Enhance and advance survey indices for mackerel in the North Sea (39737/104121)

The Northeast mackerel is one of the largest fish stocks in the North Atlantic with an initial sales value above 1 billion EUR, and in recent years the catches have been approx. 1 million ton. However, stock assessments of mackerel are associated with great uncertainty. Over the past six years, there have been five interim audits of the ICES advice on mackerel stocks. The frequent revisions, unstable stock assessments and unpredictable advice have led stakeholders to conclude that the data base for the current ICES advice is insufficient.

In this context, the EASIMACK project is a fisheries researcher collaboration with the common goal of improving data collection and analysis related to stock assessment of the mackerel and increasing the understanding of the North Sea stock component in order to ensure optimal, sustainable fishing. The focus is on the specific needs for data and improved analyses in relation to stock assessment, identified and described in ICES Road Map 2019 (ICES Scientific Reports. 1:48, 23 pp.).

Partners
National Institute of Aquatic Resources, DTU Aqua 
Danish Pelagic Producers Organisation (coordinator)

Funding
The project is funded by European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and Danish Fisheries Agency.

Research area: Fish Biology
Research area: Marine Living Resources
Research area: Population Genetics
Research area: Observation Technology