Search

The winter mixed layer depth was variable in the Irminger and Iceland Seas in the period 1990-2000, but reached much deeper in the Irminger Sea as a halocline limits vertical convection in the Iceland Sea. The ranges of the related variations in salinity, density, and nutrient concentrations were similar in both regions. The nutrient variations were proportionately greater in the Iceland Sea. Statistical relationships between mixed layer depth and surface water properties were stronger for the Iceland Sea. but interannual variations in advection had more effects in the Irminger Sea. 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".

Please note: The present advice extends the advice given in June 2022 (for catches in 2022/2023) to include advice for 2023/2024. ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in each of the fishing years 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 and 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be no more than 259 tonnes.

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

Stock annex: Ling (Molva molva) in Division 5.a (Iceland grounds) Working Group on Biology and Assessment of Deep-sea Fisheries Resources (WGDEEP)

The Marine Research Institute in Iceland has been monitoring the inflow of Atlantic Water onto the north Icelandic Shelf using Aanderaa current meters on one mooring since 1985. In August 1999 three moorings were deployed along the Hornbanki section and recovered a year later, and these data are used along with CTD data from the section to estimate the flow of Atlantic Water to the north Icelandic Shelf. The mean transport during this period was found to be 0.95 Sv. This is lower than a pre­vious estimate using a single mooring from the Kogur section. No clear seasonal variations were found in the transport. Interannual variations were studied using data from the single mooring at the Hornbanki section for the period 1994-2000. There are no significant variations in the velocity, but the temperature shows interannual vari­ability. The year 1995 stands out with extremely low temperatures and during that year an anomalously small amount of Atlantic Water was found over the north Ice­landic Shelf. This may show that current measurements alone do not indicate the flow of Atlantic Water, and measurements of the water properties are needed to distinguish what kind of water is flowing along the Shelf.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, catches in 2024 should be no more than 23 518 tonnes.

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”.

32 working documents were presented to the working group during the meeting and they are all listed below. In addition the following documents were presented: a) Report of the Study Group on Redfish Stocks (ICES C.M. 1999/G:9).

Several age reading methods for Greenland Halibut were described and evaluated together with available validation and corroboration results. The different methods can be classified into two groups: A) Those that produce age-length relationships that broadly compare with the traditional methods described by the joint NAFO-ICES workshop in 1996 (ICES, 1997), typically indicating age around 10-12 years for 70 cm fish; and B) Several recently developed techniques that provide much higher longevity and approximately half the growth rate from 40-50 cm onwards compared to the traditional method. These typically produce age estimates around 20 years or more for 70 cm fish. All available validation and corroboration results, both several published and a few unpublished, were in favour of group B methods. There are still validation works to be done in order to fully appreciate the full range of variability in the formation of annuli in otoliths from different stocks within different environmental regimes. There is also a need for improved precision, especially for the group B methods. Based on the review in this report, the relevant assessment working groups are advised to seriously consider how to proceed with age reading of their stocks.

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.

ICES advised on the stock structure of pelagic redfish in the Irminger Sea in 2009 (ICES, 2009). It concluded on the basis of the information available by February 2009 that there were two distinct biological stocks, and it recommended two management units instead of the single unit that had been the basis for previous advice and management. Accordingly, ICES assessed the two redfish stocks separately and gave catch advice in 2009 based on the recommended management units. Subsequently, two papers were submitted by a contracting party to NEAFC disagreeing with the scientific basis for the definition of two management units instead of one. The papers were referred to ICES by NEAFC with the following request: a1. NEAFC requests ICES to continue to review the stock structure of S. mentella in the Irminger Sea and adjacent areas and consider, inter alia, NEAFC AM documents AM 2009/23 and AM 2009/29-rev 1 along with any other relevant evidence that may become available.

In the absence of defined reference points the state of the stock cannot be evaluated. Since 1990 SSB is slightly increasing, but is considerably lower than prior to the mid 1960s. The year classes from 2001 to 2007 are all below the long-term average. The first estimate of the 2008 year class indicate it may be above average. That year class will not contribute to the fisheries until 2012. The low recruitment in addition to a historical low weight-at-age means that the productivity of the stock at present is very low. Fishing mortality has declined significantly and is presently lowest observed in 40 years.

The objective of this benchmark process was to propose and evaluate assessment methods and the data upon which they depend for the four stocks: 1) Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2; 2) Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14; 3) golden redfish in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14; and 4) beaked redfish in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a. Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2 was previously assessed by the AFWG-Arctic Fisheries Working Group (Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2) using a Gadget model, while the others were assessed by the NWWG-Northwest Working Group using either a surplus production model (Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14), a Gadget model (golden redfish), or an ICES category 3 assessment method (beaked redfish). For both Greenland halibut stocks, age data were sparse and diverse data sources were compiled to fit Gadget length- and age-based models, which was also sex dependent for Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2 due to sex-dependent life history variation. Both Gadget models were improvements from previous assessment methods, although the lack of age data creates high uncertainty. A SAM model was proposed for golden redfish, which was tuned using survey data from Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. The SAM model showed better diagnostic results and resulted in higher current biomass levels than the previous model, but also confirms the previous view that recruitment has been consistently poor in recent years. Beaked redfish has sparse age data and was also assessed using the Gadget framework, tuned to surveys in Icelandic Waters, and indicates that the stock is below Blim and shows consistently low recruitment in recent years. It is recommended that migration and stock mixing be evaluated in future and that efforts be made to increase age data availability. Reference points were calculated according to the ICES category 1 methods. Harvest control rules proposed and evaluated were based on the ICES MSY advice rule. The current harvest control rule used for golden redfish was considered precautionary.

The 2009 landing and logbook data do not change the perception of the stock. The advice for the fishery in 2011 is therefore the same as the advice given in 2009 for the 2010 fishery: “ICES advises on the basis of precautionary considerations that the fishery be reduced below the 2008 level to 20 000 t and that a management plan be developed and implemented. ICES suggests that catches of Deep Pelagic S. mentella are set at 20 000 t as a starting point for the adaptive part of the management plan. Given the reduced abundance of this stock in recent years, a total catch limit of no greater than 20 000 tonnes should be implemented in 2010, irrespective of whether a management plan has been developed by that time or not.” This advice will be updated in the fall of 2011 on the basis of new survey information.

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.

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.

The ICES survey protocol for offshore beam trawl surveys describes the current methodologies, stratification and sample processing used in the offshore beam trawl surveys that provide fisheries-independent information to the fish stock assessments for a variety of flatfish species. The surveys are conducted by Belgium, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, the Netherlands, and UK (Cefas). The manual also contains (i) an overview of the major historical changes in survey methodology and/or data collection, and (ii) an overview of the main attention points for data-users, e.g. when combining the data of the respective beam trawl surveys, and recommended data processing. The impetus for all the beam trawl surveys in this manual is the need for fisheries-independent information on commercial flatfish species. The prime target species and type of beam trawl are set depending on the survey area and/or the relevance of the species for the national or EU fisheries. Over time, data collection within the surveys has expanded due both to a shift towards a more ecosystem-related general focus and to new data requests by end-users. As a consequence, the collection of epibenthos data has become more detailed over time and age data are collected for more species than at the time the surveys were developed. The current survey objectives are similar for all areas: • Data collection to create fisheries-independent abundance indices by age group (1‑year olds and older) for a number of fish species [e.g. plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), sole (Solea solea), dab (Limanda limanda), lemon sole (Microstomus kitt), flounder (Platichthys flesus), turbot (Scopththalmus maximus), brill (Scophthalmus rhombus), and monk fish (Lophius spp.)] for the sampled area. • Data collection to create fisheries-independent abundance indices for mantis shrimp (Squilla mantis), caramote prawn (Mazzancolla sp.), and common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) in the Mediterranean Sea. • Collection of biological data, including length measurements, on all fish species, including elasmobranch species, for ecosystem analysis purposes. • Collection of data on at least a selection of epibenthos species for ecosystem analysis purposes. • Collection of environmental data (at least temperature and salinity). • Collection of marine litter data. The present document is the 4th edition of the survey protocol. The manual has its origin in national manuals for offshore beam trawl surveys, and can be considered the public version of the national manuals.

Total annual landings in Divisions Va, Vb and Sub-area XIV are presented for the years 1981–1998 in Tables 6.1.1–6.1.5. During the period 1982–1986, landings were stable at about 31 000–34 000 t. In the years 1987–1989 landings increased to about 62 000 t, followed by a decrease to about 35 000 t in 1992. The landings increased to 41 000 t in 1993, but have thereafter decreased to 20 000 t in 1998. Catches not officially reported to ICES have been included in the assessment. Landings within Icelandic EEZ have traditionally been reported as caught in Division Va. Therefore, when referring to Division Va (or Icelandic waters) the area covers both Va and the Icelandic EEZ part of XIVb. Landings and fishery relates to the Greenland EEZ part of XIVb as well as international waters on the Reykjanes Ridge. Catches in Icelandic waters have, due to quota regulations, decreased from 37 000 t in 1990 to 10 700 t in 1998. Faroese catches in Vb increased from a level of about 1 000 t in 1981–1991 to 6 500 t in 1996, whereafter it decreased to about 3 800 t in 1998. Catches in division XIVb have increased from below 1 000 t in 1987–1991 to 8 500 t in 1997, but have decreased again to 5 900 t in 1998.

The overflow of cold water from the Arctic Mediterranean (Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas) across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge into the Atlantic is a key process in the form ation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW ) and a driving mechanism for the Atlantic inflow to the Nordic Seas. About half the overflow flux passes east of Iceland, carried by three separate branches. Previous investigations have shown that the branch that flows through the Faroe Bank Channel decreased in flux from 1950 to 2000. We argue that the same conclusion can be drawn for the cold com ponent of the overflow across the southern part of the Iceland-Faroe Ridge and for the cold com ponent of the overflow across the Wyville-Thomson Ridge. If not compensated by unobserved increases in other sources, the results imply a reduced production of NADW and reduced inflow of Atlantic Water to the Nordic Seas. We briefly discuss the potential biological consequences of the changing transport of organisms by overflow currents, changing bottom temperature regimes in areas affected by overflow water, and changing Atlantic inflow. 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".

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.

Icelandic request on evaluation of Icelandic cod management plan

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, landings should be no more than 459 tonnes in each of the years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. ICES cannot quantify the corresponding catches.

The new landing and logbook data do not change the perception of the stock. The advice for the fishery in 2011 is therefore the same as the advice given in 2009 for the 2010 fishery: “ICES advises on the basis of precautionary considerations that no directed fishery should be conducted and by-catch of this stock in non-directed fisheries should be kept as low as possible. A recovery plan should be developed. Given the very low state of the stock, the directed fishery should be closed in 2010 irrespective of whether the recovery plan has been developed by that time or not.” This advice will be updated in the fall of 2011 on the basis of new survey information.

Tagging experiments carried out at Greenland and Iceland show that mature cod at West Greenland migrate to East Greenland. Tagging experiments at East Greenland also show that mature cod from that area migrate to Iceland (Tåning, 1937; Hansen, 1949; and Anon. 1971). On the other hand, immature cod seem not to emigrate from East Greenland to Iceland, but in some years immature cod migrate from East Greenland to the West Greenland stock (Anon. 1971). Tagging experiments at Iceland show that migration of cod from Iceland to Greenland waters occurs very seldom and can be ignored in stock assessments (Jonsson 1965, 1986). Migrations from Greenland waters to Iceland can, therefore, be regarded as a one-way migration.

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.

Traditionally, the S. mentella on the shelves and banks around the Faroe Islands, Iceland and at East Greenland have been treated as one stock unit, with a common area of larval extrusion to the SW of Iceland, a drift of the pelagic fry towards the nursery areas on relatively shallow waters at East Greenland, and feeding and copulation areas on the shelves and banks around Faroe Islands, Iceland and at East Greenland. In Faroese waters spawning has been observed in some years to the south and west of the islands, implying that there could be a local component in the area; no nursery areas have, however, been found so far (Reinert, 1990). A relationship to other ICES areas (II and IV) have also been suggested (Reinert et al., 1992; Reinert and Lastein, 1992). The question of a possible relationship between the deep-sea S. mentella on the shelf in Subareas V and XIV and the pelagic deep-sea S.mentella in the Irminger Sea has been raised several times. The ICES Working Group in 1999 on the Application of Genetics in Fisheries and Mariculture (WGAGFM) states that the presence of significant genetic differences between these two deep-sea components indicating probably distinct genetic stocks. The NWWG therefore continues treating the deep-sea S. mentella on the shelf as a separate self-contained stock unit. For management purposes the Icelandic authorities separate the deep-sea S. mentella on the shelf (some of which are caught in pelagic trawls) from the pelagic S.mentella in the Irminger Sea (both oceanic and pelagic deep-sea type) by straight lines through three positions (Figure 9.1.1).

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 2010 data (landings and survey) do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given last year: “ICES advises that a management plan be developed and implemented which takes into account the uncertainties in science and the properties of the fisheries. ICES suggests that catches are set no higher than 10 000 t as a starting point for the adaptive part of the management plan.”

The Icelandic stock of cod forms an important part of the cod populations in the North Atlantic. In the years 1930-1938 the catch on lcelanclio grounds was 38.7 % of the total European catch of cod. In the same period the Norwegian coast yielded 22.5 %, Bear Island 9.1 %, the Barents Sea 8.8 %, the Newfoundland/Greenland Banks 6.7 % and the North Sea 5.9 %. 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".

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2024 should be no more than 3095 tonnes. Out of this, catches in Divisions 1A–C should be no more than 746 tonnes and catches in Divisions 1D–F should be no more than 2349 tonnes.

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.

The meeting was opened by the Chairman, Prof. Franciscus Colijn at 9.00 hours on 28 March 1996. The chairman gave the noor to Mr. Jakob Jakobsson of the Icelandic Institute of Marine Research, who welcomed the participants of the Working Group Meeting to his institute and gave a brief overview on the tasks of the Institute. The meeting was attended by 9 scientists representing 7 countries. Although this amount of scientists for a working group meeting is disappointing, no long discussion was held to see \vhether there are specific reasons for the low attendance. One reason is probably that currently more interest is given by member countries (or scientists) to attend the WG HAß, because it covers more politically interesting topics (see below). A list of participants is given in Annex 2. The chairman presented the agenda. which was left unchanged by the Working Group.

The surface circulation of the Nordic Seas and its variability during the 1990s is investigated using current data obtained from satellite-tracked drifters. We find a seasonal intensification of the circulation during winter and during the first half of the 1990s, both due to the enhanced atmospheric momentum forcing. 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".

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 at increased risk of being harvested unsustainably. Recruitment in the last decade has been at or above the long-term average, with occurrence of strong year classes in 1999, 2000 and 2002. A high Ichthyophonus infection was observed in the stock in the winter 2008/2009 causing an additional natural mortality.

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 total catch of S. marinus in Divisions Va and Vb and in the Sub-areas VI and XIV has decreased from about 130,000 t in 1982 to about 40,00 and 39,000 t in 1997 and 1998, respectively (Table 8.1.1). This decline of about 70% over this period has been continuous but with few exceptions. Since 1990, catches have decreased from about 67,000 t or about 45%. The relative highest decline in last years occurred in area Va (Table 8.1.1). Catches of S. marinus in Division Va have declined from 63,000 t in 1990 to only 34,000 t in 1996, a 55% reduction. The catch in 1998 was about 37,000 t. The decline in the catch in 1994 was at least partly due to area closures imposed on the fishery by Iceland in order to reduce the catches of S. marinus. The catches in 1995 increased again to approximately 42,000 t despite the area closures. The catches in 1996-1998 are the lowest catch of S. marinus in Va since 1978. The length distributions in the Icelandic landings in 1989-1997 along with measurements at sea from the commercial trawler fleet are shown in Figure 8.1.1. The location and number of measured fishes by statistical square is given in Figure 8.1.2.

With the extension of the fisheries jurisdiction to 200 miles in 1975, Iceland introduced new measures to protect young juvenile fish. The mesh size in trawls was increased from 120 mm to 155 mm in 1977. Only in the fisheries for redfish was 135 mm mesh size allowed in certain areas. In addition a system was implemented whereby fishing can be forbidden immediately in areas where the number of small fish in the catches exceeds a certain percentage (25% < 55 cm for cod and saithe and 25% < 48 cm for haddock). These areas are usually been closed for two weeks and can be extended in time and space if necessary.

In my view, a certain answer to the question— “Should fishing of a stock of fish be increased or decreased?”—can be obtained only by adequate estimates of recruitment, natural mortality, mortality by fishing and growth rate: that is, estimates of all the vital rates. Until those are obtained the problem is not solved. The necessary estimates are not available at present for either the Icelandic stock of cod or the Arcto-Norwegian stock. 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".

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.

The main results of the hydrographic conditions in Icelandic waters in the 1990s reveal the same variability from year to year observed since the 1950s, including Atlantic, Polar, and Arctic periods in North Icelandic waters. Attention is paid to the hydro- graphic conditions in the warm water from the south (Inninger Current) which developed at the end of the 1990s into high saline conditions comparable with the period prior to the 1960s. This includes the northern component flowing into North Icelandic waters. The conditions in the East Icelandic Current also improved at the end of the 1990s with relatively high salinities. Thus the hydrobiological conditions in Icelandic waters were favourable at the end of the 1990s with regard to the various fish stocks. 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 Denmark Strait overflow water derives from several distinct sources. Arctic Intermediate Water from the Iceland Sea, Atlantic Water of the West Spitsbergen Current recirculating in the Fram Strait, and Arctic Atlantic Water returning from the different circulation loops in the Arctic Ocean all take part in the overflow. Denser water masses, such as the upper Polar Deep Water and the Canadian Basin Deep Water from the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Intermediate Water from the Greenland Sea, are occasionally present at the sill and could contribute the deepest part of the overflow plume. A comparison between hydrographic observations made during the Greenland Sea Project in the late 1980s and early 1990s and during the European Sub Polar Ocean Programme (ESOP) and Variability of Exchanges in the Northern Seas (VEINS) programmes in the late 1990s shows that the Greenland Sea Arctic Intermediate Water has largely replaced the Arctic Ocean deep waters. In the less dense fraction of the overflow the Recirculating Atlantic Water and Arctic Atlantic Water carried by the East Greenland Current have become more prominent than the Iceland Sea Arctic Intermediate Water. If the Denmark Strait overflow were to switch between different sources, it would lead to changes in the characteristics of the overflow water that add to the variations caused by the variability of the source waters. 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 meeting was opened by the Chairman, Prof. Franciscus Colijn at 9.00 hours on 28 March 1996. The chairman gave the noor to Mr. Jakob Jakobsson of the Icelandic Institute of Marine Research, who welcomed the participants of the Working Group Meeting to his institute and gave a brief overview on the tasks of the Institute. The meeting was attended by 9 scientists representing 7 countries. Although this amount of scientists for a working group meeting is disappointing, no long discussion was held to see \vhether there are specific reasons for the low attendance. One reason is probably that currently more interest is given by member countries (or scientists) to attend the WG HAß, because it covers more politically interesting topics (see below). A list of participants is given in Annex 2. The chairman presented the agenda. which was left unchanged by the Working Group.

The genus Sebastes is very common and widely distributed in the North Atlantic. It is found off the coast of Britain, along Norway in the Barents Sea and Spitzbergen, off the Faroe Islands, Iceland, East - Greenland, West - Greenland, and along the east coast of North America from Baffin Island South to Cape Cod (Magnússon and Magnússon, 1995). All Sebastes species are viviparous. The extrusion of the larvae takes place in late winter - late spring/early summer but copulation occurs in autumn-early winter.

Appendix C of Rapports et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions (RPVR) Vol. 3. il )^dtographical observations have been carried on in the waters between Scotland and Iceland for a number of years. These observations have shown, that the Golf Stream at all times fills almost the whole region between the Shetland Islands and the Færoes, but that the influence of the Polar Stream can be detected, as a rule, in a lower salinity of the oceanic waters in the immediate neighbourhood of the latter. The Polar Stream is therefore not very far distant. It is obvious beforehand, that the East Icelandic Polar Stream is subject to considerable fluctuations from year to year, both as regards extent and position; yet, the observations make it seem probable, that this stream is always present to the north-west, north and north-east of the Færoes. In winter and spring, the temperature of the southern part of the Polar Stream is much lower, on the surface, than that of the Atlantic Ocean. In the summer and autumn, on the other hand, the difference in temperature between the two is considerably less, as the upper layer of the Polar Stream is warmed by the sun and the wind. Consequently, we find that the East Icelandic Polar Stream has a cooling influence on its surroundings, especially in winter and spring. We may, at present, investigate its influence on the temperature of the air at Thorshavn on the Færoes.

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.

This section includes information on the pelagic fishery for oceanic redfish S. mentella and pelagic deep-sea S. mentella in the Irminger Sea (Sub-area XII, parts of Division Va and Sub-area XIV).

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in the fishing year 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be no more than 12 080 tonnes.