FishSource

France Eastern English Channel thornback ray - bottom trawls, trammel net, and Danish seine (FIP)

Last Updated: 2024-04-19

Progress Rating: A

Evaluation Start Date: 2021-06-14

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: Normandie Fraicheur Mer (NFM), Poseidon ARM PL (PAP)

Stock Profile Link
Thornback ray - North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and eastern English Channel

Comments:

The last stage 5 result is reported within the past 12 months. The FIP remains A rated.

1. FIP Development	Jul 20	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 27 July 2020 — Pre-assessment made available
2. FIP Launch	Jul 21	Confirmation of project participants 14 July 2021 — Project participants confirmed
2. FIP Launch	Jun 21	Workplan made public 14 June 2021 — Workplan made available
3. FIP Implementation	Feb 24	FIP activities undertaken 22 February 2024 — The FIP participated in the Closed Loop FIP Steering Committee meeting (COPIL); the group discussed the MSC standard, the progress of the action plan and social reporting requirements. 1 February 2024 — Outreach posters produced bringing awareness to tagged shark and ray catch. 25 January 2024 — A review of the 2023 ICES stock status on striped red mullet was presented; the report confirms that the red-striped mullet stock is overfished. 23 January 2024 — An update of the OPN Preliminary study of the impact of a mono-specific TAC for thornback ray’ presented at the previous SC meeting was presented at the January 2024 SC meeting 1 May 2023 — A communication initiative was launched to promote the sustainability of sharks and rays. 9 February 2023 — The French Biodiversity Office (OFB) proposed a ban on the use of towing gear at the January 2023 Steering Committee meeting; the proposed ban remains under discussion 1 February 2023 — A study has been carried out by OPN on the potential effects of switching to a mono-specific TAC; preliminary findings have been made available 16 January 2023 — A FIP Steering Committee meeting was held at the beginning of 2023 to discuss the main changes to the MSC V3 standard 27 June 2022 — Preliminary results of a study conducted on the benefits of a single-species TAC have been made available 27 June 2022 — The FIP is coordinating a study to improve knowledge of the spawning, nursery, and feeding areas of the Eastern Channel thornback ray; preliminary findings have been made available. 27 June 2022 — Bi-annual steering committee held to discuss FIP progress and the new version of the MSC certification standard. 20 January 2022 — A steering committee meeting was held in early 2022 where the 6-month progress report was introduced and discussed. 1 July 2021 — ICES advice published on fishing opportunities, catch, and effort Greater North Sea ecoregion downgraded the stock assessment for the striped red mullet analysis from category 3 to 5 due to lack of data
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	—	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices
5. Improvements on the Water	Sep 23	Verifiable improvement on the water 8 September 2023 — Increase to PI 1.1.1; The recent ICES report states that the thornback ray stock is well below Fmsy with a biomass just above BMSY.
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public