The announcement by Defra of new measures to restrict pollack fishing highlights the urgent need for more data about the species, according to the team working on the Pollack Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (Pollack FISP) project.
The project is collecting data on pollack biology, stocks and movement, and fishers' experiences. While its data hasn't been factored into the latest restrictions, which limit commercial fishing to unavoidable bycatch, the project team aims to provide detailed evidence to help inform decisions about the species' future.
The new Defra guidance is accompanied by a written commitment to identify possible management measures for recreational angling, in collaboration with sector representatives.
It follows advice, issued in June 2023 by the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES), that there should be no commercial pollack catches in the region (subareas 6 & 7) for 2024.
The ICES advice was based on sharp falls in pollack catches, with a 72% decline in commercial landings in the Celtic Sea and English Channel in the last 20 years.
However, ICES also considers pollack to be a "data deficient" species, meaning there is often very limited information to inform decisions about stock management.
The Pollack FISP project, led by the University of Plymouth and funded by Defra, aims to fill such a void.
They also hope their research will reinforce the critical importance of pollack to the UK's fishing communities and are currently working to provide vital information about pollack stocks and biology, while also gathering angler opinions and experiences.
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