proxy for a sustainable harvest, for the following species:

• john dory 

• tub gurnard 

• common cuttlefish 

• common octopus 

• curled octopus

• veined squid, long-finned squid 

• European common squid 

• common squid, European squid

The FMP lays out a suite of goals and measures aimed at improving data collection and understanding for species in the FMP. These steps aim to facilitate future stock assessments for the species currently lacking ICES assessments.

Location 

This FMP covers English waters of the Southern North Sea running from Northumberland to Kent. Specifically, the FMP area is defined by English waters in ICES divisions 4b and 4c as shown in Figure 1.

The MMO is responsible for managing fisheries and carrying out assurance activities in English waters from 0 to 200 nautical miles (nm) offshore or the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It leads on managing fishing activities between 6nm to 200nm offshore.

Within the Southern North Sea demersal NQS FMP, 4 inshore fisheries and conservation authorities (IFCAs), shown in Figure 1, deliver additional fisheries conservation and management within the inshore 0 to 6nm zone.

Marine planning 

Marine planning is a devolved function in the UK. In English waters the MMO has delegated powers to prepare, implement, monitor and report on marine plans. The Secretary of State (SoS) for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the marine planning authority. English waters are divided into regional marine planning areas. This FMP overlaps with the North East, East and South East marine plans. 

Due to the extensive spatial remit of the Southern North Sea demersal NQS FMP, there are numerous other commercial and recreational activities within these plan areas. These include: 

• offshore windfarm development (particularly off the east coast)

• marine aggregate extraction 

• major shipping routes 

• ports 

• recreational activities (including angling, yachting, diving and other marine past-times)

Marine protected areas (MPAs) 

Within the geographic area covered by this FMP, there are currently 55 protected area designations including: 

• marine conservation zones (MCZs) 

• special protection areas (SPAs) 

• special areas of conservation (SACs) 

• highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) 

Inside the boundaries of English MPAs, the MMO and IFCAs assess human activities that could interact with the designated features of MPAs and introduce management where required.

This process considers the best available scientific advice on the impact of fishing gear in the MPAs, taking into account the current condition of the sites. The Act introduced new powers for MMO to make byelaws to manage fishing for the conservation of marine flora, fauna and habitats within MPAs.

This work is at various stages of assessment with some byelaws already in place. The stage 3 was subject to public consultation during 2025 and MMO will develop proposed management measures to address any issues identified in these site level assessments.

The MMO is currently considering stage 4 of the review with four partner organisations to agree and assess the management approach to highly mobile species. Find out more about Managing fishing in marine protected areas. Therefore, appropriate management should either be in place, or introduced soon, to ensure any fishing within MPAs is compatible with MPA conservation objectives.

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and Habitats Regulations give MMO powers to: 

• manage a range of activities, including fishing, to further the conservation objectives of any MCZ and European Marine Sites in England up to 12mm inshore 

• manage fishing for the conservation of marine flora, fauna and habitats anywhere in England’s seas 

The Act amended the Marine and Coastal Access Act, giving the MMO the power to manage fishing outside of MPAs. 

Commercial UK and EU vessels operating in the Southern North Sea have access to the shared stocks in the scope of this FMP, under the UK and EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Figure 1: Jurisdictional boundaries of the Southern North Sea NQS FMP (Collins Bartholomew, ICES, AIFCA, MMO and UKHO copyright and database right 2024).

Figure 1 shows the jurisdictional boundaries of the FMP, specifically ICES areas 4b and 4c within the North Sea. The area encompasses the waters along the Eastern coast of England, as far as the EEZ limit. The jurisdictional area is overlaid against the relevant IFCA districts in the same area.

Description of the fisheries 

The species within scope are caught across a range of seasonal and gear-specific fishery subsets and generally caught in mixed fisheries with other quota stocks. 

For some species, such as squid and red mullet, a directed fishery has developed in the Southern North Sea area, with vessels from the UK and the EU utilising trawlers of various types to target catch. For the most part, FMP species are caught in association with quota species and other NQS. This constitutes an important part of fishermen’s earnings across different target fisheries (when targeting quota stocks).

The information below on landings weight and value has been extracted from commercial fisheries landings data for 2016 to 2021, to enable comparisons to be made between available data for both UK and EU vessels. This information gives an overview of the commercial importance of the FMP species. 

The UK Southern North Sea fleet operates alongside EU vessels, apart from within the UK 6nm limit which is exclusively for UK vessels. The fleet is dominated by larger towed gear vessels, and the highest catches are primarily driven by demersal seine landing tub gurnard.

The total UK and EU combined landings (period 2016 to 2021) for the species within this FMP, amounts to 15,029t. The value amounts to approximately £41.34 million. 

By weight of landings, UK vessels primarily employed: 

• demersal seine (54%) 

• demersal trawl (35%) 

• beam trawls (5%) 

• longlines (1%) 

• drift and fixed nets (1%)

• pots and traps (1%)

• other gears represented less than 1% of landings (Figure 2).

The EU fleet has a similar contribution of landings by gear group primarily employing: 

• demersal seine 35% 

• beam trawls (31%) 

• demersal trawls (30%) 

• drift and fixed nets and pelagic trawls each equating to 2% of the landing 

• other gears represented less than 1% of landings (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Proportion of landings weight by gear type (2016 to 2021) for UK (left) and EU (right) vessels.

Some species within this FMP, such as smoothhound, are also key for recreational anglers, but all species may be caught by recreational fishermen. Angling for cephalopods is a growing recreational fishery. The value of recreational fishing within the Southern North Sea regions could be better defined. Existing research has indicated that it is of high economic and social value to the angling and coastal communities.

Commercial fishing occurs across the Southern North Sea with the greatest quantities of landings coming from ICES area 4c. It should be noted that there is significant spatial and temporal variation in the fisheries. They can be highly dependent on a small selection of stocks. For example, lesser spotted dogfish, red gurnard and grey gurnard are caught all year-round, while squid, tub gurnard and red mullet catches peak in autumn and winter. These temporal fishing patterns should be understood in conjunction with stocks and breeding patterns.

Status of the fisheries

There are several fisheries issues this FMP seeks to address through a management framework. The issues range from high discard rates to effort from specific gear types to environmental concerns around seabed integrity and bycatch of sensitive species.

This FMP will work in conjunction with other NQS and quota focused FMPs, such as the Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel mixed flatfish FMP. This will start to bring together a coherent unit of fisheries management approaches.

Commercial fisheries

Landings of Southern North Sea FMP species have an average value of £1.1 million to UK vessels a year. 71% of this catch is landed by English vessels, 28% by Scottish vessels and 1% by Northern Irish vessels. The value of the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries averages £5.8 million a year for EU vessels. By weight of landings, UK vessels make up 24% and EU vessels make up 76% of the total each year.

FMP species	UK annual mean landings by weight (tonnes)	EU annual mean landings by weight (tonnes)
Octopuses	1.71	0.15
John dory	0.62	1.37
Gurnards nei	42.90	0.71
Smoothhound	36.08	37.18
Red gurnard	37.91	37.12
Cuttlefish	6.08	78.09
Grey gurnard	54.62	158.87
Lesser-spotted dogfish	17.61	207.78
Red mullet	115.50	304.88
Tub gurnard	97.90	532.50
Squid	181.30	554.22

Figure 3. shows annual average landings ranked by weight (tonnes) of UK landings compared to the EU27 (annual average of 2016 to 2021).

An average of 2,505t of FMP species were landed annually from the FMP area (shown in figure 3), 29% of which was squid, 25% was tub gurnard and 17% red mullet. Lesser spotted dogfish and grey gurnards make up 9% each of the total landings annually. Cuttlefish, red gurnard, smoothhound and gurnards (not allocated at species level) comprise between 2% and 3% of the average annual landings. John dory and octopus (not allocated at species level) make up less than 1% of the average landed catch annually, with less than 5t of these species landed across both UK and EU vessels.

FMP species	UK annual mean landings by value (£ GBP)	EU annual mean landings by value (£ GBP)
Octopuses	2077.06	134.62
John dory	2008.90	6001.58
Gurnards nei	20343.03	138.71
Grey gurnard	28822.74	44382.77
Red gurnard	25378.57	48490.66
Smoothhound	30220.64	55537.73
Lesser-spotted dgofish	5798.88	85381.66
Cuttlefish	13141.96	197226.75
Tub gurnard	115426.11	806418.24
Red mullet	223307.91	1590659.79
Squid	634056.50	2955844.06

Figure 4. shows annual average landings ranked by value (£ GBP) of UK landings compared to the EU27 (annual average of 2016 to 2021)

Annual average landings data show squid to be the most economically important demersal species in the scope of the FMP for both UK and EU vessels by both weight (735t) and value (£3.6 million). EU vessels make up 75% of landings of squid by weight (554t) and 82% by value (£2.9 million) compared to UK vessels (181t, £634,000). The order of importance by weight and value differs for the remaining species.

Red mullet emerges as the second most important species group by value (£1.8 million) and third by weight (420t). EU vessels make up 73% of landings by weight (UK: 115t, EU 305t) and 88% by value (UK: £ 223,000, EU: £1.6 million).

Tub gurnard landings show that it has the second largest landings by weight (630t) and is the third most economically important of the FMP species (£922,000). This is driven by EU vessels making up 84% of the total landings by weight (UK: 98t, EU: 532t) and 87% by value (UK: £115,000, EU: £806,000)

Cuttlefish are the fourth most economically important of the FMP species (£210,000) and sixth by weight (84t). Lesser spotted dogfish emerge as the fourth largest landings by weight (225t) and fifth by value (£91,000). The remaining FMP species make up less than 3% of the total catch by weight and 1% by value.

The annual average landings by weight and value are substantially higher in ICES area 4c, with 79% of the total landings weight and 85% of the total landings value.

The majority of landings by weight of the focal FMP species are by EU vessels (76%), for which port of landing data are unavailable. In relation to port landings by UK vessels only, Boulogne receives the highest economic value from the fishery, with the largest weight of the total landing (709t) and highest value (£1.9 million). Of the top 10 ports receiving catch of the FMP species from both UK and EU vessels by weight, there are 3 English ports:

• North Shields is fourth (3%)
• Hartlepool is sixth (1%)
• Scarborough is eighth (1%)

There is a significant difference between the price per tonne of EU and UK landings. Table 1 shows that the price per tonne for squid is the largest of the FMP species. Squid fetches on average £5,333 per year for EU vessels and £3,497 for UK vessels.

The greatest difference in price per tonne is for red mullet. EU vessels receive £5,217 per tonne for red mullet, while UK vessels receive £1,933 per tonne. This is a difference of £3,284. For all FMP species, UK vessels receive a lower price per tonne than EU vessels.

Table 1. shows the average price per tonne difference between UK and EU landings (2016 to 2021).

Species	EU average price per tonne	UK average price per tonne	Difference in average price per tonne
Squid	5,333	3,497	-1,836
Red mullet	5,217	1,933	-3,284
John dory	4,379	3,221	-1,158
Cuttlefish	2,526	2,163	-363
Tub gurnard	1,514	1,179	-335
Smoothhound	1,494	838	-656
Red gurnard	1,306	669	-637
Octopus	908	1,216	308
Lesser-spotted dogfish	411	329	-82
Grey gurnard	279	528	248
Gurnards nei	235	474	239

FMP economy

Figure 5 shows the number of UK vessels involved in the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries and their economic dependence on the FMP species. In this chart, economic dependence reflects the value of revenue from landings of species covered by the FMP as a proportion of total fishing income. The vast majority of FMP species landed, comprise less than 5% of most vessels’ income. In 2022, 241 vessels landed FMP species, 95% (229) of these had an economic dependence less than 20%. Vessels with less than 20% economic dependence on FMP species averaged 18% of landings. There were 12 vessels where FMP species comprised greater than 20% of annual income numbered in 2022, averaging 82% of annual landings. The vessels most reliant on FMP species were predominately over 18m in length. The number of UK vessels involved in the fishery has decreased from 335 in 2016 to 241 in 2022.

FMP dependence groups	Under 5%	5 to 20%	20 to 40%	40 to 60%	80 to 100%	Total
2016	317	16	2	0 (no data)	0 (no data)	335
2017	294	20	6	0 (no data)	0 (no data)	320
2018	246	14	1	0 (no data)	1	262
2019	266	21	3	2	0 (no data)	292
2020	211	31	0 (no data)	8	2	252
2021	213	23	3	2	1	242
2022	211	18	11	1	0 (no data)	241

Figure 5. show the number of UK vessels involved in the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries by level of economic dependence.

Recreational fisheries

Nationally, recreational sea fishing is a high participation activity delivering economic and social benefits. There is limited recreational catch data in respect of the FMP species. It is estimated that around 772,000 UK adults participated in sea angling each year between 2016 and 2019 across the UK at a value of £1.6 to £1.9 billion. This data is from Sea angling in the UK report 2016 and 2017 and Sea angling in the UK report 2018 and 2019. There are also both personal and societal benefits derived from sea angling.

Detailed information on the economic and social value of recreational fishing within the spatial scope of this FMP could be better defined, but existing research has indicated that it is of high economic and social value and may form a key component of coastal community income. Further evidence gathering is required through the implementation of the FMP.

Whilst lesser-spotted dogfish are generally not targeted, their abundance and ease to catch means they are the third most common species caught by UK sea anglers, although 95% of catch is returned to the sea. Anecdotal evidence highlights that smoothhound is an important species for sea anglers in the East of England. Feedback relating to cephalopods suggests that recreational fisheries for these species (except octopus) are growing, although the extent is currently unknown.

Existing management of Southern North Sea NQS

Of the 13 species covered under the scope of this FMP, five were assessed by ICES in 2023. Two of these, grey gurnard and red mullet, have concerns with the fishery for this stock and high discard rates (lesser spotted dogfish on discards too). Red mullet is of particular concern given landings of, and market for, juveniles. The remaining species have not been assessed by ICES and therefore no information is available on whether these are fished to MSY.

There are no constraints on the amount of NQS that can be landed, with the exception of the TCA. The TCA places a general cap on the tonnage of NQS that the UK and the EU can take from each other’s waters.

During engagement sessions, stakeholders highlighted concerns around the catches of some FMP species by larger, offshore vessels, such as squid, gurnards and red mullet. While there are evidence gaps, the data suggests the growth since 2018 of a new flyseine fishery. Newer UK and EU vessels reported to have double the capacity of traditional flyseine vessels. Some flyseine vessels in the Southern North Sea are purpose-built seine netting vessels or converted beam trawlers, with higher engine powers and capacity when compared to traditional Scottish flyseine vessels.

Flyseine activity in the English Channel and Southern North Sea is specifically targeted at NQS, which made up around 70% of the catch by 2022. This included:

• red mullet
• whiting
• tub gurnard
• squid
• pouting
• cuttlefish

Most of the NQS are data poor and have no formal stock assessment but there is evidence to show concerns. Flyseining has therefore been identified as a priority fishery for considering precautionary management.

Read about the evidence in the Fisheries Management Plans Evidence Statements - MF1298. This assessment was previously confirmed through Defra’s consultation to manage flyseine vessel pressure on demersal NQS in 2022, and the Channel demersal non-quota species fisheries management plan, and subsequent stakeholder engagement. Landings data also shows an increase in flyseine landings of the FMP species from 2018 to 2022 (figure 6).

Year	UK total annual landings by weight (tonnes)	EU total annual landings by weight (tonnes)
2016	93	604
2017	109	448
2018	21	301
2019	428	538
2020	503	894
2021	619	382
2022	1,301	0 (no data)

Figure 6. shows the total annual landings by weight (tonnes) of vessels that list flyseine as their primary gear (SSC - Scottish Seines). UK landings (2016 to 2022) compared to the EU27 (2016 to 2021). Data for EU vessels in 2022 was not available at the time of publication.

The government response to the Defra consultation was published on 17 July 2023 It showed strong support for action, with 78% in favour of introducing some form of measure to manage flyseine vessel pressure.

As a result, on 24 October 2023, a statutory instrument removed the derogation for all towed gears that allowed the use of a mesh size of at least 40mm in a directed squid fishery in English waters. This means that squid can now only be fished using mesh sizes of 80mm or as stipulated under existing technical measures. This FMP proposes consideration of further short-term measures to limit larger flyseining vessel activity consistent with consultation responses and those laid out within the Channel demersal NQS FMP.

Flyseine species, such as gurnards, have high discard rates as shown in ICES advice in Grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) in Subarea 4 and divisions 7d and 3a (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak and Kattegat) and Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus) in subareas 3 to 8 (Northeast Atlantic).

Misidentification of gurnards is considered to reduce the reliability of existing discard and landings estimates and discard rates are very high. Reviewing existing at-sea observer data on the regional species-composition of gurnards would provide estimates of species composition and improve reliability of species identification and improve the quality of species-specific landings data.

Therefore, work to understand the discard rates of the flyseining fleet should be carried out to fully understand the catch composition of the fishery. In addition, evidence on the effort of flyseiners in the Southern North Sea will be required to better understand the behaviour of the fleet. This will determine if it is appropriate to implement the proposed longer-term measures.

Socio-economic evidence on the impact of short-term and long-term management measures for flyseining effort should be considered, to understand the impact of implementation.

Cephalopod stocks are not assessed by ICES, however research is being undertaken by Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Working Group on Cephalopod Fisheries and Life History (WGCEPH) to provide more data to assess the stocks.

Anecdotal evidence provided by stakeholders during engagement events in 2023 highlighted that there has been a change in the abundance and distribution of cephalopod species across the Southern North Sea. This is supported by research that modelled the shifts in distribution of common cuttlefish, squid and octopus in the North Atlantic under the business-as-usual global warming scenario for the end of the century. All three species analysed were predicted to significantly shift north-eastwards by the year 2100 (Schickele A and others, 2021). This was most pronounced in the common cuttlefish. A change in cephalopod distribution in the FMP area will have implications for fisheries management.

Cephalopod species in the Southern North Sea are often misidentified and therefore landings data are thought to be less accurate. Improved reporting of cephalopod catches is required to understand trends in landings data over time. In addition, evidence gathering is required to determine the impact of increased cephalopod stocks on other fisheries. This FMP will utilise, where appropriate, the approach taken in the Channel demersal NQS FMP for the sustainable management of cuttlefish in the Channel.

None of the FMP species have an MCRS. However, there is a 750g weight limit for octopus (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 Annex V, part A, as retained). In ICES areas 4b and 4c, the FMP species are subject to a minimum towed gear mesh size of 80mm cod end and 90mm square mesh panel. There are no other technical conservation measures directed at the other FMP species.

MCRS is most effective when introduced with technical measures such as compatible mesh sizes. There is a short-term proposal being considered for all flyseine vessels to use 100mm mesh as standard. Introducing a MCRS for some flyseine species may help improve the sustainability of the stock further. Evidence to determine the appropriate size for MCRS and compatible mesh sizes would be required to support this measure.

Smoothhound is an important species for recreational sea anglers. As many elasmobranch species are slow growing with fecundity increasing with size, considering an MCRS is proposed. However, this species is data limited and therefore robust data collection will be required to identify if there is an appropriate MCRS.

For smoothhound, landings data has historically been of poor quality, as many are reported under generic landings categories. Therefore, further work is required to improve the quality of landings data, particularly for under 10m vessels and where smoothhound may be used as bait. Studies to better understand the composition of commercial catches by size and sex are required. An appropriate level of monitoring would then be required to fully understand commercial catch compositions over appropriate spatial and temporal scales, while considering the distribution and geographic boundaries of this species.

For lesser spotted dogfish, caught by both commercial and recreational fishermen, there are few current concerns about over-exploitation. However, there remain evidence gaps for which putting in place and maximum conservation reference size could support improving understanding of the stock.

The evidence gaps include:

• data gathering to improve stock identification
• understanding discard rates and survivability
• developing appropriate indices of relative abundance and biomass
• defining reference points to assess stock and exploitation status

Data on recreational sea angling is limited within the Southern North Sea region, yet it is an important social and economic activity. Introducing voluntary guidelines and monitoring will help to fill some evidence gaps and ensure that recreational sea angling is sustainable.

Cefas report that commercial catches of FMP species such as smoothhound, squid, cuttlefish and gurnards are often misidentified and therefore recordings are inaccurate. Improving the identification of these species through enhanced education with the commercial sector will help to increase accurate data collection for FMP species. This will inform appropriate management and future establishment of MSY.

An understanding of the appropriate methods of improving education of both commercial and recreational fishermen is required. It will ensure optimised take up of voluntary guidelines, codes of conduct and improved species identification.

There are byelaws within IFCA districts that are relevant to the FMP species and the gear types associated with their capture. No byelaws are specifically in place to provide management to FMP species. Instead, technical measures are used to govern all fishing as follows:

Kent and Essex IFCA:

• Vessel Length and Engine Power Byelaw
• Bottom Towed Fishing Gear (Prohibited Areas) Byelaw 2017
• River Medway Nursery Area (Prohibition of Fishing) Byelaw
• Essex Estuaries Bottom Trawling (Prohibited Areas) Byelaw 2016

Eastern IFCA:

• Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2018
• Inshore Trawling Restriction Byelaw
• Fixed Gear, Authorisation of Placing Byelaw
• Trawling Prohibition Exceptions (Inherited Byelaw)

North Eastern IFCA:

• Trawling: Prohibition: Exceptions Byelaw III 2003
• Method and Area of Fishing (Fixed Netting) Byelaw XVIII 2016
• Flamborough Head No Take Zone Byelaw XXVII
• Flamborough Head Fishing Byelaw XXVI
• Humber Estuary Fishing Byelaw XXIX
• Seine Net, Draw Net or ‘Snurrevaad’: Prohibition of. Byelaw IV

Northumberland IFCA:

• Trawling Byelaw
• Prohibition of the Use of Mobile Fishing Gear Within the English Section of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

FMP vision

The FMP vision is that demersal NQS fisheries in the Southern North Sea area will be managed to achieve environmental, social, and economic sustainability, for the benefit of coastal communities and wider society.

FMP policies

This FMP sets out specific policy goals that have been grouped into 3 distinct themes: 

• sustainable fisheries
• evidence
• social and economic

The following section outlines the rationale for the policy goals and actions that are being proposed for this first iteration of the FMP. These are given from the point of FMP publication and subsequently falling into the implementation phase of FMP delivery. Actions to support these may be developed further. 

In terms of delivering the FMP policy goals:

• short term is considered to be approximately within 2 years of publication of the FMP
• short to medium term is considered to be approximately within 2 to 3 years from publication
• medium to long term is 2 years or more after publication

Each FMP policy goal is detailed and provides the actions, estimated timeframes and approach. The actions for the policy goals are specific to helping achieve those goals. The approach outlines how the actions will be achieved and the estimated timeframe that it should be delivered in.

Any fisheries management intervention will result in a range of social, economic, and biological impacts. When implementing a new management measure, there is a statutory requirement to estimate the anticipated wider national benefits (for example, improved stock status of target species), as well as the likely impacts on stakeholders and how negative impacts can be mitigated.

We will ensure that implementation of any new management measures is compliant with our obligations under the TCA. We will also analyse broader impacts on local communities, and economic, social, and human rights impacts, in associated impact assessments. These will be required as part of the development of measures.

Policy goals

Sustainable fisheries goals

Policy goal 1: management of MSY or MSY proxy assessed stocks

Deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea for stocks with MSY or MSY proxy assessments.

As set out in the overarching Defra harvest strategy, policy goal 1 applies to stocks for which available evidence enables an MSY or MSY proxy assessment. Currently, this applies to red mullet, as ICES applies the MSY approach with stock biomass levels currently above those capable of producing MSY.

The intention of this policy goal and associated actions is to maintain or restore the stock. It also sets out steps to obtain evidence to maintain MSY or MSY proxy assessments. Points raised around increased flyseining activity and associated catches and discards, and landings data, suggest that red mullet are of particular concern given the market for juveniles.

Effective management measures, such as those proposed in the management measures section of this FMP, is essential to safeguard the long-term health of demersal NQS stocks. It ensures they remain productive for future generations.

This policy goal directly supports the UK Marine Strategy’s Good Environmental Status (GES) descriptor D3 for commercially exploited fish and shellfish and supports steps to maintain stocks at sustainable levels.

Action 1: maintain red mullet at sustainable levels

Timeframe: short to medium term

Approach:

• continue with existing management
• consider appropriate measures to address the key emerging risks in the fishery
• consider initiating additional data collection to support continued assessment of the stocks
• begin developing harvest strategies consistent with the harvest standard specification (HSS)
• monitor biomass trends annually against MSY or MSY proxy reference points
• continue contributing data and evidence to ICES assessments of these stocks
• if biomass falls below MSY, consider implementing corrective measures within 12 months

Indicators:

• biomass relative to MSY reference points
• annual fishing mortality compared to MSY thresholds
• effectiveness and timeliness of corrective measures implemented

Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objectives:

• sustainability objective
• precautionary objective
• scientific evidence objective

Policy goal 2: management of stocks without MSY or MSY proxy assessments

Deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea for stocks without MSY or MSY proxy assessments.

As set out in the overarching Defra harvest strategy, policy goal 2 applies to stocks for which available evidence does not enable an MSY assessment. This includes lesser spotted dogfish and smoothhound. It also covers all other demersal NQS included in the FMP, with ICES applying a precautionary approach where the data is insufficient data to establish MSY reference points.

The intention of this policy goal and associated actions is to maintain or increase the level of each stock, informed by the precautionary approach. It also sets out steps to obtain evidence to enable future MSY or MSY proxy assessments. Concerns were raised around increased flyseining activity and associated catches and discards.

Effective management, such as those proposed in the management measures section of this FMP, is essential to safeguard the long-term health of demersal NQS stocks. This ensures they remain productive for future generations. This policy goal directly supports the UK Marine Strategy’s GES descriptor D3 for commercially exploited fish and shellfish and support steps to maintain or increase stocks to sustainable levels.

Action 1: maintain or increase stocks to sustainable levels

Timeframe: short term

Approach: consider appropriate measures to address the key emerging risks in the fisheries, in line with the management strategy and proposed management measures set out in this FMP.

Action 2: improve datasets

Timeframe: short term

Approach:

• consider appropriate measures to address the key emerging risks in the fisheries
• initiate targeted biological catch, and effort data collection
• contribute data to ICES assessments
• incorporate effort data into fishing records including under 10 metre vessels

Action 3: develop harvest strategies for stocks not assessed for MSY or MSY proxy

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach: follow HSS guidance to develop harvest strategies once sufficient data has been gathered.

Action 4: implement mixed and multi-species management

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• identify and test mixed-species management approaches, including bycatch limits and spatial measures
• apply the agreed approach, once validated
• assess ecosystem impacts alongside stock-specific measures

Indicators:

• increase in data coverage (for example, percentage of stocks with extended or new biological surveys)
• proxy indicators of stock health (for example Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) trends, size and age structure)
• evidence of reduced risk (for example, compliance with potential catch limits)

The Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objectives are:

• sustainability objective
• ecosystem objective
• scientific evidence objective
• climate change objective

Policy goal 3: deliver effective management through, where possible, identifying, minimising and mitigating pressures on demersal NQS

This policy goal focuses on ensuring that demersal NQS in the Southern North Sea are managed in a way that not only sustains current stock levels but actively supports recovery where needed. It recognises that pressures on these stocks come from both fishing and non-fishing activities, as well as environmental change, and that effective management must address all of these factors.

Effective management measures, such as those proposed in the management measures section of this FMP, is essential to safeguard the long-term health of demersal NQS stocks. This will ensure they remain productive for future generations.

By identifying and mitigating pressures, this policy goal directly supports the UK Marine Strategy’s GES descriptor D3 for commercially exploited fish and shellfish. It also fulfills the sustainability, ecosystem, scientific evidence, and climate change objectives of the Act. It also ensures that management is adaptive, evidence based, and responsive to emerging threats such as climate change and habitat degradation.

Action 1: scope how to define key interactions between all Southern North Sea fisheries and NQS

Timeframe: short term

Approach: consider research into quota fisheries to model interactions from catching sector behaviours on Southern North Sea demersal NQS.

Action 2: better understand and define the targeting behaviour of the fleet

Timeframe: short term

Approach: consider research to identify and capture fishermen targeting patterns.

Action 3: manage key interactions to minimise adverse impacts on demersal NQS FMP species 

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• identify and understand key interactions
• effectively manage to minimise unintended consequences

Action 4: identify and afford appropriate protections for fish habitats that are important to key life stages of FMP species

Timeframe: medium to long-term

Approach:

• consider research to identify essential fish habitats for demersal NQS
• introduce proportionate protections where required.

Action 5: better understand the impact of climate change on FMP species and map sensitivities to climate change

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• undertake research into the impact of climate change on FMP species
• adapt the fishery management strategy to align with identified species sensitivities

Action 6: identify where climate change mitigation and adaptation measures can be implemented to reduce impacts on the fishery

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• consider research to identify opportunities to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures
• climate adaptation and mitigation are aligned with work being delivered externally or nationally
• monitor the effectiveness of the climate adaptive fisheries management measures implemented

Action 7: better understand the impacts of non-fishing marine activities on demersal NQS

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• develop effective engagement channels with non-fishing marine sectors to understand the impact of those marine uses on NQS stocks
• gather evidence to identify and mitigate, where possible, key non-fishing pressures

Indicators:

• quality of studies completed on fleet targeting behaviour and fishery interactions
• where applicable, using findings to better inform future management measures
• proportion of essential fish habitats identified and consideration of protection measures where applicable
• better availability of species-specific climate sensitivity assessments
• implementation of adaptive management measures aligned with climate risks
• evidence of engagement with non-fishing marine sectors (for example, energy, shipping)
• consideration of mitigation measures introduced to reduce non-fishing impacts on demersal NQS
• timeliness and effectiveness of corrective or adaptive measures in response to emerging pressures

The Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objectives are:

• sustainability objective
• ecosystem objective
• scientific evidence objective
• climate change objective

Policy goal 4: contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

This policy goal seeks to ensure that the management of demersal NQS in the Southern North Sea not only sustains target stocks but also safeguards the wider marine environment. It addresses the need to reduce unintended ecological impacts, protect biodiversity, and maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems.

Effective management measures, such as those proposed in the management measures section of this FMP, is essential to safeguard the long term health of demersal NQS stocks. This will ensure they remain productive for future generations.

Demersal NQS fisheries interact with a range of nontarget species and habitats, and their impacts extend beyond the direct removal of target fish.

By understanding and reducing these wider effects, the FMP will contribute to achieving GES under the UK Marine Strategy for:

• D1 (biological diversity)
• D3 (commercially exploited fish and shellfish
• D4 (food webs)
• D6 (sea-floor integrity)

This approach supports the sustainability, bycatch, ecosystem, and scientific evidence objectives of the Act. It ensures that fisheries management is holistic, evidence based and aligned with ecosystem-based management principles.

Action 1: investigate key issues in current unwanted and protected species bycatch within the fisheries

Timeframe: short term

Approach:

• consider a data collection programme tracking bycatch and target species
• consider research to identify and reduce bycatch of unwanted and protected species such as salmonids, cetaceans, elasmobranchs, wild birds

Action 2: better understand the impact of fishing gear interactions with the marine environment in the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fishery

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach: consider research to map and define the demersal gear and benthos interactions.

Indicators:

• monitoring of unwanted and protected species bycatch, with evidence of reductions over time
• uptake and demonstrated success of bycatch reduction or avoidance measures (for example, gear modifications, closures)
• extent of seabed disturbance from demersal gear and evidence of reduced impacts in sensitive habitats
• proxy measures of ecosystem health (for example, benthic diversity, food web indicators) aligned with GES descriptors

Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objectives:

• sustainability objective
• bycatch objective
• ecosystem objective
• scientific evidence objective

Social and economic goals

Policy goal 5: better understand and optimise social and economic benefits

This policy goal recognises that demersal NQS fisheries in the Southern North Sea are not only an environmental asset but also a vital contributor to the livelihoods, culture, and economies of coastal communities. By improving understanding of who benefits from these fisheries and how, the FMP can ensure that management decisions protect and enhance these benefits over time.

Effective management, such as those proposed in the management measures section of this FMP, is essential to safeguard the long-term health of demersal NQS stocks, ensuring they remain productive for future generations.

Sustainable fisheries management must balance ecological health with the social and economic wellbeing of those who depend on it. This policy goal supports the scientific evidence and national benefit objectives of the Act by ensuring that decisions are informed by robust socio‑economic data and that the benefits of NQS fisheries are maximised for the UK. It also ensures that management is equitable, targeted, and responsive to community ambitions.

Action 1: better identify who is reliant on NQS fisheries and who is impacted by them

Timeframe: short term

Approach: analyse existing research and survey results to identify groups within the Southern North Sea that are reliant upon demersal NQS fisheries.

Action 2: identify social and economic data on current direct and indirect benefits, derived from Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries on coastal communities

Timeframe: short term

Approach:

• start to consider the direct social and economic benefits of the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fishery for the groups identified
• consider how management can impact benefits

Action 3: identify social and economic indicators used to monitor social and economic impacts and how this information will be gathered 

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach: develop monitoring indicators that can be used to assess the effectiveness of the FMP’s social and economic goals.

Action 4: where data are not currently available, seek to identify new ways to collect social and economic data

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach: identify evidence gaps and consider how to improve data collection and analysis.

Action 5: seek to understand if there are opportunities to optimise direct and indirect benefits from FMP species 

Timeframe: medium to long-term

Approach: consider mapping benefits from FMP species and options for optimising these benefits.

Indicators:

• identification and tracking of groups and communities reliant on, and interested in, demersal NQS fisheries
• trends in employment, income, and value added from NQS fisheries to coastal communities
• improved coverage of social and economic data collection, including new datasets where identified gaps exist
• distribution of benefits across different stakeholder groups, ensuring fair and inclusive outcomes
• evidence of measures taken to enhance direct and indirect benefits from NQS fisheries

Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objectives:

• scientific evidence objective
• national benefit objective

Evidence goals

Policy goal 6: develop the NQS evidence base

This policy goal focuses on strengthening the quality, scope, and accessibility of evidence available to support the management of demersal NQS in the Southern North Sea. By improving existing data channels, adopting new ones where appropriate, and consolidating information into a coherent platform, the FMP will ensure that management decisions are informed by the most complete and reliable evidence possible.

A strong evidence base is essential for effective, adaptive fisheries management. Without accurate, timely, and comprehensive data, it is difficult to assess stock status, understand ecosystem interactions, or evaluate the social and economic impacts of management measures. This policy goal supports the scientific evidence objective of the Act by committing to a systematic approach to data improvement, innovation in evidence gathering, and transparent sharing of information with relevant partners and stakeholders.

Action 1: identify how current data channels can be adapted or improved to meet evidence gaps

Timeframe: short term

Approach: identify and evaluate existing data channels to support improved evidence gathering.

Action 2: where necessary, establish new data collection channels to close evidence gaps 

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• investigate opportunities to gather non-traditional or novel sources of data to complement this, including using new technologies
• consider whether species prioritisation could focus or expedite delivery

Action 3: explore methods to consolidate new data with existing data in a single platform

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach:

• consider how to consolidate existing and new data gathering channels into one single use platform
• consider how to make accessible for stakeholders

Indicators:

• proportion of existing data channels reviewed and adapted to address evidence gaps
• new data collection established
• scope of new or novel data sources (for example, technological, non‑traditional) introduced
• progress toward integrating datasets into a single platform and making them accessible to stakeholders
• improvements in accuracy, completeness, and frequency of biological, environmental, and socio‑economic data

Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objective: scientific evidence

Policy goal 7: better understand the wider NQS evidence gaps

This policy goal seeks to ensure that the management of demersal NQS in the Southern North Sea not only sustains target stocks but also safeguards the wider marine environment.

It focuses on identifying and addressing evidence gaps that limit the ability to help reduce unintended ecological impacts, protect biodiversity, and maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems.

Demersal NQS fisheries interact with a range of nontarget species and habitats, and their impacts extend beyond the direct removal of target fish. This policy goal supports a structured, transparent process for evidence gathering for the species covered by the FMP.

By understanding and reducing wider environmental effects, the FMP will contribute to achieving GES under the:

• D1 (UK Marine Strategy for biological diversity)
• D3 (commercially exploited fish and shellfish)
• D4 (food webs)
• D6 (seafloor integrity)

This approach supports the sustainability, bycatch, ecosystem, and scientific evidence objectives of the Act. This ensures that fisheries management is holistic, evidence-based, and aligned with ecosystem-based management principles.

Action 1: build on the supporting evidence statement, update to establish what evidence is required to meet the wider goals of the FMP, as well as any further policy or legislative objectives

Timeframe: short term

Approach:

• identify what additional evidence is currently available through a robust and systematic process
• evaluate the data channels that currently source this evidence

Timeframe: medium to long term

Approach: consider appropriate methods to update the supporting evidence statement and prioritising evidence gaps, to cover all fisheries, environmental, ecological, and social and economic data requirements.

Indicators:

• evidence gap inventory completeness - proportion of identified gaps documented and updated through a structured annual review
• existence of a prioritised plan and percentage of high‑priority gaps with active projects or commissioned studies
• inclusion of fisheries, environmental, ecological, and social and economic evidence needs within the updated supporting evidence statement
• publication frequency and accessibility of evidence updates, with tracked engagement from industry, science, and community stakeholders

Relevant Fisheries Act 2020 objective: scientific evidence

Management strategy

The FMP management strategy, including the harvest strategy, focuses on 4 key topics:

• flyseining
• cephalopod fisheries
• minimum conservation reference sizes
• education, adoption of voluntary guidelines and codes of conduct

The efficacy of technical measures for conserving FMP species will be evaluated. This will enable consideration of options for the future introduction of management during the implementation cycle of the first iteration of the Southern North Sea demersal NQS FMP.

This FMP covers an inherently complex and poorly understood collection of species that are caught alongside quota and other NQS. The long-term ambition is to gather sufficient evidence so that mixed and multiple species management can be applied effectively.

There are strong links to other FMPs, most clearly the Southern North Sea and Channel flatfish FMP and Channel demersal NQS FMP.

The management measures proposed in the FMP are summarised below, along with the indicators that will be used to monitor their progress.

1. Consider restriction of future flyseining effort

Flyseining (also known as flyshooting or Scottish seining) is a fishing method. It involves long weighted ropes to herd fish into the mouth of the trawl, before hauling the net to the vessel as it maintains its position under power. Some flyseine vessels in the Southern North Sea are purpose-built seine netting vessels or converted beam trawlers. They have higher engine powers and capacity when compared to traditional Scottish flyseine vessels.

Should any measures be necessary following consideration, these should align with those published in the Channel demersal NQS FMP. This will ensure a consistent approach across English waters.

Short-term measures

• Consider introducing a 221kW restriction in ICES areas 4b and 4c in UK waters for 0 to 12nm for flyseiners.
• Consider introducing a measure for all flyseiners to use a minimum 100mm mesh as standard.
• Consider if a gross tonnage limitation in ICES areas 4b and 4c for flyseiners is viable and beneficial.

Purpose

To limit large capacity flyseining pressure and reduce fishing pressure on demersal NQS stocks, including juveniles, within the Southern North Sea. These would be precautionary measures, given concerns around impacts to the stock.

Indicators

If considered necessary:

• flyseine vessels operating with an engine size of 221kW or higher, are prohibited from fishing within the territorial waters of the Southern North Sea (English waters of ICES areas 4b and 4c)
• flyseiners operating in the Southern North Sea (English waters of ICES areas 4b and 4c) are required to use a 100mm minimum mesh

Medium to long-term measures

• Subject to the progress of the Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) programme, propose introducing early adopter scheme that could become mandatory in the future.
• Consider introducing a permitting scheme for flyseiners.
• Consider restrictions on time spent in area.
• Consider seasonal closure for flyseiners.
• Consider an overall engine size limitation for flyseiners.
• Further consider potential rope length and diameter restrictions for flyseiners.

Purpose

Medium to long-term measures aim to support the collection of evidence and data on Southern North Sea demersal NQS and fill key evidence gaps and monitor the impact of the proposed measures. These medium to long term measures could be considered based on the effectiveness of the short-term measures in achieving their outcomes in protecting demersal NQS.

2. Growing cephalopod fisheries

During stakeholder engagement, stakeholders noted that they have seen a change in the abundance and distribution of cephalopod species in the FMP area.

Short-term measures

• Monitor catches and consider creating research plans. Also, gather evidence for growing fisheries in the Southern North Sea, such as cuttlefish, octopus and squid.
• Consider extending the Channel demersal NQS FMP cuttlefish plan into the Southern North Sea to support evidence gathering and ensure sustainable exploitation of cuttlefish stocks.
• Align where appropriate with existing measures in the Channel plan, including voluntary codes of conduct for trap handling, seasonal considerations, and monitoring protocols.
• Consider collaborative research with stakeholders to assess the feasibility and benefits of applying Channel cuttlefish management approaches in the SNS.

Purpose

To assess future potential fisheries and impacts on other fisheries from population growth. Given the importance of squid to fishermen across the FMP area, and to address concerns surrounding the potential overexploitation of the stock, the FMP recommends the introduction of greater monitoring and data collection in the short term. This will help inform future management.

Robust evidence collection will be required to understand if anecdotal claims of population growth and distribution changes have occurred and what this could mean for future fisheries.

Indicators

• improved monitoring and data collection for cephalopod species in the Southern North Sea
• stock health of cephalopod species in the Southern North Sea are being assessed and better understood
• evidence gathered on cephalopod fisheries is explicitly linked to FMP policy goals

Medium to long-term measures

• Subject to evidence gathered, consider formal adoption of cuttlefish-specific management measures in the SNS, including potential seasonal closures, gear restrictions, or catch recording requirements.
• Explore integration of SNS cuttlefish data into wider ICES assessments to strengthen the evidence base for cephalopod management.

Purpose

To build on existing management frameworks for cuttlefish in the Channel by extending them into the Southern North Sea. This will ensure consistency across English waters. It will support evidence gathering, reduce risks of overexploitation, and promote sustainable exploitation of emerging cephalopod fisheries.

Indicators

• evidence of alignment, where appropriate, between Channel and SNS cuttlefish management approaches
• increased availability of biological and fishery-dependent data on cuttlefish in the SNS
• uptake of voluntary codes of conduct and best practice measures by the fishing sector
• demonstrated contribution to FMP policy goals
• demonstrated contribution to management measure 4 in this FMP (for example, development and adoption of voluntary codes of conduct)

3. Minimum conservation reference sizes

MCRS, previously known as minimum landing size (MLS), is the minimum size at which a fish can be removed. The size is based on age at maturity and is a common fisheries management measure.

Medium to long-term measures

• Consider the introduction of a MCRS for flyseine species such as red mullet and gurnards.
• Consider the introduction of a MCRS for smoothhound.
• Consider the introduction of a maximum conservation reference size for lesser-spotted dogfish.

Purpose

To protect juvenile fish and improve stock recruitment. This would be to address concerns around stock health. Compatibility with gear mesh size is required for successful implementation and will be explored further.

Indicators

• evidence of reduced landings of undersized fish and improved recruitment into adult populations
• demonstrated compatibility between MCRS and gear mesh size regulations
• contribution of MCRS measures to FMP policy goals

4. Education, adoption of voluntary guidelines and development of codes of conduct 

Short-term measures

• Support the recreational sector to consider introducing voluntary guidelines and education on how recreational fishermen can fish more sustainably. This could link with similar guidance proposed in the Channel demersal NQS FMP, and include voluntary MCRS information, guidance on methods and equipment to reduce damage to fish. It could also include information on how anglers can handle and release fish to reduce post-release mortality.
• Support the commercial sector by developing identification guides for mis-identified species, such as smoothhound, squid, cuttlefish and gurnards.

Medium to long-term measures

Monitor evidence uptake and efficacy of voluntary measures. Also, explore how additional evidence gathering on removals from the stock could be integrated into future stock assessments.

Purpose

To support evidence gathering, engagement and partnership working with the recreational and commercial sector to inform future management of FMP species. To encourage the introduction of good practices to improve sustainability of the stocks.

Indicators

• voluntary guidelines and improved education on handling and fishing methods have been introduced for recreational sea anglers
• improved education, identification guidelines and handling guidelines have been introduced for commercial fishermen
• evidence of alignment between voluntary guidelines and FMP policy goals

Environmental considerations

The FMP will contribute to policies relating to the wider marine environment. Specifically, this relates to the requirement to ensure the health of our seas for future generations, and our ambitions to restore biodiversity and to address climate change.

A range of current monitoring and evidence programmes gather data to inform on the risks of fishing activity to both MPAs, and the UK MS descriptors relevant to this FMP.

Screening advice provided by Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee identified four key areas of risk to the marine environment associated with Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries.

The advice has been developed to provide this FMP with a steer on the primary risks posed by different gear types to MPA features and UK MS descriptors. This is to identify where efforts may be best focussed, to understand and mitigate wider environmental impacts of the fishing activities managed by this FMP.

However, given the comparative lack of data on the direct impacts of Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries, a suite of new work is required. As a key goal of the FMP, this work should be undertaken jointly by the fishing industry, the wider research community, environmental non-governmental organisations, and government.

This FMP was not able to fully quantify the pressures associated with Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries and instead provides a high-level risk assessment based on best available evidence.

Marine Protected Areas

Inside the boundaries of English MPAs, the MMO and IFCAs assess human activities that could interact with the designated features of MPAs and introduce management where required. Therefore, the existing assessment and management pathways mitigate risks arising from fishing activity within English MPA boundaries, and no additional action is suggested for the FMP within MPA site boundaries.

Of the pressures identified, those that impact habitat are thought to primarily operate inside site boundaries. Instead, this advice focuses on risks to MPA features from fishing activities occurring outside site boundaries.

There are two key areas of moderate risk and two low risk areas as follows.

Moderate risk of bycatch of mobile species that are designated features of MPAs

Three marine mammal species are featured in the MPAs within the UK:

• the harbour porpoise
• grey seal
• common seal

Demersal trawling is not a part of the UK bycatch monitoring programme’s sampling regime. The omission of benthic trawling from the programme stems from the understanding that demersal towed gears do not pose the same significant bycatch risks to marine mammals as other gear types, such as static nets or longlines.

There is historical evidence of occasional harbour porpoise bycatch in beam and otter trawls from previous observer programmes (Cefas 2015). However, the prevailing understanding suggests that such bycatch events are unlikely to cause significant impacts on broader marine mammal populations or the conservation of relevant MPAs.

Isolated bycatch events outside the boundaries of harbour porpoise MPAs are unlikely to adversely influence the site condition or populations. Yet, considering the existing data gaps, a more rigorous monitoring of benthic trawler bycatch would solidify our understanding regarding potential risks to marine mammal MPAs and their features. Implementing enhanced observer coverage or remote electronic monitoring on suitable vessels could serve this purpose.

There is very little evidence available to assess the risk of demersal seines to marine mammal bycatch. Demersal seines are not included in the UK bycatch monitoring scheme and no studies investigating bycatch risk to mammals could be found.

It is believed that the potential for mammal bycatch is low, but further evidence and data collection would increase confidence in this assessment.

Implementing enhanced observer coverage or remote electronic monitoring on suitable vessels could help gather more data on marine mammal bycatch in demersal seine fisheries. Additionally, collaboration with fishermen and other stakeholders could provide valuable insights into potential risks and mitigation measures.

While the risk to marine mammal feature condition is generally considered low, there are still significant gaps in the available evidence. Gathering additional evidence has the potential to downgrade this risk in the future.

Moderate risk of bycatch of seabird species that are designated features of MPAs

Benthic trawling does pose a particular risk to certain species of seabird. This is highlighted by both anecdotal reporting during fish bycatch monitoring and by previous work looking at the relative risk of bird bycatch that incorporated the behavioural traits of different species (Bradbury G and others, 2017). This latter work highlights the following as the most sensitive to demersal towed gears:

• deep diving shags
• scaups
• eiders
• scooters
• guillemots
• great northern divers
• cormorants

The prevailing sentiment is that benthic trawling does not present as high a bycatch risk to seabirds as other gears, such as set nets or longlines. Nevertheless, there are pronounced data gaps regarding the potential exposure of sensitive seabirds to towed demersal gears.

Given the evidence constraints, enhancing the monitoring of benthic trawlers would be advantageous to bridge the data gaps and reduce uncertainties. This could be achieved by adapting and expanding existing observer programmes to record seabird bycatch or through appropriate use of remote electronic monitoring.

It is believed that the risk of seabird bycatch is likely to be similar to that of demersal trawls, particularly during hauling activities where the gear is on the surface. The potential for bycatch of deep diving seabirds during the process of fishing and sweeping the ground may be lower in demersal seines compared to demersal trawls. This is due to the use of ropes to achieve a swept area and a lower swept area for the net components more likely to cause entrapment. However, further work is required to better understand the risks and improve confidence in the assessment.

While the risk to seabird feature condition is generally considered low, there are still significant gaps in the available evidence. As a result, the FMP risk rating has been upgraded to moderate, taking a precautionary approach into account. Gathering additional evidence has the potential to downgrade this risk in the future.

Low risk of bycatch of fish which are designated features of MPAs

Towed demersal gears used in this fishery pose a potential bycatch risk to the two shad species:

• allis shad (Alosa alosa)
• twaite shad (Alosa fallax)

Both species are members of the herring family and migrate from coastal waters into rivers for spawning. Several hundred kilograms of shad landings were also reported from divisions 4b and 4c, where this fishery operates (ICES 2014).

The lack of data challenges the comprehensive assessment of shad bycatch potential impacts from this Southern North Sea fishery.

A simple assessment of proximity would suggest catches associated with this fishery may be from continental populations, but there is a lack of understanding about shad movements. A more detailed understanding of the spatial distribution, quantities, and origins of any shad bycatch is essential for the holistic risk to be understood.

However, the quantities of shad landings from the region in ICES 2014 suggest that this fishery is likely to pose a low risk to the status of shad within UK MPAs. In addition to shad, other protected fish species might be caught by towed demersal gears. Presently, direct evidence to gauge the risk level for these species in this specific fishery is unavailable.

Low risk of depletion of important prey species to mobile MPA features

The fish species directly covered in this FMP are not themselves generally considered key prey species. However, there is the potential for some bycatch of other species that act as important prey (forage fish) for marine predators.

There have been few studies looking at bycatch of sensitive or designated fish species in demersal seines, and there is limited data available. Discard self-sampling in the Dutch seine fleet in the Southern North Sea 2014 to 2016 did not identify bycatch of any designated fish species (Verkempynck, R and others, 2018).

Expert judgment suggests that there may be a theoretical impact pathway similar to that of demersal trawls. However, any direct evidence is lacking, and the activity is considered low risk to fish features. Further data on bycatch rates would improve confidence in this assessment.

Key potential forage fish species at risk of bycatch include small gadoids like juvenile cod and whiting. Given that primary marine mammal and seabird predators feeding on these species tend to have varied diets, the ecosystem impacts of reducing any single gadoid forage fish species’ numbers might be relatively low. This means the direct risk to mobile features of MPAs from reduced food availability, due to gadoid bycatch in this fishery, seems minimal.

Nevertheless, evaluations may be necessary if significant quantities of other key forage fish groups, like clupeids or anchovies, were caught as bycatch.

Overall, based on the fishery’s characteristics and available evidence, the risk of impacting mobile MPA features through diminished prey availability appears low.

Based on available evidence, the fisheries associated with this FMP pose a moderate risk of bycatch to mobile MPA features like marine mammals and seabirds from fishing activity occurring outside site boundaries. However, significant data gaps persist regarding actual bycatch rates and impacts. For this reason, the moderate risk rating represents a precautionary approach. This highlights the need for enhanced monitoring to improve confidence in the assessment.

The risk to designated fish species and important forage fish prey appears low currently. However, continued monitoring and reporting of bycatch is important to detect any growing issues requiring management.

Wider sea evidence: beyond MPAs

The UK Marine Strategy provides the framework for delivering clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas. It consists of a 3-stage framework for achieving GES in our seas through protecting the marine environment, preventing its deterioration, and restoring it, where practical, while allowing sustainable use of marine resources.

The following GES descriptors are relevant to the FMP during its first iteration:

• D1 (biological diversity)
• D3 (commercially exploited fish)
• D4 (food webs)
• D6 (seafloor integrity)
• D10 (litter)

A screening exercise found six key issues, and a rapid assessment of risk has been undertaken against key indicators of GES. The FMP introduces policies aimed at addressing these six key issues and sets out goals and subgoals which contribute to improving GES. These are summarised below.

Moderate risk to D1, D4 biological diversity of cetaceans

The risk to achieving GES for the biological diversity of cetaceans is generally considered low, there are still significant gaps in the available evidence. As a result, the FMP risk rating has been upgraded to moderate, taking a precautionary approach into account. Gathering additional evidence has the potential to downgrade this risk in the future.

Benthic trawling and seining are not perceived as high-risk for cetacean bycatch. However, occasional harbour porpoise bycatch in otter trawlers has been reported (Cefas 2015).

The 2019 report on bycatch levels (Kingston A and others, 2021) emphasised that the sampling was not specifically tailored for protected species, making the data less conclusive. However, current understanding is that this is not at a level that would have impacts on population. Further evidence is required to increase confidence in this assessment.

While the primary species in the FMP are not ‘forage fish’, bycatch in these fisheries might serve as prey for cetaceans. For instance, cetaceans consuming juvenile cod and whiting from benthic trawl fisheries are not at high risk due to their generalist feeding habits. However, if large numbers of other forage fish like sandeel or herring are bycaught, risks might need reassessment. Further studies can shed light on the impact of prey depletion on cetacean populations and their interactions with the broader marine ecosystem.

A better understanding of the actual risk posed by the fisheries will require a closer look at the bycatch associated with this activity. Any new management should contribute to achieving GES targets for D1 and D4.

The following FMP goals have been developed to address the issue of bycatch associated with the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries:

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea
• deliver effective management to contribute to increasing or maintaining demersal NQS stocks, where possible identify and mitigate pressures on demersal NQS
• contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

These goals will also positively contribute to achieving GES for UKMS descriptor 1 (biological diversity) and descriptor 4 (food webs) in English waters. 

Moderate risk to D1, D4 biological diversity of seals

While the risk to achieving GES for the biological diversity of seals is generally considered low, there are still significant gaps in the available evidence. As a result, the FMP risk rating has been upgraded to moderate, taking a precautionary approach into account. Gathering additional evidence has the potential to downgrade this risk in the future.

The status of the common seal, which is below target levels, is not thought to be due to bycatch. Seines and demersal trawls are not considered to pose a high risk of seal bycatch. No marine mammal bycatch was recorded for all beam, otter and twin otter trawls for the English and Welsh Data Collection Framework programme in 2019. However, further evidence collection would improve confidence in the assessment of risk.

While none of the species covered in the FMP could be considered ‘forage fish’, some of the bycatch associated with the target fisheries resulting in NQS landings may constitute part of a seal’s diet (such as flatfish and cephalopods). If the fish species most likely to be bycaught are gadoids, such as juvenile cod and whiting, the direct risk to seals is likely to be low. This is because species that consume a lot of gadoids tend to be more generalist feeders. Only weak interactions between forage fish populations and predators occur when predators on forage fish are opportunistic generalists, feeding on whichever species happen to be abundant (Dickey-Collas and others, 2014).

Further work is needed to better understand the impact of prey reduction on seal populations and the ecosystem interactions between fish and higher predators. A collaborative approach between Defra and its arm’s length bodies (ALBs) to develop ecosystem modelling approaches will support a better understanding of the potential impacts of prey reduction on seal populations.

A better understanding of the actual risk posed by the fisheries will require a closer look at the bycatch associated with this activity. Any management brought in should contribute to achieving GES targets for D1 and D4. The following goals have been developed to address the issue of bycatch associated with the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries:

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea
• deliver effective management to contribute to increasing or maintaining demersal NQS stocks, where possible identify and mitigate pressures on demersal NQS
• contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

These goals will also positively contribute to achieving GES for UKMS descriptor 1 (biological diversity) and descriptor 4 (food webs) in English waters.

Moderate risk to D1, D4 biological diversity of seabirds

Southern North Sea NQS fisheries are not thought to be causing reduction in availability of important forage fish species. While the risk to achieving GES for the biological diversity of seabirds is generally considered low, there are still significant gaps in the available evidence. As a result, the FMP risk rating has been upgraded to moderate, taking a precautionary approach into account. Gathering additional evidence has the potential to downgrade this risk in the future.

Demersal trawling and seining are thought to pose a potential risk to certain species of seabirds. This is highlighted by both anecdotal reporting during fish bycatch monitoring (Cefas 2015) and by previous work looking at the relative risk of bird bycatch that incorporated the behavioural traits of different species (Bradbury G and others 2017). This latter work highlights the following as the most sensitive demersal trawls:

• deep diving shags
• scaups
• eiders
• scooters
• guillemots
• great northern divers
• cormorants

However, demersal trawling and seining is not included in more recent work looking at seabird bycatch (Northridge S and others 2020). This is because it is not generally considered to present a high bycatch risk to birds at scale that is likely to threaten GES descriptors.

An improved monitoring regime on benthic trawlers and seiners would help fill the current data gaps and therefore reduce the uncertainties. This could potentially be done by adapting or expanding existing observer programmes, or through the appropriate use of REM.

A better understanding of the actual risk posed by the fisheries will require a closer look at the bycatch associated with this activity. Any management brought in should contribute to achieving GES targets for D1 and D4.

The following goals have been developed to address the issue of bycatch associated with the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries:

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea
• deliver effective management to contribute to increasing or maintaining demersal NQS stocks, where possible identify and mitigate pressures on demersal NQS
• contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

These goals will also positively contribute to achieving GES for UKMS descriptor 1 (biological diversity) and descriptor 4 (food webs) in English waters. 

High risk to D1, D4 biological diversity of fish

There is likely to be a high risk to the biological diversity of fish. However, further partnership work is required to better understand the status and vulnerability of the many species included in assessments for this descriptor. This is required before advice can be provided to FMPs.

A better understanding of the actual risk posed by the fisheries will require a closer look at the risk to fish biological diversity. Any management brought in should contribute to achieving GES targets for D1 and D4. The following FMP goals have been developed to improve the stock status with the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries:

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea
• deliver effective management to contribute to increasing or maintaining demersal NQS stocks, where possible identify and mitigate pressures on demersal NQS
• contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

These goals will also positively contribute to achieving GES for UKMS descriptor 1 (biological diversity) and descriptor 4 (food webs) in English waters. 

High risk to D1, D6 seafloor integrity

Demersal trawls pose a high risk to the integrity of the seafloor. A strategic approach encompassing an extensive geographic scope is imperative to pinpoint strategies for risk reduction or elimination, and to understand trade-offs.

The impacts will need to be considered by the FMP management group following publication of the FMP. The following FMP goals have been developed to address the issue of seabed disturbance associated with the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries:

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea
• deliver effective management to contribute to increasing or maintaining demersal NQS stocks, where possible identify and mitigate pressures on demersal NQS
• contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

These goals will positively contribute to achieving GES for UKMS descriptor 1 (biological diversity) and descriptor 6 (seafloor integrity) in English waters.

Defra will work with stakeholders to consider the evidence. Defra will then develop further recommendations on the potential effects of fishing and other activities, on seafloor integrity and the state of benthic habitats. This also includes contributing to the implementation and coordination of the Benthic Impact Working Group.

This work will consider the issues at a strategic level and within the context of ongoing changes in marine spatial use and environmental protection to achieve the objective of GES under the UKMS.

Moderate risk to D10 marine litter

There is a moderate risk to marine litter by all assessed gear types. More robust estimates of abandoned, lost, discarded, fishing gear (ALDFG) in the fishery are required.

Loss of gear such as trawls and nets will add to overall levels of fishing related litter within the sea. This can have unintended consequences such as ghost fishing, related to D10.

The FMP management group will need to consider how best to avoid or minimise loss and achieve sustainable end of life disposal. The following FMP goals have been developed to address the issue of marine litter associated with the Southern North Sea demersal NQS fisheries:

• deliver effective management of demersal NQS in English waters of the Southern North Sea
• deliver effective management to contribute to increasing or maintaining demersal NQS stocks, where possible identify and mitigate pressures on demersal NQS
• contribute to improving biological and environmental sustainability by understanding and reducing the wider impacts of demersal NQS fisheries

The goals will positively contribute to achieving GES for UKMS descriptor 10 (marine litter) in English waters.

Climate change mitigation and adaption

The Climate Change Act 2008 establishes the target to reach net zero by 2050. The UK seafood sector will need to consider how they will reduce emissions to contribute to meeting the net zero target. This approach will also need to consider policies for improved seabed integrity, improving protecting blue carbon habitats and reducing carbon emissions.

The future climate impacts in the Southern North Sea are not very well understood. Further research on the impact of climate change on the fisheries covered under this FMP will be carried out. However, it is not currently perceived as within scope of this iteration of the FMP to directly deliver mitigation strategies against climate impacts. However, it may be within its remit to support fisheries through national transition to low carbon fishing.

The climate change objective in the Act ensures that future fisheries management policy can, where appropriate, adapt to any future impacts of climate change on the UK fishing industry. This supports climate adaptive fisheries management.

Evidence will be collected from modelling the potential movement of fish stocks and the impacts this will have on regional fisheries. As stocks move into and out of UK waters, assessments of stock levels will be conducted to adapt allocation of fishing opportunities. Further research will be required to predict the scale of impacts to the environment and over what timeframe this will be applicable to the Southern North Sea.

Secondary and dependent species (including bycatch)

The marine wildlife bycatch mitigation initiative sets out how the UK will achieve its ambitions to minimise and, where possible, eliminate the accidental capture and entanglement of sensitive marine species in UK fisheries.

The definition of bycatch included within this section represents the risk of unwanted protected species bycatch which may be caught alongside the FMP species. Currently no specific bycatch associations were identified as part of fisheries targeting of the FMP species. This is a recognised evidence gap.

Deliberate actions have been incorporated into the goals for the sustainable fisheries. They focus on identifying interactions between the FMP stocks and other fisheries and undertaking research to identify and address key bycatch issues.

The FMP’s key recommendations, given the current lack of data on bycatch associated with NQS fisheries, are to:

• collect additional evidence to understand levels of bycatch associated with static and towed gear use on birds, mammals, and fish, as well as benthic habitat integrity
• use this evidence to develop robust mitigation strategies - this information should also be used to support the national bycatch mitigation programme
• collaborate with the newly formed Bycatch Reduction Advisory Panel (BRAP) to support delivery of the bycatch objectives

Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022

This legislation references that decapod crustacea and cephalopods are formally recognised as sentient beings, and this should be considered in government policy and decision making. This has led to increased awareness of the importance of animal welfare practices.

Implementation, monitoring and review

Implementation

This FMP sets out the road map to achieve the long-term sustainable management of FMP species in ICES areas 4b and 4c. This is in line with the objectives of the Act. The FMP goals section sets out the goals, the key actions that should be taken and the timeframes needed to deliver them.

The ‘management strategy’ section sets out the management measures to be implemented to help achieve the FMP goals. The actions and measures in this FMP will undergo a subsequent implementation phase where appropriate mechanisms will be required to deliver them. Such mechanisms could include:

• voluntary measures
• licence conditions
• national and regional byelaws
• statutory instruments

This implementation phase will build on the existing evidence base, any action taken throughout the FMP’s development, and the options discussed with stakeholders. These will be reviewed and taken forward by Defra and the MMO once the FMP is published.

Subsequent implementation road maps will be subject to regular monitoring and review to ensure progress. The FMP is subject to a statutory review process at a maximum of 6 years after publication. After this point, it will be necessary to provide evidence for what has been achieved through the implementation of those actions and measures. This review process will also build in monitoring for potential environmental effects to help establish whether any changes are needed in the management of the FMP species.

Monitoring

This is the first version of this FMP. It sets out the first steps and longer-term vision necessary for sustainable management of this fishery. These plans will take time to develop and implement. They are intended to allow an adaptive approach and will be reviewed and improved over time as we collect more evidence. We will also collaborate with the fishing sector and wider interests on the sustainable management of these fisheries.

Delivery of the actions and measures for this Southern North Sea demersal NQS FMP will be monitored.

For some NQS stocks, there is insufficient evidence to determine MSY or a proxy for MSY. This FMP sets out the proposed steps to build the evidence base for these data limited stocks. This will support progress towards defining and measuring stock status and reporting on stock sustainability. An increase in the available evidence to define and measure stock status will be an indicator of the effectiveness of this plan for these stocks.

For some stocks with insufficient data to carry out a stock assessment, policy goals set out in this FMP are aimed at increasing data collection. In accordance with section 6(3)(b) of the Act, this FMP sets out the proposed steps to build the evidence base to improve stock assessment calculations and improve data to inform future management measures. An increase in the available evidence with improved stock assessments will be an indicator of the effectiveness of this plan for these stocks. A prioritisation exercise will be carried out to focus research efforts across all FMP stocks. Plans to increase data collection will be reviewed over time.

For red mullet there is sufficient evidence to determine a proxy for MSY and to assess the sustainability of the stock in accordance with section 6(3)(a) of the Act.

Maintenance of stocks fished at sustainable levels will indicate the effectiveness of this plan for these stocks. The policy goals and indictors to achieve this are set out in this FMP.

Other indicators to measure the effectiveness of the policies for restoring, or maintaining these stocks at sustainable levels are:

• if considered necessary, flyseine vessels operating with an engine size of 221kW or higher are prohibited from fishing within the territorial waters of the Southern North Sea (English waters of ICES areas 4b and 4c)
• if considered necessary, flyseiners operating in the Southern North Sea (English waters of ICES areas 4b and 4c) are required to use a 100mm minimum mesh
• the benefit and viability of flyseiners operating in the Southern North Sea (English waters of ICES areas 4b and 4c) with a gross tonnage limitation has been considered
• there is improved monitoring and data collection for cephalopod species in the Southern North Sea
• stock health of cephalopod species in the Southern North Sea are assessed and understood
• voluntary guidelines and improved education on handling and fishing methods have been introduced for recreational sea anglers
• improved education, identification guidelines and handling guidelines have been introduced for commercial fishermen.

Review and revision of the FMP

Monitoring data, as outlined above, will be collected on a yearly basis where possible and reported on every 3 years. This data will be important to inform the setting of any future management measures and to assess whether the FMP is on target to achieve its goals.

As set out in the Act, this FMP will be reviewed at least every 6 years. This formal review will assess how the FMP has performed in terms of delivering against the Act’s objectives. However, further reviews of the FMP could be carried out within the 6-year period if the responsible authority feels there is a need to do so, based on the evidence and monitoring of the effectiveness of the plan. The findings of this review will also inform the development of any subsequent iterations of the FMP. The FMP will also be reported on as part of the report on the JFS every 3 years.

References

Bradbury Gand others, 2017. ‘Risk assessment of seabird bycatch in UK waters. Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’, UK. Other authors Trinder M, Furnes B, Banks AN, Caldow RWG and Hume D

Cefas, 2015. ‘English and Welsh observer programme report’ (unpublished report)

Dickey-Collas M and others, 2014. ‘Ecosystem-based management objectives for the North Sea: Riding the forage fish rollercoaster’ in ICES Journal of Marine Science, 71(1), pages 128 to 142.Other authors Nash RDM, Brunel T, Van Damme CJG, Marshall CT, Payne MR, Corten A, Geffen AJ, Peck MA, Hatfield EMC, Hintzen NT, Enberg K, Kell LT, and Simmonds EJ

ICES, 2022. ‘Grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) in Subarea 4 and divisions 7.d and 3.a (North Sea, eastern English Channel, Skagerrak and Kattegat)’. In ‘Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2022. ICES Advice 2022, gug.27.3a47d

ICES, 2021.‘Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus) in subareas 3 to 8 (Northeast Atlantic)’. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2021. ICES Advice 2021, gur.27.3-8

ICES, 2014. ‘Report of the working group on bycatch of protected species (WGBYC)’. In ICES CM 2014/ACOM:28)

Kingston A and others, 2021. ‘UK bycatch monitoring programme report for 2019. Sea Mammal Research Unit’.UK. Other authors Northridge S and Thomas L

Northridge S and others, 2020. ‘Preliminary estimates of seabird bycatch by UK vessels in UK and adjacent waters’. Final report to JNCC. University of St Andrews. Other authors Kingston A, Coram A and Gordon J.

Verkempynck R and others, 2018. ‘Discard self-sampling of Dutch bottom-trawl and seine fisheries in 2014 to 2016’. In CVO Report No. 18.007. Other authors, Dammers M and van Overzee H

Schickele A and others, 2021. ‘European cephalopods distribution under climate-change scenarios’. Scientific reports, 11(1), p.3930. Other authors Francour P and Raybaud V