Protective measures for Norwegian coastal cod during 2009

According to marine scientists, stocks of Norwegian coastal cod have declined since 1994. After a long process, the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs therefore introduced various protective measures to limit the professional fishing of Norwegian coastal cod, effective from 1 May 2004. With some adjustments, these measures have been kept in force from 2005 to 2008. The protective measures will remain in force in 2009 with certain restrictions.

 

It is important to maintain and strengthen cod stocks that spawn locally. Coastal cod is important for the ecological systems along the coast and is also the basis for a large part of coastal fishing. The main challenge remains to achieve a regulation that reduces the extraction of coastal cod while at the same time enabling the maintenance of traditional fishing and industry activity along the coast.

In 2005, the Ministry of Fishing and Coastal Affairs appointed a reference group of participants from the industry, research and administration. The reference group’s main task was to lay the framework for the research to be carried out on coastal cod. In the spring of 2006, the group was given a new mandate to evaluate the current year’s regulations and compile suggestions for protective measures for the following year. The group was later expanded to include participation from environmental organisations. The protective measures have gradually become more comprehensive, and in 2009 the Ministry will establish further measures to protect coastal cod.
The Ministry’s purpose with the protective measures is to ensure that stocks of coastal cod can be built up again, and it has therefore found it necessary to introduce more stringent protection in 2009 than previously. At Møre, this will be evident in that the fjord line will be extended further out while a special protective area is created in Borgund fjord. Furthermore, a ban on fishing with pole nets will be introduced in Heissa fjord.

Furthermore, a year-round total prohibition against the use of Danish seines inside fjord lines will be put into effect along the entire coast north of 62°N. Vessels using Danish seines could with a concentrated effort in regions near the coast have a very negative effect on local coastal cod stocks. The Ministry has therefore decided that fishing with Danish seines shall no longer be permitted inside fjord lines.

On the basis of a report from the Institute of Marine Research, the Ministry will during the course of the year address possible measures for the protection of coastal cod south of 62°N, along the stretch between the Swedish border and Stad.

Measures – changes from 2008 are indicated by bold typeface

• The year’s fjord lines are maintained with the exception of a fjord line at Møre, which is moved to the outer side of Nordøyane i Haram.

 

•  The prohibition against fishing for cod inside fjord lines using vessels over 15 metres is sustained. 

 

• Fishing with Danish seines inside fjord lines is prohibited year-round. (Danish seine vessels under 15 metres are no longer allowed to fish for species other than cod from 15 May and for the rest of the year.) 

 

• Access for fishing for flounder inside fjord lines from 15 May and for the rest of the year using Danish seines depending on the length of the vessel – is revoked. 

 

• The prohibition against fishing with pelagic nets inside fjord lines is sustained, but limited to the period from 1 February – 30 June (in 2008, prohibited for the first six months).  

 

• The prohibition against vessels over 21 metres fishing for cod with conventional gear within the baseline is sustained. From and including 1 January to and including 30 June, fishing is permitted close to fjord lines in statistical areas 03 and 04. From and including 1 January to and including 10 April, fishing is permitted close to fjord lines in statistical areas 00, 05, 06 and 07. Fishing up to fjord lines in the Lofoten fishery inspection district during this period and in the areas that are under the authority of the Lofoten fishery inspection is permitted.

 

• The prohibition against more than a 20% bycatch of cod when fishing for other species between the baselines and the fjord lines during the period in which fishing for cod is prohibited for vessels over 21 metres in this area, cf. item above, is sustained.

 

• The specially protected area at Henningsvær that is closed to fishing from and including 1 January to and including 30 June is sustained. The prohibition does not apply to fishing with hand-held fishing lines or fishing rods. The Directorate of Fisheries can make exceptions to the prohibition for vessels that fish with conventional gear other than Danish seines or pelagic nets if sufficiently large concentrations of spawning cod are found in the area. The Directorate of Fisheries can decide that such exceptions shall only apply to vessels under 15 metres. Opening of the area during the fishing season for spawning cod is based on mapping and sample-taking. The outer limits of the area shall be fjord lines in the case of an opening during the fishing season for spawning cod and during the second six months.

 

• The Directorate of Fisheries can limit or prohibit all fishing, including for species other than cod, haddock and saithe, in an area between Hennningsvær and Stamsund if this is necessary to protect coastal cod. Such a prohibition shall not prevent fishing with hand-held fishing lines or fishing rods. The Directorate of Fisheries may further limit or prohibit fishing for cod inside the fjord lines of the Valberg fishing grounds at Henningsvær in the case of dominant occurrences of coastal cod. Furthermore, the Directorate of Fisheries may, in the same area, permit fishing for vessels larger than 15 metres if there are large concentrations of spawning cod.

 

• The Borgund fjord is declared a specially protected area where all fishing from and including 1 March to and including 30 April is prohibited – including fishing for species other than cod, haddock and saithe. However, the prohibition does not apply to fishing with hand-held fishing lines or fishing rods. The Directorate of Fisheries can make exceptions to the prohibition for vessels that fish with conventional gear other than Danish seines or pelagic nets if there are significant concentrations of spawning cod in the area.

 

• In Heissa fjord it is prohibited to fish with pole nets from 1 March to 30 April in an area east of a given line – see the map a ttached.

 

• Fishing inside the 12 mile limit shall cease for Easter from 9 to 13 April.

 

• The export quota scheme of 15 kg of fish or fish products per person, and one whole trophy fish is sustained.

 

• Recreational fishermen’s opportunity to fish for commerce is limited upwards to the sum that is set in § 29 of the Act relating to value added tax (up to NOK 50,000) cf. the Marine Resources Act.

 

• An upper limit of 2000 kg of cod for commerce is nonetheless maintained per participant and per vessel for recreational fishermen. Note that the limit of 2000 kg per vessel applies no matter how many persons are using the vessel.

 

• Guidelines shall be established for landing notes and contract notes for catches that are taken inside or outside fjord lines, and also inside/outside baselines and 4 mile limits.