Monkfish

The theme session “Monkfish across the world: common problems and common solutions” indeed identified a number of characteristics that most monkfish (aka anglerfish or goosefish) in the areas reviewed shared. Among these, interesting features are:

• Females mature at larger sizes and older ages than males and reach a considerable larger size, such that above a certain size, only females are found.

• Eggs are contained in egg vails and float at the surface of the water for long periods.

• Growth does not seem to slow down as the fish gets larger.

• From a fisheries management perspective, uncertainties on how anglerfish aggregations in neighbouring areas interact (stock structure) and natural mortality are particularly important.

Solutions are to be found through closer cooperation between science and fishermen.

Young Fishermen :

For the first time in the history of the ASC, ICES has had the pleasure to host a group of 7 young fishermen. They were invited to join us so ICES scientists and active fishermen could meet and discuss the latest science and the latest news from the sea.

After the opening day with theme sessions the fishermen set out Tuesday to get to know Finnish fisheries and their environmental problems. The group shared the concerns of Baltic fishermen and scientists in balancing the seal population and fishing possibilities.

This fruitfull meeting ended today after another morning of interesting themesessions and coffee pause discussions with a broad range of scientist, when a group of enthusiastic fishermen expressed their hopes of meeting again at next year's ASC in Halifax.