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ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

ICES A DVISORY C OMMITTEE ICES CM 2008/ACOM:25 R EF . LRC, RMC

Report of the Working Group on Assessment of New MoU Species (WGNEW)

August 2008 By correspondence

InternationalCouncilfortheExplorationoftheSea ConseilInternationalpourlExplorationdelaMer
H.C.AndersensBoulevard4446 DK1553CopenhagenV Denmark Telephone(+45)33386700 Telefax(+45)33934215 www.ices.dk info@ices.dk Recommendedformatforpurposesofcitation: ICES.2008.ReportoftheWorkingGrouponAssessmentofNewMoUSpecies (WGNEW),August2008,Bycorrespondence.ICESCM2008/ACOM:25.79pp. Forpermissiontoreproducematerialfromthispublication,pleaseapplytotheGen eralSecretary. ThedocumentisareportofanExpertGroupundertheauspicesoftheInternational CouncilfortheExplorationoftheSeaanddoesnotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsof theCouncil. 2008InternationalCouncilfortheExplorationoftheSea

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C o n t e n ts
Executivesummary ................................................................................................................3 1 2 3 IntroductionandTermsofReferenceofWGNEW .................................................4 Participantsbycorrespondence ..................................................................................5 Seabass(Dicentrachuslabrax)....................................................................................6 3.1 3.2 3.3 Generalbioloy .......................................................................................................6 Stockidentity.........................................................................................................6 Thefisheries,historyanddevelopment,andcatchandeffortdata...............6 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 3.3.4 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 4 Fisheriesdata............................................................................................6 Catchbycountry......................................................................................7 Fishingeffort ............................................................................................7 Landingsperunitofeffort(lpue) ..........................................................8

Surveydata............................................................................................................8 Biologicalsampling ..............................................................................................8 Biologicalparameters...........................................................................................8 Analysisofstocktrends.......................................................................................8 Managementregulationsspecifictobass........................................................10 References ............................................................................................................11

Stripedredmullet(Mullussurmuletus)...................................................................23 4.1 4.2 4.3 Generalbiology...................................................................................................23 Stockidentityandpossibleassessmentareas .................................................23 Fisherydata .........................................................................................................23 4.3.1 Catchandeffortdatabyareaandcountry.........................................23 4.3.2 Surveydata .............................................................................................23 4.3.3 Biologicalsampling ...............................................................................23 4.4 Populationbiologyandasummaryofotherresearch ..................................23 4.4.1 4.4.2 4.4.3 4.4.4 4.4.5 4.5 4.6 Lengthweightrelationships ................................................................23 Agestructureandgrowth ....................................................................23 Comparisonbetweenscalesandotoliths ...........................................24 Maturityidentification ..........................................................................24 Relationwiththeecosystem.................................................................24

Conclusions .........................................................................................................24 References ............................................................................................................24

Annex1:Listofparticipants...............................................................................................38 Annex2:WorkingDocument.AnupdateoftheUKbassassessments2007 ............40 Annex3:WorkingDocument.LininginAudierne,France(areaVIIe) .....................74

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Executive summary
TheWorkingGrouponAssessmentofNewMoUSpecies[WGNEW]dealswithsev eralspeciesforwhichICESsofar(withtheexceptionofseabass)hasneverprovided managementadvice.Thespeciesconcernedare:seabass,flounder(exceptfortheBal tic),commondab(exceptfortheBaltic),lemonsole,brill(exceptfortheBaltic),turbot (except for the Baltic), witch flounder, red gurnard, tub gurnard, grey gurnard, stripedredmullet,andJohndory.Twomeetingshavesofarbeenheld:thefirstone in2005andasecondonein2007.ThemaintaskofWGNEWistoprovideinforma tionongeneralbiology,stockID,fisheries,surveydata,biologicalsamplingandpa rameters,stocktrendsandmanagement. WGNEWonlyworkedbycorrespondencethisyear.Sinceonlyseabassandstriped redmulletarepartofongoingresearchprogrammes,thisreportonlycontainsanup date of the informationfor these two species. For the other species the reader is re ferredtothetwoformerreportsofWGNEW(ICES2006and2007). TomakesignificantprogressWGNEWisoftheopinionthatitisessentialthatsome fundingisprovidedtomakedataavailabletoWGNEWandtoperformsomeanaly sesofthesedata.OneofthecomingEUCallsforproposalswillcontaintherequest for a study of WGNEW species. This Call, already expected late 2007, has been de layed however, but is now expected to be published in August 2008. Although WGNEWhadhopedtobeabletoreportonsomefirstresults,thisstudyhasyetto start.

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Introduction and Terms of Reference of WGNEW


Terms of Reference (2007/2/ACOM25) for the Working Group were as follows: the Working Group on Assessment of New MoU Species [WGNEW] (CoChairs: Henk Heessen, Netherlands and JeanClaude Mah, France) will meet by correspondence in2008toreviewandcoordinateprogressonECfundedsmallscaleprojectonanaly ses of data for new assessment species: sea bass, flounder (except for the Baltic), commondab(exceptfortheBaltic),lemonsole,brill(exceptfortheBaltic),turbot(ex ceptfortheBaltic),witchflounder,redgurnard,tubgurnard,greygurnard,striped redmullet,andJohndory.WGNEWwillreportbyAugust2008fortheattentionof ACOM,LRCandRMC. Unfortunately,theEUCallforProposals,containingastudyofWGNEWspecieshas notyetbeenpublished,althoughthisiscurrentlyexpectedforAugust2008. WGNEW, therefore only worked by correspondence this year. Since only sea bass and striped red mullet are part of ongoing research programmes, this report only containsanupdateoftheinformationforthesetwospecies.Fortheotherspeciesthe readerisreferredtothetwoformerreportsofWGNEW(ICES2006and2007).Two WorkingDocumentsonseabassareaddedtothisreportasAnnex2and3.

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Participants by correspondence
RobertBellail FranckCoppin HeinoFock JonRuizGondra HenkHeessen(cochair) StephenKeltz JeanClaudeMah(cochair) KeligMah YvonMorizur StenMunchPetersen AndersSvenson SarahWalmsley France France Germany Spain Netherlands UK(Scotland) France France France Denmark Sweden UK(England)

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3.1

Sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax)


General biology Sea bass, D. labrax,are distributed inNortheast Atlantic shelf waters fromsouthern Norway,throughtheNorthSea,theIrishSea,theBayofBiscay,theMediterranean andtheBlackSeatoNorthwestAfrica.Adetaileddescriptionofthegeneralbiology canbefoundinthe2005WGNEWreport(ICES,2006). A recent tagging study (20002004) (Pawson et al., 2007) suggests that the seasonal migrationofadultbassfromtheNorthSeatotheChannelisnowmuchlessevident, thoughthereisstillconsiderablemixingattheadolescentstagebetweenbassinthe NorthSeaandpopulationsfurtherwest(Pickettetal.,2004).

3.2

Stock identity PreviousreportsofSGBASS(ICES,2002,2004a)presentedinformation,whichcanbe used to identify stocks of bass in Community and adjacent waters in the Northeast Atlantic,andprovidedaninterpretationinrelationtopotentialstockassessmentar eas. This information was used to propose stock boundaries for six areas within which fishery and biological data could be usedinassessmentsof bass populations andforwhichmanagementadvicemaybegiven.

3.3

The fisheries, history and development, and catch and effort data Adetaileddescriptionofthefisheries,historyandgeneraldevelopmentofbassfish eriescanbefoundinthe2005and2007WGNEWreports(ICES,2006,2007).
3.3.1 Fisheries data

Table3.1presentsasummaryofthedatathatwereavailableforusebySGBASS,up datedforthisreport.Dataonfishingeffortexpendedbyvesselstakingbassarenot availableforallcountriesandyearsforwhichbasslandingsaregiven.Thequalityof thedataispatchy,butbassfisheriesintheEnglishChannelappeartohavebeengen erallywellsampledinrecentyears. France SeetheWorkingDocumentbyMorizuretal.inAnnex3. UK TheUK(EnglandandWales,nobasslandingsarereportedintoScotlandorNorthern Ireland)hascatchandeffortdatafor13mtiergroups,coveringfourgroupsofICES DivisionsIVb,c,VIId,VIIe,h and VIIa,f,g. These data include a regionalfleet census from1985to2006.Theeffortdataarerecordedinboatdaysordaysontheground andareclassedasgoodformidwater(pelagic)trawlsfrom1994,gillnetsandlongli nesfrom1985,commercialrodandlineandhandlinesfrom1986.Therestofthedata fortrawlingmtiersisofpoorquality. The UK has good landings data by division and rectangle for midwater (pelagic) trawlsandbydivisionforallothermtiers.Otherdatabyrectangleareofpoorqual ity and there are no data by rectangle for recreational angling. Data on catch value per ICES division and price per grade are now moderate or good for most mtiers andsomepricedataforcommerciallinesareavailable.

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Thebestestimatesofannualcatchandeffortforbasshavehistoricallybeenobtained byintegratingofficialstatisticsderivedfromlandingsdeclarationsandlocalmarket salesatmajorportswiththosefromavoluntary,paidlogbooksystemadministered by CEFAS for minor ports and for the <10 m fleet which covers the bass fishery in England and Wales. The CEFAS logbook system is fully described in the report of WGNEW 2007 (ICES 2007) so will not be reiterated here. In 2007, this logbook schemewascancelled,resultingincatchandeffortdatafromofficialstatisticsonly.It ishopedthattheschemewillberelaunchedin2009. LimiteddiscarddataareavailablefromtheCefasdiscardsamplingprogramme.
3.3.2 Catch by country

Official statistics and the Working Groups estimates of total landings (difference shownasunallocated)ofbassbycountryovertheperiod1984to2004arepresented inTable3.3.MoredetailedcatchdatabystockassessmentareasaregiveninTables 3.43.9. UK (England and Wales) TheofficialtotalbasslandingsinEnglandandWalesfromSubareasIVandVIIrose from106tin1985to660tin1995,andhaverangedaround500tsincethen.Muchof thebasscatchlandedintotheUKistakenbysmallinshorevesselsinamixedgear fishery and does not go through major ports: these figures are therefore underesti mates. The best estimates, suggest that landings remained around 600 t between 1985and1992,roserapidlyto2200tin1994(asthestrong1989yearclassrecruited), thenfluctuatedbetween1050and1900t(meanaround1500t)until2005.Duringthis period,basslandingsintoEnglandandWalesarosemainlyfromnettingandlinem tiers. Good quality data on recreational catch and effort in England and Wales were ob tained for 1986/7 and 1992/3 as a result of two economic studies (Dunn et al., 1989; Dunn and Potten, 1994), which estimated that some 24500 seaanglers fished regu larlyforbassintheUKin1986/87,andthattheannualcatchofbasstakenbyanglers inboth1987and1992wasaround410t.Therearenomorerecentestimatesofrecrea tionallandings.
3.3.3 Fishing effort

Fishingeffortforfleetswhichtargetbassorforwhichbassisareliablebycatch(for lpue estimates) are available for three countries, France, the UK and Spain (Basque country),bymtierandseaarea. UK The numbers of UK vessels involved in fishing for bass in each stock area are esti matedfromafleetcensuscarriedoutbiannuallysince1985.In1985,itwasestimated that185UKboatswereinvolvedinfishingforbassinSubareaIV,increasingto493in 1994 decreasing to 232 in 1996 and rising to 626 in 2005. In Subarea VII, 1791 boats wereinvolvedinfishingforbassin1985,risingtoapeakof1966in1994,with1485in 1996and2016in2005. Total UK nominal effort (all areas combined) increased in the demersal trawl fleet fromanannualmeanofaround6000daysduring19841990toameanof22000days during19911995.Lowereffortwasestimatedforthedemersaltrawlfleetduringthe

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period19962003,withameanof16000days.Thesefishingeffortdataareonlyin dicative,havingbeencompiledinvariouswaysovertheyears. Effortinthenettingfleetshasvariedconsiderablywithnorealtrendovertheperiod 19842005,reachingapeakinmostregionsin1993andatroughin1998/99.Effortin thelinefleetswererelativelyconstantfrom1985to1990,afterwhichtheyincreased toapeakin1992,fellacrosstheyears19941996,andhavesinceshownaslightin crease. From1995,uptosevenpairsofmidwatertrawlerstargetedbassoverwinter/spring 2003/04, and spent a total number of 412 boatdays fishing, more than the previous highest(270days),recordedin2002/03. Overall,thenumberofUKboatsfishingforbasspeakedin1994(2282)andagainin 2002(2328).
3.3.4 Landings per unit of effort (lpue)

MostlpueseriesfortheUKfisheriesinwhichbassarecaughtshowadecliningtrend from 1985 to 1992, followed by a strong increase to a peak in 1994, then generally highbutfluctuatingcatchratesuntil2004.Asindicesofabundance,theseseriessug gestthatproductionofbassinSubareasIVandVIIhasremainedhigherinthemid late1990sthaninthelate1980s,probablyduetotherecruitmentoftheverystrong 1989yearclassandseveralsubsequentyearsofgoodrecruitment. 3.4 Survey data The1989yearclassisthemostabundantinalltheseriesandtheyearclassesof1992, 1993,and1995alsoappeartohavebeengood,althoughpossiblynotsowidespread. Overall, however, the available series indicate an increase in the frequency of good yearclassessince1989(Table3.10). 3.5 Biological sampling UK Cefascontinuestosamplethelengthsandagesofbassincommerciallandings.Good lengthandagecompositiondataareavailableforthemainmtiergroupsinVIIdand VIIe,hfrom1986to2007,withtheexceptionoflinesin1989.Thewinteroffshorepe lagic fishery in Subarea VII was also well sampled between 1996 and 2004. In the NorthSea,samplingwaslargelyconfinedtoIVc,wheregillnetshavebeenwellsam pled since 1987 and lines since 1988, although demersal trawl catches have never been well sampled (the best was 154 lengths in 1994). Division VIIa has generally beenpoorlysampledand,becausethereappearstobeasinglewestcoastbassstock (seeSection4.2);thedatahavebeencombinedforassessmentpurposeswiththoseof VIIf and g, where sampling has been good since 1988 (except for lines in 1989, and trawls and nets in 1992). Over the period 19852007, annual UK sampling in each stockareaaveraged>500agesamples. 3.6 Biological parameters NonewinformationsinceWGNEW2007. 3.7 Analysis of stock trends In2003,theICESBassStudyGroup(SGBASS)usedtheSURBAprogramwithdataon UKandFrenchbasscatchatageandfishingeffortbymtiergroups(trawls,netsand

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lines)forfourstockareas(IVb,c;VIId;VIIe,h;VIIa,f,g)forwhichsufficientbiologi calsamplinginformationwasavailableovertheperiod19852002(ICES,2004a).The assessments utilized a separable model with 12 datasets (three mtiers for each of fourstocks)toprovideindependentassessmentsofthestatusofeachstock,andindi cated common trends in spawningstock biomass (SSB) within stocks, and similar recruitmentpatternsbothwithinandbetweenstocks.Estimatesoffishingmortality usingSURBAwereconsideredtobelessinformative,largelybecauseofalackofin dependencebetweentheselectivitiesofthefisheryandthatoftheindicesofcatchper unitofeffort(cpue)used.Nobiologicalreferencepointswereproposedatthistime. Noupdateontheseassessmentshasbeencarriedoutusinginternationaldatabuta multimtier,fullystatistical,separablecatchatagemodelbasedonthestage1stock synthesis framework of Methot, 1990 was used with UK data for the period 1985 2004 (ICES, 2006, Pawson et al., 2007). This analysis covered the four stock areas previously proposed, namely Divisions IVb,c, Division VIId, Divisions VIIe, h and DivisionsVIIa,f,g.Thisassessmentwassubsequentlyupdatedtoincludedataupto 2006.Inaddition,comparisonsweremadebetweentheofficialcatchandeffortdata andthebestestimatecatchandeffortdatathatisusuallyregardedasbeingamore realistic reflection of the fishery. The results are given in the working document (Kupschusetal.,2007)inAnnex2. Theoutputsfromtheseupdatedassessmentsareincloseagreementwiththeassess mentscarriedoutin2006andusedasthebasisfortheDefraconsultationonthebass MLS. Stocks levels are considered to be at, or close to, series maxima and trends in fishingmortalityfairlylevel,withsomepeaks,throughoutthetimeseries. Recruitmentwasgoodduringthemidtolate1990sandthishasresultedinthecur renthighlandingsandstocklevels.Since2000theSolentsurveysuggestsyearclasses havebeenofmoreaveragestrength.Thisisincontrasttothelateststockassessment resultswhichsuggestthatthe2002yearclassmaybequitestrong.Thishasalsobeen reported by anglers. The Solent index is not used in the assessment, but has been used to corroborate the results of the assessments in the past. Three interpretations arepossible,(1)theindexnolongerproducesthereliableresults,becauseofaspatial shift in the recruitment dynamics of bass, (2) the assessment does not provide the necessaryinformationatyoungeragesduetoashiftintheselectivitypatternofone ormorefleets,or(3)thisisduetovarianceineitherthesurveyorthecatchdata.Un fortunately,theimplicationsofthethreescenariosintermsofmanagementarevery different,anditistoosoontosaywhichismostlikely. PredictedselectivityintheIVbctrawlfleethaschangedtoyoungeragescomparedto previousassessments,suggestingthatthefleetwouldnowbemoreheavilyimpacted bytheMLSthanwouldhavebeenthecaseinthepast.Theselectivitypatternisap plied to the mtier over the whole timeseries. With less than 10% additional data such a dramatic change suggest that the assessment in this area is very sensitive to variation in catch data. However, the situation is complicated. The change in the trawl residual patterns of the two assessments probably indicates a rescaling of the selectivitycomponentinthenewassessmentfromanoisyvariableonepreviously,to onewithlessnoise,butincreasingbiasrecently.Becausecatchesforthetrawlfleetare comparativelysmallinthisareathishashadlittleimpactonthepredictedstockdy namics,butwillalterpredictionoffutureyieldsforthisfleetcomparedtoprevious assessments. Noassessmentofstocksinotherareas,suchastheBayofBiscayhasbeenundertaken andthestatusofthestocksisunknown.

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3.8

Management regulations specific to bass NochangessinceWGNEW2007.In2006theUKgovernmentcarriedoutaconsulta tiononraisingtheMLSto45cm.Afterlengthyconsideration,itwasdecidedtokeep the MLS at 36 cm. However, consideration of other management measures, such as expansionofthenurseryareasiscurrentlyunderway. Given the fact that no assessments have been undertaken for other areas and stock status is unknown, the WG suggests that again effort should not be allowed to in crease and that additional data that could be used for assessments should be col lected.

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3.9

References
Dunn,M.,Potten,S.,Radford,A.,andWhitmarsh,D.,1989.Aneconomicappraisalofthefish eryforbassinEnglandandWales.CEMAREResearchReport,R14.CEMARE,University ofPortsmouth,UK.217pp. Dunn,M.R.,andPotten,S.D.,1994.Nationalsurveyofbassangling,AreporttotheMinistry ofAgricultureFishandFood.UniversityofPortsmouth.45pp.plus7Appendices. Fritsch,M.,Morizur,Y.Poulard,J.C.,Coppin,F.,andBermellFleury,S.2005.Lebarcommun enAtlantiqueNord:Quellesvolutions?PosterprsentaucolloqueGolfedeGascogne, Brest,mars2005.http://www.ifremer.fr/gascogne/colloque2005/posters/P14fritsch.pdf. Fritsch,M.2005.BiologyandexploitationoftheseabassDicentrarchuslabrax(L.)intheFrench fisheriesoftheEnglishChannelandtheBayofBiscay.ThseUniversitdeBretagneOcci dentaleIfremer,258p+appendices. ICES.2002.ReportoftheStudyGrouponBass.ICESCM2002/ACFM:11. ICES. 2004. Report of the Study Group on Bass, Lowestoft, England, August 2003. ICES CM 2004/ACFM:04.73pp. ICES. 2004b. Report of the ICES Advisory Committee on Fishery Management and Advisory CommitteeonEcosystem;ICESAdvice2004,Volume1,No2,Chapter4.4.15.pp380393. ICES.2005.ReportoftheWorkingGroupontheAssessmentofNewMoUspecies(WGNEW). ICESCM2006/ACFM:11. Jennings,S.,andPawson,M.G.,1992.Theoriginandrecruitmentofbass,Dicentrarchuslabrax, larvaetonurseryareas.JournaloftheMarineBiologicalAssociationoftheUnitedKing dom,72:199212. Kelley,D.,1986.BassnurseriesonthewestcoastoftheU.K.JournaloftheMarineBiological AssociationoftheUnitedKingdom,66:439464. Kennedy, M. and Fitzmaurice, P. 1972. The biology of the bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, in Irish waters.JournaloftheMarineBiologicalAssociationoftheUnitedKingdom,52:557597. LamHoaiT.,1970.ContributionltudedesBarsdelargiondesSablesdOlonne.Trav.Fac. Sci.Rennes,Ser.Ocanogr.Biol.,3:3968. Methot,R.D.1990.Synthesismodel:anadaptableframeworkforanalysisofdiversestockas sessment data. In Proceedings of the Symposium on Application of Stock Assessment TechniquestoGadids,pp.259277.INPFCBulletin,50. Morizur, Y., Tregenza, N., Heessen, H., Berrow, S., and Pouvreau, S. 1996. Bycatch and dis cardinginpelagictrawlfisheries.DGXIVtudebioco/93/017,124pp+annexes. Pawson,M.G.,1992.Climaticinfluencesonthespawningsuccess,growthandrecruitmentof bass(DicentrarchuslabraxL.)inBritishWaters.ICESMarineScienceSymposia,195:388 392. Pawson,M.G.,Kelley,D.F.,andPickett,G.D.1987.Thedistributionandmigrationsofbass DicentrarchuslabraxL.inwatersaroundEnglandandWalesasshownbytagging.Journal oftheMarineBiologicalAssociationoftheUnitedKingdom,67:183217. Pawson, M. G., Kupschus, S., and Pickett, G. D., 2007. The status of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stocks around England and Wales, derived using a separable catchatage model, andimplicationsforfisheriesmanagement.ICESJournalofMarineScience,64. Pawson,M.G.,andPickett,G.D.,1996.Theannualpatternofconditionandmaturityinbass (DicentrarchuslabraxL)inwatersaroundtheUK.JournaloftheMarineBiologicalAssocia tionoftheUnitedKingdom,76:107126.

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Pawson,M.G.,Pickett,G.D.,Leballeur,J.Brown,M.,andFritsch,M.2007.Migrations,fishery interactions,andmanagementunitsofseabass(Dicentrarchuslabrax)inNorthwestEurope. ICESJournalofMarineScience,64:332345. Pawson,M.G.,Pickett,G.D.,andSmith,M.T.,2005.Theroleoftechnicalmeasuresinthere coveryoftheUKseabass(Dicentrarchuslabrax)fishery,19802002.FisheriesResearch,76: 91105. Pickett,G.D.1990.AssessmentoftheUKbassfisheryusingalogbookbasedcatchrecording system.TechnicalReport,MAFFDirectorateofFisheriesResearch,Lowestoft,90.33pp. Pickett,G.D.,Kelley,D.F.,andPawson,M.G.2004.Thepatternsofrecruitmentofbass,Dicen trarchuslabraxL.fromnurseryareasinEnglandandWalesandimplicationsforfisheries management.FisheriesResearch,68:329342. Puente, E. 1993. La pesca artesanal en aguas costeras vascas. Publicaciones del Gobierno Vasco.ColeccinItsason11.VitoriaGasteiz,1991.191p. Stequert,B.1972.ContributionltudedubarDicentrarchuslabrax(L.)desreservoirspois sonsdelargiondArcachon.Th.3meyear:FacultdesSciences.

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Table 3.1 Summary of availability and quality of data on bass by area (for all mtiers)quality relatestohowwelllandingsineachareahavebeensampled.
N ORTH S EA (IV B , C ) C HANNEL (VII D , E , H ) I RISH /C ELTIC S EAS (VII A , F , G ) B ISCAY (VIII)

DatatypeQuality Effort

Yearspan Quality Yearspan Quality * * * * 8406 8406 8406 8406 8406 8406 8506 8506 8506 8294 8293 8293 8293 7507 8184,03 8184,89 ** ** * * * * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8293,99,00 8293,99,00 8293,99,00 8293 7707 8184,89,00 8184,89

Yearspan Quality ** ** * * * * ** ** * ** ** ** ** ** * * 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8506 8293 8293 8293 8293 7201 8291,99,03 8291(3yr)

Yearspan Quality * * * ** ** * * * 8402 8405 8405 8405 8405 95 0005 0004

Landings wt/Div wt/Rect value/Div

price/grade * *

Discards anydata

Biologicallengthcomp * agecomp fishwts sexratio maturity condition growth * * * ** ** **

Recruitindex** **

Spawningtiming

distribution *

QualityKey:**=gooddataquality;*=somedatabutpoorquality;blank=nodataavailable.

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Table3.2Summaryofnominallandings(t)ofbassintheNorthEastAtlanticbycountryoflanding.
YEAR CHANNEL ISLANDS 3 DENMARK 1 FRANCE IRELAND 1 NETHERLANDS 1 PORTUGAL 4 SCOTLAND 1 SPAIN 1 UK (ENGL. & W ALES ) 1 UNALLOCATED 2 TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1

25 18 15 14 12 48 25 16 9 6 15 10 20 17 18 16 17 15 21 25 19
2

1 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 1 1 1 2 2 na na na 1

575 1091 1765 2404 1871 1970 1710 2059 2161 1933 1956 2033 2988 2599 2446 3312 3925 3898 3627 4395 4293 5350 5800*

3
3

8 2 8 1 48 32 67 87 111 180 210 197

181 127 351 508 412 379 345 289 373 316 381 229 273 308 361 332 326 279

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 5 3 3 1

430 364 388 402 451 92 146 111 94 104 134 112 158 184 115 134 299 256 271 274 74 53

124 106 129 130 190 202 191 263 156 246 546 661 576 572 489 680 406 355 500 574 613 509 554 675
s

1063 473 493 660 394 332 364 476 454 914 2202 873 680 1700 980 1083 974 919 1047 1153 1608 1116 957
4

2217 2052 2971 3740 3277 3155 2848 3304 3246 3531 5261 4066 4848 5360 4432 5659 6051 5847 5882 6860 6818* 7225*

Source:OfficialStatistics

LandingsestimatedbytheStudyGroup.

Source:19841991ICESBulletinStatistique,19922004,StatesofJerseyFisheriesDepartment.

Revisedfigures

*Provisional

Basquedataonly

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Table3.3Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionsIVb,candVIId.
UK (ENGL. & WALES)

YEAR

DENMARK 1

FRANCE

NETHERLANDS

SCOTLAND 1

UNALLOCATED 2

TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1

1 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

21 175 151 85 104 147 131 161 180 262 260 298 417 290 369 628 695 772 914 1100 937 1260*
2

8 2 4 1 32 32 61 76 105 169 197

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 5 2 <0.5 0

77 76 92 86 102 91 71 168 83 145 356 413 318 321 282 335 217 202 242 268 307 273 250 256
3

577 170 149 194 211 150 185 212 253 346 915 367 267 688 323 598 378 160 457 277 657 596 459

752 496 485 451 527 482 459 709 599 898 1888 1492 1325 1622 1290 1594 1351 1210 1718 1814 2098

Source:ICESBulletinStatistique LandingsestimatedbytheStudyGroup. Officialstatistics

*Provisional.

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Table3.4Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionsVIIe,h.
UK (ENGL. CHANNEL & YEAR ISLANDS 3 DENMARK 1 FRANCE NETHERLANDS 1 SPAIN 1 SCOTLAND 1 WALES) UNALLOCATED 2 TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1

25 18 15 14 12 48 25 16 36 45 49 69 56 74 79 108 19 15 44 49 19

171 98 128 744 228 131 157 202 337 252 163 269 959 774 580 756 684 786 624 1050 1225 1550*
2

4 16 <0.5 4 2 5

1 <0.5

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5

39 19 22 16 30 39 91 45 40 50 66 100 162 150 162 311 139 72 127 233 230 160 186 252
3

283 213 99 209 103 55 59 80 54 88 422 112 49 439 88 94 172 233 206 310 275 156 303

518 348 264 983 373 274 332 343 467 435 700 550 1230 1437 925 1269 1015 1110 1003 1647 1749

Source:ICESBulletinStatistique LandingsestimatedbytheStudyGroup. Sources:19841991ICES BulletinStatistique;19922004,StatesofJersey&GuernseyFisheriesDepartment. Provisional. Basquedataonly.

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Table3.5Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionsVIIa,f&g.
UK (ENGL. & WALES)

YEAR

FRANCE

IRELAND

SCOTLAND

UNALLOCATED 2

TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1

1 13 2 24 7 14 14 75 43 14 9 40 41 31 195 28 70 53 80 40 53 113

3
2

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 2 1

8 11 11 23 43 62 27 27 24 32 110 141 82 88 42 32 50 81 131 73 74 73 118 167

203 90 245 257 80 127 120 184 147 480 735 264 234 443 439 391 424 410 213 382 676 364 316

212 114 258 307 130 203 161 286 214 526 854 445 357 562 676 451 544 544 424 495 805 551

Source:ICESBulletinStatistique LandingsestimatedbytheStudyGroup.*Provisional.

18 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table3.6Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionsIVa,VIa,VIIb,c,j&kandXII.
YEAR DENMARK 1 FRANCE IRELAND 1 NETHERLANDS 1 PORTUGAL SCOTLAND 1 SPAIN 1 SPAIN (BC) UK(ENGL. & WALES) TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5


1

1 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 0.5 <0.5 1 1.5 0.7 <0.5 <0.5 0.5 <0.5 0.5 0 3 1

1 1 1

3
2

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

40 1 1 0

<0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5

0 <0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 <0.5 0 <0.5 1.5 <0.5 0.5 0 0 <0.5 10 1 0 0 0 0

1 <0.5 <0.5 1 3 1.5 1 1 2 1 <0.5 <0.5 3.5 <0.5 41 1 0.3 1 11 <0.5 <0.5 0 0 0

Source:ICESBulletinStatistique EstimatesforSpain(BasqueCountry).*Provisional.

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 19

Table3.7Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionVIIIa,b&d.
UK (ENGL. & WALES)

YEAR

FRANCE

SPAIN

SPAIN (BC)

UNALLOCATED

TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1

381 805 1478 1547 1512 1673 1407 1611 1601 1404 1393 1283 1344 1345 1142 1602 1824 1855 1618 2300 2072 2250*

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 14 14 17 0 0 0 27 11 50 2 15 39 60 29 51 42 50 57 58 42 50 38 65 43

0 1 4 5 15 0 0 18 5 10 5 2 1 3 1 0 0
0 <0.5 2 2 0 1 1

381 806 1482 1552 1527 1673 1407 1646 1620 1428 130 130 130 130 130 1543 1415 1475 1478 1300 1670 1932 1899 1683 2379 2139* 2293*

Source:ICESBulletinStatistique 2EstimatesforSpain(BasqueCountry). 3Landingsestimatedbythe StudyGroup.*Provisional.

20 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table3.8Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionVIIIc.
UK (ENGL. & WALES)

YEAR

FRANCE

PORTUGAL

SPAIN 1

SPAIN (BC) 2

TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1

0 0 5 3 12 1 1 9 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 9 20 1 1 0

<0.5 1 1 <0.5 1 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5


2

180 200 206 208 358 325 395 300 254 247 306 334 376 290 258 221 122 107 152

5 8 14 8 8 9

<0.5

180 200 211 211 370 327 396 310 254 247 307 335 377 290 258 222 25 131 122 160 >3

Source:ICESBulletinStatistique EstimatesforSpain(BasqueCountry).

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 21

Table3.9Nominallandings(t)ofbassbycountryinDivisionIXa.
YEAR PORTUGAL* SPAIN TOTAL

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
*reviseddataset2004.

181 127 351 507 412 378 345 289 372 316 378 229 273 308 361 332 326 279

250 164 182 194 93 92 146 111 94 104 134 112 158 184 115 134 83 102 49 83

250 164 363 321 444 599 558 489 439 393 506 428 536 413 388 442 444 434 475 362

22 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table3.10Recruitmentindicesavailableforbass.
NETHERLANDS WESTER SCHELDE IVC GERMANY CODS IVB THAMES ESTUARY IVC UK (ENGLAND AND WALES) THAMES SOUTH SOUTH WEST ESTUARY (SOLENT) (TAMAR) (CAMEL) IVC VIID VIIE 0-GROUP SEINE SURVEY VIIF 0-GROUP SEINE SURVEY IRELAND WEST (SEVERN) VIIF 0 GROUP PS SCREENS1 3 4 1 15 127 9 216 83 226 8 11 3 96 98 446 25 300 280 202 242 VII 0 GROUP SEINE/ STOP-NET SURVEY

AREA DIVISIO N

YEAR CLASS 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

0 GR BEAM TRAWL SURVEY 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 31 3 414 49 4 15 33 156 110

0-2 GROUP NO/TOW

0 GROUP 0-3 GROUP 2-4 GROUP TRAWL TRAWL PS SURVEY SCREENS2 SURVEY

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 1

78 100 6 5 5 37 21 56 83 62 76 14 116 54 610 433 64 104 131 26 27

0.02 0.23 0.35 1.31 0.45 1.32 2.03 1.66 1.30 0.6* 1.59* 2.69*

11 21 170 32 79 141 176 10 1 5 35 81 436 62 51 59 31 126 234 20 323 80 146 59 48 77 81 57* 44*

2.13 0.02 0.1 4.77 7.54 3.33 0.24 7.12 3.25 3.75 7.44 0.33 3.59 6.69 3.9 1.09 1.13 6.74 3.1 4.67 1.68 0.60 1.52

0.02 1.23 0.3 1.34 0.22 0.01 0.31 0.48 1.12 0.89 0.5 0.25 0.22 1.34 -1.19 1.02 2.64 0.56 1.33

0.15 0.01 0.05 0.02 0

0.03

1 2

discontinued1998. discontinued1996.

*Provisional.

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 23

4
4.1

Striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus)


General biology AdetaileddescriptionofthebiologycanbefoundintheWGNEW2005report(ICES, 2005).

4.2

Stock identity and possible assessment areas AstudyusingthegeometricalmorphometryintheEasternEnglishChannelandthe BayofBiscaywaspresentedinWGNEW2007(ICES,2007).Moreover,accordingto these first results these studies should be supplemented by genetics studies for the identificationofthestocks.

4.3

Fishery data
4.3.1 Catch and effort data by area and country

A description of the fisheries can be found in the 2005 and 2007 WGNEW reports. Thelandingsbyareaandbycountry(France,UK,SpainandNetherlands)werepre sentedinthe2007WGNEWreport.Tables4.1and4.2presentasummaryoftheland ingsofFranceandUK.Table4.3presentsthelandingsfrom1996to2007inBasque portsbyareaandgear.MoredetailsonlandingsinBasqueCountryaregiveninFig ures4.14.3.
4.3.2 Survey data

AdetaileddescriptionoftheCefassurveysandFrenchsurveysintheeasternEnglish Channel and the North Sea was presented in the 2005 and 2007 WGNEW reports. ThesedatawereupdatedandarepresentedinTables4.4and4.5andinFigure4.4 4.6. TheindicesfortheFrenchEVHOEsurveyintheBayofBiscayandtheCelticseaare presentedinTable4.6andFigures4.7and4.8. A comparison of all indices (Number per 30 minutes) for all surveys demonstrates thatthestripedredmulletisprimarilypresentintheBayofBiscayandtheEastern Channel.TheUKCarhelmarsurveyiscarriedoutclosetotheEnglishcoastsandis notrepresentativeoftheWesternEnglishChannel.
4.3.3 Biological sampling

UK (England) and the Netherlands do not routinely carry out market sampling for thisspecies.AninventoryoftheFrenchdatacollectedwasupdatedinTable4.7. 4.4 Population biology and a summary of other research
4.4.1 Length-weight relationships

Thedatawerepresentedinthe2005WGNEWreport.Since2003,thedataareusually collected by France for the eastern English Channel and the southern North Sea. FrancestartedtocollectdataforVIIIa,battheendof2006.
4.4.2 Age structure and growth

The methods were presented in the 2005 WGNEW report. Since 2004, data are col lectedbyFrancefortheEasternChannelandthesouthernNorthSea(Tables4.8and

24 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

4.9 present the length/age key for 2006 and 2007). France started to collect data for VIIIa,battheendof2006. In20072008,astripedredmulletotolithexchangeprogrammeshouldoptimizethe ageestimationbetweencountries.
4.4.3 Comparison between scales and otoliths

Thedataarepresentedinthe2005WGNEWreport.
4.4.4 Maturity identification

MaturitystagesaredescribedinthereportofWGNEW2005.Since2004,Francecol lects data for the Eastern English Channel and the southern North Sea (Tables 4.10 and4.11presentmaturityogivesfor2006and2007).
4.4.5 Relation with the ecosystem

Amodeloftheoptimalhabitatinautumnwaspresentedinthe2005WGNEWreport. The spatial distribution of red mullet in the North Sea was strongly related with warmwaters(ICES,2007b). 4.5 Conclusions Themorphometricstudydemonstratesdifferencesbetweenthestripedredmulletof theeasternEnglishChannelandtheBayofBiscay(ICES,2007).However,thisstudy must be supplemented on the one hand by increasing the number of samples from thesetwoareasandontheotherhandbystudyingotherareas(thecentralNorthSea, IVb;WesternEnglishChannel,VIIe).ThestripedredmulletintheNorthSeaisthat ofapopulationwithitslargefishrelatedwiththeEasternEnglishChannelandthe small fish resident in the North Sea (ICES, 2007b). Moreover, the morphometric re sultsmustbesupplementedbyageneticstudyforthestockidentification. Forstocksassessment,thebiologicalsamplinginformationmustbesupplementedin the eastern English Channel and southern North Sea. Moreover, it is necessary to carryoutconsequentsamplingsintheotherareas(WesternEnglishChannel,VIIe). 4.6 References
ICES,2005,ReportoftheWorkingGrouponAssessmentofNewMoUSpecies.Copenhagen, 1315December,195pp. ICES,2007.ReportoftheWorkingGrouponAssessmentofNewMoUSpecies,911January 2007,Lorient,France.ICESCM2007/ACFM:01.228pp. ICES,2007b.ReportoftheWorkingGrouponFishEcology(WGFE),59March2007,Nantes, France.ICESCM2007/LRC:03.217pp.

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 25

Table4.1Stripedredmulletlandings(int)byFrance(Source:ICESstatistics).
F RANCE VII D VII E VII F VII G VII H IV C IV B VIII B VIII A VIII

1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

0 0 140 156 272 204 206 86 44 32 206 182 128 80 35 31 34 491 185 404 456 254 1495 1531 606 2230 1979 1045 1034 2244 3685 3761 851 2814

0 0 70 141 234 295 157 187 98 101 226 124 123 92 177 164 111 258 261 253 327 211 274 578 525 560 630 711 528 546 860 795 510 574

0 0 0 0 1 0.3 1 0.3 6 3 1 1 1 1 2 4 2 0 6 10 9 7 4 7 12 8 8 16 10 10 18 34 25 31

0 0 0 10 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 3 3 2 1 1 3 7 8 10 10 5 8 12 18 3 3

0 0 0 0 0.3 25 15 26 0 0 0 0 29 29 20 24 21 30 53 31 25 26 27 48 58 69 58 64 65 69 97 91 78 76

0 0 0 0 7 3 6 0 0 0 26 22 7 4 5 4 3 32 23 27 60 54 521 254 123 365 607 359 302 488 491 260 111 494

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 13 10 18 28 61

0 0 0 56 43 84 21 52 0 0 119 86 156 122 187 165 154 153 107 182 85 138 125 72 71 75 129 116 70 222 240 194 149 200

0 0 0 540 176 118 213 281 0 0 361 469 552 533 586 572 530 535 582 651 443 471 436 441 454 342 510 488 492 640 874 947 599 532

0 0 182 0 0 0 0 0 277 250 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 107 118 109 5 2 7 33 19

26 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table4.2Stripedredmulletlandings(int)byUK(Source:ICESstatistics).
UK IV A IV B IV C VI A VI B VII A VII B VII C VII D VII E VII F VII G VII H VII J VII K VIII A VIII B VIII D VIII C XII

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 1 2 22 0 1 0 1 3 2 4 1 0 1 5 0 0 1 0 4 3 0 3 0 0 11 2 0 0 0 0 17 2 0 0 0 0 31 1 0 0 0 0 36 3 0 0 3 0 22 2 0 0 1 0 18 1 0 0 0 0 12 1 6 0 0 0 14 1 0 0 0 0 46 1 0 0 0 0 9 2 0 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 15 1 49 3 52 2 53 2 46 4 36 2 49 3 46

1 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 2 6 5 6 7 9 7 6 5 2

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0

0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 4 2 1 0 0 2 1 9 5 0 0 0 0 0

0 5 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 9

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 10 1 2 4 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 13 86 0 8 88

0 10 0 2 1 3 5

0 11 51 1 15 60 9 10 50 0 56 74 0 26 92 0 33 92 0 75 60 0 37 63

14 16 60 22 3 2 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 7 6 0 0 0 31 11 10 7 6 2 0 0 0 15 38 6 0 0

7 13

3 23 21 5 52 3 25 1 15 0 10 0 1 1 7 6 8 6 6 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0

1 52 106 8 2 99 136 10 0 23 104 11 6 53 94 6

1 12 1 9

0 51 144 6 1 23 133 6 0 10 132 14 0 24 140 10

1 10 3 16 0 14 1 16

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 27

Table4.3StripedredmulletlandingsinBasqueportsbyareaandgearintheperiod19962007.
1996 Species Salmonetes europeos (Mullus surmulletus) Red mullet Gear Trawl Pair trawl Long liners Gillnet Purseiner Others VII 43 0 0 0 0 0 43 2000 VII 380 157 0 63 0 0 600 2004 VII 234 47 0 0 0 0 281 VIIIabd VIIIc 208592 1539 0 0 0 0 210130 VIIIabd VIIIc 284134 4492 8 2706 0 0 291340 VIIIabd VIIIc 501712 10386 0 192 15 0 512304 1061 48 339 16656 44 792 18940 Total 1996 VII 209696 1586 339 16656 44 792 229113 Total 2000 VII 1438 92 2965 18755 245 0 23495 285952 4741 2973 21524 245 0 315435 Total 2004 VII 1426 469 147 20572 55 132 22800 503372 10902 147 20763 70 132 535386 2167 15 440 71 0 0 0 0 511 2005 1715 1 0 0 0 0 1716 2001 1997 VIIIabd VIIIc 92218 2207 0 275 0 0 94699 VIIIabd VIIIc 195146 14790 171 725 7 0 210838 VIIIabd VIIIc 376815 5088 22 44 381968 1420 40 1110 22615 945 686 26816 Total 1997 VII 95352 2247 1110 22890 945 686 123230 Total 2001 VII 0 136 969 20541 20 0 21665 195587 14996 1139 21265 27 0 233014 Total 2005 VII 2572 402 67 19691 62 22793 381554 5504 67 19713 105 0 406942 1207 0 0 0 0 0 1207 367 26 0 0 0 0 393 2006 511 33 0 0 0 0 544 2002 1998 VIIIabd VIIIc 91354 4052 3 3168 0 0 98577 VIIIabd VIIIc 142770 15169 37 1152 2 1 159132 VIIIabd VIIIc 599177 4681 163 17545 44 0 621610 Total 1998 VII 745 38 3633 15998 9 397 20820 92610 4122 3636 19166 9 397 119940 Total 2002 VII 313 58 285 17140 147 202 18144 143450 15253 322 18292 150 203 177669 Total 2006 VII 1086 678 9761 106 25 11656 601470 5359 163 27306 150 25 634473 1108 0 0 0 0 0 1108 2323 0 0 59 0 0 2382 2007 518 132 0 307 0 0 957 2003 1999 VIIIabd VIIIc 202427 5645 0 2357 0 0 210429 VIIIabd VIIIc 350747 5712 22 723 49 0 357253 VIIIabd VIIIc 565331 17325 0 806 46 0 583508 761 9 1092 15190 517 141 17710 Total 1999 203706 5786 1092 17854 517 141 229095 Total 2003 353444 5998 48 14196 120 0 373807 Total 2007 571793 19138 73 35793 46 626844

Total Species Salmonetes europeos (Mullus surmulletus) Red mullet Gear Trawl Pair trawl Long liners Gillnet Purseiner Others

Total Species Salmonetes europeos (Mullus surmulletus) Red mullet Gear Trawl Pair trawl Long liners Gillnet Purseiner Others

374 287 26 13415 71 0 14172

5354 1814 73 34987

0 2181

Total

42228

28 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table4.4Theabundanceindex(Nb/hr)forIfremerSurveys:InternationalBottomTrawlSurvey (IBTS,IVb,c)andChannelGroundFishSurvey(CGFS,VIId).
Y EAR IBTS Q 1 IBTS Q 3 CGFS

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

0.00 0.00 0.42 0.00 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.08 0.04 1.54 0.25 0.57 0.23 0.32 0.67 1.59 2.76 0.38

0.14 1.88 0.56 17.81 8.75 1.88 27.71 4.66 3.82 2.69 1.50 5.54 21.20 12.79

0.71 46.11 3.21 1.53 10.95 3.56 6.70 11.02 9.49 26.14 19.88 6.45 8.73 2.62 8.29 57.86 13.40 7.09 18.45 48.92

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 29

Table4.5Theaverageabundance(numbercaughtper30minutetow)ofstripedredmulletannu allyforCefas:ChannelBeamTrawlSurvey(VIId),EnglishGroundFishSurvey(EGFS,IVb&c), Carhelmar(VIIe),IrishSeaBeamTrawlSurvey(VIIa,f,&g).


Y EAR C HANNEL B EAM T RAWL S URVEY E NGLISH G ROUND F ISH S URVEY C ARHELMAR I RISH S EA B EAM T RAWL
SURVEY

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

0,52 0,12 0,04 0,03 0,11 0,00 0,02 0,07 0,01 0,07 0,09 0,09 0,05 0,05 0,17 0,21 0,02 0,05 0,15

0,57 0,58 0,01 0,05 7,76 0,84 0,19 0,25 0,23 0,21 1,37 0,74 0,55 1,81 0,58 0,53 3,83

1,48 0,55 0,47 0,45 0,70 0,48 0,86 0,92 0,80 0,47 2,14 0,97 1,99 0,11 3,72 0,62 1,32 3,67 1,04

0,00 0,10 0,06 0,01 0,01 0,02 0,02 0,06 0,07 0,11 0,01 0,22 0,19 0,16 0,03 0,39 0,34 0,54 0,72 0,21

30 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table4.6Theaverageabundance(numberandweight(kg)per30minutes)ofstripedredmullet annuallyforEVHOEsurveyintheCelticsea(VIIg,h,j)andintheBayofBiscay(VIIIa,b).
C ELTIC S EA (VII G , H , J ) Y EAR B AY
OF

B ISCAY (VIII A , B )

Number/30minutes 0,02 0,02 0,10 0,16 0,04 0,29 0,66 1,40 0,43 0,14 0,23

W(kg)/30minutes 0,00 0,00 0,03 0,03 0,01 0,08 0,10 0,26 0,11 0,01 0,05

Number/30minutes 3,77 4,68 0,81 3,13 20,48 2,85 20,02 1,16 29,08 4,89 7,32

W(kg)/30minutes 0,16 0,09 0,05 0,14 0,91 0,08 0,85 0,15 1,00 0,24 0,20

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Table4.7BiologicalsamplinginFrance.
L ENGTH Y EAR L ANDINGS VII D ( T ) L ANDINGS IV ( T ) F ISH
NUMBER

A GE F ISH
NUMBER

M ATURITY F ISH
NUMBER

I NDIVIDUAL F ISH
NUMBER

WEIGHT

S AMPLE
NUMBER

S AMPLE
NUMBER

S AMPLE
NUMBER

S AMPLE
NUMBER

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

128.65 77.45 31.37 41.43 37.99 372.22 202.93 403.30 479.45 300.47 1976.37 1745.16 693.96 2652.38 1038.87 2354.54 1185.47 1151.89 1282.89 3685.74 2154 851 2814

16.25 9.81 5.33 3.49 3.86 33.91 23.96 27.72 60.66 54.93 521.52 254.64 126.37 367.34 211.10 582.04 353.56 290.88 342.66 500.42 645 111 494

181 246 65 147 142 536 1941 2991

23 32 9 17 17 10 10 47

372 301 646 740

12 3 4 4

620 196 646 740

12 3 4 4

1401 301 646 740

12 3 4 4

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 31

Table4.8Age/lengthkeyofstripedredmulletintheeasternChannelandsouthernNorthSeain 2006.

32 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Table4.9Age/lengthkeyofstripedredmulletintheeasternChannelandsouthernNorthSeain 2007.

Table 4.10 Striped red mullet maturity ogive in 2006 to the Eastern English Channel and the southernNorthSea.
A GE G ROUP 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

%Mature

10,53

98,67

97,32

99,41

100,00

100,00

100,00

Table 4.11 Striped red mullet maturity ogive in 2007 to the Eastern English Channel and the southernNorthSea.
A GE G ROUP 0 1 2 3 4 5

%Mature

35,48

91,8

97,32

98,59

100

100

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 33

Red mullet landings by gear in the period 1996-2007


700000 600000 Others 500000 Kg 400000 300000 200000 100000 0 Total 1998 Total 1999 Total 2000 Total 2001 Total Total 2002 2003 Total 2004 Total 2005 Total 2006 Total 2007 Purseiner Gillnet Long liners Pair traw l Traw l

Figure4.1RedmulletlandingsinBasqueCountrybygear.
Red mullet landings by sea area for the period 1996-2007
700000 600000 500000 VIIIc 400000 Kg 300000 200000 100000 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 VIIIabd VII VI

Figure4.2RedmulletlandingsinBasqueCountrybyarea.
Red mullet LPUE (Kg/day) in "Baka" otter trawl in Divisions VIIIabd

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 2000 2001 1996 1997 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Total

Figure4.3Redmulletlpue(kg/day)insingleottertrawlinDivisionsVIIIa,b,d.

Figure4.4TimeseriesofabundanceofstripedredmulletintheeasternChannelbaseonCGFS data(Nb/km)from1988to2007.

34 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Figure4.5Abundanceindices(Nb/30minTrawl)ofstripedredmulletpersizeclass(Length,cm.) duringCGFSfrom1988to2007.

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 35

Figure4.6Abundanceindices(Nb/30minTrawl)ofstripedredmulletpersizeclass(Length,cm.) duringIBTS(Q1,allcountries)from1990to2006.

36 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

The Celtic Sea


0,45 0,4 0,35 0,3 0,25 0,2

2,5

1,5

1
0,15 0,1 0,05 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

0,5

0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

The Bay of Biscay


3 2,5
60 80 70

2 1,5 1

50 40 30 20

0,5 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

10 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Figure4.7Timeseriesofabundance(NbandWeight(kg)/30minTrawl)ofstripedredmulletin theCelticSeaandintheBayofBiscayduringEVHOEfrom1997to2007.

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 37

1,40 1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1,40

1,40

1997

1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30

1998

1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00

1999

35

40

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1,40 1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1,40

1,40

2000

1,20

2001

1,20

2002

1,00

1,00

0,80

0,80

0,60

0,60

0,40

0,40

0,20

0,20

0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1,40 1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1,40
3,00

2003

1,20 1,00

2004

2005
2,50 2,00

0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40


1,50

1,00

0,50

0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1,40 1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

1,40

2006

1,20 1,00 0,80 0,60 0,40 0,20 0,00 5 10 15 20 25 30

2007

35

40

Figure4.8Abundanceindices(Nb/30minTrawl)ofstripedredmulletpersizeclass(Length,cm.) duringEVHOE(BayofBiscayandCelticSea)from1997to2007.

38 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Annex 1: List of participants


N AME A DDRESS P HONE F AX E MAIL

Robert Bellail

IFREMER 8,rueFranois Toullec F56100Lorient France IFREMER 150,QuaiGambetta F62200Boulogne surMer France Inst.forSea Fisheriesi Palmaille9 D22767Hamburg Germany Txatxarramendi ugartea Sukarrieta Bizkaia Spain

+33297873819

+33297873836

Robert.Bellail@ifremer.fr

Franck Coppin

+33321995610

+33321995601

Franck.Coppin@ifremer.fr

Heino Fock

+494038905266

+494038905263

heino.fock@ish.bfafisch.de

JonRuiz Gondra

+34946029400

+34946870006

jruiz@suk.azti.es

Henk Heessen Cochair

IMARES POBox68 NL1970AB IJmuiden Netherlands FisheriesResearch Services. POBox101, 375VictoriaRoad, AB119DBAberdeen UK

+31317487089

+31317487326

henk.heessen@wur.nl

Stephen Keltz

+44(0)1224 876544

+44(0)1224 295511

s.j.keltz@marlab.ac.uk

Jean Claude Mah Cochair Kelig Mah

IFREMER 8,rueFranois Toullec F56100Lorient France IFREMER 150,QuaiGambetta F62200Boulogne surMer France

+33(0)2978738 18

+33(0)2978738 36

Jean.Claude.Mahe@ifremer.fr

+33321995602

+33321995601

Kelig.Mahe@ifremer.fr

Yvon Morizur

IFREMER CentredeBrest BP70 F29280Plouzan France

+33(0)298224481

+33(0)298224653

Yvon.Morizur@ifremer.fr

Anders Svenson

Havsfiskelaboratoriet Turistgatan5 Box4 45330Lysekil

+46(0)52318757

+46(0)52313977

anders.svenson@fiskeriverket.se

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

| 39

N AME

A DDRESS

P HONE

F AX

E MAIL

Sarah Walmsley

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory Lowestoft SuffolkNR330HT UK

+44(0)1502527790

+44(0)1502513865

sarah.walmsley@cefas.co.uk

40 |

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Annex 2: Working Document. An update of the UK bass assessments 2007


ByS.Kupschus,M.T.SmithandS.Walmsley

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41

Working Document for the ICES WGNEW 2008 (By Correspondence July 2008).

An update of the UK bass assessments 2007 Kupschus, S., Smith, M. T., Walmsley, S. Cefas, Lowestoft Lab, Pakefield Rd, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT. UK Introduction In 2006 Cefas carried out a series of bass assessments for four (stock) areas (West Coast VIIafg, Western Channel- VIIeh, Eastern Channel-VIId and North Sea- IVbc) to determine the status of stocks and to provide a basis for scenario testing potential future management options for bass fisheries in UK coastal waters. The assessments (Pawson et al, 2007) indicated that although the abundance of bass could not be determined on an absolute basis, for several reasons, relative stock indicators pointed to currently healthy stocks. The data used in the assessments were based on two data sources; the official Fishing Activity Database (FAD) and a logbook scheme developed by Cefas. FAD was used to estimate trawl catch and effort as trawlers are considered better sampled by this recording system. Net and line metiers are usually prosecuted by inshore vessels, less than 10m (<10m) in size, and were assessed using the Cefas logbook scheme because these data were generally poorly captured by the FAD system. The Cefas logbook scheme relies on a stratified survey of ports to assess the number of active boats and a set of participants of the scheme that provide information on the activity and catches of subset of the boats in each region. Rather than recording all catches, the logbook scheme estimates them on the basis of a relatively small sub-sample. Despite the small sample size the scheme is quite costly. From 2007 and onwards, the logbook scheme was cancelled due to Defra spending cuts, and because there is a belief that the introduction of the registration of buyers and sellers scheme has improved the performance of data collection in the official landings statistics. It is the aim of this study to (1) update the assessments to 2006, the last year for which logbook data is available and (2) to compare assessments using both datasets with those using only FAD data and examine the implications of using only FAD data for understanding of the bass fisheries and the provision of advice. Management for bass has tended to consider the UK fishery as a whole, rather than focussing on different regional aspects. Summary results for updated assessments are therefore presented by metric for all fishery areas together, rather than presenting all metrics for each area in turn. Methods The data aggregation methods and fleet based separable model used in this study were described by Pawson et al., (2007). Data were essentially unchanged with the exception of the addition of data for two more years (2005 & 2006) and some minor revisions to logbook data for the nets and lines metiers. These revisions were most notably where vessels had been allocated to inappropriate fishing power categories and resulted in small changes to the estimates of landings and effort for these metiers.

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The data are generally quite variable and consequently the model fitting algorithm may at times have difficulty finding a suitable solution, tending to converge to unreasonable estimates of virtually zero F with very large stock size. The problem is not one of a lack of a suitable solution, but one of finding it. In order to constrain the algorithm to search in a plausible solution space a penalty function is included in the model. The inclusion of 2 more years of data generally improved model behaviour with respect to convergence and it was therefore possible to reduce the weight of the penalty function (model constraint), compared with previous assessments. For the comparison of assessments, catch and effort data for the net and line metiers, estimated from the Cefas logbook scheme, were replaced by corresponding data from the FAD. In addition, some experimenting with the weight of the penalty function was carried out for the new assessments, but in general it was found that convergence could be attained with very similar levels of constraint given either dataset. Results Results of the updated assessment were in good agreement with previous assessments for the period up to 2004. Observed and fitted landings (Figure 1) show that in all areas, other than VIIeh, observed landings have declined slightly since the peak in 2004. However, landings in all areas remain relatively high. As with previous assessments, fitted landings tend to be estimated slightly higher than observed landings in recent years. Trends in fishing mortality (Figure 2) were relatively level over the complete time series, but peaks occurred at different times in the different areas, most notably in VIId in the early 1990s and in VIIeh in the late 1990s. Trends in F have been stable since 2004 for all but the VIIafg stock, where a slight rise is indicated. Year class strength was estimated to be relatively consistent between areas and was in close agreement with the independently derived Solent pre-recruit index (Figure 3). As might be expected given the spatial proximity, correspondence between the Solent index and estimates from the assessments was strongest for VIId followed by VIIe, with slightly poorer correspondence for IVb and VIIafg. The stock assessments for VIId and VIIe suggest that the 2002 year class may be quite strong in these areas, but this was not particularly apparent in the Solent index. However, assessment based estimates of recent year class strength have a high degree of uncertainty associated with them because there are relatively few data points in the catch matrix for these cohorts. Spawning stock biomass (Figure 4) was estimated to be high in all areas and was at or close to the series maximum in most areas. Stock recruit plots (Figure 5) showed no obvious relationship between stock size and recruitment, which would be expected for a species such as bass where spawning success and juvenile survival are heavily dependent on climatic conditions, especially temperature. Predicted selectivity patterns for VIId and VIIafg (Appendices 2 & 4) remained virtually unchanged from previous assessments. For VIIeh (Appendix 3) there was an apparent increase in the selectivity of all gears for older fish, although the relative

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selectivity between gears was very similar. This may be an artefact caused by the change in the relative strength of the penalty function in these assessments compared to the old assessments, rather than an actual change in selectivity. One notable change in selectivity was for the trawl metier in IVbc. Maximum selectivity in previous assessments was predicted to be at age 8, whereas in the new assessments this was at age 6 (Figure 6). Figure 6. Estimated selectivity patterns for the updated (2006) assessment (top) and the original 2004 assessment (bottom)

1.0

Trawls q= 40.484 *10-5 Nets q= 29.818 *10-5 Lines q= 10.845 *10-5

Sel 4bc

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Discussion The outputs from these updated assessments are in close agreement with the assessments carried out in 2006 and used as the basis for the Defra consultation on the bass MLS. Stocks levels are considered to be at, or close to, series maxima and trends in fishing mortality fairly level, with some peaks, throughout the time series.

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Recruitment was good during the mid to late 1990s and this has resulted in the current high landings and stock levels. Since 2000 the Solent survey suggests year classes have been of more average strength. This is in contrast to the latest stock assessment results which suggest that the 2002 year class may be quite strong. This has also been reported by anglers. The Solent index is not used in the assessment, but has been used to corroborate the results of the assessments in the past. Three interpretations are possible, (1) the index no longer produces the reliable results, because of a spatial shift in the recruitment dynamics of bass, (2) the assessment does not provide the necessary information at younger ages due to a shift in the selectivity pattern of one or more fleets, or (3) this is due to variance in either the survey or the catch data. Unfortunately, the implications of the three scenarios in terms of management are very different, and it is too soon to say which is most likely. Predicted selectivity in the IVbc trawl fleet has changed to younger ages compared to previous assessments, suggesting that the fleet would now be more heavily impacted by the MLS than would have been the case in the past. The selectivity pattern is applied to the metier over the whole time series. With less than 10% additional data such a dramatic change suggest that the assessment in this area is very sensitive to variation in catch data. However, the situation is complicated. The change in the trawl residual patterns of the two assessments probably indicates a rescaling of the selectivity component in the new assessment from a noisy variable one previously, to one with less noise, but increasing bias recently (Figure 7). Because catches for the trawl fleet are comparatively small in this area this has had little impact on the predicted stock dynamics, but will alter prediction of future yields for this fleet compared to previous assessments. Comparison between hybrid logbook and FAD only based assessments and implications for management. Summaries for the comparisons between hybrid and FAD only assessments for the four stocks are shown in appendices 1 to 4. What follows is a synopsis of the generalisations that can be made between the various comparisons. In terms of stock dynamics such as recruitment and SSB there is little difference between the assessments. F levels are noisy and both assessments indicate a variable, but more or less stable level of F over the time period. It seems that the true underlying trend in effort (not that used in the assessment) contains much less contrast than the fluctuations in the year class strength, and the assessments are therefore robust to the annually differing patterns of effort provided by the two data sources. It is not possible to analytically distinguish which of the data sources provides the more realistic assessment, because it is not possible to separate bias and variance components of the residuals. Although, as indicated above it is not possible to distinguish the more suitable data source from the assessment diagnostics, detailed research was carried during the development of the Cefas logbook scheme to ensure that it was representative of the bass fishery and the hybrid logbook data is therefore likely to be less biased than the FAD only data. This implies that FAD only data sources would take longer to average out their temporal biases, whilst hybrid data suffering from variance components only should average out more quickly. From a management perspective, neither data

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source provides the basis for detailed annual catch projections as provided for TAC stocks, although the hybrid logbook scheme data should provide reasonable stock and yield projections over a time frame of 5 years, where as those from the FAD data may provide reasonable average yield projections only over longer periods, dependent on the periodicities in the biases in the FAD data. In the model effort is assumed to be determined without error. Because, in the model, F is linearly related to effort, any errors in the determination of effort result in an increase in the size of catch residuals. Smoothing of the F trend, or some appropriate method of accounting for the variance in the estimate of effort would likely further increase the similarity of the hybrid and FAD only assessments in terms of F trends and should be investigated. The hybrid assessments already use a FAD component, as all trawl catches are estimated using FAD data. The updated assessment for area IVbc indicates what can happen when using inappropriate FAD data. A detailed reconstruction of the data and investigation of the assessment diagnostics revealed an apparent change in the selectivity of the fleet (see above). The most likely cause is the decline of the North Sea demersal fleet in recent years. The metier is not homogenous, consisting of inshore and offshore components. Some inshore components are likely targeting bass at some time of the year, whereas bass are largely an incidental by-catch for the offshore components. Due to the TAC and effort restrictions associated with cod recovery measures there have been changes in the relative contribution of effort and landings between these components, which has resulted in a change in the selectivity of the metier as used in the assessment. This violation of the separability assumption reduces the quality of the assessment, although in this case the problem is minor due to the comparatively small contribution of this (trawl) metier. However, such changes are inevitable when using aggregate data from FAD. Although, at least in theory, the problem is not limited to FAD data, stratification in the logbook scheme and detailed fisheries knowledge provided by correspondents does allow for much closer monitoring of the effects. In contrast, FAD data in terms of gear, location and targeting is collected on a much coarser scale, so offers much less opportunity for control of such instances. Investigating the scope for sub-setting FAD data for bass might provide some opportunities to improve their utility for assessment.

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Conclusions For recent ICES advice on bass the logbook scheme has provided little additional information that could not have been provided using FAD data alone. However, on the domestic front, the extra logbook scheme information has provided an improved basis for evaluation of potential management options. Projected stock trends based on FAD data alone are likely to have been broadly similar for the projections run last year, because selectivities for the various fleets are similar for the two data sources. However, yields differ significantly between the data sources and hence the estimates of the economic impact of the proposed measures would differ. In this case the logbook scheme is likely to provide better estimates than FAD. In general the logbook scheme is variable, but unbiased so that errors will balance out over much shorter periods of time, so that shorter term projections will give more realistic results than projections based on the FAD data. The latter are likely to have less variance, due to the much larger sample sizes, but higher temporal biases associated with changes in the fleet components. This will provide more precise, but likely less accurate estimates of past landings and future yield. References Pawson,M.G., Kupschus, S. & Pickett, G.D., 2007. The status of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) stocks around England and Wales, derived using a separable catch-at-age model, and implications for fisheries management. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 64:346-356.

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Figure 1. Cefas best estimates of landings (t) (solid bars), and fitted landings (open bars)

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Figure 3. Year class strength as estimated by stock assessments (open bars) and independently estimated from the Solent pre-recruit survey

Rec 4bc Rec 7d Rec 7eh Rec 7afg Index

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Figure 5. Stock and recruitment

SSB (t)
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Figure 6. Estimated selectivity patterns for the updated (2006) assessment (top) and the original 2004 assessment (bottom)

1.0

Trawls q= 40.484 *10-5 Nets q= 29.818 *10-5 Lines q= 10.845 *10-5

Sel 4bc

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Figure 7. Residual Plots for the hybrid NS assessments produced for data up to 2004 and 2006 indicating the shift in the residual pattern of the trawl data, as a result of the violation of the constant catchability assumption
ADM_b4bc85_04
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Red negative residuals, blue positive residuals Labels from 1 to 10 correspond to ages 3 to 12

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Appendix 1. North Sea, IVbc Selection patterns for trawls and nets for the FAD only assessment in the North Sea are higher at older ages, which could be considered preferable when compared to the very peaked selectivity for the best estimate assessment. The latter suggests that older fish are unavailable to the fishery, which could also be plausible, if they migrate out of the area of the fishery, for example to offshore areas where they are not fished, or to the western English Channel. The selectivity for lines based on the FAD only assessment is very low for the younger ages which seems rather unlikely. In general both sets of selectivity patterns appear plausible and it is difficult to select on this basis. Residual patterns for the FAD only assessment are very similar to those for the best estimate assessment, indicating that the poorer fitting points are largely the same. The FAD based assessment seems to show stronger under estimation of trawl catchability at younger ages in recent years, than the best estimate assessment, and more defined year effects for lines than the best estimate assessment. Comparison of the landings data shows the difference in scale between the FAD and best estimates, but the relationships between observed and fitted data appear very similar for both assessments. Trends in fishing mortality (F) in this assessment model are driven by the effort data and these differ between the two assessments, with the FAD assessment suggesting a peak in F in the middle of the time series, while the best estimate F trend is fairly level, but noisy. The FAD effort data relate to all fishing effort for each of the three gear groups and therefore take account of non-bass directed effort. The decline in F since the mid 1990s could therefore be explained by a reduction in fishing effort by white fish fleets largely targeting gadoids. By contrast the Cefas logbook scheme measures directed effort for bass and the best estimates of effort for nets and lines will be largely driven by this and influence the trend in F in the assessment. The logbook scheme is relatively under sampled in the North Sea, which would explain the variable nature of the signal. Year class strength estimates from both assessments are very similar for most of the series and match the Solent pre-recruit index well. The major difference between assessments is in recent years where the FAD assessment suggests relatively high year class strengths, while the best estimate assessment and Solent index year class strengths are more average. However, in common with the FAD only assessment, the Thames pre-recruit index suggests the 2002 and 2003 year classes are particularly strong. The Thames survey may be more representative of recruitment in the North Sea, but its long-term reliability has yet to be proven, while historically the Solent survey has shown good agreement with catch data. Both assessments indicate similar upward trends in spawning stock biomass (SSB), with the FAD estimates increasing rapidly in recent years in response to the strong estimated recruitments and declining F. In general terms the FAD scenario seems somewhat less likely than the more stable scenario given by the best estimates.

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Figure A1.1. IVbc selectivity patterns, FAD only above, combined below

1.0

Trawls q= 51.477 *10-5 Nets q= 68.121 *10-5 Lines q= 87.538 *10-5

Sel 4bc85_

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Figure A1.2. IVbc Update (left) and FAD (right) assessment catch residuals
ADM_b4bc85_06
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Residual plots for IVb suggest some tendency to over estimate trawl catch for the younger ages in the early and later years of the assessment and underestimate during the middle years. This is more apparent in the update than the FAD only assessment, where the latter tends to underestimate catch at young age in several recent years. For nets there appears to be underestimation of catch for the younger ages in later years in both assessments. For lines overestimation of catch for young and moderate ages during the middle years of the assessment time series is apparent in both assessments with a negative year effect more apparent in the FAD assessment. However, in general the residuals do not show strong systematic patterns, despite the feeling that this fishery area is more poorly sampled than the others and has potentially seen more changes in the fishery than the other areas.

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Figure A1.3. IVbc landings time series, open bars: output; solid bars: input, FAD only above, combined below

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Figure A1.4. IVbc trends in fishing mortality, FAD only above, combined below

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Figure A1.5. IVbc year class strength estimates, FAD only above, combined below

Rec 4bc85_ Rec 4bc Index

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Figure A1.6. Thames pre-recruit survey index

THAMES TRAWL SURVEY - BASS RECRUIT INDEX 2.5

2.0
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Figure A1.7. IVbc trends in SSB estimates, FAD only above, combined below

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Appendix 2. Eastern English Channel, VIId Selection patterns for all three gear groups tend to be more peaked for the FAD only assessment in the Eastern English Channel and the best estimate patterns could be considered slightly preferable. The former suggest that older fish are unavailable to the fishery, which could also be a plausible scenario, if they migrate out of the fishery, for example to offshore areas where they are not fished, or to the western English Channel. In general both sets of selectivity patterns are plausible. Residual patterns for the FAD only assessment are very similar to those for the best estimate assessment, indicating that the poorer fitting points are largely the same. The FAD based assessment seems to show a slightly better fit for nets and worse for lines than the best estimate assessment. Comparison of the landings data shows the difference in scale between the FAD and best estimates as well as more contrast in the best estimate data. The latter could be real, or could reflect the relatively low level of sampling in the Cefas logbook scheme, which is thought to reduce bias, but increase variability (noise). The relationships between observed and fitted data appear very similar for both assessments with fitted landings estimated higher than the input data in recent years. Trends in fishing mortality are similar between the two assessments, with the FAD assessment suggesting a sharp peak in F as the very strong 1989 year class entered the fishery, while in the best estimate assessment this peak in F is extended for several years. FAD would not be expected to capture changes in catch and effort as effectively as the Cefas logbook scheme where the fishery was prosecuted by small vessels, which could be the case in this area. Also it is thought that bass fishermen are able to target a strong year class over several years, which could give credence to the extended peak, with the exceptional 1989 year class forming the basis of the fishery for several years. Examination of the logbook fleet census data suggests this is not related to the 4-5 year rotational sampling design as the data change at a finer scale than this over this period, but relates to real increases in the numbers of vessels fishing for bass (Figure A2.5). The pattern of year class strength estimates from both assessments are almost identical for the whole time series and match the Solent pre-recruit index well for all but the most recent years, where both assessments suggest relatively high year class strengths for the 2002 and 2003 year classes, while the Solent index year class strengths are more average. However, it should be noted that the most recent estimates of year class strengths in assessments tend to be more poorly determined because fewer catch data relating to these cohorts are available. Both assessments indicate similar upward trends in SSB, with the best estimates assessment increasing more rapidly in recent years in response to the strong estimated recruitments and a somewhat lower F. There are features of each assessment that could be more plausible and it is difficult to decide which is more reliable, however both give a very similar overall prognosis.

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Figure A2.1. VIId selectivity patterns, FAD only above, combined below

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Trawls q= 21.833 *10-5 Nets q= 9.512 *10-5 Lines q= 23.677 *10-5

Sel 7d85_

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Figure A2.2. VIId update (left) and FAD (right) assessment catch residuals
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The residual patterns between for assessments based on the different data sets are very similar. Residual plots for VIId suggest some tendency to over estimate trawl catch for the younger ages in most with years of the assessment, with some underestimation of catch for the middle ages in the middle years of the time series. Trawl catch for ages 3, 4 and 5 is also underestimated in the most recent two years. For nets there appears to be some underestimation of catch for the ages 4, 5 and 6 in later years, with these ages overestimated earlier, while for lines there appears to be some overestimation of catch for all ages in the most recent two years. The bass fishery in this area is well established and the area is considered well monitored relative to the bass fisheries in other areas.

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Figure A2.3. VIId landings time series, open bars: output; solid bars: input, FAD only above, combined below

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Figure A2.4. VIId trends in fishing mortality, FAD only above, combined below

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Figure A2.5. Cefas census of active bass vessels by gear group in VIId
Census num ber of vessels in VIId - gears com bined

450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0


1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Otter Traw l

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Figure A2.6. VIId year class strength estimates, FAD only above, combined below

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Figure A2.7. VIId trends in SSB estimates, FAD only above, combined below

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Appendix 3. Western English Channel, VIIeh Selection patterns for all three gear groups tend to be more peaked for the FAD only assessment in the Western English Channel and the higher selectivities at older ages exhibited by the best estimate patterns are considered preferable, particularly in this area where relatively more commercial fishing targeting older bass takes place. Residual patterns for the FAD only assessment are somewhat different to those for the best estimate assessment with trawls showing an increase from negative to positive through the time series in the FAD only assessment and the opposite trend occurring in the trawl residuals in the best estimate assessment. The FAD assessment shows some downward trends in residuals through the time series for both nets and lines whereas year effects are more apparent for these gears in the best estimate assessment. Comparison of the landings data shows the difference in scale between the FAD and best estimates and although the trends are broadly similar there are differences, most notably a broad plateau in observed landings in FAD occurring from1994-1999, while for the best estimates the distribution over this time period is more peaked with the maximum value in 1997. Fitted landings in 1995 for the best estimate assessment were considerably higher than observed landings, suggesting there may be a problem with the data consistency in this time period. Trends in fishing mortality show some similarities and some differences between the assessments. F derived from FAD has a small peak in 1989, while in the best estimate assessment F is declining for several years around this time. Both assessments show a peak in F 1997, subsequent decline but increase again by 2006. The patterns of year class strength estimates from both assessments are very similar for most of the time series, with the notable exception of 2003, which is estimated as weak in the best estimate assessment, but strong in the FAD only assessment. However, it should be noted that the most recent estimates of year class strengths in assessments tend to be poorly determined because few catch data relating to these cohorts are available in the analysis. Both assessments indicate similar general upward trends in SSB, with a dip in 1991 followed by a bulbous peak in the mid 1990s, which is less peaked but extends for longer in the FAD only assessment. Again there are features of each assessment that could be more plausible and it is difficult to decide which is better. Both give a similar overall prognosis of current high stock levels.

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

65

Figure A3.1. VIIeh selectivity patterns, FAD only above, combined below

1.0

Trawls q= 5.443 *10-5 Nets q= 24.165 *10-5 Lines q= 18.705 *10-5

Sel 7eh85_

1.0 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Trawls q= 6.941 *10-5 Nets q= 33.825 *10-5 Lines q= 11.86 *10-5

Sel 7eh

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

10

15

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ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Figure A3.2. VIIeh Update (left) and FAD (right) assessment catch residuals
ADM_b7eh85_06
10000

ADM_b7eh85_06FAD

10

10

10

15

20 150000

10

15

20

10

15

20

10

15

20

10

10

10

15

20 1e+05

10

15

20

10

15

20 15000

10

15

20

-5e+04

-1e+05

10

-15000

Residual plots for VIIeh suggest a tendency to underestimate trawl catch in the update assessment at ages 4-8 in the last 2 to 3 years and to overestimate at age 4 for much of the time series. In the FAD assessment by contrast catch is over-estimated at these ages in recent years. Diagonal year class effects occur in many of the residuals for this gear group in both assessments. Residuals for nets in the update assessment show alternating year effects (vertical), while for lines there appears to be some overestimation of catch for younger ages in the more recent half of the time series ages with some underestimation of the young and middle ages in the first and last years of the series. The FAD assessment also shows some year effects for nets, while the residuals for lines suggest a negative trend through time for the main ages in the landings.

5000

Trawls

Trawls

-5000

-10000

50000

-50000 0

Nets

Nets

-150000

5e+04

10

10

-5000 0 5000
1

0e+00

Lines

Lines

-60000

-20000

20000

60000

10

10

-30000

-10000

10000

30000

10

10

10

10

15

20

10

15

20

10

15

20

10

15

20

Red negative residuals, blue positive residuals Labels from 1 to 10 correspond to ages 3 to 12

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

67

Figure A3.3. VIIeh landings time series, open bars: output; solid bars: input, FAD only above, combined below

Land 7eh85_ Land 7eh

0 1985

200

400

600

800

1000

12000

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Figure A3.4. VIIeh trends in fishing mortality, FAD only above, combined below

F 7eh85_ F 7eh

0.0 1985

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.00

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.10

1990

1995

2000

2005

68

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Figure A3.5. VIIeh year class strength estimates, FAD only above, combined below

Rec 7eh85_ Rec 7eh Index

1 2

500 1000

2000 0

1000

3000

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

Figure A3.6. VIIeh trends in SSB estimates, FAD only above, combined below

SSB 7eh85_ SSB 7eh

0 1985

500

1000

1500

5000

10000

15000

1990

1995

2000

2005

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

69

Appendix 4. West Coast, VIIafg Selection patterns for all three gear groups tend to be more peaked for the FAD only assessment and the higher selectivities at older ages exhibited by the best estimate patterns are considered preferable, particularly as this may also be an area where relatively more targeting of older bass takes place in the commercial fishery. In particular, the reduction in catchability for the line fishery at older ages in the FAD only assessment is undesirable. Residual patterns for the FAD only assessment are similar to those for the best estimate assessment for trawls but differ slightly for nets and lines. The FAD based assessment seems to show fewer but stronger year and year class effects for nets, than the best estimate assessment and to fit slightly better for lines. An underestimation of catchability at age 6 in the second part of the time series for nets, in particular, as well as lines, is more apparent in the FAD assessment. Comparison of the landings data shows the difference in scale between the FAD and best estimates and although the trends are somewhat different. A peak in observed landings in the best estimates occurs in 2004 and this is not apparent in the FAD landings which peak in 1995 and again in 2002. There is also a large estimated landings figure in the best estimate assessment in 2000 that is not apparent in the assessment using FAD only data. Trends in fishing mortality are quite different between the two assessments. F derived from FAD has a sharp peak early in 1988 and is thereafter fairly level with a small peak in the mid 1990s and slight rise in the last two years. The best estimate assessment suggests F may be increasing through the time series, with peaks in the late 1980s, 1993 and 2000. The patterns of year class strength estimates from both assessments are very similar throughout the time series and generally in good agreement with the Solent pre-recruit index. Both assessments indicate similar trends in SSB, level over the first 5 years of the assessment and then increasing steadily, although the FAD assessment suggests a steeper increase. Both give a very similar overall prognosis of current high stock levels.

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Figure A4.1. VIIafg selectivity patterns, FAD only above, combined below

1.0

Trawls q= 27.713 *10-5 Nets q= 63.005 *10-5 Lines q= 72.917 *10-5

Sel 7afg85_

1.0 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Trawls q= 10.587 *10-5 Nets q= 6.296 *10-5 Lines q= 12.58 *10-5

Sel 7afg

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

10

15

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

71

Figure A4.2. VIIafg Update (left) and FAD (right) assessment residuals
ADM_b7afg85_06
10 10

ADM_b7afg85_06FAD
10000 20000

10

10

10

15

20

10

15

20

10

15

20 20000

10

15

20

10

10

10

15

20

10

15

20

10

15

20 30000

10

15

20

1e+05

Residual plots for VIIafg suggest a tendency to underestimate trawl catch for mid ages in the last 2 to 3 years and to overestimate at the youngest age for most of the time series and in both assessments. Residuals for nets in the update assessment show few strong patterns, although some year effects (vertical) are apparent for both nets and lines. The FAD assessment has more systematic patterns to the residuals with underestimation of age 6 during the middle of the time series and overestimation of age 3 for most of the series. The pattern of residuals for lines in the FAD assessment is heavily influenced by a large negative outlier in the middle of the time series and appears to show some tendency to underestimate catch in the most recent year for ages 4-9.

10000

Trawls

Trawls

-20000

10

50000

10

Nets

Nets

10

10

0e+00

Lines

Lines

-1e+05

10

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1

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-20000 -10000

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10

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20

10

15

20

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20

10

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20

Red negative residuals, blue positive residuals Ages labelled from 1 to 10 correspond to ages 3 to 12

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ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Figure A4.3. VIIafg landings time series, open bars: output; solid bars: input, FAD only above, combined below

Land 7afg85_ Land 7afg

0 1985

200

400

600

800

1000

12000

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

Figure A4.4. VIIafg trends in fishing mortality, FAD only above, combined below

F 7afg85_ F 7afg

0.0 1985

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

1990

1995

2000

2005

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

73

Figure A4.5. VIIafg year class strength estimates, FAD only above, combined below
1000 0 1 2 3 4 0 500 1500 2500 200 0 600

Index

Rec 7afg

Rec 7afg85_

1982 1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003

Figure A4.6. VIIafg trends in SSB estimates, FAD only above, combined below

SSB 7afg85_ SSB 7afg

0 1985

500

1000

1500

20000

500

1000

1500

1990

1995

2000

2005

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ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Annex 3: Working Document. Lining in Audierne, France (area VIIe)


ByY.Morizur,C.Dromer,J.Huet,S.MartinandS.Walmsley Lining for sea bass in Audierne is the most important mtier for the vessels in that port.Alotofdatahavebeencompiledtostudythe20002007period. 1. Commercial categories in the landings The evolution of commercial categories landed by liners was studied from 2000 to 2007inordertodetectanyrecentchangeinthestructureofcatches.Category10con cernsbasslouderthan2kg,category20concernsbassbetween1and2kg,category 30concernsfishlessthan1kg. ThefisheryislocatedintheareaVIIbutthefishingareaisclosetoICESareaVIII. ThereisnotrendinthefishingeffortofliningatAudierne(fishingeffortquitecon stantoverthetimeseries20002007).Sothecatches(landingsasthereisnodiscards) shouldbringagoodabundanceindex.
bass/Audierne/ lines
140000 120000 landings (kg) 100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2 005 2006 2007 cat 30 cat 20 cat 10

La n d i n g s a nd m a r k e t si z e s f o r l i n i n g i n A ud i e r ne f r o m 2 0 0 0 t o 2 0 0 7

30000

25000

20000

Cat 3 0 15 0 0 0 Cat 2 0 Cat 10

10 0 0 0

5000

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

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a) thereisanincreaseinthetotallandingsbetween2000to2007. b) nodecreasetrendoftheadultabundance(category10andapartofcat20); may be there is an increasing trend. Please note that some French recrea tionalfishers say that there is a strong decrease in the proportion of bass longerthan50cm. c) thereiseveryyearadecreaseofcatchabilityofadultstolinedueprobably tothespawningseason.ThedecreaseappearsinNovemberorDecember. d) inJanuaryandFebruary,thefisherytargetsubadultsorjuveniles. e) nodecreaseintheabundanceofadultsinAudiernewhilewehaveanin creaseofcatchesin2005and2006intheoffshorefisheryofareaVII,this couldindicatethattheselinersfishonaseparatestockcomparedtotheVII offshorefishery. 2. Demographical structure obtained from sampling TheagecompositionwasobtainedwithaagelengthkeycollectedonlinesinAud ierne and based on 250 fish per quarter and length of fish were collected with one sampling day by month (around 710 boats per sampling day). The sampling took placebetween2000and2005.
DemographicalstructureinlandingsinAudiernefrom2000to2005.

Total 2000
30 25 Effectif *1000 20 15 10 5 0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Poids total (3 trimestres) 60316 Kg 30 25 Effecti *1000f 20 15 10 5 0

Total 2001

Poids total 115384 Kg

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Age

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Age

Total 2002
30 25 Effecti *1000f 20 15 10 5 0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Poids total 103645 Kg 30 25 Effecti*1000f 20 15 10 5 0

Total 2003

Poids total 121872 Kg

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Age

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Age


Poids total 79113 Kg

Total 2004
30 25 Effecti*1000f 20 15 10 5 0 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Age

The1989,1994,1995yearclasseswereobservedasverystrongclasses;the1991,1997, 1998and1999yearclassesweregood;the1996yearclasswasthepoorestofthetime serie.

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ICES WGNEW REPORT 2008

Bass/audierne/lines proportion of ages in the landings


35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

pourcentage

>=15 years % >=10 years %

Bass/audierne/lines num bers by age in landings


25000 20000 numbers 15000 10000 5000 0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 >=15 years >=10 years

Thereisnodecreasetrendintheoldanimals.Fisholderthan15yearsvariedbetween 2and4%inthecatchesandfisholderthan10yearsbetween21and30%. 3. Estimate of total mortality Theagecompositionpermitsderivingthetotalmortalitybyusingalogregressionof the numbers by age. The age range [620] was determined by maximizing R2, and minimizingthevariationsintheestimateoftotalmortality.

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Estimateoftheaveragetotalmortalityintheagerange[620y]foreachyearfromlandings2000 to2005.

12 Z=0.42 10 Ln(Effectif) 8 6 4 2 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Age 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 R = 0.7193


2

12 10 Ln(Effectif) 8 6 4 2 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Age 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Z=0.39 R = 0.9306


2

12 Z=0.43 10 R = 0.8223 Ln (Effectif)


Ln(Effectif)
2

12 10
2

Z=0.45 R = 0.8669

8 6 4 2 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Age 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

8 6 4 2 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Age 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

12 Z=0.44 10 Ln(Effectif) 8 6 4 2 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Age 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 R = 0.8505


2

The values of total mortality are in the range 0.39 to 0.45. This mortality estimate takesintoaccountallthefishingpressureonthestockincludingrecreationalactivi tiesastheevolutionoftheagestructureistheresultofallcausesofmortality. 4. Conclusion Thereisnodecreaseinthelandingsofoldanimals.Fishhaving>=10yearsoldcom poundedbetween21to30%ofthelandingsbynumbersandfishhaving>=15years are24%inthecatchesbynumbers. TheincreaseinfishingpressureintheVIIoffshorefisheryin20042006doesnotin duceanydecreaseinthelinefisheryinAudierneatthatperiodoroneyearlater.The 2007yearisanincreaselandinginAudierne. Thetotalmortalitywasestimatedaround0.400.45.Thismortalityestimatetakesinto account all the fishing pressure on the stock including recreational activities as the evolutionoftheagestructureistheresultofallcausesofmortality.Thisvalueindi catesthatthefishingpressureisnotexcessivelyhighinthatpopulationofbass.

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