3. Baseline

3.1. Overview of Landings

3.1.1. Local Commercial Fisheries Study Area

  1. Commercial fisheries statistics for the annual landed weight and first sales value of UK vessels operating within the specified commercial fisheries local study area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) are shown in Figure 3.1   Open ▸ and Figure 3.2   Open ▸ respectively. These data indicate a spike in landings of herring Clupea harengus during 2018 (equating to 2,000 tonnes and first sales value of £1.2 million in 2018). Herring are a pelagic species that are caught in shoals by vessels deploying pelagic trawl or pelagic seine that targets the shoaling fish as they migrate. This pattern leads to sporadic spikes in landings as noted in Figure 3.1   Open ▸ and Figure 3.2   Open ▸ .
  2. Following that, the landings are primarily dominated by Nephrops norvegicus (also known as Norway lobster, Dublin Bay prawn, langoustine, nephrops and Nephrops; hereon referred to as Nephrops), haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus and mixed demersal finfish species caught by demersal otter trawling vessels. The majority of landings by UK fishing vessels are made by vessels registered in Scotland (86% by value) and England (14% by value).

Figure 3.1:
Key Species by Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.1: Key Species by Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

 

  1. An annual average value of almost £1.72 million was landed by all UK vessels for the years 2016 to 2022 from the commercial fisheries local study area. Nephrops represent the highest value species commercially landed from the commercial fisheries local study area (average £1 million per annum; Figure 3.2   Open ▸ ), although landings are highly variable across the time series, peaking in 2019 with significant drops in 2020 and 2021, and growth in 2022. Haddock, monkfish Lophius piscatorius, whiting Merlangius merlangus and halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus have all followed a similar trend in landings pattern as Nephrops, which is expected given that they are caught as retained bycatch within the Nephrops targeted fishery. These species have a combined annual average value of £288,000 from 2016 to 2022.
  2. Relatively small quantities of other species are landed from the commercial fisheries local study area, including lobster Homarus gammarus (£33,000 average annual value), king scallop Pectan maximum (£18,000 average annual value) and brown crab Cancer pagurus (£25,000 average annual value).

Figure 3.2:
Key Species by Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.2: Key Species by Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

 

  1. The commercial fisheries local study area encompasses three ICES rectangles, however the majority of the Array is located within ICES rectangle 42E9. Landings statistics data by ICES rectangle is presented in Figure 3.3   Open ▸ and Figure 3.4   Open ▸ for weight and value respectively for the time period 2016 to 2022. The highest weight and value are landed from ICES rectangle 42F0, which overlaps with a very small portion of the Array, i.e. 1.02% of the Array is located in 42F0.
  2. The average annual value landed by UK vessels from ICES rectangle 42E9 is £136,000, compared to landings of £1.5 million from 42F0. This highlights that 42E9 is not heavily fished or targeted by UK vessels, with relatively low value of catches; this pattern has remained consistent across the time period analysed (2016 to 2022).
  3. In addition, the average landed weight and value from the commercial fisheries local study area is depicted graphically in Figure 3.5   Open ▸ and Figure 3.6   Open ▸ , respectively. This emphasises the great importance of ICES rectangle 42F0, compared to 41E9 and 42E9, noting that the majority of the Array is located within 42E9.

Figure 3.3:
Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.3: Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.4:
Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.4: Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.5:
Average Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle for Top Species from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.5: Average Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle for Top Species from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)


Figure 3.6:
Average Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle for Top Species from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.6: Average Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle for Top Species from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)


  1. Landed value by gear type and ICES rectangle for the commercial fisheries local study area is shown in Figure 3.7   Open ▸ , again highlighting that the majority of landings are from 42F0. Demersal trawl targeting Nephrops, haddock and mixed demersal finfish species dominate the catches, followed by landings of herring by pelagic otter trawl. The landings of lobster and crab taken from the commercial fisheries local study area are targeted within ICES rectangle 41E9.

Figure 3.7:
Average Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Gear Type and ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.7: Average Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Gear Type and ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (41E9, 42E9 and 42F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

 

                        Long-term landings data

  1. Stakeholder consultation suggested that the commercial fisheries local study area has been more important in the years prior to 2016, specifically for small size classes of haddock. To explore this further, a longer term trend in landings has been analysed across the commercial fisheries local study area for the period 2011 to 2022 for the three top species: haddock, Nephrops and herring ( Figure 3.8   Open ▸ ).
  2. Haddock show significantly higher landings from 2011 to 2013, particularly from ICES rectangle 42E9 (which the majority of the Array overlaps with). The average value of haddock landed from 42E9 from 2011 to 2013 was £975,000, compared to £69,000 landed per annum from 2019 to 2022.
  3. Landings of haddock from the commercial fisheries local study area fell dramatically in 2016, and have remained at these levels. This trend is not seen at a stock level, where total landings of haddock from the North Sea, West of Scotland and Skaggerak (ICES Divisions 4, 6a and 3a respectively) haddock stock have remained relatively consistent since 2008. Therefore, the evidence suggests that the decline in landings from the commercial fisheries local study area in 2016 is not linked to biological stock factors such as low recruitment for example. Consultation with the fishing industry highlighted that the commercial fisheries local study area had historically been important for small size classes, but that the market and processing resources available for this size of haddock became unavailable resulting in the observed drop in haddock landings.
  4. Landings of Nephrops from the commercial fisheries local study area are almost entirely from ICES rectangle 42F0 (partially overlapping the Array, but mainly to the east of the Array). Nephrops landings have peaked and troughed from this area, with a notable spike in landings in 2019; overall landings have been highest from 2019 to 2022 for the long-term time series.
  5. Herring landings are sporadic in nature, as previously discussed (see paragraph 20). A high peak is noted to occur in 2018 from ICES rectangle 42F0. Smaller landings from 42E9 are noted in 2014 and 2016, but any trends are typically more reliable to consider at a wider geographic scale due to the high mobility of this species.

 

Figure 3.8:
Long Term Landing Trends for Haddock, Nephrops and Herring from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.8: Long Term Landing Trends for Haddock, Nephrops and Herring from the Commercial Fisheries Local Study Area (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

 

3.1.2. Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area

  1. Commercial fisheries statistics presenting data for the annual (2016 to 2022) landed weight and first sales value landed by UK vessels from the commercial fisheries regional study area (nine ICES rectangles) are shown in Figure 3.9   Open ▸ and Figure 3.10   Open ▸ respectively. Average annual values are calculated across a seven year period (2016 to 2022).
  2. Landings data indicates that within this wider commercial fisheries regional study area, landings remain dominated by herring from a landed weight perspective. The region is clearly associated with a pelagic trawl fishery targeting this migratory pelagic shoaling species.
  3. The most valuable species across the period of 2016 to 2022 , is king scallop, with an average of £2.4 million landed annually from the commercial fisheries regional study area. The demersal otter trawl fishery targeting Nephrops, haddock and other mixed demersal species is also prominent in the commercial fisheries regional study area, with a combined average annual value of £3.5 million in first sales. Two different demersal otter trawl gears are used to target these fisheries, each with different mesh size ranges as defined by internationally recognised gear groupings; specifically gear type TR1 (with net mesh size of 100 mm) to target haddock, and gear type TR2 (with net mesh size of 70 mm to 99 mm) to target Nephrops. Both gear retain a mix of demersal species as bycatch.
  4. Notable landings of lobster and brown crab are also evidenced across the commercial fisheries regional study area (£1.2 million combined average annual value). Landings from the commercial fisheries regional study area by UK fishing vessels are made by vessels registered in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Figure 3.9:
Key Species by Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.9: Key Species by Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.10:
Key Species by Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.10: Key Species by Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

 

  1. UK fishing vessel landings by ICES rectangle across the commercial fisheries regional study area are shown in Figure 3.11   Open ▸ for landed weight and Figure 3.12   Open ▸ for first sales value.
  2. Regionally, the lowest value of landings are taken from 41E9 (£75,000 average annual value) and 42E9 (£136,000 average annual value), which are part of the commercial fisheries local study area, indicating that areas outside the Array are relatively more important to commercial fishing fleets.
  3. The highest value is landed from 43E9 (£2.9 million average annual value), which is immediately north of the Array, followed by 42E8 and 42F0 (£1.3 million and £1.5 million average annual value, respectively).
  4. Average annual first sales value landed from the commercial fisheries regional study area is shown in Figure 3.13   Open ▸ by gear type and ICES rectangle, and in Figure 3.14   Open ▸ by vessel nationality and species.
  5. The key gears across the commercial fisheries regional study area are demersal otter trawls, dredge, pelagic trawls and pots. Herring are targeted by Scottish, English and Northern Irish registered vessels; haddock by both English and Scottish vessels, while all other species are predominately targeted by Scottish vessels.

Figure 3.11:
Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.11: Annual Landed Weight (tonnes) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.12:
Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.12: Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.13:
Average Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Gear Type and ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.13: Average Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Gear Type and ICES Rectangle from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.14:
Average Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Vessel Nationality and Species from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.14: Average Annual Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Vessel Nationality and Species from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)


  1. The seasonality of landings across the commercial fisheries regional study area for key species are depicted in Figure 3.15   Open ▸ . Herring are targeted during their autumn spawning migration in August and September. King scallop are caught throughout most of the year, with peaks in March to June. Nephrops are caught throughout the year, while haddock are predominately targeted from May to December. Lobster landings peak in the summer month of August and brown crab are caught throughout the year.

Figure 3.15:
Average Monthly Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Species from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)

Figure 3.15: Average Monthly Landed Value (GBP) (2016 to 2022) by Species from the Commercial Fisheries Regional Study Area (41E8-F0, 42E8-F0, 43E8-F0) (MMO, 2022a; MMO, 2023a)