This report provides the main results of the fourteenth underwater television survey
of the various Nephrops patches in Functional Unit 19. The survey was multi disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. In 2023 a total 42
UWTV stations were successfully completed. The mean density estimates varied
considerably across the different patches. The 2023 raised abundance estimate
showed a 15% decrease from the 2022 estimate and at 220 million burrows is below
the MSY Btrigger reference point (430 million). Using the 2023 estimate of abundance
and updated stock data implies catch in 2024 that correspond to the F ranges in the
EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 224 and 248 tonnes
(assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the
average of 2020–2022). One species of sea pen was observed; Virgularia mirabilis
which has been observed on previous surveys of FU19. Trawl marks were observed
at 10% of the stations surveyed.Marine Institut
