Northeast Arctic Greenland Halibut
Catch of Northeast Arctic Greenland halibut during 2002 and 2003 was at the advised level of 13,000 tons, but landings after 2004 have been well above.
The ICES advice for 2009 is to reduce catch removals, and allow the stock to increase. Management measures taken after 1992, did not sufficiently limit the catch removals, but catch removals in 2002 and 2003 approximated the level advised by ICES. The spawning stock (mature females only) increased slowly after 1996, but remains at historically low levels. Nevertheless, in 2007, both total stock and spawning stock levels were estimated the long term (30-year) average. The current spawning stock (approximately 39,500 tons) is similar to levels seen in the mid-1980s. Recruitment has varied minimally during this 30-year period, but shows a trend of increase since 2004.
In 2009 Norway and Russia agreed on a TAC allocation and on a annual catch of 15 000 tonnes for the period 2010-2012. .
