RUSSIA AND NORWAY AGREED ON 2019 QUOTAS FOR JOINT STOCKS

Russia and Norway had talks in the Joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission on 15-18 October 2018 in Ålesund (Norway) and agreed on TACs for jointly managed stocks in 2019.

The parties of the commission agreed that the stock of NEA cod is in good condition and set the TAC in 2019 at the level 725 000 MT, which is 6.5% less than in 2018 (775 000 MT). This level of the cod TAC is still within the limits of precautionary and sustainable management.

The TAC of NEA haddock Russia and Norway agreed at the level of 172 000 MT, which is 15% less than in 2018(202 305 MT).

Considering the state of the Barents Sea capelin stock and its importance for the marine ecosystem, Russia and Norway agreed to cease commercial fishery of this species in 2019. In 2018 the joint TAC for Russian and Norway was only at the level of 205 000 MT. Having known the predicted decline in the stocks of cod and haddock in the coming years such measure will smoothen the negative dynamics in other commercially important stocks.

The TAC of Greenland halibut in 2019 was set at 27 000 MT, which is the same level as in 2018.

The TAC of redfish (Sebastes mentella) in 2019 was set at the level of 53 757 MT, which is 64.6% higher than in 2018 (32 658 MT). Last time the catch of redfish (Sebastes mentella) was at this level in 1985.

The parties of the commission also noted that garbage in marine ecosystem has become a global challenge and a growing problem in the Barents Sea. Russian and Norway agreed to work for preventing garbage pollution in the marine environment related to fishing activities in this region.

Russian and Norway also agreed a joint research programme in 2019, which will allow collecting scientific data that shall be used for assessment of the commercial stocks and marine ecosystem in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea.

Photograph source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fishery of Norway.

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