In the absence of stock assessments and with UK catch now at lowest levels in recent years, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch can fluctuate significantly and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There are no appropriate management measures in place to protect whelk stocks. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated April 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in Sussex IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch has declined alongside LPUE, and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in Southern IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch appears to be increasing and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There is a lack of appropriate management measures in place, to suitably protect the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in Devon and Severn IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch has varied significantly over the last decade and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

Jerseys’ whelk populations have shown an overall decline in the past 10 years. Stock biomass in the region is below sustainable levels and subject to overfishing. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated April 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in North Western IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch has varied significantly over the last decade and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in North Eastern IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch is small and represents an insignificant proportion of UK catches, thus no concern for fishing pressure. There is a lack of appropriate management measures in place, to suitably protect the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in Northumberland IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch is small and represents an insignificant proportion of UK catches, thus no concern for fishing pressure. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated April 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in Kent and Essex IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. Annual catch has declined alongside CPUE in the main fishing areas, and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments and with Northern Irelands catches at an all-time low, there is concern for whelk biomass in the area. Annual catch can fluctuate significantly and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure. There is no suitable management in place to protect local populations. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated April 2023.

In the absence of stock assessments for whelk in Eastern IFCA district, there is concern for stock biomass. In recent years annual catch has been on a general decline, therefore there is no concern for fishing pressure. There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Rating last updated May 2023.

For whelks caught in pots around Shetland there is no concern for population sizes, but fishing pressure may be too high. Some appropriate management measures are in place. Whelks are caught by potting, which has low bycatch and habitat impacts, unless undertaken at high density or in sensitive habitats.Updated: December 2022

There is limited data for whelks in Scottish waters, with no information about population sizes or exploitation rates. Few appropriate management measures are in place. Whelks are caught by potting, which has low bycatch and habitat impacts, unless undertaken at high density or in sensitive habitats.Updated: December 2022

Very little data is available about whelk stocks in Welsh waters, because of this there is concern for the stock and fishing pressure is high. However, recent landing limits have been implemented, potentially improving the outlook for the stock. There are management measures in place for this fishery, with additional stock assessment recording and measures implemented in 2022. The 2022 approach is a significant improvement for Welsh whelk fisheries management although it is too early to assess the effectiveness of the measures. Creeling or potting is a low impact method of fishing with low levels of bycatch. There are generally low impacts on the seabed but in rocky environments, where whelks are often found, habitat damage can occur.Rating last updated July 2022.

There is limited data for whelks in Isle of Man waters. Catch data indicates concern for stock levels and for fishing pressure. Some appropriate management measures are in place. Whelks are caught by potting, which has low bycatch and habitat impacts, unless undertaken at high density or in sensitive habitats.Updated: December 2022

Updated: June 2020.

Whelk populations in English waters are largely unknown and localised stock assessments are needed. Although there is limited data available on whelk stocks, the data that does exist indicates that there could be concern for biomass levels. Whelk populations within Cornwall IFCA District, in the South-West coast of England are unlikely to be overfished. There is little known about the species resilience to fishing pressure and vulnerability, but, the recent and significant increase in exploitation of whelk fisheries alongside the life history characteristics of the species, high larval mortality from urchin predation, occurrence of stocklets in small spatial scales, together suggests whelks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing, and possibly more so for certain localised populations.

There is a lack of appropriate management to suitably protect the stock. A single management measure is in place for the collection of whelks within the district, the EU-standard Minimum Conservation Reference Size. A minimum landing size restriction is not an effective measure to manage whelks as an independent management strategy, therefore, whelks are likely being caught before they get chance to reproduce. The current MCRS is too small to protect the whelk stock in the Cornwall IFCA district and further management measures and population monitoring is required, particularly as the value of and interest in the fishery has increased substantially in recent years across England.

Pots generally cause a very low impact to the seabed and bycatch is negligible.