Red gurnard

It is unclear how the stocks of tub gurnard are doing. There are no reference points available to properly assess the status of the stock, but numbers have remained well above the long-term average in recent years. The species appears to be moderately sensitive to fishing pressure, and there are no indications that the stock is currently under severe pressure.

Fishing with Scottish seines has bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species, including rays and sharks, although this appears to be lower than previously assumed. Discards are relatively high, and a large proportion of the catch consists of species for which little data or management is available. The impact on the food web is therefore uncertain. Scottish seines cause less damage to the seabed than many other bottom-contact fishing gears, and the CO₂ emissions from this fishery are low.

Management is considered insufficiently effective. Tub gurnard is not subject to catch limits and is only monitored to a limited extent. General fisheries management measures are in place, but these are insufficient to adequately manage the impacts on vulnerable species, data-poor stocks and the ecosystem.

It is unclear how the stocks of red gurnard are doing. No stock assessment is available, and the species is often recorded together with other gurnard species. Numbers appear to have remained stable in recent years, but the lack of reliable data means that the status of the stock remains uncertain.

Fishing with demersal otter trawls has high levels of bycatch of vulnerable (ETP) species and results in substantial discards. This fishing method also causes significant damage to the seabed and vulnerable benthic habitats, which can affect the food web. The CO₂ emissions from this fishery are high.

Management is considered insufficiently effective. There are no specific catch limits or management measures for red gurnard, and the species is only monitored to a limited extent. The fishery does fall under the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy, but this does not provide sufficient protection for the species.