Norwegian scientists recommend further reduction of Barents Sea cod quota
Scientists at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) have recommended a further reduction in cod quota in the Barents Sea after they identified that the spawning stock for cod is now below what have been termed as "precautionary" levels.
IMR researchers recommend that no more than 269,440 tonnes of northeast Arctic cod be fished in 2026. The quota council is 14 per cent lower than the quota council for 2025 and 21 per cent lower than the set quota for 2025.
Decline for cod
The quota council for 2026 is the lowest since 2002. IMR said that if the quota is set equal to the advice given, it will be the lowest quota since 1991.
From 2021 to 2024, the quota council and the quota for cod have been reduced by 20 percent each year, and in 2025 it was reduced even more.
"This is related to the fact that the spawning stock for cod has been reduced every year since the historic peak in 2013," said IMR Researcher Bjarte Bogstad. "We now consider that the 'bottom' has been reached."
Bogstad pointed out that even though the fishable stock in 2025 has been adjusted downwards from last year, the outlook further ahead is little changed.
"2025 and 2026 seem to be the years with the lowest spawning stocks, and the quota advice is expected to increase somewhat in 2027 and later years, if this year's advice is followed," said Bogstad.
Increase for haddock
For Northeast Arctic haddock, IMR researchers recommend that catches do not exceed 153,293 tonnes in 2026. This is 43 per cent higher than the quota advice for 2025, and 18 per cent higher than the quota for 2025.
"The three weak year classes 2018, 2019 and 2020 are now fully involved in the fishery," Bogstad explained.
IMR said that the year classes 2021-2024, on the other hand, are slightly above average, so for haddock, there is likely to be a further increase again for catches after 2026.
"It is important to take care of these incoming year classes, and not fish them as small fish," said Bogstad.
