The European Union is very concerned that Norway and Russia, “without seeking to cooperate with any of the other relevant stakeholders, are taking decisions that are leading to an unsustainable fishing of the stock” of Arctic cod, according to a statement issued on Monday 23 August by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12761/9).
Scientists warn that there is less and less cod in the Barents Sea, the sea around the North of Norway and around the archipelago of Svalbard.
The 2021 scientific advice, as provided independently by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), indicates that the stock’s deterioration is more rapid than expected.
Experts advise that to protect Arctic cod, catches should be reduced by 43% in 2022, to be in line with the best available scientific advice for a sustainable management. Contrary to this, a Norwegian-Russian management plan, developed without involvement of the international stakeholders, foresees a much smaller decrease - only 20% - and therefore falls short of the scientific advice.
Norway and Russia have chosen to deviate from the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) principle, says the Commission.
Even more worrying, from 2017 to 2020, the quotas for Arctic cod fixed by Norway and Russia even disregarded the level provided for by their bilateral management plan by continuously setting higher quotas.
The EU is calling on Norway and Russia to cooperate on the management of this stock, together with all relevant parties with the objective of agreeing on a sustainable and non-discriminatory management of Arctic cod.
While the EU and Norway have different interpretations of the Treaty of Paris governing the management of fisheries around the archipelago of Svalbard, “for more than 35 years, together, we have ensured a stable management of this stock”, the EU said in the statement. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)