Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species (NQS) FMP
The NQS FMP was published on 14/12/2023 and was developed by the Marine Management Organisation. It covers 19 non-quota stock species in ICES areas 7d and 7e (Eastern and Western English Channel).
| Bony Fish | Elasmobranchs | Cephalapods |
| Bib/ pouting (Trisopterus luscus) | Lesser spotted dogfish/ catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) | Common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) |
| Brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) | Starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias) | Elegant cuttlefish (Sepia elegans) |
| Lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) | Common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) | Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) |
| Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) | | Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) |
| John dory (Zeus faber) | | Veined squid/ long finned squid (Loligo forbesii) |
| Red mullet/ surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) | | European common squid (Alloteuthis subulata) |
| Grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus) | | Common squid/ European squid (Loligo vulgaris) |
| Red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus) | | |
| Tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna) | | |
Contact Details for Channel NQS FMP:
Marine Management Organisation: fmp@marinemanagement.org.uk .
Cuttlefish Fishery Action Plan
The Channel Demersal NQS FMP highlighted the cuttlefish fishery as a data poor species, while being of high economic importance and at risk of overexploitation. One of the short term measures of the FMP was to create an action plan for the cuttlefish fishery. The MMO reviewed stakeholder responses and analysed landings data and concluded that there is no clear indication that the fishery is being exploited beyond sustainable limit and MMO are not looking to introduce any formal management at this time. The long-term aim of the action plan is to deliver sustainable exploitation of the cuttlefish fishery, the first version of the action plan aims to introduce greater monitoring and data collection to help inform future management.
As a result the following have been published: Action Plan, Trap and Pot Handling Voluntary Code of Practice and Cuttlefish Species ID Cards.
Further information on all of these can be found at the following link:
Cuttlefish Action Plan
Cuttlefish Roadshow
The cuttlefish roadshow returned with a series of informal drop ins in the South West.
The purpose of the roadshow was to gather views on the current state of the fishery and provide an update to stakeholders on the progress of the action plan and gather views and opinions on work implemented so far. Below are the main topics discussed and associated materials used at the roadshow.
Key Points:
Species ID and Market Sampling
- Our primary focus is species ID and improving species specific data currently more than 64 % of fishermen are using the genus code CTL (cuttlefishes and bobtail squids)
- Please stop using the genus code CTL and when recording cuttlefish please use the species-specific common cuttlefish code CTC
- Please note: all systems have been updated with the codes, if using catch App, you will need to search for the code first but should remain in your previous species caught list once added.
- The focus then is to improve the species-specific ID (elegant cuttlefish EJE and Pink cuttlefish IAR) this will allow better understanding of the fishery.
- The market sampling has shown that other species do exist within the offshore and that some other species do also come inshore.
- Sharing of information on species, different types of cuttlefish eggs or where they are located are important to understanding migration and spawning patterns of cuttlefish.
Main topics discussed were:
- Share views on the current state of the fishery and whether they have experienced or seen any impacts
- Updates on progress of the action plan and any new suggestions that need to be considered
- What we found during the market sampling of cuttlefish, opinions on the species ID cards and how to improve species recording
The market sampling report and the ID guides can be found at the links below:
Market Sampling ReportCuttlefish ID Guides- Opinions on the effectiveness of the voluntary codes of practice – cuttlefish egg survivability and suggest any improvements
The Voluntary Code of Practice can be found at the link below:
Voluntary Code of Practice- Update on Cefas Harvest control strategy paper due to be published soon
For further information on the progress of the Cuttlefish Action Plan, identification and codes for catch returns and the Harvest Control Strategy please contact the MMO team at fmp@marinemanagement.org.uk
