Norway, Russia, the EU, the Faroe Islands and Iceland have agreed on 2020 TACs for Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting – but have yet to reach agreement on how quota should be split between countries.
Next year’s Atlanto-Scandian herring TAC is set at 525,594 tonnes, a drop from this year’s 588,562 tonnes.
‘I am pleased that this time we agreed to set the total quota in line with the management plan for Atlanto-Scandian herring. The total quota is also in line with ICES advice,’ said Norway’s Fisheries and Seafood Minister Harald Tom Nesvik.
‘I’m disappointed that the parties have not been able to agree on how to distribute the herring quota. This also applies to mackerel and blue whiting, and this is very regrettable,’ he said.
Norway has proposed scientific work to map the distribution of herring in national zones and international waters. Work is now underway, and researchers from all parties involved are invited to participate.
‘This is work that can help us solve the distribution issue and thus ensure sustainable management,’ Harald Tom Nesvik said.
An agreement on blue whiting has also been reached between Norway, the EU, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, with a marginally increased TAC for 2020 of 1,161,615 tonnes. No agreement has been reached between the coastal states on a quota split.
Norway and the EU plan to meet later this year to agree on mutual access to herring and blue whiting in each other’s zones.
