Workshop on Whelk Fisheries (WKWF)

This inaugural workshop on whelk fisheries brought together scientists and fishery managers working on whelk fisheries globally. The workshop provided a forum to share best practice and a review of the recently published work and research currently underway. There were two main focuses. First, whelk ageing techniques, ageing error and age data use in stock assessment. A second focus was on current stock assessment approaches and challenges. A final session was available for other whelk research including bait and mortality from riddling.

The main conclusions from the ageing presentations and discussion were that older age classes were only seen in very small numbers resulting in difficulties for growth models to anchor the upper asymptote. Discussion highlighted possible reasons for this as difficulty observing small growth increments on the edge of statoliths, dome-shaped gear selectivity or high mortality past age 5. The group recommended further work in this area.

It was clear from presentation and discussion that whelk species demonstrate high potential for spatial structure and spatial variability of biological parameters and that stock assessment approaches need to consider this. Future work needs to focus on a range of techniques to inform stock structure with possible collaboration with ICES Stock Identification Methods Working Group (SIMWG).

Researchers from across Europe and north America gave presentations on the current status of fisheries, data collection, management and assessment in their countries. Multiple regions have been showing declines in catch per unit effort and concern was raised from southern stock regarding the impact of warming waters with climate change on the reproductive success and mortality rate in these stocks.

Preliminary work has shown potentially significant mortality rates following mechanical whelk riddling. Further research is needed and discussion highlighted gear modification to minimize undersize catch as an important management consideration.