As the Deputy is aware, the advice on fish stocks published by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) forms the basis of the scientific advice used by the European Commission in proposing Total Allowable Catches (TACs).
The ICES advice for Pollack in ICES Areas 6-7 (the waters around Ireland) for 2024 is for zero catch. A copy of this advice is available on the ICES website (www.ices.dk) from the following link:
(ices-library.figshare.com/articles/report/Pollack_Pollachius_pollachius_in_subareas_6_7_Celtic_Seas_and_the_English_Channel_/21841011?backTo=/collections/ICES_Advice_2023/6398177)
Following the conclusion of the EU-UK negotiations on 2024 fishing opportunities for shared stocks, the parties agreed on a limited, by-catch only TAC for Pollack in Areas 6-7 to avoid a "choke" situation which would lead to the premature closure of whitefish fisheries where Pollack is caught as a by-catch. Given the scientific advice for this stock, the need to balance socio-economic considerations with achieving good biological status for stocks, and taking into account the challenges of managing mixed fisheries, setting a by-catch only TAC is the most appropriate approach.
I am advised that the process leading to the advice for Pollack in 2023 was as accurate as possible, within the process that was established for assessing Pollack. The analytical model used in 2023 allows for a better assessment of stock status, based on more complete data, than the previous method which relied on landings data only.
The assessment method on which this advice is based was updated in 2023 following an ICES benchmark process. A "benchmark" is an ICES process which reviews data, establishes an agreed methodology to assess the stock and defines the reference points for management.
As part of this process, the new analysis was independently peer-reviewed to ensure the best available science is applied. The benchmark process is fully transparent and open to participation by stakeholders. The agreed assessment method is the approach that is most robust to remaining uncertainties around the data while providing advice that is based on maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in the long term.
In addition to the assessment model outputs, are a number of independent indicators that support the perception of a declining trend in the stock size, including length based indicators.
Ireland plays an important role in the scientific research to improve the understanding of the Pollack stock.
Pollack is part of the general sampling programme conducted by the Marine Institute, including port sampling and routine surveys. Work is also ongoing to collect genetic samples of Pollack to tackle uncertainty in stock identity. In addition, a new inshore survey is targeting areas not regularly sampled on the regular survey programme. These habitats are more suitable for Pollack and the data collected may help to build up an enhanced perspective on stock status.
