ICES has evaluated new harvesting rules for mackerel
DENMARK
Friday, August 07, 2020, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
The mackerel stock can withstand a higher fishing pressure than previous evaluations have shown. This is the opinion of ICES after they carried out a method revision in the winter of 2019.
In the winter of 2019, ICES had a method revision of mackerel which led to a change in views on the size of the mackerel stock. In this connection, the reference points used to calculate quotas were also updated. It was therefore natural for the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands to request a new evaluation of potential harvesting rules for mackerel. Fishing boat supported such an evaluation.
ICES has now carried out the evaluation and the results show that the mackerel stock can withstand a higher fishing pressure than what previous evaluations have shown. ICES recommends a fishing press (Ftarget) between 0.27 and 0.30, with an action limit for spawning biomass (Btrigger) between 3 and 4.5 million tonnes. In comparison, the quota council for 2020 was given on the basis of a fishing pressure of 0.23 and an action limit of 2.5 million tonnes. The spawning stock was estimated to be approximately 4.4 million tonnes in 2019. The current harvesting rule that the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands use to agree on quotas is based on a fishing pressure of 0.21 and an action limit of 2.5 million tonnes.
Fishing boat expects that the new recommendations from ICES will form the basis for new negotiations between the coastal states this autumn and hopes that this can create room for agreement between the states.
Here you can read the advice from ICES
Author: Hilde Færø / Norges Sildesalgslag
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
|