The annual meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization held in Vigo has concluded today with some positive outcomes for the Spanish fleet that fishes in the area.
The Spanish fleet will see increased fishing opportunities in the NAFO zone in 2024. The most significant increases are cod (92%) and redfish (57%) in the 3M zone. The annual NAFO meeting confirmed the positive results of applying an ecosystem approach to management.
The increase in cod quota in zone 3M means brings the TAC to 11,708 tonnes, and the 57% increase in redfish translates into a 17,503 tonne TAC for 2024.
The quota for Greenland halibut is marginally down (by 0.02%), while skate, witch flounder and greater forkbeard remain stable. Opportunities for dab are also reduced overall, from 20,000 tonnes down to 15,560 tonnes – although this is of only marginal interest to the Spanish fleet and no other EU state has a quota for it. The state of the shrimp stock provides no leeway for fishing opportunities to be increased. According to scientific reports, this is due to the good condition of other stocks, for which shrimp are a feed species.
The 45th annual meeting of NAFO was held in Vigo on the occasion of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. During the meeting, aspects of control and compliance were also addressed by the Permanent Control and Compliance Committee (STACTIC), whose recommendations for next year were approved by the assembly.
Concerning the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and other scientific issues of stock assessment, the recommendations of the working groups that bring together scientists, fisheries administrations, the fishing sector involved and representatives of NGOs were assessed and approved.
NAFO has approved a resolution to include climate change in its studies.
Next year’s meeting will be held at the NAFO headquarters in Halifax.
