Boarfish Catch Advice Limit Cut by 26% Due To Fishing Pressure

Boarfish - KFO - Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation

ICES advises a 26% cut to Boarfish catches for 2026, setting the limit at 29,720 tonnes due to fishing pressure exceeding MSY levels

ICES Advises 26% Catch Reduction for 2026

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has advised a significant reduction in fishing opportunities for Boarfish (Capros aper) in the Celtic Seas, English Channel, and Bay of Biscay (subareas 6–8) for 2026.

ICES recommends that total catches should be no more than 29,720 tonnes. This represents a sharp reduction of approximately 26% from the estimated catch for 2025 (40,172 tonnes). The advice is based on applying the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) approach.

Fishing Pressure Remains Above Sustainable Levels

The stock assessment shows that while the spawning-stock biomass (SSB) remains above all precautionary and limit reference points ( $MSY B_{trigger}$ , $B_{PA}$ , and $B_{lim}$ ), the current fishing pressure on the stock is assessed as being above $F_{MSY}$ and $F_{PA}$ . The high level of fishing mortality indicates that the stock is being exploited at an unsustainable rate. The advised cut is designed to reduce fishing pressure back to the $F_{MSY}$ level, thereby safeguarding the long-term health and productivity of the stock.

Catches Have Fluctuated Significantly

Boarfish landings in this area have shown extreme volatility over the past two decades. The stock was previously assessed as being underexploited, but catches peaked dramatically in the early 2010s, reaching levels well over 100,000 tonnes.

Following this intense period of fishing, landings dropped sharply and have stabilised at lower levels in recent years. The majority of the catch is typically landed by the pelagic fishery.

Stock Status Remains Healthy, But Vulnerable

Despite the excessive fishing pressure, the Boarfish stock’s reproductive capacity is currently robust. The SSB is estimated to be well within healthy limits, having rebounded significantly since its lowest points.

However, the consistent finding that fishing mortality is too high demonstrates a lack of effective management control. If fishing pressure is not successfully reduced to the advised $F_{MSY}$ level in 2026, the potential for stock decline increases, threatening the long-term sustainability of the fishery in the Celtic Seas and Bay of Biscay.

No Precautionary Management Strategy in Place

ICES highlights that there is currently no agreed precautionary management strategy in place for the Boarfish stock. This absence means that decisions regarding fishing opportunities are highly dependent on the strict implementation of annual scientific advice.

The recommended 29,720 tonnes limit for 2026 is critical for bringing fishing pressure back into line with the MSY principle and ensuring the continued health of the stock.

Boarfish (Capros aper) in subareas 6–8 (Celtic Seas, English Channel, and Bay of Biscay)

Source: ICES