Progress of Russian fisheries in the North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic in June 2021

The total catch by the Russian fleet in the fishing areas of the Atlantic Ocean and in the South Pacific Ocean in June amounted to 105.9 thousand metric tons, which is merely 0.7 thousand tons less than the catch in May. However, the progress of the catch in particular areas like the Barents Sea (cod, for example) displayed dynamic changes, reports Megafishnet.com.

In the Barents Sea, up to 63 medium-tonnage and up to 36 small-tonnage vessels of the Northern Fisheries (Mostly Murmansk-based vessels), as well as 1 vessel of Kaliningrad, participated in bottom trawl fishery. For the past month, the fishing took place in the zone of Russia (84% of the monthly catch in this fishery), to a much lesser extent off the Spitsbergen Archipelago (12%). In the area of Norway the fishing was limited to 4%.

• The harvest in the Russian EEZ in June amounted to 40.2 thousand tons of fish (+18.8 thousand tons), of which cod contributed 27.4 thousand tons, haddock 11.8 thousand tons, catfish 0,5 kt, flounder 0.4 thousand tons, other bottom fish stood at 0.1 kt;

• In the area of the Spitsbergen Archipelago, the catch amounted to 5.9 thousand tons of fish (-12.4 thousand tons), including cod with 4.6 thousand tons, haddock with 0.9 thousand tons, catfish with 0.2 thousand tons, other types of bottom fish with 0.2 thousand tons;

• In the Norwegian zone, 2.0 thousand tons of fish were caught during the surveyed month (+0.8 thousand tons), including cod with 1.5 thousand tons, haddock with 0.3 thousand tons, other fish species with 0.2 thousand tons.

The direct flounder fishery was mainly carried out in the first half of the month by 10 trawlers. In the second half it was carried out on some days by up to 5 small-tonnage vessels of the Northern Fisheries (mostly Murmansk-based). In total, 362 tons of fish (-513 tons) were caught over the past month, of which flounder accounted for 76%. Since the beginning of the year, the catch of flounder amounted to 4483 tons, including 2731 tons of sea flounder. The recommended catch of sea flounder is 7241.2 tons.

1 trawler of Kaliningrad and 4 trawlers of the Northern Fisheries were engaged in the redfish fishing in the Barents Sea. The fishing situation was unstable. During the specified month, 1.9 thousand tons of fish (-0.4 thousand tons) were caught, of which the share of the redfish was 83%. A total of 8481 tons of the redfish were caught since the beginning of the year, of which 5168 tons were caught in the direct fishery. Russia's quota for catching the redfish in 2021 amounts to 13908 tons, an additional 2200 tons can be harvested as by-catch when fishing for other species.

Longliners

Bottom fish longline fishery in the Barents Sea was carried out by 11 vessels of the Northern Fisheries (mostly Murmansk-based) and 1 vessel of St. Petersburg. Longline catchers worked to an approximately equal extent in three zones of the sea: the zone of Norway, the zone of Russia, the area of the Spitsbergen archipelago (respectively, 38%, 32% and 30% of the catch during the reviewed period for this type of fishing). The monthly catch of longline vessels amounted to 3.2 thousand tons of fish (+0.3 thousand tons), including cod with 48%, catfish with 45%, haddock and halibut with 3% each, other fish species with 1%.

Since the beginning of the year, 199.6 thousand tons of cod have been harvested in the Barents Sea (the remainder of the quota is 48.2%) and 45.8 thousand tons of haddock (the remainder of the quota is 56.1%). Last year, as of the corresponding date, 189.9 thousand tons of cod and 43.5 thousand tons of haddock were caught.

Shrimpers

8 trawlers of the Northern Fisheries, 1 trawler of St. Petersburg and 2 trawlers of the Far Eastern Fisheries participated in the shrimp fishing in Russia’s Barents Sea zone. The fishing situation was generally satisfactory. Over the past month, 2058 tons (-460 tons) of this species were harvested. Since the beginning of the fishery, the Russian fleet has caught 7551 tons of shrimp (in 2020, in the reported period, 11988 tons of this species were caught). The decrease in shrimp catch was due to a reduction in fishing effort (the number of vessels and the number of fishing days).

Snow crab

Fishing for the snow crab opilio in the Barents Sea was carried out by 12 vessels of the Northern Fisheries and 5 vessels of the Far Eastern Fisheries using traps. Vessels are gradually being withdrawn from the fishery due to the nearing complete coverage of the TAC. Over the past month, 2978 tons of this type of crab were caught (-1313 tons). Since the beginning of the fishery, the catch has amounted to 12840 tons versus the TAC of 13250 tons. In 2020, as per June 30, the fishermen harvested 9008 tons.

Mackerel

On June 20, a Kaliningrad trawler began fishing for mackerel in the open part of the Norwegian Sea. By the end of the month there were already 18 Russian trawlers (11 vessels of Kaliningrad enterprises and 7 vessels of the Northern Fisheries). The fishing situation was good. During the specified period, 11.4 thousand tons of fish were caught, of which the share of mackerel was 91% (10.4 thousand tons), the by-catch of blue whiting amounting to 9%. Last year, 7.0 thousand tons of mackerel were caught in June.

Blue whiting

In the fishing zone of the Faroe Islands, the blue whiting fishery was carried out until June 29. At the beginning of the month, 2 trawlers of Kaliningrad and 6 trawlers of the Northern Fisheries were operating on the grounds while in late June only 2 vessels of the Northern Fisheries remained. All vessels switched to mackerel fishing in the open part of the Norwegian Sea. The situation in the blue whiting fishery was generally favorable. In total, 9.9 thousand tons (-15.7 thousand tons) of blue whiting were caught during the reviewed period. Since the beginning of the year, the Russian catch of this species in the Faroe zone amounted to 89.6 thousand tons (Russia's quota for catching blue whiting in this area is 82.0 thousand tons). In 2020 as per the end of June, 96.5 thousand tons of blue whiting were harvested in the fishing zone of the Faroe Islands. In accordance with the Order No. 714 of December 21, 2020 issued by the Russian Federal Agency for Fishery  the Russian vessels are allowed to catch up to 25% (17,232 tons) of the blue whiting quota allocated to the Russian Federation in the NEAFC regulation area in the Faroe Islands fishing zone.

Irminger Sea

In the Irminger Sea (NEAFC regulatory area), due to the good fishing situation and the choice of their quotas, many vessels left the fishing area within a month. So, out of 12 Russian trawlers (6 each from the enterprises of Kaliningrad and the Northern Basin) in early June, by the end of the month, 3 boats were left fishing. In total, 9.1 thousand tons of redfish (-2.0 thousand tons) were harvested during the month. Since the beginning of the fishery, 20.5 thousand tons of this species have been caught versus the Russian quota of 24.9 thousand tons. Last year, as per June 30, 13.1 thousand tons of redfish were caught.

Eastern Greenland

In the zone of Eastern Greenland, a Kaliningrad trawler started fishing for redfish and halibut on June 20. Most of the time the ship spent on the fishery for halibut. In total, 87 tons of fish were harvested during the specified period, of which 68% accounted for halibut and 32% for redfish. Last year, the fishing of both species started much later – on July 10.

North-West Atlantic

In the North-West Atlantic, in the NAFO regulatory area, 2 trawlers of the Northern Fisheries worked on the redfish and halibut for the entire surveyed month. The catch amounted to 0.7 thousand tons of fish (-0.4 thousand tons), including redfish with 53%, halibut with 41%, cod with 3%, skate, flounder and hake with 1% each.

Mauritania

In the EEZ of Mauritania, 2 trawlers of Kaliningrad, 3 trawlers of the Northern Fisheries and 2 trawlers of the Far Eastern Fisheries were engaged in trawling for pelagic fish during the month. The fishing situation in the first half of June was unstable, but with the change in the hydrological situation in the second half of the month, it significantly improved. The monthly catch was 10.4 thousand tons of fish (+3.6 thousand tons), of which the share of horse mackerel was 70%, mackerel 25%, sardines 2%, fish of other species stood at 3%. The Russian catch since the beginning of the year amounted to 34.2 thousand tons.  In 2020. as per the end of June, 48.0 thousand tons of fish were caught in this area.

South Eastern Pacific

The trawler "Admiral Shabalin" of PJSC " MTF " was fishing for horse mackerel in the South Eastern Pacific. The vessel was distracted for 10 days during the month for unloading, the rest of the time the fishing situation was good. Over the past month, 3.7 thousand tons of fish were harvested (+1.0 thousand tons), of which the share of horse mackerel accounted for 88%, mackerel-12%.

The Russian catch of the main species in the Atlantic Ocean, according to provisional

data, for January-June 2020-2021 in metric tons

Notes:

* The Russian halibut quota includes 2000 tons of bycatch;

** The Russian redfish quota includes 2200 tons of bycatch.

*** The Russian herring quota includes 3000 tons of bycatch.

**** TAC for all members amounts to 8448 tons.

Source: © Fishnet.ru