Photo: JNRFC/FIS

Challenging Times Ahead for Cod and Haddock Fisheries

RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Monday, November 04, 2024, 04:00 (GMT + 9)

Russia and Norway have announced the total allowable catches (TACs) for their jointly managed fish stocks for 2025, raising concerns within the Russian fishing industry due to significant declines in key species such as cod and haddock—critical to fisheries in the Northern Basin.

The 2025 TAC for northeast Arctic cod is set at 340,000 tons, marking a 25% decrease compared to the current year and, according to Norwegian sources, the lowest level since 1991. Russia's quota within this allocation amounts to 144,436 tons, as reported by the press service of the Fishery Shipowners Association (FSA) to Fishnews.

The TAC for haddock has also seen a reduction of 7.8% from 2023 levels, set at 130,000 tons, with Russia's share totaling 52,468 tons.

Permissible catches for redfish and blue halibut have been lowered by 4% to 67,191 tons and by 10.6% to 19,000 tons, respectively. Russia’s quotas are 14,094 tons for redfish and 7,875 tons for halibut.

Moreover, a decision was made to suspend capelin fishing in the Barents Sea for 2025, following a 2024 allowance of 196,000 tons.

“A significant cut in the cod TAC, along with the haddock reduction due to natural factors, signals challenging years ahead for the fishing industry in the Northern Basin, as operational costs rise while the resource base shrinks,” commented Sergei Sennikov, a member of the FSA Council and deputy director of Norebo Management Company. He participated in the 54th session of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Fisheries Commission (JRNCF).

Sennikov also highlighted the surprise caused by the scientific recommendation for a zero capelin catch. “Evidently, changes in the Barents Sea ecosystem have impacted this stock. This reinforces the need for further scientific research to understand the developments affecting fish populations,” he stated.

While the TAC for sea bass has only decreased by 2,973 tons, suggesting a stable stock, and the blue halibut reduction is less severe than anticipated, these factors do little to offset the significant declines in cod and haddock quotas or the absence of capelin fishing.

Additionally, Russia has been permitted to catch 4,200 tons of sea bass (both bycatch and targeted fishing) and 12,200 tons of pollock as bycatch in Norwegian waters.

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