Barents Sea catch and quota progress in January 2021

During the first month of the year 2021 the Russian fleets operating in the Atlantic Ocean altogether harvested 61,600 tonnes of fish (72,000 tonnes in January 2020), reports Megafishnet.com. 

Bottom trawl fishery

According to Fishnet.ru, bottom trawl fishery in the Barents Sea was conducted by up to 65 medium and 25 small vessels coming from Murmansk-led North Fisheries, along with 3 Kaliningrad trawlers. The trawlers were operating in three areas of the sea:

·         in the Norwegian EEZ, where the fishery was the most active – 22,100 tonnes (60% of the total January catch), including 19,200 tonnes of cod, 900 tonnes of saithe, 800 tonnes of haddock, 500 tonnes of sea cat, 300 tonnes of halibut and 400 tonnes of other fish species;

·         in the Russian EEZ (less active fishing operations) - 11,700 tonnes of fish (32%), including 5,800 tonnes of cod, 5,300 tonnes of haddock, 200 tonnes of sea cat and 400 tonnes of other fish species;

·         in the Spitsbergen area – the remaining 3,100 tonnes or 8% of the total catch, including 1,900 tonnes of cod, 900 tonnes of haddock, 100 tonnes of sea cat and 200 tonnes of other fish species.

European flounder

In the inshore part of the Russian EEZ in the Barents Sea from 4 to 13 January 2021 two trawlers owned by Murmansk-based OOO Gela were conducting the dedicated fishery of European flounder. They harvested 215 tonnes (62% of flounder) altogether.

Redfish

RTIP Forpost coming from Murmansk-led North Fisheries launched the dedicated fishery for red fish in the Norwegian EEZ of the Barents Sea on 19 January 2021. Through three fishing days on the 19th, 20th and 28th of January she harvested 105 tonnes of fish, including 90 tonnes of red fish. The red fish quota 2021 amounts to 13,908 tonnes, plus 2200 tonnes to be covered as bycatch in other fisheries.

Longline fishery

Bottom longline fishery in the Barents Sea was conducted by 9 vessels from the Northern Basin and Azurit owned by St.Petersburg-based OOO Okeanprom. Their catches in the Norwegian EEZ and in the Russian EEZ were approximately equal – namely 55% and 45% out of 2,500 tonnes harvested through the month. The above catch consisted of 70% of cod, 22% of sea catch, 4% of haddock, 2% of halibut and 2% of other fish species.

In January 2021 the Russian fleets operating in the Barents Sea harvested 28,600 tonnes of cod (cod quota remainder – 92.6%) and 7,100 tonnes of haddock (93.2%). For comparison, in January last year the results were 29,100 tonnes of cod and 7,200 tonnes of haddock.

BARENTS SEA: Dynamics of Russian catches and quota progress in January 2020-2021

Notes: 1. Russia’s halibut quota includes 2200 tonnes of halibut bycatch; 2. Russia’s deepwater redfish quota includes 2200 tonnes allocated as bycatch. 3. Source of catch data: Fishnet.ru