19.09.2006 · The Government

Negotiations continue on Norway haddock in the Irming Sea

Following another meeting between the coastal countries of the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland on the management of Norway haddock in the Irming Sea and the surrounding area held in Copenhagen on 30 - 31 August, there is still no agreement on how to sub-divide the area. The parties, however, agreed to continue the negotiations later this year, or early in the upcoming year.

Negotiations continue on Norway haddock in the Irming Sea

Following another meeting between the coastal countries of the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland on the management of Norway haddock in the Irming Sea and the surrounding area held in Copenhagen on 30 - 31 August, there is still no agreement on how to sub-divide the area. The parties, however, agreed to continue the negotiations later this year, or early in the upcoming year.

The outlook for Norway haddock in the Irming Sea and the surrounding area is very gloomy, and it is extremely important that the catch is subject to organised management. ICES recommends to stop the fisheries completely in 2007. Therefore, steps have been taken –although no agreement has been reached on a division between the coastal countries – to stipulate a total quota for the area regulated by the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) for 2007, in negotiation with the other NEAFC member countries, especially the EU and Russia, who also have significant fisheries of Norway haddock in the Irming Sea.

It is very important that the fisheries for Norway haddock in the Irming Sea, to the greatest extent possible, is managed in accordance with the reality that there are two separate stocks – a surface stock and a deep-sea stock. The deep-sea stock in the north-eastern part of the Irming Sea, where Faroese boats also catch fish, has been most impacted by fishing effort over the last few years.