NEAFC Deepwater Sharks

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9.3.2.3 Special request, Advice October 2012

ECOREGION Widely distributed and migratory stocks SUBJECT NEAFC Special request on the catch and status of deep-water sharks in the Northeast Atlantic

Request

With respect to the deep-sea shark species included in the NEAFC measure adopted for 2012, ICES is requested to provide information with respect to stock status and catch history for the individual species in the NEAFC Convention Area, with a view to defining specific management measures.

Centrophorus granulosus Gulper shark Centrophorus squamosus Leafscale gulper shark Centroscyllium fabricii Black dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis Portuguese dogfish Centroselachus crepidater Longnose velvet dogfish Dalatias licha Kitefin shark Etmopterus princeps Greater lanternshark Apristuris spp Iceland catshark Chlamydoselachus anguineus Frilled shark Deania calcea Birdbeak dogfish Galeus melastomus Blackmouth dogfish Galeus murinus Mouse catshark Hexanchus griseus Bluntnose six-gilled shark Etmopterus spinax Velvet belly Oxynotus paradoxus Sailfin roughshark (Sharpback shark) Scymnodon ringens Knifetooth dogfish Somniosus microcephalus Greenland shark

ICES Response

Catch history for each of the requested species is provided in the section “Catch history” below. A summary of the stock status of these species, where available, is provided in the section “Stock status”. Most of these species are considered to be data limited, with most caught only as bycatch rather than in a targeted fishery. ICES provides individual advice for Centrophorus squamosus, Centroscymnus coelolepis, and Dalatias licha. More detailed information on these species can be found in the appropriate ICES advice sheets. Further information on deep-water sharks can be found in the report of the ICES Working Group on Elasmobranch Fishes (ICES, 2012).

Catch history

Reported landings of those species for which ICES has species-specific landings data are presented in Figures 9.3.2.3.1 to 9.3.2.3.10 and Tables 9.3.2.3.1 to 9.3.2.3.13. In addition to species-specific landings data, a number of species have been reported in generic categories such as “siki sharks” and “Aiguillat noir”, and it has not been possible to disaggregate these data into species-specific categories. Unknown quantities of deep-water species may also have been reported in wider grouped categories not elsewhere included (nei) such as “sharks nei” and “dogfish nei”, which may also include shelf or pelagic species. Catches presented here are therefore probably underestimated.

Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus)

Reported landings of gulper shark are presented in Figure 9.3.2.3.1 and Table 9.3.2.3.1. Almost all landings in recent years have been from the Portuguese longline fishery in Subarea IX. Until 2008, annual landings from this fishery were around 100 tonnes; however, in 2009, Portuguese landings declined to 2 tonnes. This may be a result of restrictive quotas for deep-water sharks, but it is also possible that gulper shark landings may have been misidentified as other morphologically very similar species such as C. lusitanicus. In fact, genetic analysis proved the existence of two different Centrophorus sp. (other than C. squamosus) in Portuguese landings.

Other countries reported very small landings from Subareas VI and VII since 2002. Reported landings of this species by UK vessels in Subareas VI and VII are considered to be misidentified. These data have been included in Working Group estimates of “siki sharks”.

ICES Advice 2012, Book 9 1 Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus)

Most landings of this species have been reported in generic categories such as “siki sharks”, a mixed category of deep- water sharks believed to be mainly Portuguese dogfish and leafscale gulper shark but possibly also containing a small component of other species. Attempts to disaggregate the data using ratios derived from a variety of sources (observer data, port sampling, surveys, etc. (ICES, 2011) have so far been unsuccessful, principally due to the lack of appropriate data from historical gillnet and longline fisheries and ICES is therefore not able to provide reliable species-specific estimates of landings for this species. Reported landings of siki sharks are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.2 and in Figure 9.3.2.3.2.

Black dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii)

Reported landings of black dogfish are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.3 and in Figure 9.3.2.3.3. Landings of this species may also be included in the grouped category “Aiguillat noir” (Table 9.3.2.3.14) and other mixed categories including “siki sharks”.

France has reported the majority of the landings of black dogfish in the ICES area, since starting to report landings in 1999. French annual landings peaked at about 400 t in 2001 and have since declined. These landings are mainly from Division Vb and Subarea VI. Iceland reported few landings, all from Division Va. The largest annual landings reported by Spain came from Subarea XII in 2000 (85 t) and 2001 (91 t), but recent data are lacking.

There have been no reported landings by any country since 2008.

Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis)

Most landings of this species have been reported in generic categories such as “siki sharks”. Attempts to disaggregate the data using ratios derived from a variety of sources (observer data, port sampling, surveys etc.) have so far been unsuccessful, principally due to the lack of appropriate data from historic gillnet and longline fisheries and therefore ICES are not able to provide reliable species-specific estimates of landings for this species. Reported landings of siki sharks are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.2 and in Figure 9.3.2.3.2.

Longnose velvet dogfish (Centroselachus crepidater)

Reported landings of longnose velvet dogfish are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.4. It is likely that some landings of this species are also included in data for “siki sharks”, “Aiguillat noir”, and in other mixed categories.

Six European countries have reported landings: UK (England and Wales), UK (Scotland), France, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, from Subareas VI, VII, VIII, and IX. Highest catches (400 tonnes) were recorded in 2005 and came principally from the UK registered deep-water gillnet fleet. Reported landings have since declined to zero, probably as a result of the ban on deep-water gillnet fishing and reduced EU TACs for deep-water sharks.

Kitefin shark (Dalatias licha)

Landings from the Azores began in the early 1970s and increased rapidly to over 947 t in 1981 (Table 9.3.2.3.5, Figure 9.3.2.3.4). From 1981 to 1991 landings fluctuated considerably, following the market fluctuations, peaking at 937 t in 1984 and 896 t in 1991. Since 1991 the reported landings have declined, possibly as a result of economic problems related to markets. Since 1988 a bycatch has been reported from mainland Portugal with 282 t in 2000 and 119 t in 2003. Kitefin from the Azores is now a bycatch in various demersal/deep-water mixed hook-and-line fisheries, with landings in the period 2004–2009 usually 10 t or less and less than 2 t during the last two years.

Greater lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps)

ICES does not have species-specific landings data for this species. This species is likely to be included in landings data for the grouped categories “lantern sharks nei” and “Aiguillat noir”. Landings data from greater lanternsharks, (Etmopterus spp.) are shown in Table 9.3.2.3.6 and Figure 9.3.2.3.5.

Iceland catshark (Apristuris spp.)

There is little species-specific information on Apristuris species. As small-bodied catsharks, these species are mainly discarded if caught. There are no recorded landings of Apristurus species in official landings.

There are known identification issues with these species. It is difficult to tell several members of the Apristurus family apart. There may be 6–8 species present in the NEAFC area.

2 ICES Advice 2012, Book 9 Frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)

There are no records of frilled shark in landings statistics. Frilled shark can be considered as relatively uncommon in comparison to other deep-water sharks.

Birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea)

Reported landings of birdbeak dogfish are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.7 and in Figure 9.3.2.3.6. It is likely that landings reported as this species include other species in the same genus, particularly in Portuguese landings from Subareas IX and X (Pinho, 2010 WD).

In 2005, the total reported landings for all subareas reached 194 tonnes; however, this declined to 66 tonnes in 2008 and zero in 2009. Misidentification problems were detected in Portuguese landing ports with two different species of Deania being observed in catches, D. calcea and D. profundorum.

Blackmouth dogfish (Galeus melastomus)

Reported landings of blackmouth dogfish are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.8. Portuguese landings began in 1990, rose to 35 t in 1996 and have remained steady at that level. Spanish landings began in 1996, peaked at 35 t in 2002, and have since declined to low levels and not been reported in recent years.

Off the southern Portuguese coast (ICES Division IXa) two catshark species, Galeus melastomus and Galeus atlanticus, are caught by trawlers and longliners. These species have low or no commercial value and are generally discarded at sea (Coelho and Erzini, 2008).

Mouse catshark (Galeus murinus)

There are few records of mouse catshark in official landings statistics. Spain reported 5 t in 2006, while France reported 7 t in 2009 and 5 t in 2010, all from Division VII.

Mouse catshark is a small shark and would, as such, have been discarded in most deep-water fisheries.

Bluntnose six-gilled shark (Hexanchus griseus)

There are few reported landings of Hexanchus griseus. Reported landings of bluntnose six-gilled shark are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.9. Large adults are rarely caught, while juveniles tend to be discarded.

Velvet belly (Etmopterus spinax)

Reported landings of velvet belly are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.10 and in Figure 9.3.2.3.7. This species is likely to be included in landings data for the grouped categories “lantern sharks nei” and “Aiguillat noir”. Four European countries have reported landings of velvet belly: Denmark, UK (England and Wales), UK (Scotland), and Spain, from Subareas IV, VI, VII, and VIII. The greatest landings are from Denmark. Landings began in 1993, peaked in 1998 at 359 t, and have since declined. UK landed 8 t in 2007 and has reported no landings since then.

Sailfin roughshark (sharpback shark) (Oxynotus paradoxus)

Landings of sailfin roughshark are rare, with less than 4 t reported landings by all countries in the last 20 years. Reported landings of sailfin roughshark are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.11.

Knifetooth dogfish (Scymnodon ringens)

Landings of knifetooth dogfish is presented in Table 9.3.2.3.12 and Figure 9.3.2.3.8. Other landings of this species may have taken place, but been declared within generic categories such as “dogfish sharks nei”. It is believed that there may be misreporting issues with this species and the landings figures are not considered reliable.

Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)

Reported landings of Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus, are presented in Table 9.3.2.3.13 and in Figure 9.3.2.3.9. Landings were reported from Icelandic fisheries in Division Va and Subarea XIV. The catch reached 91 tonnes in 1998 and has since declined. Landings in 2009 were 24 tonnes.

ICES Advice 2012, Book 9 3 Stock status

It has not been possible to perform analytical stock assessments for the majority of the stocks under consideration. The perceptions of stock status are therefore based on trends in survey indices, where these are available, and landings.

Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus)

This species is caught in the Azores longline survey, although in low numbers. There is insufficient data to provide an assessment on the status of the stock.

Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus)

Trends in relative abundance estimates show that leafscale gulper shark abundance has declined to levels below any candidate reference point. Landings have declined in response to reduced abundance and restrictive management measures (e.g. TAC = 0 from 2010 onwards).

Black dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii)