Significantly larger volumes of North Sea cod, haddock and whiting may be available to fishermen and processors next year, according to new scientific assessments that confirm the stock levels of these important whitefish species are rising.
The latest annual advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) includes recommended increases for North Sea cod (27 percent), whiting (34 percent), langoustines (7 percent), saithe (7 percent) and haddock (30 percent), while there is an advised reduction for hake (down 4 percent).
This year’s advice takes into account changes to discard levels resulting from the phasing in of the EU landing obligation or “discard ban” over the past two years. Some stocks like haddock are already fully phased in, some like North Sea cod and whiting are partially phased, and others like saithe will be increasingly incorporated in 2018.
ICES’ recommendations have been welcomed by the Scottish government, with Fergus Ewing, cabinet secretary for the rural economy and connectivity, highlighting that the advice which marks the start of the annual cycle of fisheries negotiations shows encouraging increases in some of the country’s most valuable stocks for the coming year.
“While there are some disappointing declines in hake which is an increasingly difficult species to manage, overall these figures confirm we are moving in the right direction. They will be welcome news for the fishing industry with [which] we will work closely over the summer to help shape our priorities for the autumn talks,” he said.
The total first-sale value of Scottish fish landings increased by 29 percent last year reaching a record level of GBP 563 million (USD 728.3 million, EUR 640.8 million). This increase was mainly driven by a 41 percent increase in the value of landings of pelagic fish like herring and mackerel.
A 5 percent increase in demersal landings led to a total catch of 95,400 metric tons (MT) with a first-sale value of GBP 169 million (USD 218.6 million, EUR 192.3 million).
