Brown crab

What to check for

Location

England (Southern North Sea)

Technical location

Atlantic, Northeast

Caught by

Pot, trap or creel

Rating summary

This rating is currently under review.

Technical consultation summary

In the Southern North Sea, there is concern for the stock level of brown crab. Biomass is between the limit and MSY target reference point for females, and just below the limit reference point for males. Males have been in decline since 2019. Fishing is also happening outside safe limits. Fishing mortality is above the maximum limit reference point for both males and females. In the Eastern IFCA district there are management measures in place but these are not effective in managing the stock. There is a MCRS of 115mm carapace width in place, but no total allowable catch (TAC) or pot limits in place. Pot fishing is generally considered low impact as it is selective for larger individuals. In the Cromer Shoal MCZ, there is concern that repeated abrasion from potting could be altering the chalk bed, and the fauna and flora communities that live on it.In 2020, Eastern IFCA began an Adaptive Risk Management (ARM) Plan approach to manage potting in the Cromer Shoal MCZ. This is a long-term plan for management of the potting fishery with indicative timescales for development of management alongside research and monitoring, to fill data gaps and assess the effectiveness of management. The ARM Plan is making good progress with a final review expected to take place by the end of 2024, and a byelaw is scheduled to come into effect in 2025.