Norwegian fishermen in the north received a significant blow as new advice from IMR recommends a 31% reduction in North East Arctic Cod catch
On Friday, 21 June, the quota advice for 2025 for North-East Arctic cod (skrei), haddock, Greenland halibut, and Atlantic/beaked redfish was presented, delivering a cold shock to the system of Norwegian fishing.
The recommendations have been met with significant concern from the fishing industry, as they propose substantial reductions in quotas, particularly for cod and haddock.
Lowest Skrei Quota in Over 20 Years Announced by Norwegian-Russian Research Group
A significant decrease in the quota for North East Arctic cod (skrei) is set to be implemented, marking the lowest recommendation in over two decades. This update comes from the Norwegian-Russian research group for fish stocks in the Barents Sea, which announced the new quotas on Friday.
Major Reduction in Quota
The researchers have recommended a quota of no more than 311,587 tonnes for North East Arctic cod in 2025, a 31% reduction from both the previous year’s recommendation and the fixed quota for 2024. This marks the lowest quota since 2003.
“The spawning population for skrei has been adjusted down and will fall below the precautionary level in 2025. That is why the quota council is also decreasing so much,” stated Bjarte Bogstad, a researcher with the Institute of Marine Research and part of the Norwegian-Russian research group.
Typically, there is an autumn rule that limits the reduction in quota to 20% from one year to the next. However, this rule is lifted if the spawning population is projected to fall below the precautionary level, which is now the case.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
The quota for skrei has been reduced by 20% annually over the past three years. This trend follows a consistent decline in the spawning stock since its peak in 2013. Recent recruitment has been below average, with particularly weak year classes from 2019 and 2020, which should have entered the fishery by next year.
Despite the lowered quota, the outlook for the future is slightly more positive. “The incoming year classes from and including 2021 have been adjusted upwards,” noted Bogstad.
Haddock and Halibut Quotas
For North East Arctic haddock, the recommended catch for 2025 is 106,912 tonnes, a 16% decrease from the 2024 recommendation and a 24% reduction from the actual quota for that year. The weak year classes from 2018, 2019, and 2020 are currently in the fishery, but future prospects look better with above-average year classes from 2021-2023.
“It is important to take care of these incoming year classes and not fish them as small fish,” emphasised Bogstad.
The recommendations for Atlantic/beaked redfish and Greenland halibut also reflect decreases. For Atlantic/beaked redfish, the suggested quota is 67,191 tonnes for 2025, a 4% reduction from 2024. For 2026, the quota is recommended at 69,177 tonnes. Greenland halibut faces a steeper decline, with a recommended quota of 12,431 tonnes for 2025, 42% lower than the 2024 quota, and 20% lower than the previous advice. For 2026, the quota is set at 14,891 tonnes.
“New recruitment is on its way into the fishery, but it will take a few years before this contributes to the spawning stock of mature fish,” explained Bogstad.
Setting Future Quotas
The quotas will be finalised by Norwegian and Russian authorities through the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission, with the final decision expected in October. This decision will play a crucial role in managing the delicate balance of fish stock conservation and the fishing industry’s economic needs.
Norwegian Fishing Industry Reaction: A Cold Shower for the Fishing Industry
A Tough Blow for Cod Fisheries
Manager Kåre Heggebø expressed his concerns, stating, “This was a real cold shower. It’s going to be a challenging time for the industry going forward, not just for us fishermen.” The quota for cod is advised to be reduced by 31%, from over 450,000 tonnes in 2024 to just over 311,000 tonnes in 2025. This marks the lowest quota advice for cod in more than 20 years.
The recommendation for haddock is similarly stark, with a proposed reduction of 24%. The Fishermen’s Association leader, Heggebø, highlighted the broader implications, stating, “This will cause a challenge for the entire seafood industry. Both for us who harvest the fish, and equally for the fishing industry, the entire value chain, and the communities along the coast.”
Serious Impact Across the Value Chain
Heggebø stressed that the sharp decline in quotas will put the fishing industry in a very difficult situation. “At the same time, we will take the time to sit down and do a thorough review and analysis of the quota councils in the organisation,” he added.
The quota for Greenland halibut also sees a significant decrease, further weakening the overall operating basis in the cod fisheries in the north. “When it comes to halibut, we register a large discrepancy between the fishermen’s observations on the sea and the advice of marine scientists. It is something we have to follow up further,” Heggebø noted.
Bilateral Quota Council Amidst Tensions
This quota advice marks the third bilateral quota council for the Barents Sea since Russia was temporarily suspended from ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The marine scientists’ advice serves as the starting point for negotiations on the final quotas, conducted through the Norwegian-Russian Joint Fisheries Commission in the autumn.
Quota Advice Breakdown
– Cod: Recommended catch is 311,587 tonnes for 2025, a 31% decrease from 2024.
– Haddock: Recommended catch is 106,912 tonnes for 2025, a 24% decrease from 2024.
– Greenland halibut: Recommended catch is 12,431 tonnes for 2025, a 42% decrease from 2024.
The drastic reductions are attributed to declining spawning stocks and poor recruitment in recent years. Marine scientist Bjarte Bogstad explained, “There has been poor recruitment for several years, but the weakest year classes are 2019 and 2020 – those who should seriously get into fishing next year.”
Industry Reactions and Future Outlook
The presentation of the quota councils was followed by a professional seminar, where representatives from the industry and research bodies discussed the implications. State Secretary Kristina S. Hansen emphasized the ongoing process until the quota determination in November and mentioned that the ministry is open to considering measures with the industry.
Audun Maråk from the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association commented, “The quota council for Norwegian Arctic cod and haddock will have very negative consequences for the fishing fleet, the fishing industry, and the coast in general. The quota recommendation – if it is adopted – will be one of the lowest quotas allocated to Norwegian fishermen in many decades.”
Maråk pointed out that fishermen have recently observed improvements in the stock situation for Norwegian Arctic cod, which could potentially lead to a faster recovery than the current advice suggests.
Next Steps
The total quotas for the joint stocks in the Barents Sea will be finalized in the autumn during the Norwegian-Russian fisheries commission negotiations. The national regulation for 2025 will be addressed in the autumn’s regulatory meeting.
Fiskebåt, the Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association, plans to request a meeting with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to discuss the situation and potential measures to support stock development and the fishing industry.
The full details of the quota advice can be found on the Institute of Marine Research’s website.
Conclusion
The sharp reductions in the quota councils for 2025 present a significant challenge for the Norwegian fishing industry. With substantial decreases in cod and haddock quotas, the industry faces a tough period ahead. However, there is hope for future improvements based on recent observations and ongoing dialogue between the industry, researchers, and government authorities.