Russian fisheries in North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic in August 2009

In August 2009 the total harvest of Russian vessels in the North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic amounted to 89,500 tonnes, thus displaying a decrease by 10,100 tonnes on the result of the previous month, fishery sources in Murmansk told www.fishnet-russia.com (https://www.fishnet.ru/), with reference to provisional figures of National Centre for Fisheries Monitoring and Communication.

The contribution of Kaliningrad-based fleets grew to 26% of Russia's total harvest in the area.

The catch decrease could be attributed mostly to closure of the mackerel fishery in the Norwegian Sea (-18,500 tonnes), a small remainder of the blue whiting quotas (-7300 tonnes), starting dispersal of cod and haddock concentrations on the outskirts of the feeding areal in the Barents Sea (-3000 and -4000 tonnes correspondingly). In the Norwegian Sea the fleets started active fishery of spring-spawning herring (+26,600 tonnes). The international fishery of ocean perch got started in the international waters (+400 tonnes). In the Irminger Sea the fishing efforts continued declining in number (-400 tonnes). In the Central Eastern Atlantic (10,700 tonnes) horse mackerel kept dominating in the harvest (59%).

Barents Sea

In the course of August 2009 the bottomfish operations in the Barents Sea were conducted by ca.45 vessels. The fleet conducted the fishery in two main areas - in the sea's southeast (Russian EEZ) and in the northwest in the waters of Spitsbergen, the number of the fishing efforts in the Russian EEZ gradually rising to 70-80%. According to the skippers, the fishery conditions were satisfactory for August 2009. Due to the starting dispersal of cod and haddock concentrations on a vast area of the outskirts of the feeding areal, by the end of August 2009 the efficiency grew somewhat lower, thus resulting into a decrease of the cod harvest to 18,900 tonnes (-3000 tonnes) and the haddock harvest to 7500 tonnes (-4000 tonnes). However, in general the shipowners were satisfied with the fishery results. Larger fish spread in the sea's northwest. According to the distribution of the fishing efforts, the bulk of cod (75%) and haddock (86%) in August 2009 was harvested in the Russian waters. Since the beginning of the year the Russian cod harvest already exceeded 187,000 tonnes and the haddock catch amounted to less than 69,000 tonnes.

Norwegian Sea

The pelagic fisheries (blue whiting, cod, mackerel) in the Norwegian Sea were conducted mostly in the international waters. The expedition consisted of up to 20-25 trawlers, of which 8-10 ships came from Kaliningrad. As the mackerel quotas were covered, the fleet switched to herring which turned into a dominating species in the second half of the month under analysis. The main fishing area was located in the grey zone of the Norwegian Sea (the loophole, Spitsbergen and the Norwegian EEZ) at the 72-73 degrees North. The herring fishery conditions in the course of the day were mostly favourable, the share of large fish (300+) fluctuating within 20-40%. The total harvest of herring increased to 33,000 tonnes (+26,600 tonnes), of which 33% were contributed by Kaliningrad-based ships. August is the month when the mackerel fishery in the Norwegian Sea will get closed. In connection with the big take-up of the quota the shipowners' harvest declined to 9400 tonnes (minus 18,500 tonnes) with the share of Kaliningrad fleets amounted to 46%. The blue whiting landings in August 2009 (mostly as bycatch) were estimated at 2000 tonnes (minus 7300 tonnes).

Pelagic ocean perch of the Norwegian Sea

The group of vessels targeting ocean perch Sebastes mentella in the international waters of the Norwegian Sea started to form in the beginning of the second half of August 2009 (the ocean perch fishery in the area in 2009 is recommended from 15 August to 15 November, the TAC in the current year 2009 shall not exceed 10,500 tonnes with the fishery to be conducted under the Olympic system). By the end of the month the group consisted of 8-9 vessels. According to the captains, the fishery conditions were mostly unstable, the ocean perch concentrations at the sepths of 400 meters remained dispersed. The fleet often had to change its location in search for more efficient areas at 71-72 degrees North. The total Russian harvest of ocean perch with large Gloria trawls amounted to less than 500 tonnes through August 2009.

Irminger Sea

The conditions for the fishery of ocean perch Sebastes mentella in the Irminger Sea remained fairly satisfactory. The main fishing area was located in the sea's north along the border of the Icelandic zone. Concentrations of ocean perch were slowly moving westwards and by the end of the month the fleet was operating on the grounds to the west of the 31st degree West along the border of the Greenland zone. Due to declining fishing efforts the total ocean perch harvest in the area was gradually decreasing. The total harvest through August 2009 amounted to ca.5300 tonnes (-400 tonnes). The ocean perch harvest in the area amounted to ca.23,000 tonnes, of which 60% were contributed by Kaliningrad-based ships.

Central Eastern Atlantic

In August 2009 pelagic fisheries in the Central Eastern Atlantic in the waters of Western Sahara were conducted by 5-8 trawlers, with the efforts decreasing to maximum 5 ships by the end of the month. The group's total harvest through the month amounted to 10,700 tonnes (-1100 tonnes). The share of fish harvested by the vessels based in the West Fisheries Basin amounted to 25%. The bulk of the harvest was contributed by horse mackerel (59%), followed by mackerel (29%) and sardinella (9%).

Other areas

Single vessels based in Murmansk-led North Fisheries Basin in August 2009 continued limited fishery of Greenland halibut in the Northwest Atlantic (3R area under NAFO jurisdiction and Greenland zone).

Provisional catch figures for the Atlantic Ocean in August 2009