Common whelk

With limited data for Common whelk, an absence of stock assessments and UK catch at lowest levels in recent year, there is concern for stock biomass. UK annual catches fluctuate significantly and with no sustainable limit defined there is concern for fishing pressure in the area.Route 2 scoring has been applied to this rating owing to the lack of reference points for fishing pressure and biomass. There are no assessments of the resilience or vulnerability of this species. MCS considers common whelk to have low resilience to fishing pressure, based on several life history parameters. These are the species sedentary life history characteristics, a high larval mortality from urchin predation, occurrence of sub-populations in small spatial scales.The overall (global) increase in demand for common whelk correlates with the global fishery boom over the last decade. UK whelk populations are largely unknown and there have been anecdotal accounts of severely overexploited whelk stocks throughout the UK coastline. There is currently no formal stock assessment/s for whelks. In the absence of information there is concern for biomass.The only available data relating to fishing pressure is landings data. Landings data is not a good indicator of fishing mortality or biomass because it does not account for changes in fishing effort or catchability. UK whelk fisheries largely increased in value from an average of £1,001 per tonne to £1,305, 2016 to 2019. Thereafter, value has declined annually, to an average of £1,075 per tonne in 2022 (MMO data). In recent years (2016-2022) annual catch has varied significantly (between 14.3 to 22.8 thousand tonnes), which can be indicative of boom-and-bust fisheries. Whelk fisheries are often considered as boom-and-bust, where catches increase while demand is high until catch rates become less economically attractive. Landings have been declining annually since 2020, -35% (from 22 to 14.3 thousand tonnes) by 2022 the lowest recorded level in the last decade. With no assessment of a sustainable fishing limit, there is concern for fishing pressure.

There are no appropriate management measures in place to protect whelk stocks in offshore waters within England.The UK’s whelk fishery is data poor. The absence of sock assessments prevents the definition of Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits and presents several challenges for whelk management.An EU-wide Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) of 45mm is in place for common whelk. Some UK regions such as Jersey, Wales, Shetland, Isle of Man and certain Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCA) within England enforce variable MCRS for whelk greater than the EU standard. Based on limited available data, whelks variable Size at Maturity (SOM – the size at which 50% of the population is sexually mature), which is generally >62.7mm in English inshore regions (ranging 45-78mm) and between 86-101mm in cooler Scottish regions (Shetland), indicates the EU-MCRS offers inadequate protection to spawning stocks throughout the UK. It is highly likely that individuals are being caught before they have chance to reproduce. Whelk SOM is known to vary significantly in different areas around the UK, with temperature and depth being key factors.Currently, there are no restrictions placed on pot fishing for whelks (other than the EU-MCRS), in the UK. A singular management measure, such as MCRS, may not be a practical solution for management with regarded to biological sustainability for this species. Small-scale management should be considered on a region-by-region basis, to assess suitability of management measures.In the UK, the Fisheries Act only came into force in January 2021. The Act requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (replacing EU Multi-Annual Plans). The Whelk in English Waters Fisheries Management Plan has a timetable for preparation and publication between 2021-2023.FMPs have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries. They will set out the policies to secure the long-term sustainability of our fish stocks for current and future generations and can include (data allowing):Targets for fishing pressure and biomass, with effective management to meet them;Timeframes for stock recovery;Use of technologies such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) to support data collection, improve transparency and accountability;Consideration of wider environmental impacts of the fishery.

Common whelks are caught in pots or creels, these are baited traps designed to attract and trap mobile species. Pots or creels have minimal impact on the surrounding environment but may result in damage to rocky reef habitat.Common whelk, are a marine benthic species, found on muddy sand, gravel or sometimes rock from the low water to depths of greater than 1000m. Whelks are active predators feeding on worms or bivalve molluscs.UK fishers use plastic drums, set in depths of 10-30m. One end is partially removed and covered with netting and the rest of the pot perforated with 2-3 cm holes. The pot usually has sand at the bottom to weigh it down. A large number of pots may be attached to a single string which is marked by a buoy at each end. The pots are baited and placed on the seabed to soak for 1-3 days before being hauled. A riddle is normally used to filter catch, minimising bycatch whilst retaining large whelks.Bycatch species can be caught during fishing or if pots are lost (ghost fishing). Although, non-target species can usually escape creels after days or weeks especially if the pots include escape gaps for smaller animals. Invertebrates are understood to have high survival rates when discarded from pots or creels. There is potential for entanglement of endangered, threatened or protected (ETP) species from the ropes attached to the pots. The main species at risk are minke and humpback whales, basking sharks and leatherback turtles.Habitat impacts from potting are low but can occur during deployment, soak time or hauling of the pot, impacting the benthic habitat and associated species through contact with the pot or end weight, or by scouring from ropes. While some damage does occur, it is unlikely to be significant unless potting intensity is high (defined as approximately 30 pots per 500 square metres). Most damage occurs where traps are set in rocky habitats that are home to slow growing anchored species including soft corals, sponges and sea mats.