Agreement in the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission on quotas for 2011

The 39th session of the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission is convening this week in Svolvær. Part of the Commission’s job is to safeguard the rational and sustainable management of the Cod, Haddock, Capelin and Greenland Halibut that Norway and Russia jointly oversee in the Barents Sea.

As a result of the first day’s work of the 39th session of the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission, the two sides have agreed to:

• Set the total quota for North-East Arctic Cod for 2011 at 703,000 tons in accordance with the management rule and recommendation by ICES. This is an increase of 16% over 2010. 
• Set the total quota for North-East Arctic Haddock for 2011 at 303,000 tons in accordance with the management rule and recommendation by ICES. This is an increase of 25% over 2010. 
• Set the total quota for Capelin for 2011 at 380,000 tons in accordance with the management rule and recommendation by ICES. This is an increase of 5.5% over 2010. 
• Set the total quota for Greenland Halibut for 2011 at 15,000 tons, in line with the agreement made at the 38th session, and to continue working during the present session on the technical regulatory measures for the Greenland Halibut catch in 2011.

“I am pleased to see that the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission has reached agreement on the 2011 quotas in record time. We are adhering to the long-term management strategies previously agreed on by the Commission, which form the basis of the advice given by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. These strategies have been a key factor in enabling next year’s quotas to be historically high”, comments the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Lisbeth Berg-Hansen.