The “Smalls” Nephrops Grounds (FU22) 2025 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2026.
Joyce, Haleigh Ryan, Gráinne O’Connor, Sean Linehan, Eva Silvar, Paula Blaszkowski, Marcin Tortora, Sara Doyle, Jennifer
Joyce, Haleigh
Ryan, Gráinne
O’Connor, Sean
Linehan, Eva
Silvar, Paula
Blaszkowski, Marcin
Tortora, Sara
Doyle, Jennifer
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Date
2025
Publisher
Marine Institute
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Abstract
This report provides the main results and findings of the twentieth annual underwater
television survey on the ‘Smalls grounds’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 22. The survey
was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. A total of 45
UWTV stations were surveyed successfully (high quality image data), carried out over an
isometric grid at 4.5nmi or 8.3km intervals. The precision, with a CV of 4%, was well below
the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS (ICES, 2012). The 2025 abundance estimate
was 23% higher than in 2024 and at 866 million is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (990
million). Using the 2025 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2026
that correspond to the ICES MSY approach of 2252 tonnes, assuming that discard rates and
fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2022 - 2024. One species of sea
pen was recorded as present at the stations surveyed: Virgularia mirabilis. Trawl marks were
observed at 53% of the stations surveyed.
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Joyce,H., Ryan, G., O’Connor, S., Linehan, E., Blaszkowski, M., Silvar, P., Tortora, S., and Doyle, J. (2025). The “Smalls” Nephrops Grounds (FU22) 2025 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2026. Marine Institute UWTV Survey report