Norway and Russia have successfully concluded a fisheries agreement for 2024, marking a crucial collaboration despite ongoing challenges related to the Ukraine War, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries.
The agreement focuses on long-term and sustainable ocean management in the High North, playing a vital role in safeguarding the cod stock and other species in the Barents Sea. The accord includes notable aspects such as a substantial Capelin quota, a reduction in the Greenland halibut quota, and attention to the growing Atlantic redfish stock.
The total Northeast Arctic cod quota for 2024 is set at 453,427 tonnes, representing a 20% decrease from the previous year and the lowest since 2008. This decision aligns with recommendations from the Norwegian-Russian joint research group on Barents Sea fish stocks.
The researchers stress the importance of responsible management to ensure the sustainability of fisheries in the region. The agreement also covers quotas for haddock, Greenland halibut, Atlantic redfish, and capelin, with ongoing collaboration on management rules for key species. The negotiation process involved a bilateral research group from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and the Russian Federal Research Institute for Fisheries and Oceanography, as Russia was banned from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Despite tensions, fisheries cooperation remains a significant area of interaction between Norway and Russia. The ongoing port ban on Russian vessels has created additional complexities, but the two nations continue their commitment to managing joint fish stocks in the Barents Sea.