– It has proven difficult to limit withdrawal through these regulations. The number of vessels fishing for halibut is increasing. And both effort and efficiency in fishing increase. That is why we have been commissioned to come up with quota advice for halibut as well. That’s what marine researcher Erik Berg at the Institute of Marine Research (HI) says. For 2025, the Institute of Marine Research recommends a quota of 2,054 tonnes north of 62 degrees north, including landings from tourist and recreational fishing. Fishing for halibut is advised against south of 62 degrees north. The institute states that until now halibut fishing has only been limited by gear regulation in the form of the amount of gear, mesh size of nets, protection period for direct fishing, as well as minimum and maximum size. – Increased fishing efforts There has previously been a collapse in the halibut population in Norway. Only after 1995 did the researchers see that landings in the north increased after the collapse. In the area in the south, the researchers have not seen the same increase. – Change in catches in the north is probably due to a combination of increased stock biomass and increased fishing effort. To avoid overfishing in the future, stock monitoring and quota regulation are necessary, says Berg. – Not sustainable Fishing for halibut is popular among operators who offer fishing to tourists. HI states that the total catch of halibut from commercial fishing and tourist and leisure fishing today is about twice the recommended quota. – This is not sustainable. The catch must be significantly reduced to avoid overfishing. A long-lived species such as halibut is particularly vulnerable if the stock is fished down, because it takes a long time to rebuild it, says the marine scientist. Halibut Halibut is a species of bony fish in the flounder family. It spawns in deep water on Egga and in the fjord depths. They grow quickly and at the age of 8–10 the male is approx. 1.2 m and the female approx. 1.6 m. Later, the males grow little, while the females continue to grow significantly. At 14–15 years old, they are over 2 m and weigh approx. 100 kg. Individuals of nearly 4 m and over 300 kg are known. Halibut was usually fished with a line (gangvad) and stabbed with a spike or plumb line; but in the autumn of 1936, at Skrova in Lofoten, halibut nets were tried for the first time in deep water, and the result was so good that this fishing spread over the coast like a plague. In 1938, most of the old spawning halibut population appeared to have been fished out. Minimum targets were introduced in 1936. The largest quantities are fished in Møre and Romsdal and the three northernmost counties. The catch varies between 500–1000 tonnes annually. Source: Great Norwegian encyclopedia Fishing for halibut is not sustainable as it is today. That is what the Institute of Marine Research believes in a new quota council. Photo: Erlend Hykkerud / news Missing data HI reports that, as with several other stocks, fishing for halibut is divided into two management units, south and north of 62 degrees north. The advice from HI is based on catches from fishing, assumed stock development and available data for use in the stock assessment. – At the moment, we do not have sufficient data to make a similar stock assessment in the south as in the north. Gear restrictions and conservation periods have been different in the two areas, but were harmonized in 2023, says Berg. 92 tonnes caught last week The Norwegian Raw Fish Association reports that in week 38, 92 tonnes of fresh halibut were traded for a catch value of 5.6 million from Nordmøre to Finnmark. This was a reduction from 104 tonnes and 6.4 million from the previous week, which was the best quotation so far this year. It was in Troms that the largest quantity was delivered with 24 tonnes, followed by Vest-Finnmark with 23 tonnes, In Lofoten and Salten 16 tonnes were delivered, and Helgeland delivered 11 tonnes to the fishermen. Published 27/09/2024, at 13.50 Updated 27/09/2024, at 13.55
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Scientists advise against fishing for halibut in the south and will introduce a quota in the north – news Troms and Finnmark
