The Norwegian quota for mackerel for 2025 has been almost fully fished, with record high prices of over NOK50 per kilogram contributing to significant value being brought ashore despite a smaller quota than in 2024.
The Directorate of Fisheries, in collaboration with the Norwegian Coast Guard and the Norwegian Herring Sales Association, monitored the activity. Catches were initially taken in the Norwegian zone before the fishery moved into the British zone later in the season.
A notable change this year was the high participation from vessels in the open group, comprising vessels under 13 metres. Karl Anton Lorgen, a senior advisor at the Directorate of Fisheries, stated that while the general impression is positive, authorities uncovered violations where final invoices were attributed to smaller vessels that had not fished themselves.
Concurrently, fishing for Norwegian spring-spawning (NVG) herring is proceeding in the fjords of North Troms and West Finnmark. The directorate reported good supplies and minor bycatch challenges, with most of the herring quota expected to be caught during November.
