ICES slashes 2019 Barents Sea haddock, cod catch recommendation
Whether the advice will be heeded by the Joint Russian–Norwegian Fisheries Commission remains to be seen.
The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is cutting its recommendation on cod and haddock total allowable catches (TAC) in the Barents Sea for 2019 by 5.2 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
ICES advises that when the Joint Russian–Norwegian Fisheries Commission (JNRFC) management plan is applied, Barents Sea cod catches in 2019 should be no more than 674,678 metric tons, down 5.2 percent from the 2018 advice of 712,000 metric tons.
However, the actual cod quota established by the JNRFC for 2018 was 775,000 metric tons, so ICES is in fact recommending a 13 percent cut in catches for next year.
Haddock down 25%
For haddock, ICES is advising catches in 2019 should be no more than 152,000 metric tons.
This is down 25 percent compared with last year's advice of 202,305 metric tons.
"The advised catch for 2019 is considerably lower than that advised for 2018 because the abundance of older age groups is now estimated to be lower, and also the strong 2004–2006 year classes no longer contribute much to the fishery," said ICES.
The actual quota set by the JNRFC for haddock last year was in line with ICES advice at 202,305 metric tons.
