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

In September 2008 the total harvest of Russian vessels in the North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic amounted to ca.90,300 tonnes, thus displaying a decrease by 1900 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 October 2008, told www.fishnet-russia.com (https://www.fishnet.ru/).

The contribution of Kaliningrad-based fleets grew to 38% to Russia's total harvest in the area.

The most important developments were observed on the bottomfish grounds in the Barents Sea.

Declined fishing efforts (due to a considerable take-up of the cod quota after generous summer fishery), more dispersed condition of the stock's concentrations in autumn and beginning stormy period resulted into a decrease of cod catches in September 2008 to 6800 tonnes, 6900 tonnes down on the previous month.

The haddock harvest also tended to descend and amounted to 4000 tonnes in September 2008, 1900 down on August 2008.

According to the results of the first month of the crab season, in the Russian waters of the Barents Sea the fishermen harvested 2200 tonnes or more than 564,000 male crabs.

In the Norwegian Sea the Russian fishermen continued active herring fishery and the landings in September 2008 grew to 58,000 tonnes, 6900 tonnes up on the previous month.

Blue whiting was harvested only as bycatch.

Pelagic fishery of ocean perch in the international waters of the Norwegian Sea took off and ended in September 2008, with the Russian harvest of the species recorded at 4700 tonnes.

The total catches of pelagic fish in the Central Eastern Atlantic rose by 1100 tonnes to 11,500 thanks to larger fishing efforts.

Barents Sea

The conditions for bottomfish operations in August were satisfactory for the season. Due to the rich summer fishery, the shipowners had to limit the efforts on the cod grounds to less than 50 ships on the average through the month. The seasonal decrease of the catch rates caused by wider distribution of fish stock on a large feeding area and increasingly unstable weather conditions could be attributed to a noticeable decrease of the cod harvest to 6800 tonnes, 6900 tonnes down on the previous month.

More specifically, the bulk of the cod catch (38%) was contributed in the waters of Spitsbergen and 32% of the species were harvested in the Russian zone. A considerable share of the harvest, 24% namely, was also contributed by the loophole of the Barents Sea.

The haddock harvest through the month amounted to 4000 tonnes, 1900 tonnes down on August 2008. Nearly all the haddock, 92% namely, was contributed by the Russian EEZ.

In September 2008 ca.20 Russian crabbers were harvesting red king crabs with the trap gear. The main fishing area was located at the distance of 60-80 miles to the northeast of the Svyatoi Nos Cape in the east of the Kola Peninsula. The fishery conditions were described as satisfactory, the traps were set in lines of 15 in number on the average mostly at the depths of 110-180 meters. The catch rates varied greatly from 1-2 to 10-15 tonnes per day, with the average period of traps setting reported at 4-5 days. Normally, each crabber handled at least 500-600 traps. The total harvest of red king crab amounted to 2200 tonnes, or more than 564,000 male crabs.

Norwegian Sea

Herring was the dominating species on the pelagic grounds of the Norwegian Sea. While in the beginning of the month the fishermen were working in the international waters, in the Bear-Spitsbergen area to the southwest of the Bear Island and in the Norwegian EEZ, by the end of the first ten days of the month the main concentrations of herring nearly which was completing its feeding cycle were spread in the Norwegian EEZ to the northwest of Lofoten. The fishery conditions were fairly good, and the herring landings in September 2008 were estimated at 58,000 tonnes, 6900 tonnes up on the previous month. The bulk of the harvest, 97% namely, was contributed by the Norwegian EEZ. The contribution of Kaliningrad-based vessels amounted to 34%.

In September 2008 blue whiting was harvested as bycatch in small volumes on the herring grounds.

Pelagic fishery of ocean perch in the enclave of the Norwegian Sea was conducted by ca.15 ships with the main grounds adjacent to the borders of the Norwegian EEZ and Spitsbergen at 71-73 degrees North. According to the captains, the fishery conditions in 2008 were poorer than in the previous year, and the abundant fishery practically subsided before the end of the month. The total Russian harvest of ocean perch in the international waters of the Norwegian Sea amounted to 4700 tonnes, including 51% harvested by Kaliningrad-based vessels.

Central Eastern Atlantic

In the waters of Mauritania and Western Sahara pelagic fisheries the Russian harvest of pelagic species in September 2008 grew by 1100 tonnes to 11,500 tonnes. Unlike August 2008, the dominating species was mackerel with a share of 68%, followed by horse mackerel with 16%. Nearly all the harvest (89%) 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 September 2008