Common whelk

This stock is data limited. There is concern for biomass and concern for fishing pressure.Route 2 (data limited) scoring has been applied to this rating owing to the lack of a reference point for biomass and fishing pressure.No independent assessment of species resilience or vulnerability is available. Common whelks mature between 6-9 years with a growth rate of k=0.2 and they are estimated to live around 10-12 years. Additionally, the species has sedentary life history characteristics. Therefore, MCS assesses the species to have low resilience.The most recent report available for fishing effort and landings per unit effort (LPUE) in Isle of Man waters was undertaken in 2018, although this only uses commercial catch data to assess stocks. LPUE depends on where and how fishing has taken place and is likely to be influenced by market access and value of targeted species. Therefore, it can only be used as a crude indicator of stock biomass.Exact LPUE data is not detailed for the fishery, however, it appears to have declined from the highest level of around 3kg/pot in 2007 to 2kg/pot in 2018. LPUE was variable in the 5 yrs to 2018 but the overall pattern is a decline since 2014. Given that the available data is considerably out of date but showed LPUE at its lowest on record, we consider there to be concern for biomass.Exact landings data is not detailed for the fishery, however, the 2018 report indicates that landings have been steadily increasing since 2011 with around 50,000 pot lifts to a high of over 350,000 in 2018. Landings for each year between 2014-2018 were higher than any year recorded previously. Due to the considerable increase in landings, the lack of recent data and the lack of reference points there is concern for fishing pressure.

There are management measures in place, which are partly effective in managing the stock.Isle of Man whelk fisheries are managed by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA). DEFA have implemented some appropriate management measures. A public consultation in 2017 resulted in a change from open access to restrictive licencing for the fishery. Changes in management have apparently stabilised landings which were increasing rapidly. However, the lack of recent stock and fishing data and the lack of fisheries independent data means there is no way to assess the appropriateness or effectiveness of management measures.Whelk management measures in the Isle of Man include:The fishery can only be accessed by vessels with a species-specific license.Limit on total number of pots per license: 1,000 pots (vessels with track record of fishing with whelk pots in certain areas for 1 or more days during 2016 with a valid Isle of Man Sea Fishing License) or 300 pots (vessels with a license to fish for whelk between 0-3NM issued for the first time in March 2017 under the Sea Fisheries (Whelk Licensing etc.) Byelaws 2007).An maximum limit of 3,600 pots across all licenses to be fished within the 3NM limited; and no single vessel may hold a license for more than 600 pots fished inside the 3NM limit.Access to the fishery is restricted to those vessels that hold an Isle of Man ‘Specific Fishery Authorisation’ for whelk. There are currently 17 such authorisations, which have a cumulative total pot allocation of 13,275 pots (of which 0-3 NM area limits apply).Vessels are prohibited from fishing for whelk by any means, other than whelk pots; additional management measures, as required under the Fisheries Act 2012.A Minimum Landing Size (MLS) of 75mm is in force and based on whelk size-at-maturity (L50 - the size at which 50% of the population is sexually mature) in Isle of Man TS of up to 75mm, protecting spawning stocks.Information suggests the fishery is monitored closely in terms of landings per unit effort (LPUE), however recent data or indications of how monitoring is used is not available.10m & under vessels are required to use a ‘Catch Recording APP’.Whelk fisheries in the Isle of Man are not limited by EU Total Allowable Catch (TAC) regulations or national regulations, and therefore are not limited in the number of whelks caught. However, whelk pot limits are in place as detailed above.In the EU, compliance with regulations has been variable, and there are ongoing challenges with implementing some of them.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). 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

Potting or creeling is associated with negligible bycatch and habitat impacts, unless undertaken at high density or in sensitive environments.Whelks are only caught in pots in Isle of Man waters.Bycatch species can both be caught during creel fishing and if pots are lost resulting in ghost fishing. Where studies have been undertaken small sharks, crustaceans, starfish and fish have been reported. A study has indicated that non-target species can usually escape creels after days or weeks especially if the pots include escape gaps for smaller animals.Discards are unknown and discard survival data are limited. However, invertebrates are understood to have high survival rates when discarded from pots or creels.Habitat impacts from potting are low but can occur, impacting the benthic habitat through contact with the pot or end weight, or by scouring from ropes. 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. These habitats and species provide nursery areas, refuges from predators and habitat for the settlement of invertebrate spat. Research that has taken place suggests that 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). Several inshore areas have marine protected areas where further effort, gear and landings restrictions are in place to support habitats and commercial species.Pot fishing is associated with negligible bycatch and habitat impacts. If undertaken at high intensity or in areas where entanglements are common there would be greater concern.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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