The annual open meeting on the management of Norway’s crab fishery was recently held in Vadsø. The meeting is part of the consultation process for the regulation of crab during 2017.
According to Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries, the 2016 season saw some significant changes in the regulation of the king crab fishery, with the quota year changed to align with the calendar year and the consensus at the meeting was that this had been a positive development, while higher quotas and good prices meant that the crab sector did well.
More than eighty representatives of fishermen, buyers, management, sales organisations and research too part in the meeting, at which a major theme was the basis for increased quotas, as well as ideas for reducing the amount of damaged crab in catches with improved handling and fishermen said that steps needed to be taken to avoid gear conflicts.
The industry also put forward its preference for a higher allowable catch of king crab with other fisheries.
The Institute of Marine Research is expected to have its recommendations for the 2017 fishery ready this autumn.
