Outlook for Russian fisheries in Murmansk-led North Basin in February 2009

In the Barents Sea and on the adjacent grounds of the Norwegian Sea bottomfish operations will continue to be active in February 2009, fishery sources in Murmansk told www.fishnet-russia.com (https://www.fishnet.ru/).

Condition of cod and haddock stocks and the fishery conditions will enable the fishermen of Murmansk-based North Fisheries Basin to increase the cod and haddock harvest at least by 20% as compared to January 2009. In the waters of the Lofoten Islands there will be a possibility to raise catches of saithe also by means of direct fishery of the species. According to the shipowners, just like in January 2009, bottomfish species will be harvested mostly beyond the Russian zone. The conditions for fishery of large roe capelin will appear mostly from the second decade of February 2009 when the bulk of the feeding fish moves to the shores of Murman. During February 2009 more favourable conditions for capelin concentrations will be formed in the Russian EEZ. The main problem is shortage of trawlers and purse seiners to cover the Russian quota of 152,000 metric tons.

Conditions for mass fishery of Norwegian spring-spawning herring in the waters of Lofoten are also expected to be favourable, which will enable the fishermen to increase the herring harvest to 25,000 tonnes through the month. active fishery of blue whiting with satisfactory conditions will resume from the third decade of February 2009, but more to the south, in the international waters of NEAFC to the west of the British Isles. The shipowners' main problems will remain the same, that is the choice of the fishing grounds for pelagic operations such as capelin in the Barents Sea, Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting. The conditions for pelagic fisheries in the Central Eastern Atlantic will be possible at the average level for a number of years, catches of mackerel and horse mackerel will depend on the number of the fishing efforts.