Iceland’s Marine Research Institute recommended a 57,000 tonne capelin quota for the 2016-17 season, confirmed by the Minister of Fisheries, but most of the quota goes to the Norwegian fleet.
Greenland has an 11% share and Norway has 8%, against Iceland’s 81% of the capelin TAC. But due to treaties over the Loophole, Norway gets more than 30,000 of the Icelandic capelin quota and Norway has a deal with the EU that gives a share of the Greenlandic capelin fishery.
Of the 57,000 tonnes, approximately 40,000 tonnes go to the Norwegian pelagic fleet and the Icelandic fleet can expect a 12,115 tonne quota this year.
The question remains of whether or not agreement can be reached allowing the Norwegian fishery for capelin to be extended beyond the 22nd February cut-off date and south of the 64°30’N limiting line, which would provide the Norwegian fleet with greater opportunities to produce capelin for human consumption.
