PelAC urges reforms on herring TACs, addressing stock mixing and habitat protection for sustainable 2025 fisheries
The Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC) has issued recommendations for the 2025 Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for herring stocks in the North West Atlantic, including 6a North, 6a South and 7bc, and the Irish Sea, with a call for clearer stock assessments and immediate action on cross-stock mixing concerns.
In a letter addressed to Ms. Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the PelAC highlighted key issues and solutions to ensure sustainable herring fisheries in the coming year.
The council supports the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) recommendation of 1,745 tonnes for 6a North herring in 2025. PelAC further suggests evaluating the current stock separation of 6a North herring and North Sea Autumn Spawners (NSAS), as evidence suggests they may belong to the same population.
For 6a South and 7bc herring, a TAC of 2,724 tonnes is recommended, in line with ICES advice. PelAC also advocates for expanding scientific sampling to elevate the stock to a Category 1 assessment, improving data reliability.
The Irish Sea herring poses significant concerns regarding stock mixing with Celtic Sea herring. PelAC recommends a combined benchmark assessment for these stocks, pointing out that ICES’ dual recommendations—ranging from zero catch under the precautionary approach to 5,223 tonnes under the MSY approach—highlight uncertainty in the data.
The PelAC expressed dissatisfaction with ICES’ handling of stock mixing data, which affects the accuracy of Irish Sea herring assessments:
“ICES should revoke the current advice and conduct the necessary analyses to develop robust catch advice,” the council stated, emphasising that stock mixing leads to overestimated Irish Sea stock levels and risks depleting the Celtic Sea herring population.
The council also drew attention to non-fisheries pressures, including gravel extraction and offshore renewable energy (ORE) development, which threaten herring spawning habitats. PelAC urged the European Commission to exclude these vital areas from Renewable Acceleration Areas, aligning with ICES advice to prioritise habitat preservation.
The PelAC underscored the urgency of addressing these issues to safeguard the long-term sustainability of herring stocks. The council called on the European Commission to request ICES establish a timeline for resolving stock assessment ambiguities and improving data accuracy.
With herring stocks integral to marine ecosystems and regional economies, the PelAC’s recommendations seek to balance conservation with the economic needs of fishing communities.