Management of the stock is only partly effective. Management should be implemented at the stock level as currently the TAC does not match the stock area and there is potential for catches to exceed advice.The fisheries for the two anglerfish species are managed under Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for two areas, which do not match the stock area. The species are usually caught together and not separated in the landings statistics. Management of the two species in this way risks preventing effective control of the single-species exploitation rates and could possibly lead to overexploitation of either species.There are two European Community TACs in this area, but they do not match the stock unit and do not include Norwegian catches. One covers ICES areas 4 and 2a (North Sea and Norwegian Sea); the second covers 5b, 6, 12, and 14 (Faroes, West of Scotland, North of Azores, East Greenland). There is no TAC for Division 3a – landings in this area were 912 tonnes in 2021 (preliminary official landings) – the fourth highest on records, with all four of the highest occurring over the last four years, indicating this area of the fishery is developing. As a result of this mismatch, there is a potential for catches to exceed advice. TACs have historically been set higher than scientific advice, but TAC in 2017-2020 and 2022 were set in line with advice. TAC in 2021 (18,349 tonnes) was set just above advice (17,645 tonnes). When taking the additional quota for Norway into account (now 1,000 tonnes per year), TACs in the last 5 years (2018-22) averaged 106% of advice.In general, discarding in this fishery is relatively low due to high market value (average 2.9% 2007-2021). There is no Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) and therefore anglerfish may be fished before they have had the chance to reproduce. Overall discarding was 1.2% of the total catch in 2021, a decrease on previous years with 1.6% in 2020 and 2.3% in 2019.Because of its body shape and large head and jaw, the introduction of a MCRS has not been considered a useful or practical management measure. However, EU Council Regulation (No. 2406/96) laying down common marketing standards for certain fishery products, fixes a minimum weight of 500g for anglerfish. Other monkfish fisheries are due to develop harvest control rules to comply with certification schemes (Icelandic fleet, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)), if these were implemented in the North Sea area it would enable improved management in this North Sea fishery.The EU and UK both have fishery management measures, which can include catch limits, population targets, and gear restrictions. However, compliance in the EU and UK has been inconsistent, with ongoing challenges in implementing some regulations. The goal of reaching Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) by 2020 was missed, with less than half of UK TACs in 2024 following ICES advice. In 2024, the EU and UK reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable fisheries by aligning management with scientific advice to gradually approach MSY. However, no new target date has been set for achieving MSY across all fisheries. The Landing Obligation (LO), an EU law retained by the UK post-Brexit, requires all quota fish to be landed, even if unwanted (over-quota or below minimum size). It aims to encourage more selective fishing methods, reduce bycatch, and improve catch reporting. However, compliance is poor, and accurate discard levels are hard to quantify with current monitoring programmes. The UK is in the process of replacing the LO with country-specific Catching Policies.The Marine Conservation Society views Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras is one of the most cost-effective tools for providing reliable fisheries data and aiding informed management decisions. Fully monitored fisheries enhance collaboration, data accuracy, stock recovery, and reduce impacts on marine wildlife and habitats. However, the full potential of REM may only be achieved when it tracks fishing location and documents catch and bycatch, particularly where vulnerable species and habitats are at risk. As of January 2024, the EU is introducing a Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) mandate for EU vessels, including CCTV cameras on vessels 18m or more that pose a potential risk of non-compliance, within the next 4 years. Across the UK, different approaches to REM are being taken and legislation is expected to be in place across all 4 countries within the next few years.The Fisheries Act (2020) requires the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) (replacing EU Multi-Annual Plans) in the UK. 43 FMPs have been proposed and are at various stages of development and implementation, these should all be published by the end of 2028. FMPs have the potential to be very important tools for managing UK fisheries, although data limitations may delay them for some stocks. It is also essential the UK governments define and adopt a standardised approach or model across the four nations to a universally defined FMP design, to ensure the consistence, quality and coherence of all the proposal FMPs.The Marine Conservation Society is keen to see publicly available Fishery Management Plans for all commercially exploited stocks, especially where stocks are depleted, that include:An overview of the fishery including current stock status, spatial coverage, current fishing methods and impactsTargets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best 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, including habitat impacts and minimising bycatch
