SEA CUCUMBER (AÐALVÍK) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 110 tonnes in fishing area A (Westfjords northern area - Aðalvík). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 22 tonnes in fishing area A.
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY Proxy. Itrigger has not been defined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area A (Westfjords northern area – Aðalvík), biomass index and fishing pressure proxy. Biomass index: the horizontal lines indicate average biomass indices for 2021–2023 and 2024–2025 used in the advice calculations. Shaded areas show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in biomass indicators |
Input data | Catches, biological data, and indices from the beam-trawl survey |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY_proxy | 1 | Relative value from LBI analysis, assuming M/K = 1.5 |
Lc | 17 | Length at first capture, 50% modal abundance from survey length data | |
LInf | 25 | Asymptotic length | |
K | 0.1 | Population growth rate | |
LF=M | 19 | 0.75 x Lc + 0.25 x LInf | |
Itrigger | Not defined | Iloss×1.4; Iloss has not been defined |
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible but trends in biomass indicators are assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics, was applied. The beam-trawl survey is used as biomass indicator for fishing area A. Information on life-history parameters is available and length data are sufficient and thus, the assessment is based on the new rfb-rule for ICES category 3 data-limited stocks (ICES 2021). Reference points (Itrigger and Iloss) have not been defined as the survey time series is short.
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area A (Westfjords northern area – Aðalvík).
Ay: Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 157 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2024-2025) | 1 097 |
Index B (2021-2023) | 1 594 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.688 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2024) | 19.29 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 19 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.985 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 104 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 1 |
Catch advice for 2025/2026 | 110 |
% advice change3) | -30 |
1) Ay × r × 1/f × m | |
2) min{max(0.7Ay, Ay+1), 1.2Ay} | |
3) The figures in the table are rounded. Calculations were done with unrounded inputs, and compared values may not match exactly when calculated using the rounded figures in the table. | |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey covers fishing area A. The method used to calculate the stock assessment of sea cucumber (the rfb-rule) is designed so that TAC can be given once every two years. However, since the time series is still short, a decision was made to publish TAC every year until the time series is longer and more is known about changes in the stock.
Advice, tac and catch
Sea cucumber. Recommended TAC in fishing area A (Westfjords northern area - Aðalvík), national TAC, and catches (tonnes).
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2010/2011 | 310 | 85 | |
2011/2012 | 310 | 0 | |
2012/2013 | 310 | 0 | |
2013/2014 | 170 | 0 | |
2014/2015 | 170 | 160 | |
2015/2016 | 170 | 169 | |
2016/2017 | 190 | 244 | |
2017/2018 | 102 | 248 | |
2018/2019 | 102 | 321 | |
2019/2020 | 102 | 325 | |
2020/2021 | 122 | 126 | |
2021/2022 | 146 | 115 | |
2022/2023 | 175 | 175 | 167 |
2023/2024 | 164 | 164 | 94 |
2024/2025 | 157 | 157 | 0 |
2025/2026 | 110 | ||
2026/2027 | 22 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2021. Tenth Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on LIFE-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE X). ICES Scientific Reports. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5985
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (WESTFJORDS MIDDLE) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 36 tonnes in fishing area B (Westfjords middle area). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 7 tonnes in fishing area B.
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY Proxy. Itrigger has not been defined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area B (Westfjords middle area), biomass index and fishing pressure proxy. Biomass index: the horizontal lines indicate average biomass indices for 2021–2023 and 2024–2025 used in the advice calculations. Shaded areas show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in biomass indicators |
Input data | Catches, biological data, and indices from the beam-trawl survey |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY_proxy | 1 | Relative value from LBI analysis, assuming M/K = 1.5 |
Lc | 16 | Length at first capture, 50% modal abundance from survey length data | |
LInf | 25 | Asymptotic length | |
K | 0.1 | Population growth rate | |
LF=M | 18.25 | 0.75 x Lc + 0.25 x LInf | |
Itrigger | Not defined | Iloss×1.4; Iloss has not been defined |
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible but trends in biomass indicators are assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics, was applied. The beam-trawl survey is used as biomass indicator for fishing area B. Information on life-history parameters is available and length data are sufficient and thus, the assessment is based on the new rfb-rule for ICES category 3 data-limited stocks (ICES 2021). Reference points (Itrigger and Iloss) have not been defined as the survey time series is short (five years).
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area B (Westfjords middle area).
Ay: Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 52 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2024-2025) | 872 |
Index B (2021-2023) | 1 273 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.685 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2024) | 18.782 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 18.25 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.972 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 35 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 1 |
Catch advice for 2025/2026 | 36 |
% advice change3) | -30 |
1) Ay × r × 1/f × m | |
2) min{max(0.7Ay, Ay+1), 1.2Ay} | |
3) The figures in the table are rounded. Calculations were done with unrounded inputs, and compared values may not match exactly when calculated using the rounded figures in the table. | |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey covers fishing area B. The method used to calculate the stock assessment of sea cucumber (the rfb-rule) is designed so that TAC can be given once every two years. However, since the time series is still short, a decision was made to publish TAC every year until the time series is longer and more is known about changes in the stock.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2017/2018 | 523 | ||
2018/2019 | 860 | ||
2019/2020 | 131 | 324 | |
2020/2021 | 131 | 131 | |
2021/2022 | 105 | 145 | |
2022/2023 | 105 | 105 | 101 |
2023/2024 | 74 | 74 | 72 |
2024/2025 | 52 | 52 | 10 |
2025/2026 | 36 | ||
2026/2027 | 7 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2021. Tenth Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on LIFE-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE X). ICES Scientific Reports. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5985
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (WESTFJORDS SOUTH) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 40 tonnes in fishing area C (Westfjords southern area). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 8 tonnes in fishing area C.
Stock development
MFRI cannot assess the stock and exploitation status relative to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and precautionary approach (PA) reference points, because the reference points are undefined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area C (Westfjords southern area).
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | Precautionary approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Same advice |
Input data | Catches |
The ICES framework for category 5 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible, trends in biomass indicators are not assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics and landings only available, was applied (ICES, 2012). The timeseries of CPUE data is too short to reflect stock changes.
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area C (Westfjords southern area).
Catch advice for 2023/2024 | 40 |
Precautionary buffer | Not applied |
Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 40 |
% advice change | 0 |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey does not cover fishing area C and therefore there is no new information on the stock development in this area.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2010/2011 | - | - | 27 |
2011/2012 | - | - | 0 |
2012/2013 | - | - | 0 |
2013/2014 | - | - | 0 |
2014/2015 | - | - | 0 |
2015/2016 | - | - | 15 |
2016/2017 | - | - | 0 |
2017/2018 | - | - | 1 |
2018/2019 | - | - | 23 |
2019/2020 | 50 | - | 51 |
2020/2021 | 50 | - | 45 |
2021/2022 | 50 | - | 28 |
2022/2023 | 40 | 40 | 23 |
2023/2024 | 40 | 40 | 12 |
2024/2025 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
2025/2026 | 40 | ||
2026/2027 | 8 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2012. Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM 2012/ACOM 68. http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2012/ADHOC/DLS%20Guidance%20Report%202012.pdf
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (OUTER BREIÐAFJÖRÐUR) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 45 tonnes in fishing area D (Breiðafjörður outer area). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 9 tonnes in fishing area D.
Stock development
MFRI cannot assess the stock and exploitation status relative to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and precautionary approach (PA) reference points, because the reference points are undefined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area D (Breiðafjörður outer area)
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | Precautionary approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Same advice |
Input data | Catches |
The ICES framework for category 5 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible, trends in biomass indicators are not assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics and landings only available, was applied (ICES, 2012). The timeseries of CPUE data is too short to reflect stock changes.
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area D (Breiðafjörður outer area).
Catch advice for 2023/2024 | 45 |
Precautionary buffer | Not applied |
Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 45 |
% advice change | 0 |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey does not cover fishing area D and therefore there is no new information on the stock development in this area.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2017/2018 | - | - | 198 |
2018/2019 | - | - | 207 |
2019/2020 | 56 | - | 52 |
2020/2021 | 56 | - | 56 |
2021/2022 | 56 | - | 47 |
2022/2023 | 45 | 45 | 50 |
2023/2024 | 45 | 45 | 37 |
2024/2025 | 45 | 45 | 37 |
2025/2026 | 45 | ||
2026/2027 | 9 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2012. Implementation of Advice for Data-limited Stocks in 2012 in its 2012 Advice. ICES CM 2012/ACOM 68. http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/acom/2012/ADHOC/DLS%20Guidance%20Report%202012.pdf
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (FAXAFLÓI) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 416 tonnes in fishing area E (Faxaflói). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 83 tonnes in fishing area E.
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY proxy. Itrigger has not been defined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area E (Faxaflói), biomass index and fishing pressure proxy. Biomass index: the horizontal lines indicate average biomass indices for 2021–2023 and 2024–2025 used in the advice calculations. Shaded areas show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in biomass indicators |
Input data | Catches, biological data, and indices from the beam-trawl survey |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY_proxy | 1 | Relative value from LBI analysis, assuming M/K = 1.5 |
Lc | 13 | Length at first capture, 50% modal abundance from survey length data | |
LInf | 25 | Asymptotic length | |
K | 0.1 | Population growth rate | |
LF=M | 16 | 0.75 x Lc + 0.25 x LInf | |
Itrigger | Not defined | Iloss×1.4; Iloss has not been defined |
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible but trends in biomass indicators are assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics, was applied. The beam-trawl survey is used as biomass indicator for fishing area E. Information on life-history parameters is available and length data are sufficient and thus, the assessment is based on the new rfb-rule for ICES category 3 data-limited stocks (ICES 2021). Reference points (Itrigger and Iloss) have not been defined as the survey time series is short (five years).
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area E (Faxaflói).
Ay: Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 410 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2024-2025) | 4 170 |
Index B (2021-2023) | 4 090 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 1.02 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2024) | 16.756 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 16 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.955 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 416 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2025/2026 | 416 |
% advice change3) | 1 |
1) Ay × r × 1/f × m | |
2) min{max(0.7Ay, Ay+1), 1.2Ay} | |
3) The figures in the table are rounded. Calculations were done with unrounded inputs, and compared values may not match exactly when calculated using the rounded figures in the table. | |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey covers fishing area E. The method used to calculate stock assessment of sea cucumber (the rfb-rule) is designed so that TAC can be given once every two years. However, since the time series is still short, a decision was made to publish TAC every year until the time series is longer and more is known about changes in the stock.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2010/2011 | 1 500 | 900 | |
2011/2012 | 1 500 | 1 015 | |
2012/2013 | 1 500 | 349 | |
2013/2014 | 1 030 | 814 | |
2014/2015 | 1 000 | 446 | |
2015/2016 | 1 000 | 981 | |
2016/2017 | 644 | 684 | |
2017/2018 | 644 | 700 | |
2018/2019 | 644 | 833 | |
2019/2020 | 515 | 539 | |
2020/2021 | 330 | 317 | |
2021/2022 | 328 | 224 | |
2022/2023 | 371 | 371 | 364 |
2023/2024 | 383 | 383 | 185 |
2024/2025 | 410 | 410 | 122 |
2025/2026 | 416 | ||
2026/2027 | 83 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2021. Tenth Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on LIFE-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE X). ICES Scientific Reports. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5985
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (EASTFJORDS NORTH) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 208 tonnes in fishing area F (Eastfjords northern area). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 42 tonnes in fishing area F.
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY proxy. Itrigger has not been defined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area F (Eastfjords northern area), biomass index and fishing pressure proxy. Biomass index: the horizontal lines indicate average biomass indices for 2021–2023 and 2024–2025 used in the advice calculations. Shaded areas show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in biomass indicators |
Input data | Catches, biological data, and indices from the beam-trawl survey |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY_proxy | 1 | Relative value from LBI analysis, assuming M/K = 1.5 |
Lc | 17 | Length at first capture, 50% modal abundance from survey length data | |
LInf | 31 | Asymptotic length | |
K | 0.1 | Population growth rate | |
LF=M | 20.5 | 0.75 x Lc + 0.25 x LInf | |
Itrigger | Not defined | Iloss×1.4; Iloss has not been defined |
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible but trends in biomass indicators are assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics, was applied. The beam-trawl survey is used as biomass indicator for fishing area F. Information on life-history parameters is available and length data are sufficient and thus, the assessment is based on the new rfb-rule for ICES category 3 data-limited stocks (ICES 2021). Reference points (Itrigger and Iloss) have not been defined as the survey time series is short (five years).
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area F (Eastfjords northern area).
Ay: Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 245 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2024-2025) | 2 243 |
Index B (2021-2023) | 2 529 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.887 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2024) | 20.636 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 20.5 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.993 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 208 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2025/2026 | 208 |
% advice change3) | -15 |
1) Ay × r × 1/f × m | |
2) min{max(0.7Ay, Ay+1), 1.2Ay} | |
3) The figures in the table are rounded. Calculations were done with unrounded inputs, and compared values may not match exactly when calculated using the rounded figures in the table. | |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey covers fishing area F. The method used to calculate the stock assessment of sea cucumber (the rfb-rule) is designed so that TAC can be given once every two years. However, since the time series is still short, a decision was made to publish TAC every year until the time series is longer and more is known about changes in the stock.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2010/2011 | 229 | ||
2011/2012 | 39 | ||
2012/2013 | 19 | ||
2013/2014 | 7 | ||
2014/2015 | 4 | ||
2015/2016 | 115 | ||
2016/2017 | 415 | ||
2017/2018 | 245 | 481 | |
2018/2019 | 245 | 345 | |
2019/2020 | 245 | 240 | |
2020/2021 | 280 | 239 | |
2021/2022 | 303 | 297 | |
2022/2023 | 364 | 364 | 363 |
2023/2024 | 340 | 340 | 323 |
2024/2025 | 245 | 245 | 48 |
2025/2026 | 208 | ||
2026/2027 | 42 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2021. Tenth Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on LIFE-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE X). ICES Scientific Reports. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5985
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (EASTFJORDS MIDDLE) Cucumaria frondosa
Birting ráðgjafar: September 20, 2025. Útgefið af Hafrannsóknastofnun.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 964 tonnes in fishing area G (Eastfjords middle area). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 193 tonnes in fishing area G.
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY proxy. Itrigger has not been defined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area G (Eastfjords middle area), biomass index and fishing pressure proxy. Biomass index: the horizontal lines indicate average biomass indices for 2021–2023 and 2024–2025 used in the advice calculations. Shaded areas show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in biomass indicators |
Input data | Catches, biological data, and indices from the beam-trawl survey |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY_proxy | 1 | Relative value from LBI analysis, assuming M/K = 1.5 |
Lc | 18 | Length at first capture, 50% modal abundance from survey length data | |
LInf | 31 | Asymptotic length | |
K | 0.1 | Population growth rate | |
LF=M | 21.25 | 0.75 x Lc + 0.25 x LInf | |
Itrigger | Not defined | Iloss×1.4; Iloss has not been defined |
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible but trends in biomass indicators are assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics, was applied. The beam-trawl survey is used as biomass indicator for fishing area G. Information on life-history parameters is available and length data are sufficient and thus, the assessment is based on the new rfb-rule for ICES category 3 data-limited stocks (ICES 2021). Reference points (Itrigger and Iloss) have not been defined as the survey time series is short (five years).
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area G (Eastfjords middle area).
Ay: Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 997 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2024-2025) | 6 296 |
Index B (2021-2023) | 6 257 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 1.006 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2024) | 21.493 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 21.25 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.989 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 964 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2025/2026 | 964 |
% advice change3) | -3 |
1) Ay × r × 1/f × m | |
2) min{max(0.7Ay, Ay+1), 1.2Ay} | |
3) The figures in the table are rounded. Calculations were done with unrounded inputs, and compared values may not match exactly when calculated using the rounded figures in the table. | |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey covers fishing area G. The method used to calculate the stock assessment of sea cucumber (the rfb-rule) is designed so that TAC can be given once every two years. However, since the time series is still short, a decision was made to publish TAC every year until the time series is longer and more is known about changes in the stock.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2009/2010 | 159 | ||
2010/2011 | 1 651 | ||
2011/2012 | 752 | ||
2012/2013 | 787 | ||
2013/2014 | 65 | ||
2014/2015 | 596 | ||
2015/2016 | 1 625 | ||
2016/2017 | 1 323 | ||
2017/2018 | 740 | 1 001 | |
2018/2019 | 740 | 781 | |
2019/2020 | 740 | 1 091 | |
2020/2021 | 828 | 848 | |
2021/2022 | 994 | 1 006 | |
2022/2023 | 1 192 | 1 192 | 1 165 |
2023/2024 | 1 220 | 1 220 | 1 208 |
2024/2025 | 997 | 997 | 581 |
2025/2026 | 964 | ||
2026/2027 | 193 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2021. Tenth Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on LIFE-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE X). ICES Scientific Reports. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5985
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.
SEA CUCUMBER (EASTFJORDS SOUTH) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: September 24, 2025. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in the fishing year 2025/2026 should be no more than 349 tonnes in fishing area H (Eastfjords southern area). MFRI further advises that the initial TAC for the fishing year 2026/2027 should be 70 tonnes in fishing area H.
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY proxy. Itrigger has not been defined.
Sea cucumber. Catches in fishing area H (Eastfjords southern area), biomass index and fishing pressure proxy. Biomass index: the horizontal lines indicate average biomass indices for 2021–2023 and 2024–2025 used in the advice calculations. Shaded areas show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the advice
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Trends in biomass indicators |
Input data | Catches, biological data, and indices from the beam-trawl survey |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY_proxy | 1 | Relative value from LBI analysis, assuming M/K = 1.5 |
Lc | 17 | Length at first capture, 50% modal abundance from survey length data | |
LInf | 31 | Asymptotic length | |
K | 0.1 | Population growth rate | |
LF=M | 20.5 | 0.75 x Lc + 0.25 x LInf | |
Itrigger | Not defined | Iloss×1.4; Iloss has not been defined |
The ICES framework for category 3 stocks, for which analytical assessment is not possible but trends in biomass indicators are assumed to reflect changes in stock dynamics, was applied. The beam-trawl survey is used as biomass indicator for fishing area H. Information on life-history parameters is available and length data are sufficient and thus, the assessment is based on the new rfb-rule for ICES category 3 data-limited stocks (ICES 2021). Reference points (Itrigger and Iloss) have not been defined as the survey time series is short (five years).
Sea cucumber. Advice calculation for fishing area H (Eastfjords southern area).
Ay: Catch advice for 2024/2025 | 330 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2024-2025) | 2 108 |
Index B (2021-2023) | 1 923 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 1.096 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2024) | 20.796 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 20.5 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.986 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 349 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2025/2026 | 349 |
% advice change3) | 6 |
1) Ay × r × 1/f × m | |
2) min{max(0.7Ay, Ay+1), 1.2Ay} | |
3) The figures in the table are rounded. Calculations were done with unrounded inputs, and compared values may not match exactly when calculated using the rounded figures in the table. | |
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey covers fishing area H. The method used to calculate the stock assessment of sea cucumber (the rfb-rule) is designed so that TAC can be given once every two years. However, since the time series is still short, a decision was made to publish TAC every year until the time series is longer and more is known about changes in the stock.
Advice, tac and catch
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|
2017/2018 | 1 710 | ||
2018/2019 | 1 089 | ||
2019/2020 | 406 | 392 | |
2020/2021 | 406 | 270 | |
2021/2022 | 325 | 302 | |
2022/2023 | 325 | 325 | 317 |
2023/2024 | 315 | 315 | 87 |
2024/2025 | 330 | 330 | 77 |
2025/2026 | 349 | ||
2026/2027 | 70 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2021. Tenth Workshop on the Development of Quantitative Assessment Methodologies based on LIFE-history traits, exploitation characteristics, and other relevant parameters for data-limited stocks (WKLIFE X). ICES Scientific Reports. Report. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.5985
MFRI Assessment Reports 2025. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 11 September 2025.