UK: Spurdog fishing returns to UK waters after stock recovers

Published Apr 4, 2023

Tridge summary

Spurdog fishing has been approved to resume in the UK's waters, following a scientific assessment that shows the stock is recovering. The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has updated its previous advice, which had prohibited the species from being fished for five years. The UK has set a total allowable catch of 7,606 tonnes for 2023, with 2,781 tonnes allocated to the North Sea and 4,825 tonnes to Western waters. The government will also keep 25% of the North Sea quota in reserve, and ban landings of spurdog over 100cm in length to protect breeding stock.

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Original content

Spurdog fishing returns to UK waters after stock recovers. Last weekend (1 April) UK fishermen were once more able to fish Northeast Atlantic spurdog in UK waters as the latest scientific evidence revealed the stock is recovering and can support landings in 2023 and 2024. Spurdog (Squalus acanthias), also known as picked or spiny dogfish, are a type of shark species that inhabit UK waters. They have been managed as a prohibited species in UK and EU waters for around five years to facilitate stock recovery. But now, following a recently updated scientific assessment, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has advised the stock is recovering and landings of spurdog can be supported again. Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said: “Through the management of spurdog as a prohibited species, we have enabled stocks to recover to the point where our fishing industry can once again fish this species commercially on a sustainable basis. “We will continue to use the ...

Source: Fish Focus