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This report was written in response to a request from the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management to update an earlier technical note from SLU Aqua “Occurrence of skates and rays in northern European waters and catches in Swedish fisheries in the Skagerrak/Kattegat and the eastern North Sea”. The aim was to provide a comprehensive overview of elasmobranchs present in Swedish waters and to what extent these species are caught in Swedish fisheries. To describe the occurrence and spatial distribution of sharks, rays and rabbit fish we used fisheries-independent survey data from 1967–2020, as well as data from the national on-board observer program and official landing data. During this time a total of 21 species of sharks, rays and rabbit fish were reported from the Skagerrak, Kattegat and the Sound. Seven of the species were common in both the fishery independent and the commercial data supporting that they are native to Swedish waters. These species included three shark species; velvet belly (Etmopterus spinax), lesser spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) and spurdog (Squalus acanthias); three species of rays; starry ray (Amblyraja radiata), thornback ray (Raja clavata), and sailray (Rajella lintea); and the rabbit fish (Chimaera monstrosa). The round ray (Rajella fyllae) was also relatively common in survey catches from the deeper parts of the Skagerrak. All common species were present year round, but spurdog also showed a seasonal trend, being more common along the Norwegian coast and in offshore part of the Skagerrak in the first quarter, and closer to the Swedish coast in the third and fourth quarter. There are no longer any targeted fisheries for elasmobranchs by Swedish vessels but by-catches occur, predominantly in demersal trawl fisheries in the deeper parts (> 200 m) of Skagerrak and the Norwegian trench where a majority the observed hauls had by-catch of one or more species. Usage of a sorting device (grid) in the Nephrops and Pandalus trawl fisheries appear to reduce the amount of by-catches. Historical and anecdotal information suggest that by-catch of spurdog in gillnets could be significant, but as landing were prohibited in 2010, no data is available since then. Starry ray and spurdog represents > 75 % of the estimated total catch weight of shark and rays combined. More than 90 % of elasmobranchs was discarded, which is not surprising given that landing of spurdog, starry ray, common skate and thornback ray are prohibited in 3a. Sailray is the only species landed to some extent (few tonnes per year) by Swedish vessels during the last five years. Swedish landings of sailray mainly come from the Pandalus fishery and from demersal trawl fishing without grids in the deeper parts of Skagerrak.

Syftet med denna rapport är att beskriva kunskapsläget om och betydelsen av de viktigaste påverkansfaktorerna för fisk i svenska marina vatten för att stödja uppdateringen av åtgärdsprogrammet inom havsmiljödirektivet 2021. Havsmiljödirektivets mål är att uppnå eller upprätthålla god miljöstatus i havsmiljöerna. För ekosystemkomponenter som fisk där status är otillfredsställande krävs åtgärder för att nå målen och en påverkansanalys kan bidra med kunskap till förvaltningens arbete med att rikta och prioritera åtgärder. Sammanställningen som presenteras i denna rapport är uppdelad på de två övergripande svenska bedömningsområdena inom havsmiljödirektivet, Nordsjön och Östersjön, samt gör en uppdelning på kust och utsjö vad gäller påverkansfaktorer och deras koppling till fiskfaunan. I rapporten presenteras vilket stöd för påverkan på fisk det fanns i litteraturen fram till hösten 2019 (där inget annat anges) uppdelat på faktorerna fiske, klimat, övergödning, habitatpåverkan och födovävsinteraktioner. Dessutom redovisas översiktligt betydelsen av andra påverkansfaktorer som miljögifter, läkemedelsrester, mikroplaster och marint skräp, undervattensbuller, vitaminbrist, samt parasiter och sjukdomar, områden där kunskapen är mer begränsad. En kvalitativ syntes av resultaten visar att flera faktorer sannolikt har stor påverkan på fisk i kust och utsjö-ekosystemen såväl i Östersjön som i Nordsjön. Dessa faktorer utgör en kombination av förändrade födovävsinteraktioner, samt direkt och indirekt mänsklig påverkan. Direkt påverkan från fiske på målarter och bifångstarter är av betydelse i alla förvaltningsområden och habitat. Möjligen är antalet betydelsefulla påverkansfaktorer något lägre i Nordsjön (framförallt i utsjön), jämfört med Östersjön. Samtidigt verkar det råda en större kunskapsbrist kring annan påverkan i Nordsjön där fiske varit den dominerande påverkan. Betydelsen av klimat, övergödning och habitatförlust är påtaglig i båda förvaltningsområdena. Det råder dock kunskapsbrist om betydelsen av klimat på beståndens status i Nordsjöns utsjö, samt betydelsen av födovävsinteraktioner i alla områden och habitat. Det finns även en kunskapsbrist om hur födovävsinteraktioner kopplade till ökande populationer av säl och skarv påverkar fisken. Rapporten konstaterar att en kvantitativ skattning av olika påverkansfaktorers relativa betydelse för fisken vore önskvärd, inkluderande studier av kumulativa effekter (samverkan och/eller förstärkning) av flera påverkansvariabler som agerar samtidigt. Kumulativa effekter är idag dåligt kända och studerade, men sannolikt betydande för utvecklingen av fiskpopulationerna och fisksamhällena i våra marina vatten. Givet mångfalden av olika påverkansfaktorer, förordas en ekosystembaserad försiktighetsansats vid förvaltning av fiskbestånd, arter och samhällen i våra marina miljöer.

The potential for exemption from the European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy’s (CFP) landing obligation (discard ban), where high discard survival can be demonstrated, has identified the need for scientific guidelines to conduct discard survival assessments. Robust estimates of discard survival can be used to justify exemptions from the landing obligation and inform on levels of post-release fishing mortality, which can then be accounted for in stock assessments.The Working Group on Methods for Estimating Discard Survival (WGMEDS) set out to review and update ICES guidance on Methods to Estimate Discard Survival and complete meta-analyses of discard survival evidence to investigate variables influencing survival, with a view to influencing survival through modified fishing practices. We also explored the demand for ongoing monitoring requirements to inform on discard survival and took a proactive approach to sharing discard survival estimates with those working in stock assessment so that new evidence could be applied more widely.In the past three years, the considerable investment in research in to discard survival, specifically from EU countries, has continued. The main outputs from WGMEDS include enhancements to the ICES guidance on how to quantify discard survival. This has supported the work of group members to estimate discard survival in a variety species-fishery combinations, including Nephrops, mackerel, plaice, common sole, eels, rays, much of which has been put forward as evidence to support exemptions from the EU discard ban. A critical review framework developed by WGMEDS has been used by the EU Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) to assess the quality of discard survival evidence for proposed exemptions. There has been a high impact of work produced by the members of the group – specifically in multiple new EU regulated exemptions from the landing obligation. This has permitted fishers to continue discarding defined species and so assisting the implementation of the EU discardban.Future work is expected to focus on applying discard survival estimates in stock assessments. This would include developing guidance to assist assessment expert groups to determine whether available survival studies can be applied. It would require reviewing and assessing the quality and confidence in available discard survival estimates and exploring the potential to combine the results of survival studies so the effect of different variables could be accounted for in estimating an overall best survival estimate. Ultimately, we would aim to include estimates of discard survival in catch scenarios in the ICES advice sheets.

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) not hold its 63rd Plenary Meeting as originally foreseen on 16-20 March 2020 but was requested to draft its advice by written procedure instead.-- 94 pages, The STECF was originally planned to meet in plenary on 16-20 March at the JRC, Ispra. Due to the emergent covid-19 situation in northern Italy and later on the whole of Europe, the meeting was first shifted to Brussels, and then cancelled and replaced by a written procedure with STECF members addressing the ToRs from their home offices. The original ToRs were re-prioritised by the Commission in order to facilitate the STECF working under non-ideal conditions. In addition, the Commission supported the STECF chair and vice-chair, rapporteurs and those STECF members being able to contribute to the written procedure by issuing individual ad hoc contracts. Below DG MARE lists the points to be developed under written procedure. All other points originally included in the draft ToR and Agenda are either postponed to one of the future plenaries or to be dealt with under different procedures, or will no longer be dealt with by STECF. After consultation within DG MARE, this exceptional written procedure to replace the Plenary March session, will need to deal with the following points and ToR. These concern, in summary: - 2 points in the Atlantic – both technical measures - 3 points in the Med – some diversity in the subject - 1 point in the Black Sea – on data collection. Finalization of the written procedure on all topics was foreseen for 3 April 2020

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) held its 65th plenary as virtual meeting from 9-13 November 2020.-- 152 pages, Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries held its 64th plenary as a virtual meeting from 6 to 10 July 2020.

Torsk (Gadus morhua) är en viktig art för marina ekosystem i Sverige, där den har en strukturerande och reglerande funktion i relation till andra arter. Torsken har under historiens gång även spelat en viktig roll för samhället i Sverige inom dess nuvarande gränsers område (Bohuslän har t.ex. inte alltid tillhört Sverige), som en målart för fiske. Samtliga torskbestånd som återfinns i havsområdena runt Sverige har nu dålig status och det internationella havsforskningsrådet ICES rekommenderar låg eller ingen fångst, beroende på bestånd. Utöver riktat fiske påverkas dock torsken av en rad andra faktorer som exempelvis bifångster i annat fiske, syrebrist, klimatförändringar, predatorer, parasiter, bottenpåverkan av trålning, förlust av uppväxtmiljöer, födobrist, tiaminbrist och giftiga ämnen. Denna rapport diskuterar möjligheter att skydda och bevara torsken på sätt som kan komplettera begränsningar i det riktade torskfisket. Torskens situation är komplex och rapporten är därför skriven utifrån ett ekosystemperspektiv för att möjliggöra en bredare ansats i förvaltningen av torskbestånd i svenska vatten, där alla relevanta påverkansfaktorer bör beaktas. Det bör poängteras att denna rapport inte har gjort någon ny utredning av påverkansfaktorernas effekter, utan har istället gjort en litteratursammanställning och en kvalitativ analys. Vi har ändå valt att lyfta fram vissa åtgärder som särskilt potentiellt betydelsefulla - en samlad kvalitativ expertbedömning som rangordnar olika åtgärders effektivitet för återuppbyggnad per bestånd, se avsnitt 6 i rapporten.

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) hold its 61st plenary on 1-5 July 2019 at the Centre Borschette, Brussels.-- 139 pages, Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines

1. Bycatch of Eastern Baltic cod in non-targeted fisheries 1a.Total cod bycatch in 2018 was in the range of 360-1306 *tonnes in subdivisions 25-32 (eastern stock) and 66-417* tonnes in subdivision 24 (eastern and western stock combined). The ranges correspond to different bycatch thresholds from 10 to 50% cod in the landings in a fishing trip. These cod bycatch amounts correspond to fishing patterns in 2018 when cod was a target species, and fishers did not attempt to avoid catching cod. 1b. Bycatch of cod in demersal trawl fisheries for flatfish could be substantially reduced when applying selectivity devices in fishing gear. Three selectivity strategies are possible: i) species specific size selection, ii) selection by behavioural differences of the species and iii) a strategy that combines i and ii. Strategy i can be efficient to reduce bycatch of small but not larger cod, while strategies ii and iii can be applied to minimise bycatches of cod at all sizes in targeted flatfish fisheries. 1c. Cod and flounder overlap in the entire distribution area of the eastern Baltic cod stock; plaice and eastern Baltic cod overlap in subdivisions 24-25. Therefore, there are no areas or months where flatfish fisheries with non-selective gears could be conducted in subdivisions 24-26 without a risk of bycatch of cod. Only a small fraction of EU flatfish landings were taken in subdivision 26 in later years (6% of flounder landings in 2018). Therefore, a potential closure of subdivision 26 for demersal fisheries would have limited implications for EU flatfish fisheries, while protecting a substantial part of the eastern Baltic cod stock. 2. Mixing of eastern and western Baltic cod in subdivision 24 2a Eastern Baltic cod (EBC) occurs throughout subdivision 24 and in all seasons. However, the proportion of EBC is lowest: (i) in the area west of 13°E (on average 47% EBC in last 11 years), compared to the area east of 13°E (on average 78% EBC) and (ii) in waters between 0-10m or 020m deep (on average 27% or 39% EBC, respectively). The latter is assumed not to include the coastal waters around Bornholm Island. The proportion of eastern Baltic cod is lower in fisheries by passive gears due to their use mostly in shallow areas. 2b. Bycatch of eastern Baltic cod in fisheries targeting western Baltic cod can be calculated by multiplying the TAC for the management area with the fraction of it taken in subdivision 24 (0.53 in the last 3 years) and the proportion of cod in subdivision 24 that belongs to the eastern stock (0.74 in the last 3 years). The additional fishing restrictions applied in 2020 in subdivision 24 are expected to reduce the fraction of the cod TAC taken in subdivision 24, and thus reduce the bycatch of eastern Baltic cod. 2c. A closure of subdivision 24 could result in up to 25% loss of western Baltic cod commercial landings, at the fishing patterns observed in latest years. It is difficult to foresee to what extent effort reallocation to subdivisions 22-23 would be possible for different fleets. The cod TAC at 3806 tonnes set for the western Baltic management area for 2020 is close to the amount that has been taken in subdivisions 22-23 in later years. Thus, the TAC at 3806 tonnes would likely be possible to take in subdivisions 22-23. Cod in subdivisions 27-32 3a. Eastern Baltic cod annual catches in subdivisions 27-32 were between 150-400 tonnes in 20102018, with the exception of 2017 (883 tonnes). This corresponds to less than 1% of the total catch from the eastern Baltic cod stock in these years, with the exception of 3% in 2017. Most catches within this area were taken in subdivisions 27-29, both by active (trawls) and passive (gillnets) gears. 3b. Fishing at status quo effort in subdivisions 27-32, corresponding to total cod catch of 168 tonnes in 2020, is estimated to result in 0.08 % lower SSB in 2021 compared to the scenario of zero catch. 3c. Potential effort reallocation to subdivisions 27-32 could result in removing up to 3% of the total biomass of the eastern Baltic cod stock

Commissioned by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water management, the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences, established a Secretariat for selective fishing between 2014 and 2017. The secretariat main task has been to gather and evaluate ideas of new gears from the industry on how to minimize unwanted catches. The industry´s initiative and engagement are essential for the successful development of new ideas. All projects have followed the same work flow; a development of project ideas by science-industry collaboration, an industry lead development phase and finally scientific evaluation and reporting. Thirty-four projects have been completed between 2014 and 2017. The separate projects have been reported yearly123 (in Swedish). As there is also an apparent need to interact with similar initiatives in other countries and to disseminate to an international audience we here summarize all 34 projects according to the results of the scientific evaluations, their applicability given current fisheries regulations and fishing practises and also on the up-take of the new gears. The report is divided between active and passive gears and the different projects are grouped based on fisheries (gear type and target species). In the end of the report, fact sheets is included for the most relevant project.

På uppdrag av Havs- och vattenmyndigheten (HaV), som har ansvarat för regeringsuppdraget selektivt fiske, upprättade SLU Aqua ett Sekretariat för selektivt fiske mellan 2014 och 2017. Sekretariatets huvuduppgift har varit att samla in idéer tillsammans med näringen, för att stimulera utvecklingen av selektiva fiskemetoder i syfte att minska mängden oönskad fångst. Näringens initiativ och engagemang har varit helt avgörande för en framgångsrik utveckling av nya idéer. Under projektperioden har sekretariatet tillsammans med näringen drivit 34 projekt inom selektivt fiske. Samtliga projekt är vetenskapligt utvärderade och redovisade i årliga verksamhetsrapporter. I denna syntesrapport sammanställs resultaten från projekt med liknande problemställningar, målarter och fiskemetoder, till olika fisken. De olika fiskena är uppdelade mellan aktiva och passiva redskap. I sammanställningen har alla projekten bedömts efter en 5-gradig skala som sammanfattar resultatet av den vetenskapliga utvärderingen, redskapets tillämpbarhet i verkligt fiske samt behov av förvaltningsåtgärder och/eller andra incitament för att redskapen verkligen skall komma till bred användning i fisket.

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. This report contains reviews of joint recommendations from Member States regional groups for the implementation of the landing obligation in 2019.

Under hösten/vintern 2015/2016 genomförde sekretariatet för selektivt fiske,vid institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU-Aqua) tillsammans med svenskt yrkesfiske, nio projekt inom ramen för regeringsuppdraget selektivt fiske. Den övergripande målsättningen för alla projekt inom selektivt fiske är att underlätta införandet av den landningsskyldighet som beslutats i och med reformen av EU:s gemensamma fiskeripolitik. Projekten syftade därför till att minska oönskad fångst i svenskt fiske antingen genom att utveckla befintliga fiskemetoder (framförallt inom trålfiske) eller genom att utveckla alternativa fiskemetoder (främst passiva redskap såsom fällor och burar). 1. "Kombinationsrist för utsortering av fisk och små räkor" (HaV Dnr 1718-15) 2. ”Selektivitet anpassad för små räktrålare” (HaV Dnr 1488-16) 3. "Räkburar” (HaV Dnr 1892-15) 4. ”Vidareutveckling av storleksselektiv kräftrist Halland” (HaV Dnr 1717-15) 5. ”Trål för fångst av plattfisk och stor torsk-rist/stormaskig trål” (HaV Dnr 1716-15) 6. "Förbättrad selektivitet i torsktrålar i Östersjön" (HaV Dnr 2384-15) 7. "Utsortering av gråsej i pelagiska trålar" (HaV Dnr 1715-15) 8. "Selektiv laxfälla" (HaV Dnr 1713-15) 9. "Multifunktionsburar" (HaV Dnr 1712-15) Projekten genomfördes genom att förslag togs fram gemensamt av SLU-Aqua och näringen utifrån fiskets uttryckliga behov och idéer. Projektförslagen prioriterades och beslutades av en särskild styrgrupp på Havs- och vattenmyndigheten (HaV), varefter SLU-Aqua upphandlade utförare och agerade projektledare. Vinnande part ansvarade sedan för att anskaffa och utveckla respektive projektidé enligt projektplanen med stöd från sekretariatet. Projekten avslutades genom en vetenskaplig utvärdering där personal från SLUAqua deltog i ett experimentellt fiske där det nyutvecklade redskapets fångstegenskaper dokumenterades och analyserades under kommersiella fiskeförhållanden.

Har ett hummerfredningområde någon betydelse som avelsbank? Av Mats Ulmestrand, Havsfiskelaboratoriet, Lysekil Since 1989 a lobster (Homarus gammarus) fishing area of 1.05 km2 was closed and protected from all fishery except experimental fishery carried out by the Institute of Marine Research in Lysekil. All caught lobster were tagged and released in the area again. This paper gives an estimation of the change in egg production while the fishing mortality on H. gammarus stops. Mundelarnas funktionella morfologi hos havskräfta. Av Anders Sellbom The Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus ) can be a suspension feeder, and the lobster use its mouth parts as a "landing-net". A feeding current was produced by the exopodite of the third maxillipeds and with the pleopods. This paper describes the morphology of the mouthparts with respect to suspension feeding. The activity of the mouthparts were tested during aquaria experiments. Crushed shrimps (Pandalus borealis) and nauplii of brine shrimps (Artemia salina) were used asprey. All mouthparts of N. norvegicus are covered with setae in different lenght and size. There are also different shapes among them. In general speaking there are long, serrate setae on the anteriormouthparts and short, stiff setae on the inner mouthparts. Food particles are trapped on the long, serrated setae on the outer mouthparts (mostly the third maxillipeds) and are transported by combing movements of the inner mouthparts to oesophagus. There was no significant difference in beatspeed of the exopodites. Three different sources were tested against each other: food (crushed shrimp or nauplii of brine shrimp), treatment (before, under and after addition of food) and the interaction food/treatment. Very large variance differences occurred within the same food group when tested for the interaction food/treatment. The explanation is that the exopodites do not beat simultanously and there are large speed differences between left and right exopodite. A two factor ANOVA analysis of variance was used as a statistic method. Olika aspekter på suspensionsätning hos tre decapodarter från svenska västkusten av Daniel Valentinsson, Havsfiskelaboratoriet, Lysekil Suspension feeding in adults of the edible crab Cancer pagurus (118-295 g) and the squatlobster Galathea strigosa (22-29 g) was tested in experiments offering planktonic food items of about 600 mm size measuring the clearing capacity. Both species were found to significantly clear the water of food particles comprising nauplii of the brine shrimp Artemia salina. Food intake was verified with stomach analysis. In another experiment it was investigated if the ability to suspension feed is different between the sexes in the Norway lobster Nephrops norvégiens, and if the clearance rate is dependent on the concentration of food items. No difference between the sexes was found. Neither was any difference in clearance rate depending on the food concentration found. The significance of the ability to suspension feed in larger decapods is discussed regarding the species ecological roles.