ICES Raises North Sea Sole Catch Advice by 16 Percent for 2026

ICES advises that catches for sole in the Eastern English Channel in 2023 should not exceed 1,747 tonnes

ICES increases 2026 North Sea sole catch advice by 16 percent, citing higher weights-at-age and strong stock status. Photo: Tony Fitzsimmons

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has increased its catch advice for North Sea sole in 2026 by 16.4 percent, setting a recommended total catch limit of 12,454 tonnes under the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) approach.

ICES said the higher advice is mainly due to increased weight-at-age observed in 2024, which has improved spawning biomass projections. The stock remains in healthy condition, with fishing pressure below the MSY level and the spawning-stock biomass above all biological reference points, including Blim, BPA, and MSY Btrigger.

The new advice, published on 10 October 2025, covers Solea solea in ICES Subarea 4 (the North Sea). ICES noted that while a precautionary multiannual management plan exists for this stock under EU legislation, there is currently no shared management agreement with the UK, meaning advice is issued under the standard MSY framework.

Stock and Catch Overview

For 2025, ICES estimates a total catch of 5,000 tonnes, assuming only half of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is taken up. The recommended 2026 TAC of 12,454 tonnes represents a 25 percent increase compared with the 2025 TAC of 10,000 tonnes.

The projected spawning-stock biomass for 2027 is 56,850 tonnes, representing a 7 percent increase on 2026. Recruitment for 2025 and 2026 is forecast at approximately 1.4 billion fish, consistent with the long-term average.

The discard rate in 2024 was 9.2 percent of total catch, according to ICES, with below-minimum-size landings representing less than 0.5 percent.

Data and Assessment Reliability

ICES reports that the assessment model for North Sea sole has improved its ability to explain abundance indices in recent years, although it still underestimates incoming cohorts in the Beam Trawl Survey (BTS) since 2022. It added that spatial shifts in fish distribution may be influencing survey outcomes and should be monitored closely.

The 2024 spawning biomass estimate of 61,914 tonnes was substantially higher than the 2023 forecast of 49,109 tonnes. ICES attributes most of the difference to higher empirical weights-at-age in the catch, particularly among older fish.

Long-Term Trends

The fishery remains dominated by beam trawlers, accounting for 95 percent of landings in 2024, with small contributions from gillnet and trammel net vessels (2 percent) and bottom trawlers (3 percent). Total landings that year were 3,960 tonnes, with a further 395 tonnes discarded.

ICES classifies the stock as Category 1, meaning it is supported by a full analytical assessment using an age-based model (SS3) with catch, survey, and discard data. The stock was last benchmarked in 2024, when reference points were revised to reflect new biological and fishery information.

Advisory Context

ICES said it remains aware of the EU’s North Sea Multiannual Plan (Regulation 2018/973), which it considers precautionary, and has provided catch scenarios consistent with the MAP’s FMSY range (0.168–0.186).

However, the absence of a bilateral management plan with the UK remains a concern, as it creates uncertainty over how future TACs will be shared.

The council concluded that under current fishing pressure and stock condition, the North Sea sole fishery is being exploited sustainably, and maintaining catches within the advised limits should ensure stock stability in the coming years.

ICES Advice - Sole (Solea solea) in Subarea 4 (North Sea)

Source: ICES