Red Gurnard Fishing Advice Withheld Due To Unreliable Catch Data

ICES is unable to provide 2026 fishing advice for Northeast Atlantic Red Gurnard due to a lack of reliable catch data and misreporting

Catch Advice Withheld for Red Gurnard Stock

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has been forced to withhold its advice on fishing opportunities for Red Gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus) in the Northeast Atlantic (subareas 3–8) for the 2026 season.

The decision stems from a critical lack of reliable catch data required to run a full stock assessment. This situation leaves coastal states and fisheries managers without a scientific basis for setting the annual quota for this valuable demersal species.

Data Reliability Issues Hinder Assessment

The primary obstacle preventing ICES from providing a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) recommendation is the poor quality and reporting of catch data.

The issue revolves around the classification of landings: Red Gurnard is often not reported specifically but is instead included under the aggregated category of “mixed gurnards (GUX)”.

This pooling of different gurnard species makes it impossible for scientists to accurately estimate the true fishing mortality and total removal of the Red Gurnard stock.

Without dependable catch figures, no reference points for fishing pressure ( $F$ ) can be defined, making any catch scenario highly speculative.

Stock Index Above Trigger Level

Despite the issues with catch data, the current assessment indicates a positive trend in the stock’s size index. ICES reports that the stock-size index is currently above $I_{trigger}$ (the index trigger point).

This suggests that while the stock is not undergoing a collapse, its relative size cannot be accurately judged without knowing the fishing pressure being exerted upon it. The stock is managed as a Category 3 stock, meaning its status is assessed using trends from fishery-independent surveys, rather than a fully quantitative analytical model.

Future Management Demands Better Reporting

For ICES to provide quantifiable, precautionary advice in the future, a fundamental improvement in data collection and reporting is required. Fisheries managers must implement measures that ensure

Red Gurnard catches are consistently and accurately reported separate from other gurnard species. Without this necessary data, management will continue to be reactive rather than proactive, carrying an inherent risk to the long-term sustainability of the stock despite the positive current index trend.

Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus) in subareas 3–8 (Northeast Atlantic)

Source: ICES