Status
ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity. The fishing mortality has remained low since year 2000. ICES has not established reference points for the fishing mortality. The 2001 year class is strong, and has provided with a rise in the spawning stock biomass the last years. It is no sign of strong recruitment after the 2001 year class.
In 2009 the catches were 177 000 tons, which is an increase from 2008 and above average catches for the previous years. Last year’s catches were also just below the recommended and agreed quota. Norway caught 72 619 tons western horse mackerel in 2009. Expected total catch in 2010 is 185 000 tonnes.
Management advice
A management plan has been made for western horse mackerel, which has not been finally adopted among coastal states. However, ICES considers the plan to be consistent with the precautionary approach in the short term for the next three years. According to this plan the quota have been set to up to 180 000 tons each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. ICES recommend quotas in accordance with this management plan. The management plan is due to be evaluated in 2014.
The three stock components of horse mackerel; one western, one southern and one in the North Sea, are more separated than the stock components of mackerel. Fishing regulation boundaries do not always follow stock distributions, especially around the English Channel. This leads to a less of the western component of the horse mackerel being fished than the quota recommendation, whereas the catches of the North Sea stock component is higher than recommended. ICES advice is to adjust the management units so they coincide with the geographical distribution of the stocks.
The Norwegian fishery in the North Sea exploits the western stock, and is included in the catch statistics for this stock.
Key numbers
Critical spawning stock level (Blim) = not defined
Precautionary approach level (Bpa) = not defined
Critical fishing mortality (Flim) = not defined
Precautionary approach fishing mortality (Fpa) = not defined
Expected spawning stock size in 2010 = 2,01 million tons
Comments from the Institute of Marine Research
The Institute of Marine Research supports the management plan from ICES, which gives a catch of 181 000 tons.
