NWWAC issues advice on fishing opportunities for North Western Waters in 2026, highlighting concerns over various stocks
The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) has delivered its formal advice to the European Commission on the 2026 fishing opportunities for stocks across the North Western Waters (NWW) region.
The document sets out positions on key commercial species, the use of scientific evidence, and the wider policy framework shaping total allowable catches (TACs).
General Approach
The Council stresses that all recommendations should align with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), particularly the objective of managing stocks at maximum sustainable yield (MSY). It calls for TACs to reflect the best available science from ICES, while also recognising socio-economic realities faced by fishing communities. The advice highlights a recurring problem: misalignments between scientific assessments and management frameworks, especially where data-limited stocks are concerned.
The NWWAC notes that the TAC-setting process must remain transparent and evidence-based. It reiterates the importance of including stakeholder knowledge in consultations, emphasising that industry input is vital to contextualise scientific findings with operational realities at sea.
Species-Specific Advice
- Cod (Irish Sea and Celtic Sea)
The Council draws attention to the dire status of cod stocks, particularly in the Irish Sea, where ICES has repeatedly recommended zero catches. NWWAC acknowledges the scientific advice but stresses the severe socio-economic consequences of a full closure. Instead, it urges the Commission to consider balanced solutions, such as bycatch-only TACs and strengthened technical measures to reduce cod mortality. - Whiting and Haddock
For whiting in the Irish Sea, the Council again points to ICES advice for zero catches but recognises that bycatch remains unavoidable in mixed fisheries. It recommends management through minimisation strategies rather than outright prohibitions. Haddock stocks, particularly in the Celtic Sea, are assessed more positively, and NWWAC supports TACs consistent with MSY. - Hake and Monkfish
Hake continues to be one of the more commercially valuable species in the region. The advice supports TACs aligned with ICES recommendations but warns of regional imbalances in quota distribution that disadvantage smaller vessels. For monkfish, the Council requests that scientific assessments be improved to reduce uncertainty, calling current evaluations too imprecise to underpin reliable TAC decisions. - Nephrops (Norway Lobster)
The Council underscores the complexity of Nephrops management, which is conducted through Functional Units (FUs). It supports TACs aligned with ICES advice for each FU rather than blanket measures, arguing this prevents overexploitation in sensitive grounds while avoiding unnecessary restrictions in healthier areas. - Seabass
The NWWAC advises that seabass management must remain precautionary given its vulnerability and socio-economic value to both commercial and recreational fisheries. It stresses that any TAC should take into account spawning stock biomass trends, with adaptive measures applied if evidence of recovery emerges. - Skates and Rays
For these data-limited species, the Council accepts the precautionary framework but highlights the risk of disproportionate restrictions. It urges the Commission to allow flexibility within TAC categories to avoid choke situations that can paralyse mixed demersal fisheries.
Mixed Fisheries and Choke Risks
The document repeatedly highlights the complexity of mixed fisheries in the Celtic and Irish Seas. Zero-catch advice for certain species, if rigidly applied, risks creating choke situations where fishing activity for other sustainable stocks would have to cease prematurely. NWWAC stresses the need for pragmatic solutions, such as bycatch TACs, technical selectivity measures, and improved flexibility between fleet segments.
Wider Policy Context
The Council also places its advice in the context of broader EU priorities, including the landing obligation and the CFP’s socioeconomic objectives. It criticises the ongoing lack of robust discard data, which weakens the credibility of stock assessments and TAC decisions. Improved monitoring, including remote electronic monitoring, is identified as essential.
The advice also references the increasing impact of climate change on stock distribution and productivity. NWWAC calls for TAC-setting to better integrate ecosystem considerations and for long-term management plans to adapt to shifting species patterns.
Conclusion
Overall, the NWWAC’s 2026 TAC advice presents a cautious but pragmatic approach: TACs should reflect ICES science wherever possible, but must also take into account the operational challenges of mixed fisheries and the socioeconomic survival of the fishing sector. The Council underlines the need for flexibility, better data, and closer integration of stakeholder knowledge to achieve the dual objectives of sustainable fishing and viable coastal communities.
