Haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus) to the west of Scotland is, by weight, one of the most important demersal species landed from this area. They're caught mainly by bottom trawlers which target mixed demersal fish assemblages. Discarding is still quite high in this area, with nearly 40% of the catch estimated to be thrown back.
| 2011 position: | UK share 1,561 tonnes |
| Last year: | 2,053 tonnes |
| Landed into Scotland in 2009: | 2,366 tonnes |
| Value for 2009: | £2.7 million |
MSY and Precautionary Approach Reference Points
| Type | Value |
MSY Approach | MSY Btrigger | 30,000 t |
FMSY | 0.3 |
Precautionary Approach | Blim | 22,000 t |
Bpa | 30,000 t |
Flim | Not defined |
Fpa | 0.5 |
State of Stock and Advice
- Fishing mortality in 2009 has been estimated at 0.3: this means that approximately 26%, by number, of all fish between 2 and 6 years of age were caught.
- The spawning stock biomass has been on the decline since it last peaked in 2003, and is now estimated to be below Blim at around 13,000 tonnes.
- Fishing mortality and biomass are both below their precautionary limits. However, fishing mortality is at the level which is consistent with achieving maximum sustainable yield ( F2009= FMSY).
Management Outcomes for 2011
At the December 2010 meeting in Brussels, the Council of Ministers decided that the international Total Allowable Catch for west of Scotland (VIa and Vb) haddock should be 2,005 tonnes. The UK quota for 2011 is set at 1,561 tonnes.
Information Source: ICES advice 2010 ( http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2010/2010/had-scow.pdf).