Norway’s Ministry of Fisheries has set this year’s quota for minke whales at 880 animals, a greater number than has been caught in recent years, but still a reduction in quota.
Norges Fiskarlag reports that fisheries minister Per Sandberg has reduced the quota from the 1286 animals allowed to be hunted in previous years and 2016 is the first year of a new six-year management period. The quota is set based on models developed by the IWC’s scientific committee and according to the ministry, this ensures a sustainable harvest.
This year also sees a change in management with the Svalbard, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea areas no longer separated which allows whaling vessels greater flexibility to operate across the regions as a whole.
660 animals were caught in 2015, 736 in 2014 and 594 in 2013. 21 vessels took part in the minke hunt in 2013 and in the last two years there have been 20 participating vessels.
