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The Norwegian Reference Fleet

It is especially important to know how each age group is harvested since this is basic and necessary input data for many of the assessment models currently used to estimate fish stock sizes.

The Institute of Marine Research has always had a close and good cooperation with fishermen and the fishing industry. These contact and information flows have traditionally occurred by having institute personnel collect scientific samples on board fishing vessels or at ports, and on board commercial fishing vessels chartered for conducting scientific research surveys. The Reference Fleet aims to improve data collection and information flows both from and to the fishermen.

What is the Reference Fleet?…

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Facts about the Reference Fleet, 2011:

  • 16-17 large offshore vessels
  • 20-21 smaller coastal vessels (9-15 meters), mainly gill-netters
  • The vessels are selected based on gear type, fishing activity and geography.
  • The objective is to have a Reference Fleet that is representative of the Norwegian fishing fleet.
  • The vessel's good reputation and concern for the fishing resources are important in the selection process.
  • The quotas available for the Reference Fleet are: 900 tonnes of cod, 515 tonnes of Greenland halibut, 780 tonnes of herring, 1120 tonnes of mackerel, 80 tonnes of haddock, 4250 tonnes of capelin and 1570 tonnes of blue whiting.
  • The total landing value of these quotas is estimated at NOK 45.4 million.
  • 62% of the quotas are payment to the vessels to cover the costs of catching and selling the fish.
  • The remaining 38% cover administration costs, equipment and payment to the Reference Fleet for data sampling and registering.
  • In 2010, the value of the fisheries that the Reference Fleet participated in was estimated at NOK 13.3 billion.

Sampling and equipment

The data are collected and delivered to the IMR according to a contract that secures a proper statistical coverage for a defined number of species in time and by area. Each vessel in the high-seas Reference Fleet is equipped with an electronic fish sampling board (Scantrol) , scales and otolith sampling device, a PC1) with specialized software for satellite communication, and other equipment for different research purposes.
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A useful data collection platform for many purposes

Results are mainly used for assessment purposes,  e.g., for estimating total catch in tonnes by length  and/or age groups in numbers, and hence improves  stock assessments and fisheries management .
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Contact

Kjell Nedreaas
55 23 86 71
99 53 85 49