ICES advises sprat catch limits for 2026–27, covering the North Sea and English Channel, with separate advice for each stock
ICES has published updated advice on fishing opportunities for sprat covering two assessment areas, with catch limits set for the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
The advice applies a maximum sustainable yield approach and reflects differences in stock status, recruitment signals, and the assessment methods used in each area.
English Channel (Divisions 7.d and 7.e)
ICES advises catches from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 should be no more than 7,848 tonnes. The advice is based on the data-limited approach used for category 3 stocks and uses a biomass index from the PELTIC acoustic survey as the indicator of stock development.
Skagerrak, Kattegat and North Sea (Division 3.a and Subarea 4)
ICES advises catches from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 should be no more than 82,822 tonnes.
The stock’s spawning-stock size is described as above MSY Bescapement, BPA and Blim, and the advice is based on an escapement strategy with an upper limit for fishing pressure, Fcap. ICES says the decrease in advice is due to reduced incoming recruitment, similar to recruitment levels observed from 2020 to 2023.
The advice also notes sprat’s role as an important prey species in the North Sea, with natural mortality in the assessment including predation by seabirds and predatory fish such as mackerel and whiting.
ICES adds that the management strategy evaluation for this stock did not evaluate the impact of interannual quota transfers, and indicates that such a practice may therefore not be precautionary.
