Russian authorities have reduced the minimum size for cod in the Barents Sea from 44cm to 40cm and lowered the required mesh size in fishing gear.
The changes, proposed by the Russian food ministry, have raised concerns among Norwegian fishing organisations.
Audun Maråk, the head of the Norwegian fishing vessel owners’ association Fiskebåt, says the new rules open the door to less selective fishing, which could have consequences for management in the Barents Sea. He points out that Norway has previously encouraged Russian fishing in its economic zone because the cod there is, on average, larger.
“If the fisheries cooperation between Norway and Russia is suspended so that Russia will mainly fish in the Russian zone, then I’m not surprised by a change in minimum size and mesh size that is adapted to the fishery resources in the Russian zone,” says Maråk.
He adds that there have probably been no proposed changes to the sorting grid, which, if true, would still mean that cod below the current minimum size would be sorted out.
Maråk views the Russian changes as a possible part of new talks between Norway and Russia on future fisheries cooperation in the Barents Sea. He believes this may be the reason why Russia has also signalled that it will set its own quotas in international waters, and he does not rule out that Norwegian jurisdiction in the Svalbard zone could be challenged.
“Fiskebåt has supported the Norwegian sanctions and hopes that Russia and Norway will agree to continue the management cooperation in the Barents Sea,” says Maråk. He stresses that it will be in both parties’ interest to ensure a sustainable management of the resources in the Barents Sea.
The new rules will come into force ten days after publication.
