The U.K. fishing fleet will be allowed to catch higher volumes of whitefish in the North Sea in 2017 following the conclusion of negotiations between the EU and Norway and agreements reached on catch levels for shared stocks after exchanges.
Because North Sea cod enters the EU landing obligation in 2017, the final total allowable catch (TAC) for this stock rises 16 percent from 33,651 metric tons (MT) this year to 39,220 MT, comprising two elements: Firstly, the unadjusted quota which is expected to increase by 5 percent to 35,334 MT; and secondly, an additional top-up quota of 3,886 MT to help the fleet land what was previously discarded.
North Sea whiting, which also enters the landing obligation in 2017, is also the subject of a 16 percent increase in TAC to 16,003 MT, including an additional top-up quota of 2,325 MT.
The TAC for North Sea saithe, meanwhile, which started to enter the landing obligation this year, increases 53 percent to 100,287 MT.
However, the TAC for North Sea haddock will decrease by 45 percent to 33,643 MT next year in line with scientific advice. This stock will be fully under the landing obligation in 2017.
Haddock prices are expected to climb as a result of the quota cut, with traders also anticipating increased market shifts to cod. This trend is anticipated to support cod prices in 2017.
U.K. fishermen will also be allowed to catch 129,376 MT of plaice and 481,608 MT of herring in the North Sea next year.
