Black bream

Black bream is a data limited species in the English Channel. There is concern for the biomass, but no concern for fishing pressure.Route 2 (data limited) scoring has been applied to this rating due to the absence of a stock assessment and biomass reference points. Black bream in the English Channel is considered to have medium resilience to fishing pressure, but their stock status remains unknown. Although black bream abundance along the south UK coast and in the southern North Sea has increased over the past century, this is more likely a result of climate-driven range shifts with rising sea temperatures rather than genuine stock growth.Black bream is vulnerable due to its life history. During the spawning season, from April to July, adults form inshore aggregations and seek out specific habitats – level bedrock with a thin layer of gravel or sand – to form nests. These nests are sensitive to disturbance, and habitat degradation can negatively impact recruitment. There is also evidence of nest site fidelity in black bream, meaning adults return to the same spawning areas annually. This behaviour leads to spatial structuring and a basis for genetic differentiation within the English Channel population. As a result, there is an increased risk of local depletion and potential loss of niche adaptations, especially as fishing effort is greatest during the spawning season.Black bream are also protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning all individuals are born female and transition to male at a certain size and age. Fishing pressure is skewed towards larger males, yet these mature males are crucial in black bream reproduction as they guard nests of fertilised eggs. Their removal can reduce recruitment by leaving eggs vulnerable to predators and smothering. Given these vulnerabilities and the lack of biomass indicators, there is concern for black bream biomass in the English Channel.Black bream are caught by both commercial and recreational fisheries. In 2023, approximately 491 tonnes were captured cross the UK, with 36% landed by commercial vessels, 23% kept by recreational fishers, and 41% returned by recreational fishers. Recreational removals in 2023 were estimated at 114 tonnes, slightly above the 2016-2023 average of 102 tonnes, but below the 2021 peak of 133 tonnes. Over this period, an average of 63.6% of recreationally-caught fish were released, and the remainder removed. Commercial landings have varied between 2019 and 2023, with a recent peak of 179 tonnes in 2023, well above the five-year average of 123 tonnes. However, since 2018, most landings of ‘black sea bream’ have been grouped into the category of ‘sea breams’, which includes other species and may be responsible for the apparent increase in landings. Although black bream is not a major commercial species, high market prices for sea breams (£22-45/kg) create an economic incentive to target this non-TAC (Total Allowable Catch) species. Despite these pressures, there is currently no evidence to suggest that black bream is overfished, and given their medium resilience to fishing, fishing pressure is not currently considered a concern.

There are few appropriate management measures in place for black bream within the English Channel.Black bream are not subject to Total Allowable Catch (TAC), and there is no national Minimum landing Size (MLS). Gear-specific regulations in the English Channel include:Pelagic Trawl: minimum mesh size of 16mm in ICES areas 7e and 7d.Drift and Fixed Nets: minimum mesh size of 100mm in area 7e, and 90mm in 7d.Demersal Seine: minimum mesh size of 100mm in both ICES areas 7e and 7d.Although black bream is a minor commercial species, it is highly valued by recreational anglers, making it essential that management addresses both sectors. Breams, made up mostly of black bream, rank as the second most valuable species for charter boats within the South Inshore Marine Planning Area, covering the Devon and Severn, Southern, and Sussex IFCA districts.Currently, only a few IFCA districts - Cornwall, Devon and Severn, and Sussex - have implemented an MLS of 230mm for English Channel black bream. However, to effectively safeguard this species, a national minimum (and ideally, a maximum) landing size is recommended. This would help ensure individuals can reproduce at least once and protect the larger, more fecund fish that are crucial for population stability. This is especially crucial for male black bream, as they are essential in nest guarding and are often disproportionately removed by fishing.Management compliance in the EU and UK has been inconsistent, with ongoing challenges in enforcing some regulations.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 impacts Targets for fishing pressure and biomass, and additional management when those targets are not being met, based on the best scientific evidence Timeframes for stock recovery Improved 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 Stakeholder engagementBlack bream is included in the Seabream FMP, coordinated by Defra. At the time of writing, it is too soon to know whether proposed management measures will be effective in managing the stock. For more information about this FMP and expected progress and timelines, see [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/black-seabream-fisheries-management-plan-fmp].

Recreational pole and line fishing has negligible impacts on the seabed and minimal bycatch. However, there is some concern surrounding pressure on bait species stocks, and uncertainty in recreational fishing data.In 2023, recreational pole and line accounted for the largest share of black bream landings (41.9%), followed by commercial pelagic trawls (32.6%), demersal seines (13.1%), and drift nets (12.5%). Retained black bream by recreational pole and line fishing totalled 114.2 tonnes in 2023.Hook-and-line fishing methods, including handlining, trolling, lures, and rod-and-reel, are among some of the most sustainable and species-selective fishing methods available, with minimal bycatch and no impact on the seabed. Black bream may be recreationally caught using this method from the shoreline or from inshore vessels (including charter boats). Non-target species accidentally caught are typically released alive, with lower post-capture mortality rates than other fishing methods.With seabreams ranking as the second most valuable species for charter boats within the South Inshore Marine Planning Area, black bream is a highly prized sport fish. This popularity drives a high demand on bait fish, which can place additional pressure on bait species populations.Also, recreational fishing is difficult to monitor accurately. Assessments and management measures are often based on estimates rather than up-to-date data and observations. This uncertainty can hinder effective stock assessment and management measures for the recreational sector.

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