Image: Fiskeribladet / FIS

Norway to Fish 386.4 Tons of Bluefin Tuna in 2024

In fisheries negotiations this week, Norway has approved the plan for Norwegian fishing for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Norway will be allowed to fish 386.4 tonnes of bluefin tuna in 2024, which corresponds to last year's quota level.

Small-scale coastal vessels and seiners can, as in 2023, participate in fishing. In addition, it is open for one liner vessel to participate. The negotiations have taken place in the International Commission for the Management of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT).

Source: Fiskeribladet

"Bluefin tuna have returned to Norwegian waters in recent years, and are now here to stay. Today's quota level provides increased opportunities for fishing activity and value creation of bluefin tuna, and we hope that Norwegian fishermen will take advantage of this opportunity so that we can also make the best possible use of this resource in the future", says Fisheries and Oceans Minister Cecilie Myrseth.

Of the total Norwegian quota of 386.4 tonnes, 15 tonnes have been set aside for by-catch, 10 tonnes for mark-and-release and recreational fishing and 30 tonnes for a pilot project on live storage of bluefin tuna. In addition, a further 3.4 t have been set aside for research.

As in previous years, arrangements will be made for recreational fishing, with the aim of marking the bluefin tuna before they are released back into the sea.

"Mark-and-release and recreational fishing contribute to mapping the distribution of bluefin tuna in Norwegian and international waters. This has given us valuable information over several years, and we hope that the activity will continue and contribute to further information and observations about the bluefin tuna this year as well", says Myrseth.

About Norwegian fishing for bluefin tuna in 2024

Continues fishing for small-scale coastal vessels

The purse seiners and longline vessels that will participate in the fishery receive a vessel quota of 36 tonnes and a maximum quota supplement of 15 tonnes per vessel, and the total group quota is 288 tonnes. Small-scale coastal vessels receive a total group quota of 40 tonnes. Up to 25 vessels may participate in this group in 2024, and the conditions are that the vessel is under 15 meters and fishes close to the coast with selective gear.

<-- Source: Fiskeribladet

Early redistribution

The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries can change and cancel the guaranteed quota for seiners on 15 August 2024, unless special circumstances dictate an earlier date.

Live storage

30 tonnes are set aside for a pilot project on live storage of bluefin tuna this year, which is an increase of 12 tonnes compared to last year. The aim of the pilot project is to provide us with useful information and form the basis for future regulations on live storage. The purpose of live storage is to facilitate the possibility of spreading raw material to the market over time, and to improve and preserve the good quality of the bluefin tuna.

Opportunity to participate in a Joint Fishing Operation (JFO)

For seiners, it will this year be possible to participate in fishing in a form of co-fishing arrangement. In this scheme, the catch of one of two or more vessels can be registered against the quota of another vessel, within an already agreed distribution key. In order for vessels to be able to participate in the scheme, each of the vessels must be equipped to fish for bluefin tuna, the vessels must each have their own individual quota, and the fishing must take place within the applicable regulations. The scheme will be organized in more detail by the Directorate of Fisheries.

Source: Regjeringen (Translated from the original in Norwegian)

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