Porcupine Bank Nephrops Grounds (FU16) 2024 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2025

Abstract

This report provides the results of the eleventh underwater television on the ‘Porcupine Bank Nephrops grounds’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 16. The survey was multi disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. In total 68 UWTV stations were successfully completed (99% of the planned stations) in a randomised 6 nautical mile isometric grid covering the full spatial extent of the stock. The mean burrow density observed in 2024, adjusted for edge effect, was 0.23 burrows/m². The final krigged abundance estimate was 1677 million burrows with a CV of 3%. The 2024 abundance estimate was 16% lower than in 2023. Using the 2024 estimate of abundance and updated stock data imply that catches in 2025 should be between 2813 and 3488 tonnes, according to the EU MAP and ICES MSY approach (assuming that all catch is landed). Four species of sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis, Funiculina quadrangularis, Pennatula phosphorea and the deepwater sea-pen Kophobelemnon stelliferum) were observed during the survey. Trawl marks were also observed on 35% of the stations surveyed.