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The contributions to the Special Scientific Meeting “THE COD” which are submitted herewith show that, during the 20 years that have passed since our last meeting dealing with the cod, very great attention has been paid to a census of the cod stocks. The long series of observations recording length and age compositions of the cod constitute very valuable material, and new facts of paramount importance have been presented. Our plan of arranging all the contributions within a particular frame work may have prevented some interesting observations from appearing, but it has enabled us to present data for a direct comparison of the different stocks examined by various workers. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, VIIa-c, e-k, VIIIa-e (Western stock)

The terms of reference for the Study Group were set out in ICES C.Res.1991/2:7:4 as folIows: "The Study Group on the Norwegian Sea and Faroes Salmon Fishery (Chairman: Mr E.C.E. Potter, UK) will meet in Dublin, Ireland from 28 February - 1 March 1992 to prepare the relevant data for presentation to the Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon at its meeting in March 1992".

The cod material here dealt with has been collected from the commercial fishery on the spawning places off the Faroes, north and west of the islands. Most of the cod were caught on longlines, but west of the islands hand-lines have also been used. A regular collection of otoliths and measurements of cod in the spring months, more particularly in March—April, commenced in 1933. This collection of material was unfortunately interrupted by the second world war, and was not resumed till after the war, in 1951. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Since August 1902, a rich material has been collected during several seasonal cruises in the Færoe-Shetland Channel which forms part of the Scottish region in the international investigations of the sea. This material has been worked up and has now been published in two larger papers: “Hydrographical Investigations of the Færoe-Shetland Channel and the Northern Part of the North Sea during 1902” by the present author, and “Scottish Hydrographic Research during 1903” by A.J. Robertson . As the results of these investigations are also of importance for the other North European seas, a short summary of the contents of the papers mentioned will be given in the following pages.

ICES has examined the proposed methods for apportioning ICES advice among the existing management areas. Relevant background information regarding stock structure, historic fisheries, and management measures for roundnose grenadier in the northeast Atlantic are presented. While studies suggest the existence of population structure within roundnose grenadier from subareas 5, 6, 7, and 12, available results are insufficient to delineate alternative stock boundaries to those currently used in the northeast Atlantic. The bulk of the biomass of roundnose grenadier in the Atlantic basin occurs at depths below 800 m. As a result, most roundnose grenadier are no longer accessible to commercial fishing, as bottom trawling is not permitted at depths below 800 m and gillnetting is not permitted below 600 m in EU and UK waters. Landings have decreased in all areas during the past decade, reflecting the overall decrease in fleets engaged in deep-water bottom trawling. Total catches since 2016 have been very low in relation to the sum of advised catches. There are limited fisheries-independent data and a lack of stock assessments for these stocks. In the absence of analytical models, it is not currently possible to undertake any scenario testing to quantify long-term sustainability. Therefore, using the available landings information, as is done for both proposed methods, is the best available basis to determine splits of advice by area. It is recommended to use the latest ICES working group estimates of landings by area in the apportioning methods. Given that landings proportions by area are very changeable, it is recommended that a rolling window of years be used to estimate proportions by area each time the TACs are set. The interannual variability in landings also means that this window should not be too short, so as to be representative of expected landings by area in the coming years (e.g. the most recent five years). Both methods take some account of third-country catches (countries to which the EU–UK TAC does not apply), method A more so that method B. Method A is relatively complex compared to method B; otherwise, there is little difference in the fundamentals of the two methods. There is no analytical stock assessment undertaken on these stocks and, therefore, no indication of stock status in relation to reference points. However, provided the existing deep-sea fisheries regulations restricting the depth of operation of deep-sea fishing remain in place, neither of the two proposed apportionment approaches seems likely to bring the stock to the point of conservation concern. ICES will continue to monitor catches and available information about these roundnose grenadier stocks. The conservation status of these stocks will be reviewed as and when new information becomes available.

The 2009 data (landings and survey) do not change the perception of the stock in the Barents Sea and Svalbard area. Therefore, the advice for this fishery in 2011 is the same as the advice given in 2009 for the 2010 fishery. ICES advises that: “there should be no directed trawl fishery on Sebastes mentella in Subareas I and II in 2011. Area closures should be maintained and by-catch limits should be as low as possible until a significant increase in the spawning-stock biomass (and a subsequent increase in the number of juveniles) has been verified”.

Cautiously avoid impaired recruitment (Precautionary Approach) suggest that the fishing mortality and hence the catch in 2011 should be as low as possible.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) and, fishing mortality (in 2008), ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably (F=0.29). Year classes 2005-2008 are among the lowest observed. Due to recent low recruitment, SSB has declined from its historical peak in 2003-2004 of more than 7 million tonnes to 3.6 million tonnes at the beginning of 2009, and the decline is expected to continue in the short-term.

The Faroese legislative framework on aquaculture was adopted in 2003, with objective to promote profitability and competitiveness in aquaculture within a sustainable framework with regards to animal and environmental health. Any aquaculture production requires a licence and an environmental permit. Marine aquaculture facilities in the ecoregion are located along the coast of the Faroe Islands. Conditions at aquaculture sites range from sheltered fjords to areas of higher wave and current exposure typical to more offshore conditions. Marine aquaculture production within the ecoregion is strongly dominated by Atlantic salmon, with some minor production of seaweeds. The aquaculture industry, together with various suppliers to the industry, has major social and economic effects on Faroese society. Employment in the aquaculture industry has gradually increased from 2005, concurrent with the increase in production. About 5% of the total active labour force in the Faroe Islands work in the aquaculture industry. The aquaculture industry is an important contributor (8%) to gross domestic product. During the past decade, the export value from the industry has represented 40–45% of the total exports of goods of the Faroe Islands. Despite a general increase in production costs, profitability of Atlantic salmon farming has been generally high, due to the absence of major diseases and a growing international market demand. The single largest concern for salmon production in the ecoregion is sea lice; mitigating its effect has been the main driver of investments, innovations in farming practices and production technologies, and aquaculture regulations. Sustainable aquaculture growth requires innovative production technologies to reduce its environmental effects. These include the diversification of existing culture systems in response to changing environmental or biological drivers, through the consideration of shellfish aquaculture, the expansion of seaweed aquaculture, and the development of offshore aquaculture. Future developments will need to consider and apply an integrated approach to assess synergies and trade-offs among sectors, including commercial fisheries, shipping, and tourism. Offshore renewable energy developments will potentially also need inclusion while investigating consequences across environmental, ecological, and socio-economic dimensions. Future aquaculture development should also consider the effects of climate change.

No direct fishery and effort should be made to limit bycatch in the mixed fishery. A reduction in catches should be considered in order to be consistent with the MSY (see section 1.2.4 of ICES Advisory Report), namely: Current closed areas to protect spawning aggregations should be maintained, and new closed areas should be identified and implemented where appropriate; Closed areas should be identified and implemented to protect identified spawning aggregations in international waters in Divisions Vb and VIb.

ICES advises on the basis of the MSY approach that landings should be no more than 78 457tonnes in 2015. Even though some discards are included in the assessment, the total amount of discards cannot be quantified. Therefore, total catches cannot be calculated.

2009 data on landings and indices from two surveys for this stock do not change the perception of the stock and do not give reason to change the advice from 2008. The advice for the fishery in 2011 is therefore the same as the advice given in 2008 for the 2009 fishery: "Because of the very low stock size ICES advises that the fishery should be closed. Reopening the fishery should not be considered until both survey indices indicate a biomass at or above the average of the period 1996-2002"

Amendments 8 September 2022: Added ToR 1.3 to 1.4., the authors, list of participants and original resolutions. Due to the extraordinary measure to cancel or postpone all Committee and Expert Group meetings, whether in-person, online or hybrid, scheduled between 7 March and 1 April 2022, the Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon (WGNAS), that was initially scheduled to take place in Copenhagen from the 28 March to the 7 April 2022 did not take place. However, some work was undertaken by WGNAS outside of this period and that work is reported here. Please refer to the WGNAS 2021 report for further information on the basis of the advice provided in May, 2022. Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is a semelparous diadromous salmonid species, with a strict two-year lifecycle, and populations that spawn either in odd-or even-years. The natural range of Pink salmon in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans extends from 40°N to greater than 70°N, with the spawning distribution from 48°N (Puget Sound, Washington) to 64°N (Norton Sound, Alaska) in North America and from 44°N (North Korea) to 65°N (Anadyr Gulf, Russia) in Asia. The species has been introduced in various parts of the world, but only in the Great Lakes and in northwest Russia has Pink salmon established self-sustaining populations. The first attempts at introduction in the White Sea in 1957 failed to establish self-sustaining populations. In 1986 a second attempt using broodstock from a more northern location did establish self-sustaining odd-year populations in the White Sea and Kola Peninsula. Between 1960 and 2015 Pink salmon were regularly reported outside the area of introduction, with the majority of observations in the adjacent areas in the northern part of the Fennoscandian Peninsula. Occasionally reports were also made as far south as Scotland and Ireland. From 2017 Pink salmon have dramatically increased their range and abundance, with large numbers observed in the Barents- and Norwegian Seas, as well as rivers along the Atlantic coast of Norway and Finland where many also spawned. This increase in range abundance has been observed as far south as the Élorn river in France in NEAC and the Gander River in Newfoundland, Canada in NAC, with several hundreds of Pink salmon ascending rivers in Scotland, England, and Iceland. Some of these fish have been observed to spawn, for example in Scotland. This sudden increase in Pink salmon abundance has been linked with increases in Sea Surface Temperature (SST) in Arctic waters the winter before spawning. The appearance of large numbers of (spawning) Pink salmon in European, and even Atlantic Canadian and Greenlandic rivers in 2017, 2019, and 2021 has caused concern among fisheries managers that this could have a negative impact on wild Atlantic salmon stocks. It is difficult to establish with any certainty what the impact will be as research into this recent phenomenon is only now producing the first published results, and much of the effects will depend on the scale of the Pink salmon population increase in future years, which could be driven by uncertain factors such as Climate Change. Pink salmon can compete with Atlantic salmon for resources such as food and access to spawning habitat. In freshwater Pink salmon fry/smolts could compete with Atlantic salmon juveniles during their short stay and subsequent seaward migration, especially in rivers where they spawn farther upstream. In the marine environment large numbers of Pink salmon can cause trophic cascades in marine ecosystems, impacting on other species such as other salmonids. Density-dependent competition with Atlantic salmon for prey resources at sea could impact on growth, as it does with other salmonid species in the native range of Pink salmon. Increased nutrient loads in rivers and associated reduction in water quality as a result of decomposing Pink salmon carcasses after spawning could also impact on Atlantic salmon juveniles in freshwater. The threat of viral- and bacterial pathogens carried by Pink salmon to Atlantic salmon is poorly understood and therefore difficult to assess. It is also possible that some effects of Pink salmon on Atlantic salmon will be positive or neutral in nature, such as Pink salmon fry and ova providing a food source for Atlantic salmon juveniles or increased growth and survival in rivers enriched with nutrients from the Pink salmon carcasses left after spawning. Very little contemporary information regarding Atlantic salmon off the coast of East Greenland exists, although new studies are starting to provide some insights for this area. A series of marine surveys were conducted during the late 1960’s through the early 1970’s. Researchers concluded that the catch rates of Atlantic salmon were low compared to those at West Greenland, likely a result of a lower density of Atlantic salmon in the Irminger Sea. The biological characteristics of captured salmon were similar to those at West Greenland, suggesting that the salmon were using these two feeding areas in similar ways. However, there was a higher proportion of European origin salmon in the Irminger Sea and researchers hypothesised that as you move eastward, the proportion of European fish would increase. Subsequent tagging studies have demonstrated that salmon from Canada, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, UK (Scotland), UK (England and Wales), UK (Northern Ireland) and the United States all contribute to the harvest at East Greenland. Studies on post-spawned salmon show that northern European fish use this feeding area as well, although their distribution seems to be more northerly compared to salmon from southern Europe. The fishery off the coast of East Greenland is small, with an annual quota of three t set for 2021-2025 fisheries (Government of Greenland 2021) and reported landings averaging only 0.7 t per year since 2008. The low landings are assumed to be a result of the low human population density, which contributes to low fishing effort coupled with low density of Atlantic salmon off the coast of East Greenland. The Labrador and Irminger seas and their associated coastal waters have long been known to be important feeding areas for Atlantic salmon. Relative to the West Greenland, little is known regarding the stock composition, biological characteristics, etc. of salmon off the coast of East Greenland and the information that is available is from decades past. Given the decreased abundance of Atlantic salmon across the species’ range, a better understanding of the contemporary dynamics of Atlantic salmon off the coast of East Greenland is desired.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity. Based on the most recent estimate of fishing mortality (in 2008) ICES classifies the stock as being harvested sustainably. SSB in 2009 is well above Bpa and is estimated as one of the highest in the time-series. The stock contains a number of good year classes. In the last 10 years, four large year classes have been produced (1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004). However, the available information indicates that year classes after 2004 have been of low abundance.

In the absence of reference points and an analytical assessment, the state of the stock cannot be fully evaluated. Based on the trawl survey estimates, there is indication of a decreasing trend in the time series and the 2009 estimate is the lowest in the series. Catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) has been variable over the years, but on average the recent CPUEs are lower than in the early part of the time series. These indices in combination with a marked decrease in landings since 2004 suggest that the stock has been reduced substantially in the past decade. The exploitation rate for this stock is unknown.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches should be no more than 13 317 tonnes in each of the years 2024 and 2025. If discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years (2020–2022), this implies landings of no more than 12 785 tonnes.

The majority of fishing in the Faroes ecoregion is performed by Faroese vessels. The vast majority of the vessels participate in a mixed fishery for demersal fish, such as cod, haddock, saithe, ling, greater silver smelt, and Greenland halibut. Two main fleet categories operate under an effort management system with separated allocated fishing days: one group consists of single and pair trawlers (> 1000 hp) targeting saithe, while another group, mainly longliners of all sizes, targets cod and haddock. A small number of large vessels target widely distributed pelagic fish, i.e. herring, mackerel, and blue whiting using pelagic trawl. Demersal fish constituted the majority of the landings until the 1990s when pelagic landings increased considerably. Total landings peaked after 2000, and a noticeable drop around 2010 was caused by a decrease in the landings of blue whiting. Landings of demersal fish, especially cod and haddock, have been low since 2005. Discarding is prohibited in the pelagic fishery. Discarding in the demersal fisheries is considered negligible; however, there are no reliable estimates of potential discards. Stocks within the ecoregion are assessed for stock status and fishing pressure. Half of the stocks have a wider spatial distribution outside the ecoregion. The fishing pressure (in relation to FMSY) of demersal stocks has decreased since 2000 but is currently above sustainable limits. The biomass (in relation to MSY Btrigger) has increased in recent years. For the pelagic fisheries the fishing pressure has been around FMSY since 2010, but the stock size has decreased since 2017. Data on incidental bycatch of marine mammals and seabird species are scarce. Gillnets are banned in waters of less than 380 m depth around the Faroes, which might reduce both seabird and marine mammal bycatch in the region. Access the supporting data used in the Faroes ecoregion Fisheries Overview (ICES, 2022).

The benchmark workshop on capelin (WKCAPELIN) was set up to develop benchmark assessments for the Barents Sea capelin and the Iceland-East Greenland-Jan Mayen capelin stocks. These stocks are distributed in ICES subareas 1, 2, 5, and 14. For Barents Sea capelin, a modification of the existing model approach, which includes multispecies elements (predation by cod), was generally endorsed. Changes to the model approach that were endorsed in the meeting included using a type III rather than type II consumption model; a time averaged (most recent 5 years) CV at age for the autumn survey; 14 cm was to be used as the maturation length cut-off; M and F were now assumed to be constant from January to March; and the year used for the Blim calculation was changed to avoid the early period of the time-series with a low herring stock. Despite these changes, the model results are relatively consistent with the previous assessment. For Iceland-East Greenland-Jan Mayen (IGJM) capelin, a modified version of the existing model approach, which includes multispecies elements (predation by cod), was generally endorsed. The Autumn survey now has a maximum weight of 1/3rd in the final assessment. The revised model has lower biomass levels and Blim than the previous assessment, but the relation between Blim and average SSB is largely unchanged. Both stocks are managed as escapement strategy fisheries, with Bescapement based on Blim. The only defined reference point is therefore Blim, and there are no F reference points. Bpa is not needed for either stock, as the HCRs are explicitly based on having a 95% chance to avoid going below Blim. The workshop evaluated that the approach taken by Barents Sea and IGJM represents best available science following ICES procedures. The two existing HCRs are considered as precautionary as is typical for any ICES escapement strategy. Furthermore, the HCRs have functioned successfully for a number of years (since 1991 for Barents Sea, and since 2015 for IGJM). Provided no significant change is made to the HCR or to the performance of the underlying models, the rule should continue to be as precautionary as previously. It should be noted that the Blim for the Barents Sea previously included a safety factor, raising Bescapement to 200kt. Following current ICES procedures, the safety factor is no longer included in the Blim value. However, the evaluation here that the existing HCR remain precautionary is based on a HCR in which Bescapement retains the safety factor (i.e. remaining at 200kt). Any alternate HCR would require a separate evaluation.

The NAFO/ICES Pandalus Assessment Group (NIPAG), met to assess the Pandalus stock in divi-sions 3.a and 4.a east. The objective was to assess stock status and to draft advice according to the ICES MSY approach and the current EU and Norway Long-term Management Strategy (LTMS). The LTMS requires ICES to provide both an update in-year TAC advice for 2022 and an initial TAC advice for the first two quarters of 2023. A length-based Stock Synthesis (SS3) statistical framework was used to assess the status of the stock based on updated input data (commercial catches for 2021 and survey catches from Janu-ary 2022). The assessment model and reference points were updated during the 2022 benchmark (WKPRAWN 2022) and now contains hermaphroditic parameters, two areas, and six fleets. The model is also now fit using a novel ensemble approach whereby three different natural mortality rates are considered. The assessment demonstrated that the fishing pressure on the stock is be-low FMSY and that spawning–stock size is below MSY Btrigger and Bpa but above Blim. In accordance with the ICES MSY approach and new reference points NIPAG advises that catch-es in 2022 should be no more than 7712 tonnes, and that catches for the first two quarters of 2023 should be no more than 5882 tonnes. This corresponds to a 29% reduction of the initial catch advice for 2022 (10 890 tonnes). This change is partly explained by the realized catches in 2021 being higher than the advised catches (7484 tonnes realized, compared to 7166 tonnes advised). The preliminary advised catch for 2023 is 51% larger than the advised catch for 2022 mainly because the 2021- and 2022-year classes are estimated to be higher than the 2020-year class. SS3 model diagnostics of the assessment did not indicate any issues with model fit. There is a positive retrospective bias in SSB and negative retrospective bias in F and recruitment, but these are all within the acceptable range (Mohn’s Rho threshold values) of requiring no action.

The advice given in 2012 for this stock is valid for 2013-2015 : “ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary approach that no fishing for porbeagle should be permitted. Landings of porbeagle should not be allowed. A rebuilding plan should be developed for this stock.”The advice is summarized in the table below. NB: new Advice will be provided in 2015

The catch of Faroe Plateau cod fluctuated more in the 1990s than during almost any time in the previous 90 years, and one main aim of this study was to investigate whether the behaviour of cod was anomalous (e.g. large-scale migrations) during these years. It was found that the behaviour o f cod was normal in the 1990s (except possibly in 1996) and that variations in recruitment, individual fish weights, fishing effort, and catchability (catch per unit effort divided by stock abundance) were the most important factors that determined the catch of cod. The fluctuating catchability especially applied to longlines where a negative relationship between catchability and individual growth rate of cod was found, indicating that cod preferred longline baits when the abundance of natural food organisms, was scarce. The study also shows that cod production was highly correlated with primary production. This indicates that primary production was the driving force behind recruitment and individual growth and hence the collapse of the cod stock in 1991 as well as its rapid recovery in 1995.Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The Working Group on Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys (WGMEGS) is responsible for the planning, data collection, and data analysis of the ICES triennial mackerel and horse mackerel egg surveys. This report focuses on the execution of the mackerel and horse mackerel egg survey (MEGS) in 2022. The results of the two 2021 online Workshops on Mackerel, Horse Mackerel and Hake Eggs Identification and Staging (WKMACHIS) and on Adult Egg Production Methods Parameters estima-tion in Mackerel and Horse Mackerel (WKAEPM) were discussed, with the subsequent enhance-ments and recommendations proposed during these workshops outlined in the workshop re-ports (ICES, 2022 a,b) and also incorporated into both of the WGMEGS manuals (ICES 2019a, b). Although the broad planning of the 2022 survey was undertaken during the 2021 planning meet-ing and detailed in the WGMEGS 2021 report, the provisionally agreed plan required additional intersessional refinements. The settled plan for the 2022 survey has been included as an annex in the latest version of the WGMEGS Manual for the Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys (ICES SISP 6, 2019a). In 2022, the survey once again faced significant challenges with regards to its ability to provide adequate geographical and temporal coverage given the limited vessel resources at our disposal. In 2022, Portugal, Spain (IEO and AZTI), Ireland, UK/Scotland, the Netherlands, Germany, the Faroe Islands, and Norway participated in the egg survey in the western and southern areas. Denmark and UK/England, with some additional assistance from Norway surveyed the North Sea as a single-pass DEPM survey. This is the first time in many years that all surveys have been completed in the same year. In 2022, the survey was split into six sampling periods. The final period ended in late July. Waters west and southwest of Portugal were surveyed in period 2 only. The Cantabrian Sea was sam-pled in periods 3–5 while Biscay was sampled in periods 3 to 6. The Celtic Sea and waters west of the British Isles were sampled in periods 3 to 7, and the waters north and northwest of Britain towards Iceland and into the Norwegian Sea were sampled in periods 5 and 6. Mackerel daily egg production was highest in period 5, (May), for the western component, while for the southern component the maximum spawning intensity was observed in period 3. Total mackerel egg production (provisional, southern and western component combined) was 1.64 * 1015. Provisional fecundity estimate was 1178 egg per gram female, resulting in an SSB index of 3.88 * 106 tonnes. For the Western stock of horse mackerel, highest mean daily egg production was estimated dur-ing June, period 6. Spawning was very low throughout all survey periods, with an obvious peak occurring in period 6. Total annual egg production for western Horse mackerel was 5.15 * 1014, almost a 300% increase on 2019.

A mixture of neritic copepod species, meroplanktonic larvae, and ichthyoplankton usually dominates the zooplankton on the Faroe Shelf during spring and summer. The ecosystem, however, is very much affected by the interannually variable influx of Calanus fimnarchicus. During the 1990s, the plankton production, abundance, and species composition fluctuated greatly, the zooplankton biomass on the Shelf (which is mainly C. finrmrchicus biomass) by a factor of 10. When the abundance of C. fimnarchicus was high, the abundance of neritic zooplankton was generally low and vice versa. Interannually. there is a strong inverse relationship between zoop­lankton biomass on the Shelf and new primary production. During the 1990s, new primary production from spring to mid-summer fluctuated by a factor of about 5, inversely related to the zooplankton biomass. The good relationship between primary production and fish reproduction and growth and is most likely the result of variable production of zooplankton of a suitable size for fish larvae during spring. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be zero catches in each of the years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. Closed areas to protect spawning should be maintained.

The Workshop on the Faroes ecoregion Aquaculture Overview (WKFaroesAO) was established to assemble and synthesize data and information for the Faroes ecoregion aquaculture overview. Marine aquaculture production within the ecoregion is dominated by Atlantic salmon farming, but seaweed farming is an emerging industry and there are plans to allocate sites for shellfish farming in the near future. Today three fish farming companies produce Atlantic salmon and two companies farm seaweed. The dominance of salmon farming is also reflected in the aquaculture legislation. The aim of the Faroese legislation on aquaculture is to promote profitability and competitiveness in aqua-culture within a sustainable framework with regards to animal health. In the legislation there is great emphasis on biosecurity, environment, and salmon lice. Management of salmon lice is-sues at aquaculture sites has a direct impact on the production of allowed number of smolt. Environmental licenses are required for all aquaculture activities. These impose conditions for operations, which are aimed at minimizing pollution from aquaculture production and the impact on the surrounding environment. Aquaculture practices may be ordered to adaptations and implement necessary measures in order to minimize pollution. The authorities have an IT-system, where all operators are obligated to report fish health and welfare data once a week, such as number of fish, weight, feed use, use of chemicals, mortalities etc. Salmon lice on farmed fish are counted biweekly by a third party and reported via the IT-system no later than one day after counting. Environmental threats of aquaculture include emissions of dissolved nutrients, particulate organic matter, pollutants, and chemicals. In general, knowledge is scarce on the potential far-field ecosystem effects from aquaculture. Coastal environmental monitoring is connected to monitoring of fish farming activity and there is a need for time-series in order to detect possible environmental changes due to aquaculture and other anthropogenic activities, including climate change. Since 2012, the aquaculture industry has experienced large profit rates and is now a well consolidated industry able to self-finance most of its investments. Today the aquaculture industry is one of the most important industries on the Faroe Islands, employing around 5 percent of the workforce and providing more than 25 percent of the income of the Faroese balance of payments. The aquaculture industry has large ripple effects on other industries and is a major con-tributor to the public revenue. There is generally a positive attitude towards the aquaculture industry, although there are some public concerns regarding pollution and interactions with wild fisheries. One of the major developments in the aquaculture industry in recent years has been the large investments into on-land smolt farms to shorten the production time at sea to diminish salmon lice problems. Continuous efforts are also being made with closed systems and moving further offshore. In future, aquaculture in the ecoregion is likely to diversify both regarding farming low trophic species and diversification in farming methods. There are significant uncertainties related to the effect of climate change on the sector. Evaluating the expected impacts of climate change on the Faroese aquaculture industry should therefore be prioritized and is a prerequisite to enabling the development of climate change adaptation plans for the sector.

ICES advises on the basis of the approach to data-limited stocks,but cannot quantify the resulting catches. This implies annual landings of no more than 2628 tonnes.

ICES advises that a harvest rule with a target fishing mortality of 0.3 and a TAC constraint of ±1 5% is consistent with the precautionary approach (high probability of SSB being above Blim by 2 0 15 and beyond). In addition, simulations suggest that this harvest rule has the best chance, among those tested, of producing a combination of low risk to biomass and high cumulative yield, thus it conforms with the goal of achieving long-term maximum sustainable yield from the stock .

Cautiously avoid impaired recruitment (Precautionary Approach) suggesting a reduction of fishing mortality to less than Fpa (0.28) corresponding to a 38% reduction. Maintain the present spawning closures.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) and fishing mortality (in 2008) ICES classifies the stock as being at full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably. SSB is estimated to be just above Bpa in 2009, and F has been around Fpa since 2001. Recruitment has been relatively stable over the last decade.

In the absence of reference points and an analytical assessment, the state of the stock cannot be fully evaluated. Stock size is probably low; the estimate from the acoustic survey in 2009 is less than 5% of the estimates at the beginning of the survey time series in the early 1990s. The exploitation rate for this stock is unknown.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied there should be zero catch in 2023.

The new data (landings and survey) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock in the Barents Sea and Svalbard area. Therefore, the advice for this fishery in 2010 is the same as the advice given in 2007 for the 2008 fishery and re-iterated in 2008 for the 2009 fishery: There should be no directed trawl fishery on Sebastes mentella in Subareas I and II in 2010. Area closures should be maintained and by-catch limits should be as low as possible until a significant increase in the spawning-stock biomass (and a subsequent increase in the number of juveniles) has been verified . In addition, ICES offers the following consideration: Results from the pelagic survey conducted in 2008 indicate a significant, but unquantifiable, spawning biomass in the Norwegian Sea. There are indications, however, that recruitment in the next 12-15 years will be low. A limited fishery is prosecuted at present.

The NAFO/ICES Pandalus Assessment Group (NIPAG) met at the Institute of Marine Research, Troms��, Norway during 17-24 October 2014 to review stock assessments referred to it by the Scientific Council of NAFO and by the ICES Advisory Committee. Representatives attended from Canada, Denmark (in respect of Faroe Islands and Greenland), European Union (Denmark, Estonia, France, Spain and Sweden), Norway, Russian Federation. The NAFO Scientific Council Coordinator was also in attendance.

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be no targeted fisheries on this stock in 2017 and 2018. Based on medium-term projections, annual catches at the recent assumed level (2468 tonnes) would allow the stock to increase at a rate close to that estimated with zero catches. Any possible provision for the landing of bycatch should be part of a management plan, including close monitoring of the stock and fisheries.

The advice for the fishery in 2013 is the same as the advice given in 2011 for the 2012 fishery:“ICES advises on the basis of precautionary considerations that no directed fishery should be conducted and bycatch of this stock in non-directed fisheries should be kept as low as possible.”

ICES advises on the basis of the MSY approach that effort should be reduced such that fishing mortality in 2015 will be no more than FMSY= 0.30, corresponding to a 44% reduction in the present fishing mortality. All catches are assumed to be landed.

The state of the stock is uncertain, but stock trends indicate that the spawning biomass is declining from a recent high. There are indications that fishing mortality has been increasing in recent years. Recruitment in the past 10 years has been well above the long-term average, but the mean weight-at-age has declined significantly over the same period.

ICES advises on the basis of the data-limited approach but cannot quantify the resulting catches. The implied landings should be no more than 14 702 t. ICES advises that the management area should be consistent with the assessment area.

ICES advises on the basis of the management plan of EU, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Russia that catches in 2015 should be no more than 283 013 t. Minor discards are known to take place, but cannot be quantified accurately; the proportion of discards in the total catches are considered negligible.

ICES advises on the basis of the MSY approach that catches in 2013 should be no more than 126 000 t.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) and fishing mortality (in 2008), ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably. SSB is estimated to have been above Bpa since 2001. From 2001 onwards, F has been at or below the target fishing mortality of 0.3.

ICES advises on the basis of the MSY approach that there should be no directed fishery on haddock in 2015 and bycatch should be minimized. A recovery plan should be developed and implemented as a prerequisite to reopening the directed fishery. All catches are assumed to be landed.

The NAFO/ICES Pandalus Assessment Group (NIPAG) met at the NAFO Secretariat, Dartmouth, NS, Canada during 12-19 October 2013 to review stock assessments referred to it by the Scientific Council of NAFO and by the ICES Advisory Committee. Due to unforeseen circumstances the STACFIS Chair, Jean-Claude Mah�� was unable to attend this meeting and so the Chair of Scientific Council, Carsten Hvingel agreed to chair is his place. Representatives attended from Canada, Denmark (in respect of Faroe Islands and Greenland), European Union (Denmark, Estonia, France, Spain and Sweden), Norway, Russian Federation. The NAFO Scientific Council Coordinator was also in attendance.

ICES considered the updated time-series of relevant stock status indices and repeats the advice from last year: “The status of eel remains critical and urgent action is needed. ICES reiterates its previous advice that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pollution) affecting production and escapement of eels should be reduced to as close to zero as possible until there is clear evidence that both recruitment and the adult stock are increasing.” ICES has no new information regarding stocking and this issue has therefore not been revisited in 2012.

Based on the ICES approach for data-limited stocks, ICES advises that catches should be no higher than 3900 t in 2013. Existing management measures should be continued. Spatial management to prevent targeted fishing on spawning aggregations should be expanded to cover spawning areas in Division VIb.

ICES considered the updated time-series of relevant stock status indices and repeats the advice from last year: “The status of eel remains critical and urgent action is needed. ICES reiterates its previous advice that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pollution) affecting production and escapement of eels should be reduced to as close to zero as possible until there is clear evidence that both recruitment and the adult stock are increasing.” ICES has no new information regarding stocking and this issue has therefore not been revisited in 2012.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches should be no more than 9 881 tonnes in each of the years 2023 and 2024. ICES notes the existence of a precautionary management plan, developed and adopted by one of the relevant management authorities for this stock. Management should be implemented at the stock level.

ICES has reanalysed the survey time-series, which is the main source of information for the assessment. This changed the perception of stock status and productivity: The stock appears to be at a historical low. ICES has also evaluated the proposed harvest control rules, and none of them are expected to lead to an increase in stock size by 2025. Therefore, ICES considers none of these options as being in accordance with the precautionary approach. It is suggested that managers discuss other options with ICES that might be more suitable, including a starting phase to reverse the decline of the stock.

The 2012 advice for this stock was biennial and valid for 2013–2014. New data available do notchange the perception of this stock. Therefore the advice for this fishery in 2015 is the same as the advice for 2013–2014: Based on the ICES approach for data-limited stocks, ICES advises that catches should be no more than 8500 tonnes.