Overview of Russian Fisheries in North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic as per mid-June 2010

In the second week of June 2010 the Russian catch in the North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic has been rising, reports http://www.megafishnet.com/ with reference to the National Monitoring Centre for Fisheries and Communication (NCMC).

More specifically, the harvest through 8-15 June 2010 amounted to 24500 metric tons increasing by 5700 tonnes on the first week of the month.

The share of the fish caught by Kaliningrad-based boats was recorded at 24% with the rest harvested mostly by vessels operating from Murmansk.

During the period NCMC recorded rising catches of bottom fish in the Barents Sea, herring in the Norwegian Sea and pelagic species in the Central Eastern Atlantic.

Cod

The Russian catch of the Atlantic cod since the start of the year hit nearly 133 000 metric tons increasing by 15500 tonnes on the same period 2009.   Cod has continued as the leader with nearly 9000 tonnes for the week or 36% of the total followed by horse mackerel of the Central Eastern Atlantic with about 5000 tonnes or 20% and the haddock taking the third place with more than 3000 tonnes or some 13%.

The week under review was special for the emerging migration of large mature cod and haddock from the southwest grounds of the Barents Sea to the East into the Grey Zone and the Russian EEZ as well as to the North towards Spitsbergen Archipelago. The catch rates in the above areas have been rising while the saithe harvest beyond the Norwegian EEZ has been minimal.

Blue whiting

As regards blue whiting, the fishery in the Faroese Zone moved to the northeast where the fish has continued to migrate to the northern feeding grounds with the catch rates unstable. The outlook is for the fleets to move to the south of the enclave with the start of the mackerel fishery in late June.

The total blue whiting catch has stayed on a par with the previous week at 2300 tonnes (-150 t) with a small by-catch of the Atlanto-Scandian herring (44 t) and mackerel (5t).

The share of Kaliningrad-based boats in the catch amounted to 22%. The at sea production of Kaliningrad vessels is limited to a couple of products: 1st grade blue whiting frozen w/r and 2nd grade blue whiting frozen w/r. By comparison, Murmansk-based trawlers produce a range of six products at sea. The bulk of this is contributed by blue whiting frozen w/r 20 cm +, export quality and blue whiting frozen w/r 21 cm +.

Herring

During the week the Russians have resumed the herring fishery in the international waters of the Norwegian Sea.

In a greater detail, one large trawler operating from Murmansk resumed herring fishery in the open waters of the Norwegian Sea making a catch of 1600 tonnes (+1300 tonnes). The seafrozen product range mostly contained the Atlantic herring frozen w/r 200-300 g and the Atlantic herring frozen w/r 200+, 1st grade.

Redfish

The redfish operations in the Irminger Sea have continued on a stable note with the week's catch staying on a par with the previous week at 1600 tonnes. This is the only area where Kaliningrad-based boats outdid Murmansk fishermen displaying shares of the total catch of 54% in the first week of June and 51% in the second week.

The boats have mostly produced redfish h/g frozen, redfish w/r frozen 1st grade and redfish large h/g frozen export quality. 

Horse mackerel

The catch of horse mackerel in the Central Eastern Atlantic has increased by 2000 metric tons. In the Mauritanian EEZ the week's catch amounted to more than 3000 tonnes. As during the previous week the harvest has been dominated by West African horse mackerel (62 %).  The share of mackerel increased up to 770 tonnes (25 %) and anchovy up to 330 tonnes (11 %). Sardinella and bonito were rarely observed in the hauls with 32 and 19 tonnes respectively.

Table: Russian Catch in North Atlantic and Central Eastern Atlantic in the second week of June 2010, metric tons