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The Channel demersal non-quota species (NQS) FMP covers relevant stocks in the English Channel.

Defra prepared the FMPin partnership with Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO collaborated with a working group made up of fisheries stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishers.

The Channel demersal NQS FMPhas been prepared and published to meet the requirements set out in the Fisheries Act 2020.

Read more aboutfisheries management plans.

Species

The following species are covered by the Channel demersal NQS FMP.

Bony fish:

• bib, pouting, pout (Trisopterus luscus)
• brill (Scophthalmus rhombus)??
• grey gurnard (Eutrigla gurnardus)??
• red gurnard (Chelidonichthys cuculus)?
• tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna)
• John dory (Zeus faber)??
• lemon sole (Microstomus kitt)?
• red mullet, striped red mullet, surmullet (Mullus surmuletus)
• turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)??

Elasmobranchs:

• common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus)
• lesser spotted dogfish, lesser spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
• starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias)

Cephalopods:

• common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis)?
• elegant cuttlefish (Sepia elegans)?
• common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)??
• curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa)?
• common squid,European squid (Loligo vulgaris)
• European common squid (Alloteuthis subulata)?
• veined squid, long-finned squid (Loligo forbesii)??

Areas covered

English waters of International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas 7d and 7e (English Channel).

Status

A public consultation to seek views on the draft plan closed on 1 October 2023. View the consultation and the government response at Channel demersal non-quota species: proposed fisheries management plan consultation.

The final FMP was published in December 2023.

Contact us

If you would like more information, emailFMPs@defra.gov.uk.