Horse mackerel

Trachurus trachurus

5: Avoid How we work out the ratings

What to check for

Location

Norwegian Sea, North Sea (North), Celtic Seas, Cantabrian Sea, English Channel (South), Bay of Biscay. Western stock.

Technical location

Atlantic, Northeast, Bay of Biscay, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea (North), Celtic Sea (South), English Channel (West), Faroes Grounds, Irish Sea, North Sea (North), Norwegian Sea, Porcupine Bank, Southwest of Ireland (East), Southwest of Ireland (West), West of Ireland, West of Scotland

Caught by

Net (purse seine or ring)

Rating summary

The Western horse mackerel population is critically depleted and is a Fish to Avoid.Rating last updated November 2023.

Technical consultation summary

The Western horse mackerel population (or stock) is depleted (Biomass (707,811 tonnes) below Blim (834,480 tonnes) in 2023) despite fishing pressure recently declining (0.75, 2022) now just above FMSY (0.74). There is no precautionary management plan in place for this stock despite rebuilding plans being drafted. The fishery is managed by an annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limit, which had been consistent with scientific advice and limited annual catch in recent years. Catch advice is no longer being followed with TAC set against zero catch advice in 2023. Minimum Conservation Reference Size is smaller than size of maturity. Purse seiners are well-targeted with a very low risk of marine mammal bycatch. Habitat impacts is deemed to be very low as there is no contact with the seabed.

How we worked out this Rating

Critical fail: The horse mackerel population (or stock) in this region is depleted to such low levels that recruitment may be impaired, and without a recovery plan in place. Zero catch is advised but advice is not being followed.The 2023 stock assessment shows the western horse mackerel population (or stock) to be at depleted levels', lower than the biomass limit (Blim) whereby recruitment may be impaired. The populations spawning stock biomass (707,811 tonnes, in 2023) has been below Blim (834,480 tonnes) for the last decade.Fishing pressures have reduced, 0.075 in 2022, in recent years but remains just above FMSY of 0.074 (the maximum rate of fishing mortality, i.e. the proportion of a fish stock caught and removed by fishing, that can sustain a healthy population level). ICES advises that when the MSY approach and precautionary considerations are applied, there should be zero catch in 2024. The spawning stock is forecast to remain below Blim in 2025 even under a scenario of zero catch in 2024.Horse mackerel in the Northeast Atlantic is separated into three stocks: North Sea, Southern, and Western.

References

Abaunza, P., Gordo, L., Karlou-Riga, C. et al., (2003). Growth and reproduction of horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus (carangidae). Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 13, pp.27–61. Available at https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/34725233.pdf [Accessed 06.11.2023]Beltran, J., Brunel, T., Campbell, A. et al., (2021). Workshop for the Review of the Assessment of a New Rebuilding Plan for Western Horse Mackerel (WKWHMRP). International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). ICES Scientific Report Vol. 3 No. 37 https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.8023Froese, R. and D. Pauly (editors) (2023). FishBase: Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus). Available at https://fishbase.mnhn.fr/summary/Trachurus-trachurus.html [Accessed 06.11.2023]ICES. (2021a). EU request to ICES on the assessment of a new rebuilding plan for western horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in ICES Subarea 8 and divisions 2.a, 4.a, 5.b, 6.a, 7.a–c, and 7.e–k. In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2021. ICES Advice 2021, sr.2021.04. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.8039ICES. (2021b). Stock Annex: Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Subarea 8 and divisions 2.a, 4.a, 5.b, 6.a, 7.a-c,e-k (the Northeast Atlantic). ICES Stock Annexes. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.18622697.v1ICES. (2023a). Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Subarea 8 and divisions 2.a, 4.a, 5.b, 6.a, 7.a–c, and 7.e–k (the Northeast Atlantic). In Report of the ICES Advisory Committee, 2022. ICES Advice 2023, hom.27.2a4a5b6a7a-ce-k8, https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.21856521ICES. (2023b). Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE). ICES Scientific Reports. 5:82. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.24025482MCS (2023). MPA Reality Check. Available at https://mpa-reality-check.org/ [Accessed 07.11.2023]MMO (2018). Statutory guidance: Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) in UK waters. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/minimum-conservation-reference-sizes-mcrs/minimum-conservation-reference-sizes-mcrs-in-uk-waters [Accessed 06.11.2023]Seafish (2023). PS - Purse Seine. Available at: https://www.seafish.org/responsible-sourcing/fishing-gear-database/gear/ps-purse-seine/ [Accessed on 13.11.23]