PelAC and NWWAC have recommended a 5,944 tonne sprat TAC for English Channel to the EU Commission
European fishing advisory bodies have recommended a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of no more than 5,944 tonnes for sprat in the English Channel for the upcoming year.
The joint recommendation from the North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) and the Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) follows the latest scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The ICES advice, published on 24 April 2025, covers sprat in ICES divisions 7.d and 7.e (English Channel) for the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. It is based on a category 3 assessment that uses a biomass index from the PELTIC survey. The NWWAC and PelAC’s joint recommendation was formally sent to Ms. Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Commission.
This collaborative approach stems from a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” between the two councils, adopted in March 2022, which designates the NWWAC as the lead for sprat recommendations in these areas. The NWWAC focused on bycatch considerations, while the PelAC advised on the directed fishery.
Both councils highlighted persistent uncertainty regarding the stock structure of sprat in the Celtic Seas ecoregion, an issue also noted by ICES in its recent advice. They strongly advocate for continued and expanded genetic stock identification work to clarify these boundaries. The PelAC has also expressed its intent to develop a comprehensive management strategy for Celtic Seas sprat once clear stock delineation is available.
Acknowledging sprat’s vital role as a forage species for predators in the North Western Waters, the advisory councils emphasised the need to integrate ecosystem-based management into both scientific assessments and management frameworks. They urged the European Commission and Member States to create a roadmap for implementing such approaches for this stock.
Furthermore, the councils recommended close cooperation with ICES when developing any spatial or seasonal measures for sprat, ensuring a thorough evaluation of their biological and ecological impacts on both the sprat stock and related fisheries.
Finally, the NWWAC and PelAC called for a re-evaluation of the current management units for sprat, particularly for subarea 6 and divisions 7.a-c and 7.f-k, noting that the scientific basis for treating these as a single stock is weak. They warned that this lack of clarity could undermine both sustainability and socio-economic stability, urging ICES and the European Commission to prioritise stock identification work in these western divisions before future advice is issued.