Progress of Russian fisheries in North and Central East Atlantic in early February 2021
In early February 2021 the Russian fleets were harvesting cod, haddock and other species, reports Megafishnet.com.
According to Fishnet.ru, the total catch by 7 February 2021 amounted to 21,600 metric tons, one fourth of which was contributed by the vessels coming from Baltic regions.
In the Barents Sea the Russian fleets harvested 34,300 tonnes of cod (quota remainder 91.1%) and 8,700 tonnes of haddock (quota remainder 91.7%). For comparison, last year the respective result was 35,700 tonnes of cod and 9,000 tonnes of haddock.
Bottom trawl fishery in the Barents Sea
Bottom trawl fishery in the Barents Sea was conducted by up to 54 medium and 26 small vessels coming from Murmansk-led North Fisheries, along with TSM Karacharovo owned by Kaliningrad-based OOO Morskaya Zvezda. The trawlers were operating in the three areas of the sea:
- in the Norwegian EEZ – 4,600 tonnes (60% of the total catch in early February), including 3,700 tonnes of cod, 400 tonnes of saithe, 300 tonnes of haddock and 200 tonnes of other fish species;
- in the Russian EEZ - 2,400 tonnes of fish (32%), including 1,300 tonnes of cod, 900 tonnes of haddock, 100 tonnes of sea cat and 100 tonnes of other fish species;
- in the Spitsbergen area the fishery was less active – 600 tonnes (8%), including 300 tonnes of cod, 200 tonnes of haddock and 100 tonnes of other fish species.
Redfish
Dedicated redfish operations in the Norwegian EEZ of the Barents Sea were conducted by BMRTIB Aleksey Anichkin owned by AO Atlantrybflot and TSM Karacharovo owned by OOO Morskaya Zvezda, both coming from Kaliningrad, as well as Murmansk-based RTIP Forpost owned by OOO Kompania LKT and TSM Vityaz owned by OOO Nord Piligrim. Their catches through the first seven days of February totalled 599 tonnes, of which redfish accounted for 78%. The total redfish harvest from the beginning of the year amounted to 1053 tonnes, including 554 tonnes from dedicated operations.
The redfish quota 2021 was approved at 13,908 tonnes with 2,200 tonnes extra to be harvested as bycatch in other fisheries.
Longline fishery in the Barents Sea
Longline bottom fishery in the Barents Sea was conducted by 8 vessels from the North Fisheries and one vessel from St. Petersburg (namely Azurit owned by OOO Okeanprom). Most longlines were set in the Norwegian zone (63% of the catch during the period under analysis), and the remaining share of the catch was contributed by the Russian EEZ (37%). Total longline catch in the Barents Sea on 1-7 February 2021 amounted to 600 tonnes of cod (55%), sea cat (33%), haddock (9%), halibut (2%) and other fish species (1%).
Herring
The herring fishery in the Norwegian Sea was conducted by RTIP Lazurnyi owned by OOO Iceberg-Nord from Murmansk-led North Fisheries until 5 February 2021. Then the trawler headed for the port for landing. The fishery situation was unstable, and the total herring catch on 1-5 February 2021 amounted to 201 tonnes. From the beginning of the year the vessel harvested 972 tonnes of herring (the Russian quota of herring in the Norwegian EEZ and in the NEAFC Regulatory Area was set at 83,500 tonnes). Last year the corresponding result was 529 tonnes of herring.
Northern Blue whiting
In early February 2020 two BATM trawlers from Kaliningrad-based ZAO Westrybflot and two trawlers from PAO Murmansk Trawl Fleet (Sotrudnichestvo series) continued targeting blue whiting in the Faroese fishing zone. Catches of Kaliningrad fishermen were small, Murmansk fishermen were more lucky. Through the first seven days of February their total catch amounted to 1,700 tonnes. From the beginning of the year catches totalled 6,000 tonnes of blue whiting (Russia’s quota in the area – 82,000 tonnes). The respective result of last year in the Faroese fishing zone amounted to 5,800 tonnes.
Redfish
In early February two trawlers owned by OOO RKF from Murmansk-led North Fisheries conducted the dedicated redfish fishery in two microzones (3LN and 3O) of the Northwest Atlantic (NAFO Regulatory Area). During the first seven days of the month the fishermen harvested ca.176 tonnes of mostly redfish (83%). From the beginning of the year the redfish catches totalled 310 tonnes.
Mauritania
In the Mauritanian EEZ two trawlers owned by OOO Magadanpromflot from the Russian Far East and RTMKSm trawler Alexander Mironenko owned by AO Taurus from Murmansk were engaged in the pelagic trawl fishery. The fishing situation remained uneven, the total catch through the week under analysis amounted to 800 tonnes of fish, including 37% of sardine, 25% of horse mackerel, 1% of mackerel and 37% of non-targeted species. From the beginning of the year the Russian catch in the area amounted to 5,600 tonnes. Last year the respective result was 3,300 tonnes.
Baltic Sea
In the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea up to 34 Kaliningrad vessels continued active trawl fishery of small herrings. The fishery situation was fairly good. Through the first seven days of February the fleet harvested 3114 tonnes of sprat (90%) and Baltic herring (10%). There was also a small by-catch of cod.
In the same area the bottom fishery of European flounder was conducted by MRTR Matrosovo owned by TOO Vlak which harvested 25 tonnes of mostly flounder (91%) and cod (9%) as catch.
Baltic herring
In the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea up to 3 small trawlers coming from Kaliningrad were targeting Baltic herring. The fishery conditions were uneven. Their total catch from 1 to 7 February 2021 amounted to 180 tonnes of mostly herring (97%) with sprat contributing the remaining 3%.
From the beginning of the year the Russian harvest in the southeast part of the Baltic Sea and in the Gulf of Finland amounted to 11,000 tonnes of sprat and 4,000 tonnes of herring.
For copyright please contact Vera Aldokhina at vera@megafishnet.com.