FU19 Nephrops Grounds 2025 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2026

Abstract

This report provides the main results of the sixteenth 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 2025 a total of 42 UWTV stations were successfully completed. The mean density estimates varied considerably across the different patches. The 2025 raised abundance estimate showed an 11% decrease from the 2024 estimate and at 260 million burrows is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (430 million). Using the 2025 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2026 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 317 and 357 tonnes (assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2022–2024). Two species of sea pen were observed; Virgularia mirabilis and Pennatula phosphorea which have been observed on previous surveys of FU19. Trawl marks were observed at 7% of the stations surveyed.