SEA CUCUMBER (AÐALVÍK) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 99 tonnes in fishing area A (Westfjords northern area - Aðalvík).
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 2022–2024 and 2025–2026 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 2025/2026 | 110 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2025-2026) | 1 179 |
Index B (2022-2024) | 1 275 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.925 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2025) | 19.383 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 19 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.98 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 99 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2027 | 99 |
% advice change3) | -10 |
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. | |
The advised catch is reduced this year compared to last year’s advice due to of a reduction in the biomass index.
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey that has taken place since 2020 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
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 | 165 | 94 |
2024/2025 | 157 | 165 | 0 |
2025/2026 | 110 | 114 | 8 |
2027* | 99 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (WESTFJORDS MIDDLE) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 38 tonnes in fishing area B (Westfjords middle area).
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 2022–2024 and 2025–2026 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 2025/2026 | 36 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2025-2026) | 1 003 |
Index B (2022-2024) | 954 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 1.051 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2025) | 19.217 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 18.25 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.95 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 38 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2027 | 38 |
% advice change3) | 5 |
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 that has taken place since 2020 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
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 | 53 | 24 |
2025/2026 | 36 | 36 | 35 |
2027* | 38 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (WESTFJORDS SOUTH) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 40 tonnes in fishing area C (Westfjords southern area).
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 2025/2026 | 40 |
Precautionary buffer | Not applied |
Catch advice for 2027 | 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
Year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total 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 | 41 | 12 |
2024/2025 | 40 | 42 | 7 |
2025/2026 | 40 | 41 | 30 |
2027* | 40 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (OUTER BREIÐAFJÖRÐUR) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 45 tonnes in fishing area D (Breiðafjörður outer area).
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 2025/2026 | 45 |
Precautionary buffer | Not applied |
Catch advice for 2027 | 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
Year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Total 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 | 46 | 37 |
2025/2026 | 45 | 45 | 37 |
2027* | 45 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (FAXAFLÓI) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 300 tonnes in fishing area E (Faxaflói).
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 2022–2024 and 2025–2026 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 2025/2026 | 416 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2025-2026) | 3 100 |
Index B (2022-2024) | 4 315 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.718 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2025) | 16.895 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 16 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 0.947 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 300 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2027 | 300 |
% advice change3) | -28 |
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. | |
The advised catch is reduced this year compared to last year’s advice due to of a reduction in the biomass index.
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey that has taken place since 2020 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
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 | 384 | 185 |
2024/2025 | 410 | 429 | 121 |
2025/2026 | 416 | 427 | 299 |
2027* | 300 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (EASTFJORDS NORTH) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 172 tonnes in fishing area F (Eastfjords northern area).
Stock development
Fishing pressure is above 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 2022–2024 and 2025–2026 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 2025/2026 | 208 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2025-2026) | 1 928 |
Index B (2022-2024) | 2 142 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.9 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2025) | 19.865 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 20.5 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 1.032 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 172 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2027 | 172 |
% advice change3) | -17 |
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. | |
The advised catch is reduced this year compared to last year’s advice due to of a reduction in the biomass index.
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey that has taken place since 2020 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
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 | 341 | 323 |
2024/2025 | 245 | 259 | 42 |
2025/2026 | 208 | 214 | 212 |
2027* | 172 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (EASTFJORDS MIDDLE) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 777 tonnes in fishing area G (Eastfjords middle area).
Stock development
Fishing pressure is above 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 2022–2024 and 2025–2026 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 2025/2026 | 964 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2025-2026) | 5 502 |
Index B (2022-2024) | 6 417 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.857 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2025) | 21.026 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 21.25 |
f: Fishing pressure proxy (LF=M/Lmean) | 1.011 |
Precautionary multiplier to maintain biomass above Blim with 95% probability | |
m: Multiplier (generic multiplier based on life history) | 0.95 |
Advice calculation1) | 777 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2027 | 777 |
% advice change3) | -19 |
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. | |
The advised catch is reduced this year compared to last year’s advice due to of a reduction in the biomass index.
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey that has taken place since 2020 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
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 | 1 245 | 1 208 |
2024/2025 | 997 | 1 034 | 585 |
2025/2026 | 964 | 989 | 978 |
2027* | 777 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
SEA CUCUMBER (EASTFJORDS SOUTH) Cucumaria frondosa
Publication of Advice: October 1, 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI advises in accordance with the MSY approach that catches in 2027 should be no more than 246 tonnes in fishing area H (Eastfjords southern area).
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 2022–2024 and 2025–2026 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 2025/2026 | 349 |
Stock biomass trend | |
Index A (2025-2026) | 1 452 |
Index B (2022-2024) | 1 982 |
r: Stock biomass trend (index ratio A/B) | 0.733 |
Fishing pressure proxy | |
Mean catch length (Lmean = L2025) | 20.729 |
MSY proxy length (LF=M) | 20.5 |
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) | 246 |
Stability clause (+20% / -30% compared to Ay, only applied if b>1)2) | 0 |
Catch advice for 2027 | 246 |
% 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. | |
The advised catch is reduced this year compared to last year’s advice due to of a reduction in the biomass index.
Quality of the assessment
The beam trawl survey that has taken place since 2020 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.
Other information
Advice is now issued for each calendar year rather than for each fishing year, because the sea cucumber survey takes place late in the fishing year and the advice therefore cannot be published before the next fishing year begins. For September–December 2026 an advice of 20% of the catch in the fishing year 2025/2026 was thus advised, to cover the intervening period up to the turn of the year.
Advice, tac and catch
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 | 322 | 87 |
2024/2025 | 330 | 343 | 78 |
2025/2026 | 349 | 357 | 49 |
2027* | 246 | ||
*From here on advice is published per calendar year instead of fishing year. | |||
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
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%2012.pdf
MFRI Assessment Reports 2026. Sea cucumber. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 1 October 2026.