Pelagic species – A contribution to the preservation of sustainable pelagic fisheries in the North Sea (PELA)

The aim of the project was to address challenges in relation to sustainable exploitation and the scientific foundation for the catch advice of important industrial species, such as sandeel, sprat and herring (the latter also being an important consumer species). We project contained studies about (1) otolith-based method for separating sandeel species, (2) habitat preference of sandeel, (3) the possibilities for establishing an alternative sprat recruitment index for use in advice, (4) essential spawning and nursery grounds for sandeels in the North Sea, and (5) operational methods for separating herring stocks based on genetics. The project consisted of four scientific work packages (WPs). A summary of the results of each scientific work package (WP 1-4) and links to technical documents are provided below. The studies are directly contributing to ICES working groups and thereby supporting the preservation of sustainable fisheries. Besides the scientific WPs, a fifth WP was about dialogue meetings with the fishing industry to prepare for upcoming benchmarks.