The Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks Nephrops Grounds (FU20-21) 2024 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2025.

Abstract

This report presents the main results of the 2025 underwater television (UWTV) survey conducted on the ‘Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks’ within ICES assessment area Functional Unit (FU) 20-21. The 2024 annual survey was multi-disciplinary, collecting UWTV footage along with other ecosystem data. A total of 84 UWTV stations were completed at 6 nm intervals over a randomised isometric grid design, resulting in 90% coverage of the area. The mean burrow density in 2024 was recorded at 0.111 burrows/m2 , indicating a slight increase from 0.104 burrows/m2 in 2023. The 2024 geostatistical abundance estimate was 1152 million burrows, marking a 12% increase from 2023 and resulting in a Coefficient of variation (CV)of 6% well below the 20% upper limit recommended by SGNEPS (2012). Low to medium burrow densities were observed throughout the surveyed grounds. Using the 2024 abundance estimate and updated stock data, the estimated catch for 2025, aligned with the ICES Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) approach, is projected at 2,153 tonnes, assuming no change in discard rates and fishery selection patterns from 2021–2023 average. One species of sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis), was recorded at the surveyed stations. Trawl marks were observed at 43% of these stations.