SCIENTISTS RECOMMEND FURTHER REDUCTION IN COD QUOTA

Scientists recommend further reduction in cod quota. Marine scientists from the Institute of Marine Research are still concerned about the cod population in the Barents Sea.

Author: Vibeke Lund Opdal.

Decline for scree

The scientists recommend that no more than 269,440 tonnes of Northeast Arctic cod be fished in 2026. The quota advice is 14 percent lower than the quota advice for 2025 and 21 percent lower than the set quota for 2025. 

The quota recommendation for 2026 is the lowest since 2002. If the quota is set at the level of the recommendation given, it will be the lowest quota since 1991.

From 2021 to 2024, the quota council and the quota for the skreien have been reduced by 20 percent each year, and in 2025 it was reduced even more.

“This is related to the fact that the cod spawning population has been reduced every year since the historic peak in 2013. We now consider that the ‘bottom’ has been reached,” says Bogstad.

The HI researcher points out that even though the fishable stock in 2025 has been adjusted downwards from last year, the outlook for the future has changed little.

“2025 and 2026 appear to be the years with the lowest spawning population, and the quota advice is expected to increase somewhat in 2027 and later years, if this year’s advice is followed,” says Bogstad.

Failing recruitment 

Recruitment has been below average after the 2014 class and several year classes are very weak. 

“There has been poor recruitment for several years, but the weakest year classes are 2019 and 2020 – those that should have seriously entered the fishery last year and this year,” explains Bogstad. 

“The incoming year classes starting in 2021 have been adjusted upwards, and the 2021 year class is around average, while the subsequent ones are below average, but not as weak as the 2019 and 2020 year classes,” says the marine scientist.   

Upturn for haddock

For Northeast Arctic haddock, the researchers recommend that catches not exceed 153,293 tonnes in 2026. This is 43 percent higher than the quota council for 2025, and 18 percent higher than the quota for 2025.

“The three weak year classes 2018, 2019 and 2020 are now fully into fishing,” explains Bogstad. 

The 2021-2024 year classes, however, are slightly above average, so for haddock there is potential for a further increase in catches after 2026. 

“But then it is important to take care of these incoming year classes, and not fish them like small fish,” says Bogstad. 

Photograph: Institute of Marine Research

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