The Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks Nephrops Grounds (FU2021) 2021 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2022.

Abstract

This report provides the main results of the 2021 underwater television survey on the ‘Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 2021. The 2021 survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. A total of 97 UWTV stations were completed at 6 nm intervals over a randomised isometric grid design. The mean burrow density was 0.12 burrows/m2 compared with 0.102 burrows/m2 in 2020. The 2021 geostatistical abundance estimate was 1202 million, a 18% increase on the abundance from 2020, with a CV of 5%, which is well below the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS 2012. Low to medium densities were observed throughout the ground. Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2022 that correspond to the ICES MSY approach of 1978 tonnes assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2018–2020. One species of sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis) were recorded as present at the stations surveyed. Trawl marks were observed at 21% of the stations surveyed.