BLUE LING Molva dipterygia
Publication of Advice: 12th june 2026. Published by Marine and Freshwater Research Institute.
Advice
MFRI and ICES advise that when the MSY approach and precautionary considerations are applied, catches in 2026/2027 should not exceed 1 898 tonnes. Additionally, the MFRI advises that spawning areas south of Vestmannaeyjar and Franshóll be closed to all fishing activities during spawning season (15th February to 30th April).
Stock development
Fishing pressure is below FMSY and Fpa; spawning stock size is above MSY Btrigger, Bpa, and Blim.
Blue ling. Catches, recruitment (age 5), fishing mortality (ages 10–20), and spawning stock biomass (SSB). Shaded areas and error bars show 95% confidence intervals.
Basis of the assessment and reference points
Basis of the advice | MSY approach |
Management plan | There is no management plan for this stock |
Assessment type | Analytical assessment (Gadget) that uses catches in the model and in the forecast |
Input data | Commercial catches indices from the autumn survey in Icelandic waters (IS-SMH) length composition from commercial catches length distributions from the IS-SMH |
Approach | Reference point | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | FMSY | 0.09 | Fpa |
MSY Btrigger | 7 094 | Bpa | |
Precautionary approach | Blim | 5 105 | Mean SSB (2003–2005) |
Bpa | 7 094 | Blim × e1.645σ, σ = 0.2. | |
Fpa | 0.09 | Maximum F at which the probability of SSB falling below Blim is < 5% | |
Flim | 0.19 | Fishing mortality that in stochastic equilibrium will result in median SSB at Blim |
Prospects
Blue ling. Assumptions made for the interim year and in the forecast.
Variable | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Catch (2026) | 743 | Q1: reported landings; Q2: 2025 Q2 landings; Q3: 2025 Q3 landings; Q4: forecast catch at FMSY; tonnes |
SSB (2027) | 14 878 | Projected from the assessment; tonnes |
Recruitment age 2 (2027) | 3 288 | Geometric mean of recruitment from 2023-2025; thousands |
Recruitment age 2 (2028) | 3 288 | Geometric mean of recruitment from 2023-2025; thousands |
F10-20 (2026) | 0.034 | F that corresponds to assumed catch in 2025 |
Blue ling. Projection of SSB (tonnes)
Basis | Catch (2026/2027) | F (2026/2027) | SSB (2028) | SSB change (%)1) | Advice change (%)2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSY approach | 1 898 | 0.092 | 15 377 | 3 | 522 |
1) SSB in 2028 relative to SSB in 2027 | |||||
2) Advice value for 2026/2027 relative to advice value for 2025/2026 (307 t) | |||||
The advice has increased due to a change in the assessment method. Following a benchmark in 2025, the stock is now assessed under the ICES framework for category 1 stocks, whereas it was previously assessed as a category 3 stock using a data-limited advice rule (ICES, 2025).
Quality of the assessment
Following a benchmark in 2025 (ICES, 2025), the blue ling stock is now assessed as a category 1 stock using the Gadget model, which incorporates information on size and age composition from the stock and commercial catches. This change is expected to improve the quality of the assessment by better capturing changes in stock dynamics through shifts in age and size composition. This is the first year in which advice is based on this updated framework.
Other information
As for many other deep-sea species, blue ling is susceptible to depletion of spawning aggregations. Closed areas to protect known spawning aggregations were introduced in 2003 in Icelandic waters. Maintaining the current closed areas to protect spawning aggregations is advised.
Advice, TAC and catch
Blue ling. Recommended TAC, national TAC, and catches (tonnes).
Fishing year | Recommended TAC | National TAC | Catches Iceland | Catches other | Total catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010/2011 | 6 467 | 6 467 | |||
2011/2012 | 4 000 | 4 242 | 4 242 | ||
2012/2013 | 3 100 | 2 999 | 2 999 | ||
2013/2014 | 2 400 | 2 400 | 1 655 | 6 | 1 661 |
2014/2015 | 3 100 | 3 100 | 1 900 | 105 | 2 005 |
2015/2016 | 2 550 | 2 550 | 1 097 | 10 | 1 107 |
2016/2017 | 2 032 | 2 032 | 636 | 3 | 639 |
2017/2018 | 1 956 | 1 956 | 549 | 4 | 553 |
2018/2019 | 1 520 | 1 520 | 464 | 7 | 471 |
2019/2020 | 483 | 483 | 371 | 5 | 376 |
2020/2021 | 406 | 406 | 365 | 12 | 377 |
2021/2022 | 334 | 334 | 369 | 3 | 372 |
2022/2023 | 259 | 259 | 477 | 10 | 487 |
2023/2024 | 259 | 259 | 389 | 9 | 398 |
2024/2025 | 307 | 307 | 452 | 3 | 455 |
2025/2026 | 307 | 307 | |||
2026/2027 | 1 898 |
References and further reading
ICES. 2025. Benchmark Workshop on Selected Deep-Sea Fisheries Stocks (WKBDEEP). ICES Scientific Reports. 7:24. 148 pp. https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.28882295
MFRI Assessment Reports 2026. Blue ling. Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, 12 June 2026.