International Council for Exploration of the Sea on Friday recommended a more than 25 percent increase in the 2013 quota for North East Arctic cod in the Barents Sea.
The council proposed a 2013 quota of 940,000 metric tons, which would be up from the 2012 quota of 740,000 metric tons. The 2013 quota is due to be set by the joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission in October.
This would be the Barents Sea cod fishery’s largest catch in 40 years, according to Norwegian Fisheries Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen, who attributed the proposed increase to responsible fisheries management.
“Thanks to many years of good fisheries management and our continual work with Russia, we have succeeded in building up the world’s largest cod stocks,” she said.
Added Johan Kvalheim, director of the Norwegian Seafood Council for the UK and France: “The increasing cod quota in Norway is recognition that our ongoing commitment to sustainable fishing is working. It is excellent news, not just for the Norwegian economy and our fishermen, but for the millions of people who enjoy eating good quality seafood with a clear conscience.”
The Barents Sea cod fishery is one of the world’s largest whitefish fisheries.
