Black-bellied monkfish

Black bellied anglerfish in the Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay is not overfished and not subject to overfishing.Reference points for black bellied anglerfish were established in 2022 for this Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay stock.The spawning stock biomass (SSB) in this area has increased overall from a low of around 13,167 tonnes in 2003 to 49028t in 2022 - well above target levels (MSY BTrigger = 16,776t). Therefore, the stock is not in an overfished state. Recruitment has averaged 222.7 million between 2013-2022, which is considerably higher than the low of 35.3million in 2002. Assumed recruitment in 2021 and 2022 is relatively low at 146.6 and 146.8 million respectively. Fishing mortality (F) has been generally declining since 2013 from 0.181 to 0.106 in 2021. This is below levels associated with Maximum Sustainable Yield (FMSY = of 0.163). The stock is therefore not subject to overfishing. ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2023 should be no more than 23,958 tonnes. The advice is 28% higher for 2023 because the advice is now based on the MSY approach using a category 1 assessment method and forecast after being benchmarked in 2022.

There is no management plan for black-bellied monkfish in the Celtic Seas (South) and Bay of Biscay, but some measures are in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock.The EU multiannual plan (MAP) for stocks in in the Western Waters and adjacent waters applies to this stock. There is no agreed shared management plan with the UK for this stock. ICES precautionary approach is applied to catch advice. In 2022 reference points for black bellied anglerfish were established for this Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay stock using a category 1 assessment, providing more robust estimates of stock status and fishing pressure.Management of the stock under a combined TAC (catches of two anglerfish species) prevents effective control of single-species exploitation rates and could lead to overexploitation of either species. Both species of monkfish, otherwise known as anglerfish: white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) and black-bellied anglerfish (Lophius budegassa), are taken in a mixed fishery, mainly with hake, megrim and Nephrops. The two anglerfish species are not totally separated in the landings, and landings are generally reported for the two species combined (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa). The combined landings are then split into species at a national level, based on the species composition in the sampling data. A single total allowable catch (TAC) covers both anglerfish species, and species-specific landings are estimated by ICES, whereby black-bellied anglerfish account for 29% of landings between 2019-2021, and white anglerfish make up the rest. ICES considers that management of catches of the two anglerfish species, under a combined species TAC prevents effective control of the single-species exploitation rates and could lead to the overexploitation of either species. However, currently the stock size of both species is increasing and neither species appears to be at risk of over-exploitation. Since 2019, the combined TAC has been set in line with advice, prior to this, between 2015-2018, the TAC was set 13% above advice. Compliance to the TAC is high, and according to ICES estimations, landings of both species together averaged 68% of the combined TAC from 2019-2021.There is evidence of considerable potential for long-distance migration and it is not clear whether this stock definition (Subarea 7, Divisions 8a-b, 8d) is appropriate. Because there is currently insufficient information to change the stock boundaries, the current stock definition remains unchanged. This presents a number of issues for management.There is no minimum landing size for monkfish (anglerfish). Black-bellied anglerfish reaches maturity at around 65 cm, which corresponds to around 4-5 years. Consequently, these fish are being caught before they have had chance to reproduce. EU Council Regulation (No. 2406/96) laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products fixes a minimum weight of 500 g for anglerfish.Discards accounted for 21% of the total catch in 2021. Discards are predominantly undersized fish.Council regulation (EC) No. 1954/2003 established measures for the management of fishing effort in biologically sensitive areas west of south-west of Ireland (Divisions 7b, 7j) and in the Celtic Sea (Divisions 7g, 7h), whereby effort must not exceed the average annual effort from 1998-2002. A Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) which was established in April 2017, South-West England, has made some good progress in tackling some of the main weaknesses in this fishery: reducing discard through Project 50%, and looking into improving understanding of catch composition and survivability of the two anglerfish species. The FIP covers both species of anglerfish, being caught by gillnet, trammel nets and bottom trawling. FIP catches account for ~18% of total catches. The comprehensive FIP is in advanced progress at stage 5, with a projected end date of April 2024, following Brexit and Covid-19 impacts.For more information about this fishery in Cornwall, please visit: https://www.cornwallgoodseafoodguide.org.uk/fish-guide/monkfish-black-bellied.phpBoth the EU and UK have fishery management measures in place, which can include catch limits, targets for population sizes and fishing mortality, and controls on what fishing gear can be used and where. In the EU, compliance with regulations has been variable, and there are ongoing challenges with implementing some of them. There was a target for fishing to be at Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2020, but this was not achieved. The Landing Obligation (LO), an EU law that the UK has kept after Brexit, requires all quota fish to be landed, even if they are unwanted (over-quota or below minimum size). It aims to promote more selective fishing methods, reduce bycatch, and improve recording of everything that is caught, not just what is wanted. Compliance with the LO is generally poor and actual levels of discards are difficult to quantify using the current fisheries observer programme. UK administrations are in the process of replacing the landing obligation with country-specific Catching Policies.In the UK, it is too early to tell how effective management is, as 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). FMPs are currently in development, but the scope of them remains unclear. They have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries, although data limitations may delay them for some stocks. MCS is keen to see publicly available FMPs for all commercially exploited stocks, especially where stocks are depleted, that include:Targets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best available scientific evidenceTimeframes for stock recoveryImproved data collection, transparency and accountability, supported by technologies such as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)Consideration of wider environmental impacts of the fishery

Bycatch of harbour porpoises in set-nets is occurring in the Bay of Biscay, to the extent that the local population of the species may become extinct.Monkfish or black-bellied anglerfish is predominantly caught by beam trawling in the Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay. Anglerfish are an important component of mixed fisheries, mainly caught with hake, megrim and Nephrops, but also sole, cod, and plaice. The fishery for anglerfish developed in the late 1960s. In recent years, France has taken the vast majority of black-bellied anglerfish (L. budegassa) landings; followed by Spain, Ireland and the UK. The majority of black-bellied anglerfish is consistently taken by demersal otter trawling, targeting demersal fish; accounting for 86% of catch in 2021. Gillnets (5%), beam trawls (3%) targeting demersal fish, otter trawls targeting Nephrops (which tend to be further inshore and shallower) (2%) and other fisheries (unspecified) (4%) also contributed to catch. Black-bellied anglerfish are most abundant at depths of 200 - 500 m, and are taken both offshore and inshore. Juveniles are mainly found offshore in the western Celtic Sea and sometimes in the Bay of Biscay.Anglerfish are targeted by gillnetters (using mesh size 120-219 mm) in the shallower Celtic Sea, where a large number of inshore gillnetters (<12 m) are active. Gillnet fisheries around the Irish coast target anglerfish seasonally. Prior to 2006, UK, French, German, and Spanish gillnetters operated in deep waters of Subareas 6 and 7, targeting anglerfish among other species. This fishery stopped or seriously reduced from 2006, following EU regulation of deep-water gillnetting at depths below 600 m. Fixed net fisheries, for anglerfish, in the Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay have little to no impact upon the seabed. Gillnets and fixed nets can be very selective, but incidental catch (bycatch) of non-target species can occur. Gillnets cannot be specifically targeted to give clean catches of anglerfish and a wide range of other non-target species can become enmeshed, particularly in demersal set gillnets. Gillnets can bycatch species such as sharks, cetaceans and other marine mammals. In the Bay of Biscay, observation of marine mammal bycatch has occurred in certain fisheries off France and in a few off Galicia. Reports indicate that there is concern regarding the bycatch of cetaceans, particularly harbour porpoise, by gillnets. Endangered, harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are being caught as bycatch off Iberia, in set-nets to the extent that the local population of the species may become extinct. It is estimated that in the Celtic Seas (including the eastern Bay of Biscay) in 2017 between 536 - 1409 harbour porpoises were killed by net fisheries (trammel net; set gillnet; driftnet) (2% of the population abundance) which exceeds both ASCOBANS thresholds. In some parts of the fleet catches have declined likely though reduced fishing effort and use of acoustic deterrents. Set net fisheries, have caught common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) an IUCN listed Threatened species. No anthropogenic mortality (or bycatch) limits have been defined for the common dolphin in the Northeast Atlantic. Based on the number of strandings, it was estimated that in 2019 up to 11,000 common dolphins were killed in the Bay of Biscay by fishing, the highest ever recorded level: this level of mortality would likely contribute to a decline in the common dolphin population there. France is carrying out research and developing plans (including acoustic repellents, avoidance tactics, better data collection and quantified mortality reduction targets) to reduce dolphin mortality from bycatch. Some measures are already required under EU legislation. In May 2020, ICES concluded that proposed measures by NGOs for the common dolphin in the Bay of Biscay are appropriate to reduce the bycatch. However, several spatio-temporal and technical amendments are recommended. ICES advises, for the common dolphin in the Bay of Biscay, a combination of temporal closures of all metiers of concern and application of pingers on pair trawlers to mitigate bycatch outside of the period of closure. Application of ICES advice and the appropriate proposed measures is yet to be displayed.A number of areas are closed to fishing at certain times of the year, e.g. the Trevose box, an areas of sea around 11,400 square miles extending from Trevose head in Cornwall to the Gower peninsular in South Wales from January to March. This is the spawning period for a number of demersal stocks, while it is primarily intended to reduce catches of spawning cod, other stocks are likely to benefit. Anglerfish are ambush predators who feed opportunistically on passing prey, which is attracted using a fleshy lure on the illicium. The diet is dominated by fish and, to a lesser extent, cephalopods. Small gadoids have a relatively high importance in their diet. There are no reports of predators that specifically target anglerfish in European waters. Indirect predation by seals of netted fish is common though and seals may prey directly on anglerfish as well. There have been reports of anglerfish being predated upon by sperm whales, and juvenile fish by large cod.To improve monitoring and reporting of fishing activity, MCS would like to see remote electronic monitoring (REM) with cameras implemented, used and enforced. To reduce the impacts of fishing on the marine environment we would like to see a just transition to the complete removal of bottom towed gear from offshore Marine Protected Areas designated to protect the seabed. We also want to see reduction and mitigation of environmental impacts including emissions and blue carbon habitat damage.To improve monitoring and reporting of fishing activity, MCS would like to see remote electronic monitoring (REM) with cameras implemented, used and enforced. To reduce the impacts of fishing on the marine environment we would like to see a just transition to the complete removal of bottom towed gear from offshore Marine Protected Areas designated to protect the seabed. We also want to see reduction and mitigation of environmental impacts including emissions and blue carbon habitat damage.

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