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Pouting or Bib (Trisopterus luscus)

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Common name - Pouting or Bib
Scientific name - Trisopterus luscus
Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Caught at sea All applicable methods
Capture Area North East Atlantic  FAO 27
Stock Area All Areas
Stock Detail I-IX
Summary
Pouting (or Bib) is a short-lived species common in British inshore waters. It is not commercially fished and therefore not assessed and no information available on its stock status. However its biology suggests that it is moderately resilient to fishing. When buying choose mature (over 21 cm) locally caught fish. Avoid eating fresh (not previously frozen) fish caught during their spawning season (March to April). As an under-utilised species it is ranked by Cefas as one of the most tolerant of over-fishing and therefore one of the better ones for consumers to eat.
Biology
A member of the cod family, it is a common fish in inshore waters, particularly in rocky areas where large schools form around wrecks and reefs. Moves inshore to depths of 50m or less to spawn in March to April. It matures at 1-2 years old at lengths of 21-25 cms. Can attain a size in excess of 40cm, but more usually between about 20-32cm. The maximum reported age reached is 4 years.
Stock Information
Pouting is a bycatch species that is more commonly being landed for human consumption. Because pouting is not commercially fished (targeted), the status of the stocks is not assessed, therefore, no information is available. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the stocks are in abundance, however the species does suffer from discard. Thorough stock assessment is essential to ascertain whether this fishery is sustainable. Pouting is considered an under-utilised species. Under-utilised species are ones that fishermen don't catch their full quota of; or they catch them but then discard the fish because no one wants to buy them. CEFAS have compiled a list of these species using quota and discard information, expert advice and local knowledge and chose around 50 under-utilised species to study. To determine their sensitivity to over-fishing CEFAS has developed a system, the Relative Life History Sensitivity Analysis, to study the risk. It uses biological information like growth and breeding strategies to see how increased fishing pressure might damage each species. They then ranked the species by how tolerant they are to being over-fished. For a full list of the species that are most under-utilised AND most tolerant of over-fishing and therefore the best ones for consumers to consider choosing see www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/our-science/fisheries-information/marine-fisheries/under-utilised-species.aspx
Capture Information
Pouting (or Bib) is taken as by-catch in trawl fisheries for other whitefish. Because it is not commercially fished there is no minimum landing size specified for it in EU waters. Depending on the nature of the seabed, there is potential for damage by the heavy fishing gear used in trawling for bottom-dwelling species. Trawling is also associated with discarding of unwanted fish, i.e. undersized and/or non-quota and/or over-quota species.
References
Fishbase www.fishbase.org
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Read what the consumer pages of the Good Fish Guide say about this species.