Ingolf Rottingen
Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, Norway

The ICES advice on the total allowable catch (TAC) for important fish species in the Barents Sea is now based on harvest control rules (HCR) that incorporate objectives decided by the management agencies.

The present paper discusses some elements of the harvest control rules and relevant management objectives for the fisheries in the Barents Sea. Further, a short review of the implementation of HCR in the fisheries for Norwegian spring spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring, North East artic cod and Barents Sea capelin is given.

Harvest Control Rules (HCR)

Harvest control rules aim at:

- implementing decisions on management objectives;

- creating self-binding mechanism that prevent short term need decisions at the expense of long term benefits;

- achieving a common platform to enhance the dialogue between mangers and scientists;

- facilitating a platform for long term planning within the fisheries industry.

Management objectives

The following management objectives have been discussed in the process of establishing harvest control rules for the fisheries in the Barents Sea:

- High long term yield;

- Stabilisation of catches;

- Low risk of spawning stock falling below precautionary biomass level;

- Utilization of all available information on stock development.

Norwegian spring spawning (Atlanto Scandian herring)

The harvest control rule for Norwegian spring spawning herring was decided upon by the Management Agency i.e. 5-party coastal states (EU, Faeroe Isl., Iceland, Norway and Russia) in 1999 and amended in 2001 with measures to ensure rebuilding of the stock in case if SSB should fall below Bpa. As a basis for deciding the Management Agency appointed a group of scientists and economists to make consider possible HCRs for this stock. The stock has been at a high level, and recommended TAC for 2007, based on the HCR, is 1.28 million tonnes. Managers should consider if a stabilization element should be included in the HCR.

Northeast arctic cod

At the 31st session of The Joint Norwegian-Russian Fishery Commission (JNRFC) in autumn 2002, the Parties agreed on a new harvest control rule for Northeast Arctic cod. This HCR was applied for the first time when setting quotas for 2004. The rule was somewhat amended at the 33rd session of JNRFC in autumn 2004. The amended rule was evaluated by ICES in 2005 and found to be precautionary. The Joint Norwegian-Fishery Commission has decided on TAC on basis of the HCR since 2004, but the resulting fishing mortality has been higher due to IUU and transhipment activity in the fishery. The management decisions based on the HCR have therefore not resulted in the predicted growth of the cod spawning stock.

Barents Sea Capelin

An HCR for Barents Sea capelin fishery was agreed on at the 31st session of The Joint Norwegian-Russian Fishery Commission (JNRFC) in autumn 2002. The quota (TAC) is calculated based on a half-year prediction of spawning stock size at 1 April (spawning time) the year after. This prediction assumes maturation to be length-dependent and takes into account the uncertainty in the acoustic survey estimate as well as in the predation by cod on capelin. The basis of the HCR is that an eventual TAC for a capelin fishery is set so that there is a 95% probability for the SSB to be above 200 000 tonnes. The capelin has been at a low level since 2004 and the decisions taken on the basis of the HCR has been a zero TAC. It should be considered to make the capelin Blim dependent on herring abundance, as the survival of capelin larvae is strongly affect by herring abundance.

FISHERY IN NORTH ATLANTIC: REALITY AND PROSPECTS