Discarding remains widespread in Area VII mixed fisheries

The study shows that mixed demersal fisheries in the Celtic Sea and Western Approaches—the core grounds for the South-West UK fleet—still face significant unwanted catches, especially of hake, whiting, megrim, and horse mackerel. High proportions of undersized fish persist in several gears despite the landing obligation.

In the Celtic Sea case study, fishers and scientists mapped “hotspots” of unwanted catches using tacit knowledge and scientific data, underlining that the problem is persistent and spatially variable.

Choke species remain a major operational threat

Post-Brexit quota changes have increased choke risk, especially for stocks jointly fished with EU vessels (e.g., hake, whiting, sole). Member States highlighted the loss of UK-EU quota swaps as a significant problem. This applies directly to the South-West region, where many fleets depend on flexible quota management.

Technical measures in Area VII have become stricter — especially around selectivity

The report notes increasing use of gear-based restrictions, closures, and cod-avoidance measures in VII:

Celtic Sea cod avoidance measures require vessels to use codends ≥100 mm or demonstrate <1.5% cod bycatch. These closures cover 7b, 7c, 7f–k—a large share of the South-West UK grounds.
Selectivity pilots continue, but uptake among fleets was reported as slow due to costs, complexity, and lack of a level playing field.

Survivability exemptions important for key South-West species

For Area VII, notable exemptions exist—for example:

Nephrops (pots/traps/creels) in 6 and 7, with survivability exemptions for creel-caught animals.
De minimis allowances continue for some whitefish species, including whiting and sole, within 7d-7k.

These exemptions remain crucial for mixed-gear fleets operating from Cornish and Devon ports.

Monitoring and enforcement remain insufficient

The report repeatedly highlights that low observer coverage and limited REM (Remote Electronic Monitoring) undermine discard estimates in NWW, including Area VII. Accurate discard data are not yet available for many UK fleets, particularly gillnet and longline fisheries targeting hake.

This affects stock assessments for several Area-VII species, especially hake and whiting.

South Western Waters (SWW) findings are indirectly relevant to the UK via shared stocks

Though SWW (ICES 8–10) is not UK water, the report notes points relevant to stocks shared with VII:

Discarding persists where there is no viable market for unwanted fish, which drives some landings to waste streams.
Technical measures in the SWW are generally less restrictive than in NWW, raising concerns about regional imbalance in regulation and selectivity.

This matters for UK fleets competing in shared stocks of hake, megrim, and horse mackerel.

Economic viability concerns for South-West demersal fleets

The report notes that the landing obligation imposes additional handling, storage, and landing costs on mixed-fishery fleets—issues cited most frequently by vessels working bottom trawl, gillnet, and longline fisheries typical of Area VII. Many fleets report:

insufficient port infrastructure for unwanted catches
increased costs
reduced flexibility in fishing patterns

These pressures are especially acute in ports like Newlyn, Brixham, and Plymouth with high reliance on mixed whitefish and hake fisheries.

Evidence that the landing obligation has not significantly changed behaviour

Five years after full implementation, the Commission’s evaluation concludes:

No broad reduction in discarding has yet occurred.
Compliance depends heavily on low-visibility practices, and enforcement is weak.
Behavioural changes among fleets in VII have been limited.

Overall: the landing obligation has not yet delivered substantial improvements in selectivity or discard reduction in Celtic Sea / Channel fisheries.

In Short – What It Means for the South-West UK / Area VII

Across Celtic Sea, Channel, and Western Approaches fisheries:

Discarding continues, especially in mixed trawl fisheries.
Choke species risk remains high, worsened by loss of UK-EU quota swaps.
Greater selectivity is required, but adoption is slow and uneven.
Enforcement gaps limit real-world change; REM uptake is minimal.
Technical restrictions and closures are increasing, especially around cod.
Economic impacts fall heavily on South-West ports and vessels, which face high LO-related costs.