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Please type in a fish name here > |
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BIOLOGY
Whelks are large marine gastropods, or snails, with strong, whitish shells. Whelks mate during autumn and winter, the eggs are laid between November and January and hatch 3-9 months later. Baby whelks emerge from the egg capsules in the spring. They are long-lived ( up to about 15 years) and can grow up to about 10cms. Sexual maturity occurs at 5-7 years.
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STOCK OR FISHERY DETAIL
No assessment of stocks by ICES in the North East Atlantic
No assessment of stocks by ICES |
STOCK INFORMATION
The majority of the stocks occur off the West of Scotland, Western Channel, and throughout the coasts of the Irish Sea. The major fisheries for the species occur in the North-east and North Wales (Holyhead). No formal stock assessments occur and it is hard to distinguish whether variation in landings is due to changes in effort, natural variation or market demand. Fishing pressure has increased as fishermen seek new fishing opportunities to satisfy a large and expanding export market of whelks to the Far East. There is a risk that local stocks can become depleted due to fishing pressure, and the lack of a larval stage prevents the repopulation of depleted stocks from neighbouring areas.
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CAPTURE OR FARMING INFORMATION
Whelks are mostly caught in baited pots but may also be dredged. Shore crabs are sometimes used as bait in whelk pots. The minimum landing size for whelk in EU waters is 45 mm. Cefas have found that north of Fishguard in the west, and Scarborough in the east, size at maturity can range from 55mm to 74mm. This shows that the EU minimum landing size is ineffective in the more northern fisheries, which are incidentally the larger fisheries. The average size of whelks varies from location to location.
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ADVICE
Whelks are long-lived and subject to increasing fishing pressure. Avoid eating immature whelks (less than 45 mm) and during their breeding season (autumn and winter).
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REFERENCE
Sea & Shore life of Britain and North-west Europe Gibson et al 2001.; Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-west Europe Hayward and Ryland 2000.
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