Iceland’s fisheries minister yesterday revealed that cod catch quotas will increase next year while many others will go down. The new fishing year begins on 1st September.

Iceland’s national cod fishing quota for the year beginning 1st September will increase by 10,000 tonnes following Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Jon Bjarnason’s new annual quota decision. Fishermen had, however, been calling for a 30,000 tonne increase on this year.

Iceland’s fishing quotas are decided by the minister for fisheries; but he/she is legally required to make decisions in co-operation with the Marine Research Institute.

The increase in the cod quota will see it rise from 150,000 tonnes to 160,000 and a rough value increase of ISK 4 billion (USD 32.4 million).

Redfish will, for the first time, be split into golden redfish and deep-sea rosefish, but the total catch will be 1,000 tonnes less next year.

The haddock quota is down 13,000 tonnes amid scientists’ worries that the stock is under too much pressure. The saithe catch limit will remain much the same as this year and the Greenland halibut quota goes up by 1,000 tonnes.

The minister told Visir.is he hopes it will be possible to increase the cod quota further in the coming years; but that the sustainability of the stock is key – adding that the cod stock is recovering faster than had been predicted.

Fishermen remain adamant that there is no harm in catching more cod at this time.

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