Attention turns to January as coastal states agree to follow ICES advice on Atlantic pelagics
The coastal states meeting has concluded with nations agreeing to follow ICES advice on mackerel, herring, and blue whiting, but now comes the tricky part
No agreement on north Atlantic pelagics quotas at coastal states meeting
But some light on the horizon as they pledge to meet again early in 2022 to work on blue whiting and herring quota distribution
Interfish bucks UK trend to up sales, profits in 2020
The pelagic fishing and processing firm appears to have been little affected by the pandemic, reporting a bottom-line profit of £10.7m for 2020
MSC, buyers again urge gov’t action as ICES advises lower pelagics catches for 2022
Concerns have again been raised as the combined catch of mackerel, herring and blue whiting overshoots sustainable limits by 4.8 million metric tons since 2015
UK’s Northbay Pelagic retains profitability in year of lockdowns
The firm saw profits drop by 28% but remain well above the operating losses posted for 2018, prior to its acquisition by fishing group Interfish
Norway’s mackerel cruise takes ‘significantly lower catches’
Meanwhile, Icelandic and Faroese mackerel landings got off to a strong start late in July 2021, as Norway prepares to commence its own efforts
Oceana calls for end to overfishing of ‘critically low’ EU stocks
The NGO says less than half of shared UK and EU stocks are being sustainably fished
ICES: Herring, blue whiting stocks in decline
Taking into account the current fishing pressure and the spawning stock biomass, catches of blue whiting and North Sea herring are likely to decline in the near future
Poor Norwegian fishing means fleet is aiming to land 90% of herring quota
In week 24, 48 vessels went fishing for North Sea herring, landing only 10,100t; matjes producers have been happy, but those wanting larger fish are still waiting
Norway herring fishing slow again in week 23
North Sea herring landings were down week-on-week, with almost half the landings going for use in fishmeal and oil