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Norway has set a quota for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in 2023, in line with the ICCAT recommendations
Norway has set a quota of 383 tonnes for the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in 2023, which is in line with the International Commission for the Management of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) recommendations.
Norway will be allowed to fish 383 tonnes of Atlantic bluefin tuna in 2023, which is an increase of 68 tonnes from 2022. Both small-scale coastal vessels and purse-seiners can also participate in this year’s fishery.
“Atlantic bluefin tuna has returned to Norwegian waters in recent years and are now here to stay. In negotiations, we have received approval for an increase in the Norwegian quota in 2023, a quota level that will remain fixed until 2025. This provides increased opportunities for fishing activity and value creation and provides predictability for players who want to participate in fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna,” says the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister Bjørnar Skjæran.
Of the total Norwegian quota of 383 tonnes, 15 tonnes have been set aside for by-catch, 10 tonnes for mark-and-release and recreational fishing and 18 tonnes for a pilot project on live storage of Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Continues fishing for small-scale coastal vessels
The purse-seine vessels that will participate in the fishery receive a vessel quota of 30 tonnes and a maximum quota supplement of 15 tonnes per vessel, total group quota is 300 tonnes. Small-scale coastal vessels receive a total group quota of 40 tonnes, which is an increase of 22 tonnes from 2022. Up to 25 vessels may participate in this group in 2023, and the conditions are that the vessel is under 15 metres and fishes close to the coast with selective gear.
“The group for small-scale coastal vessels gets a proportionally larger increase compared to the group for seiners. This is because the group for small-scale coastal vessels showed good activity last year and showed that Atlantic bluefin tuna can be fished with a pole,” says Skjæran.
Early redistribution
The Directorate of Fisheries can change and cancel the guaranteed quota for purse-seiners on 15 August 2023, unless special circumstances require an earlier date. The redistribution date will be set two weeks earlier than in previous years and will make it easier for the Norwegian quota to be fished up.
Live storage
18 tonnes are set aside for a pilot project on live storage of Atlantic bluefin tuna this year, as last year.
During the ICCAT annual meeting in November 2022, Norway received approval for its proposal to carry out a pilot project for live storage of Atlantic bluefin tuna. The aim of the pilot project is to provide us with useful information and form the basis for future regulations on live storage. The purpose of live storage is to facilitate the possibility of spreading raw material to the market over time, and to improve and preserve the good quality of the Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Recreational fishing
As in previous years, arrangements will be made for recreational fishing, with the aim of tagging the Atlantic bluefin tuna before they are released back into the sea.
“Tag-and-release and recreational fishing contribute to mapping the distribution of Atlantic bluefin tuna in Norwegian and international waters. This has given us valuable information over several years, and we hope that the activity will continue and contribute to further information and observations about the Atlantic bluefin tuna this year as well,” says Skjæran.
About fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna
- In 2023, Norway can fish with eight seiners, which have a vessel quota of 30 tonnes. A maximum quota supplement of 15 tonnes per vessel is being introduced.
- Norway can fish with 25 small-scale coastal vessels.
- The rolling lists for seine vessels over and under 40 metres are combined into one rolling list. Prison option for participation is extended from 2 years to 3 years.
- The first date for redistribution of unused vessel quotas is set for 15 August and the second redistribution date is set for 1 September 2023.
Participation in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery requires the necessary approval from the Directorate of Fisheries, and registration for 2023 is sent there. More information about registration deadlines and the conditions for fishing in 2023 will be published on the Directorate of Fisheries’ website.
Source: Press Release
