By Marie Hauge
For 2009 the Commission set a quota of 525 000 tonnes, while the catch rule gave a quota of 473 000 tonnes.
Over the last 60 years average annual catch has been 650 000 tonnes. The catch in 2008 was 464 000 tonnes.
Bottom trawl is the far most used fishing gear. Norway is responsible for a little less than 50 percent of the fisheries on this stock. The value of the norwegian cathes is approximately three billion Norwegian kroner a year over the ten last years.
Norway and Russia are the main fishing nations. In addition the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and EU take part in the fishery.
The Institute of Marine Research contributes to the expert management advices given by the ICES.
The norteast arctic cod is in a fairly good state. This is caused by two conditions in particular:
- precautionary approach has made sure the stock is harvested sustainably
- good food access; higher water temperature causes an increasing inflow of nutritious Atlantic water
