The Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks Nephrops Grounds (FU20-21) 2025 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2026
Aristegui Ezquibela, Mikel Doyle, Jennifer Ryan, Gráinne Rupnik, Aga Fahy, James Blaszkowski, Marcin O’Connor, Sean Linehan, Eva Silvar, Paula McCorriston, Peter
Aristegui Ezquibela, Mikel
Doyle, Jennifer
Ryan, Gráinne
Rupnik, Aga
Fahy, James
Blaszkowski, Marcin
O’Connor, Sean
Linehan, Eva
Silvar, Paula
McCorriston, Peter
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Date
2025
Publisher
Marine Institute
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Abstract
This report presents the main results of the 2025 underwater television (UWTV) survey
conducted on the ‘Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks’ within ICES assessment area
Functional Unit (FU) 20-21. The 2025 annual survey was multi-disciplinary, collecting UWTV
footage along with other ecosystem data. A total of 93 UWTV stations were completed at 6
nm intervals over a randomised isometric grid design, resulting in 100% coverage of the area.
The mean burrow density in 2025 was recorded at 0.17 burrows/m2
, indicating an increase
from 0.11 burrows/m2
in 2024. The 2025 geostatistical abundance estimate was 1 791 million
burrows, a 56% increase on the abundance from 2024 and resulting in a coefficient of
variation (CV) of 4% well below the 20% upper limit recommended by SGNEPS (2012). Low to
moderate burrow densities were observed throughout the surveyed grounds. Using the 2025
abundance estimate and updated stock data, the estimated catch for 2026, aligned with the
ICES Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) approach, is projected at 3 171 tonnes, assuming no
change in discard rates and fishery selection patterns from 2022–2024 average. One species
of sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis) was recorded at the surveyed stations. Trawl marks were
observed at 30% of these stations.
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Citation
Aristegui, M., Doyle, J., Ryan, G., Rupnik, A., Fahy, J., Blaszkowski, M., O’Connor, S., Linehan, E., Silvar, P., McCorriston, P., Tortora, S., Hogan., N., and Joyce, H. (2025). The Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks Nephrops Grounds (FU20-21) 2025 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2026. Marine Institute UWTV Survey report.