Icelandic Fisheries Minister Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson has said that he has drawn up the total catch quotas for most species of fish for the upcoming fishing year following recommendations from organisations such as the Marine Research Institute.
Jóhannsson explained that it was important to ensure the country’s reputation remains strong among other fishing nations, so the quotas have been based on science. He said that it was “imperative” they can guarantee the best kind of scientific research when making such decisions.
Among the quotas introduced were: haddock 30,400 tonnes, herring, 82,000 tonnes, cod 216,000 tonnes, pollock 58,000 tonnes, shrimp 5,000 tonnes, plaice 7,000 tonnes, lobster 1,650 tonnes and lemon sole 1,600 tonnes. Johannsson also revealed that they had raised the total mackerel catch quota, which has caused controversy in recent times, to 167,826 tonnes, based on International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) data.
The minister also said there should be better collaboration and cooperation between fishermen and scientists because, at present, scientific research can cause conflict among fishermen.
Iceland’s Marine Research Institute has reported that the fishery stock in the country’s waters remains good and that quotas have been made based on a long-term strategy. Jóhannsson said that he expected Iceland’s fish exports over the 2014-15 fishing year, which begins on 1 September, to remain much the same as the previous season.