Anglerfish (L. budegassa) in the Bay of Biscay and Atlantic Iberian Waters, Demersal otter trawl
- Content last updated
- 22 February 2018
- Stock
- Lophius budegassa in ICES Divisions VIIIc and IXa
- Management
- EU
- Stock Status
-
Very low risk
- Management
-
Low risk
- Bycatch
-
High risk
- Habitat
-
High risk
Stock status
L. budegassa in 8c and 9a has been scored a very low risk. The stock biomass is over double that representing MSYBtrigger, and the fishing mortality is well below FMSY.
Management
The management of anglerfish in subareas 8c and 9a has been scored a low risk. A combined TAC is set for both L. budegassa, and L. piscatorius, and catches have been in line with this.
Bycatch
The bycatch risk of this fishery has been scored a high risk. Discarding is potentially high, but the EU landings obligation is intended to reduce discarding of TAC species over the period up to 2020.
Habitat
The habitat risk of this fishery has been scored a high risk. This is because demersal otter trawl is a mobile fishing gear which interacts with seabed habitats resulting in abrasion and penetration from ground gear, sweeps and bridles. Biological communities are disturbed both directly and by changes in the physical attributes of the areas being fished. Furthermore, although there are several areas of deep water habitat protected from fishing there is uncertainty about the location and sensitivity of some sensitive seabed habitats so these remain at risk.