FU19 Nephrops Grounds 2021 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2022

Abstract

This report provides the main results of the twelfth underwater television survey of the various Nephrops patches in Functional Unit 19. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. In 2021 a total 42 UWTV stations were successfully completed. The mean density estimates varied considerably across the different patches. The 2021 raised abundance estimate was a 16% decrease from the 2020 estimate and at 270 million burrows is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (430 million). Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2022 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 363 and 407 tonnes (assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2018–2020). One species of sea pen were observed; Virgularia mirabilis which has been observed on previous surveys of FU19. Trawl marks were observed at 19% of the stations surveyed.