Oct
17
Cod fishing vessel at the port in Vigo. (Photo: Lia Russo/FIS)
Better fishing opportunities for Galician cod fleet
SPAIN
Thursday, October 18, 2012, 03:40 (GMT + 9)
In 2013 the Galicia cod vessels will have the opportunity to catch 20 per cent more of cod in the Arctic, compared to this year.
According to industry estimates, next year at least 2,400 tonnes will be added to this year’s 12,000 tonnes of available quota in these waters, reported La Opinión.
At the same time, the size of the fleet will be reduced, as only five vessels will remain active out of a total of several tens.
A few days ago, the Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Committee signed a fisheries agreement for 2013 that stipulates a record one million tonne quota for cod to be caught in the Barents Sea.
The new agreement will enable Norwegian fishermen to catch approximately 107,000 tonnes more of cod than last year.
Norway claims that the quotas set for next year are sustainable and safe, in line with the recommendations of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The overall cod quota for the Arctic in 2013 was set at 1 million tonnes, representing an increase of 249,000 tonnes over 2012, thanks to the stock good status.
Besides, last September the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) adopted a 50 per cent increase for the total allowable catch (TAC) for cod that will be in force in 2013.
The approved increase implies that next year 14,133 tonnes of cod may be fished, compared with 9,280 tonnes approved for this year.
ICES scientific advice was based on the improvement of the cod stock in Arctic waters and was favourable to increase the TAC by 25 per cent, below the growth finally agreed by Norway and Russia.
The Galician cod sector highlighted that increasing the quota in northern waters is excellent news “as in the case of any increase.”
“The business is profitable, that’s no small thing in the setting in which we find ourselves,” stated representatives of the fleet.
Related articles:
– 2013 quota for cod set at 1 million tonnes
– Cod quota 50 pc increase in NAFO waters
By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com
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