Beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) in subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic)

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.