Iceland’s Minister of Fisheries Kristján Thór Júlíusson has signed off legislation that sets quotas for the 2020-21 quota year, with cod quotas down and haddock quotas up.
The Minister has followed the Marine Research Institute’s recommendations in setting quotas for the quota year starting on 1st September.
The Institute recommended a 9% increase in the haddock catch on the basis of prospects for improved recruitment, with quotas increased to 45,389 tonnes compared to the 40.723 for the current quota year.
A shortfall in cod during surveys resulted in a recommendation to reduce the cod catch by 6%, with quotas cut from 270,011 tonnes this year to 254,273 tonnes in 2020-21
Results for spotted catfish (cut from 375 tonnes to 314 tonnes next year), golden redfish (reduced from 38,896 tonnes to 34,379 tonnes next year) and blue ling (reduced to 406 tonnes from this year’s 483 tonne quota) have also been poor over an extended period and this has ben taken into account in the 2020-21 quotas.
‘Responsible fisheries and sustainable use of marine resources are the basis of Icelandic fisheries and the diverse activities that the sector supports,’ Kristján Thór Júlíusson said.
‘Management of fisheries on the basis of scientific advice is a key aspect of ensuring this, and is one of the main pillars of Iceland’s fisheries management. The Marine Research Institute’s advice for the next quota year indicates that our main stocks are strong. However, we are facing a shortfall in recruitment of some species which the Institute, in co-operation with the Ministry, will respond to with further research.’
The quota for deep redfish at 12,384 tonnes is 100 tonnes below this year’s level, while the Greenland halibut quota is up 130 tonnes to 13,271 tonnes. Saithe is down around 2000 tonnes too 78,344 tonnes and ling, tusk and lemon sole quotas are all reduced. Monkfish is up to 503 tonnes from this year’s figure of 428 tonnes.
A zero quota has been set for nephrops, as this year, and next year’s offshore shrimp quota has been set at zero, while this year there was a 4682 tonne quota. A 93 tonne scallop quota has been set for the first time in some years.
Quotas for key pelagic species are to be set at a later date.
