West coast herring ( Clupea harengus) is mainly prosecuted by large pelagic trawlers to the north and north-west of Scotland, with some small landings being taken in the Clyde by pair trawlers.
| 2011 position: | UK share 13,865 tonnes |
| Last year: | 15,076 tonnes |
| Landed into Scotland in 2009: | 6,750 tonnes |
| Value for 2009: | £2.2 million |
MSY and Precautionary Approach Reference Points
| Type | Value |
MSY Approach | MSY Btrigger | Not defined |
FMSY | 0.25 |
Precautionary Approach | Blim | 50,000 t |
Bpa | Not defined |
Flim | Not defined |
Fpa | Not defined |
State of Stock and Advice
- Fishing mortality for 2009 was estimated to be 0.22: this means that approximately 20%, by number, of all fish between 3 and 6 years of age were caught.
- The spawning stock biomass for 2010 was predicted to be 83,000 tonnes. This is above the precautionary approach reference limit ( Blim).
- Fishing mortality and biomass are below and above, respectively, the precautionary limits. However, spawning stock biomass cannot be determined in relation to any of the other reference points. Fishing mortality is below 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 2011 international Total Allowable Catch for west of Scotland (Vb, VIa north, VIb & Clyde) herring should be 23,201 tonnes. The 2011 UK quota has been set at 13,865 tonnes.
Information Source: ICES advice 2010 ( http://www.ices.dk/committe/acom/comwork/report/2010/2010/her-vian.pdf)