Norway and Russia agree Barents Sea quotas

21/10/2016

The latest agreement between Russia and Norway on Barents Sea groundfish quotas marks forty years of collaboration on resource management in the region

The two nations yesterday signed an agreement on an 890,000 tonne cod quota for the Barents Sea, which gives Norway a quota of around 400,000 tonnes, according to a statement by the Norwegian government.

“This is a unique collaboration on the management of the main fish resources in the Barents Sea. The agreement ensures that the sustainable harvesting of these resources continues. Under the revised management rules, cod, haddock and capelin stocks are still well cared for,” said Fisheries Minister Per Sandberg.

Under the latest agreement, Norway and Russia have agreed on quotas for cod, haddock, capelin, Greenland halibut and deep sea redfish, access to fish for snow crab and conditions for fisheries research activity in each other’s zones.

Cod stocks are still at a high level. According to the management rule, the overall quota for cod for 2017 was set at 890,000 tonnes.

The cod quota is divided between Norway, Russia and third countries following the same pattern as in previous years. Norway’s quota for 2017 will be 399,523 tonnes, including 21,000 tons of coastal cod and 7000 tonnes for research.

The haddock quota is set at 233,000 tonnes for 2017, in line with management rules. The Norwegian haddock quota will be 113,564 tonnes, which includes a research quota.

According to the management rule it was decided to not set a capelin TAC for 2017.

The total quota for Greenland halibut in 2017 is 24,000 tonnes. This is an increase of 2,000 tonnes over the 2016 quota.

The deep sea redfish quota is set at 30,000 tonnes for 2017.

Norway and Russia confirmed reciprocal access to each other’s fishing vessels for fishing snow crab on the Norwegian and Russian continental shelf in the Loophole for the rest of 2016.

Fisheries Agreement also contains technical regulations for fishing operations, control and research. There is an extensive research collaboration between Norway and Russia on living marine resources and ecosystem in the Barents Sea, and the parties agreed on the joint Norwegian-Russian research program for 2017.

After extensive discussion, both parties agreed terms for the implementation of fisheries research cruises in each other’s zones. This provides hope that the situation can be resolved under which there is a lack of permits for Norwegian research activities in Russian waters.

Source: http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/industry-news/norway-and-russia-agree-barents-sea-quotas