Russian fisheries in North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic in October 2008

In October 2008 the total harvest of Russian vessels in the North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic amounted to ca.67,500 tonnes, thus displaying a decrease by 23,200 tonnes on the result of the previous month, fishery sources in Murmansk, with reference to provisional figures of National Centre for Fisheries Monitoring and Communication as per early November 2008, told www.fishnet-russia.com (https://www.fishnet.ru/).

The contribution of Kaliningrad-based fleets amounted to 30% of Russia's total harvest in the area.

The catch fall could be attributed mostly to smaller landings of herring in the Norwegian Sea (20,000 tonnes down on the previous month) caused by a gradual decline of fishing efforts with the shipowners exhausting their quotas and by activation of cyclones, as well as to closure of the ocean perch fishery in the enclave of the Norwegian Sea.

The ocean perch pelagic fishery in the enclave of the Norwegian Sea was closed in September 2008 with the international quota completely covered (the Russian harvest amounted to 4700 tonnes). In the Barents Sea the cod harvest rose by 1300 tonnes, while catches of red king crab and sea scallops increased by 500 tonnes and 600 tonnes correspondingly. The harvest of pelagic in the Central Eastern Atlantic decreased to 10,300 tonnes, 1200 tonnes down on the previous month, due to smaller catches of mackerel.

Barents Sea

The conditions for bottomfish operations in October 2008 were satisfactory for the season. Taking into account rich fishery in the previous months, the shipowners had to limit the fishing efforts on the cod grounds to less than 50 ships on the average through the month. Still, even despite the limited efforts and activation of storms, the cod capture in October 2008 grew to 8100 tonnes, 1300 tonnes up on the previous month.

The bulk of cod was harvested in the waters of Spitsbergen (55% namely) and in the Russian EEZ (34%). In the Grey zone (joint jurisdiction of Russia and Norway) the Russian fishermen harvested less than 10% of the quota. Unlike September 2008, in October the fishermen did not find any conditions for cod fishery in the enclave of the Barents Sea. Landings of cod since the start of the year (through the first ten months of the year) have exceeded 174,000 tonnes, the Russian quota has been covered at nearly 95%.

The harvest of haddock in October 2008 remained at 4400 tonnes (500 tonnes up on September 2008). Nearly all the fish (75%) was harvested in the Russian waters, some 10% were contributed by haddock harvested in the waters of Spitsbergen. The harvest of haddock since the start of the year (in January-October 2008) has nearly reached 63,000 tonnes with the quota covered at 95%.

The fishery of red king crab in October 2008 was continued by at least than 20 vessels operating with trap gear. The main fishing area was located to the northwest of the Svyatoi Nos cape (east of the Kola peninsula) at the distance of 70-80 miles offshore. The fishery conditions at the depths of 100-160 meters were described as satisfactory. Depending on the vessel types the fishery efficiency varied greatly from 1-2 to 10-15 tonnes per ship daily. Taking into account longer storms, the traps were set at sea for an average period of 5-6 days. The total harvest of red king crab amounted to 2700 tonnes (or more than 690,000 male crabs of 3.9 kilos each on the average). Since the start of the year the nation's fishermen have harvested 5500 tonnes of crabs, however the quota has been covered at no more than 50% so far.

The sea scallops fishery in the inshore waters of the Svyatoi Nos cape was conducted by one dedicated scalloper M-0244 Kovda based in Murmansk. With the average daily catch rates of 10-12 tonnes the total harvest through the month amounted to 1000 tonnes, 600 tonnes up on the previous month. The total harvest since the start of the year has amounted to 1300 tonnes.

Norwegian Sea

Herring was the dominating species on the pelagic grounds of the Norwegian Sea. Main concentrations of herring, which was completing its feeding cycle, spread within the Norwegian EEZ to the northwest of Lofoten. The fishery conditions were fairly good, but due to a gradual decrease of the fishing efforts and longer stormy period, the herring harvest in October 2008 considerably decreased to 38,000 tonnes, 20,000 tonnes down on September 2008. All the fish was harvested in the Norwegian EEZ with the contribution of Kaliningrad-based vessels amounting to 47%. The Russian harvest of herring since the start of the year has amounted to ca.175,000 tonnes with the quota covered at 90%. By the end of the year the quota is expected to be completely exhausted. In October 2008 blue whiting was harvested as small bycatch in the fishery of herring, the total catch of which amounted to ca.1000 tonnes.

Central Eastern Atlantic

In the waters of Western Sahara the Russian harvest of pelagic species in October 2008 decreased by 1200 tonnes to 10,300 tonnes. Just like in September 2008, the dominating species was mackerel with a share of 41%, followed by sardine and horse mackerel with 23% and 22% correspondingly. Nearly all the harvest (84%) was contributed by the vessels based in Murmansk-led North Fisheries Basin.

Provisional catch figures for the North Atlantic and the Central Eastern Atlantic in October 2008