Information
Management of shrimp in 3a and 4a East
Management of Pandalus in Skagerrak and Eastern North Sea
On behalf of all the shrimp fishers in Skagerrak and the Norwegian trench in the North Sea, the fisheries organisations from Norway, Sweden and Denmark would like to suggest that the management of shrimp in is adapted to better serve the needs of the industry.
Presently, the TAC is set in two steps. First step is an intermediate quota in the late autumn, covering the first six months of the next year. Second step, based on latest scientific advice using data from a survey in January, the final TAC covering the remainder of the year, is set in spring. The experience in the industry is that this two-step approach creates an uncertainty and complicates the planning of their activities. This is particularly problematic when the final TAC is set significantly below the expected and the management adapts to this.
The fishing organisations therefore recommend that the procedures around the management of shrimp are re-evaluated during the negotiations of a new management strategy in 2022. During February of that year, ICES will also evaluate the assessment methodology for shrimp.
It is our hope, that the outcome of these efforts will be an agreement that enables the setting of a TAC for 12 months. Taking into consideration, that the results of the survey in January is an important part of the assessment, the fishing industry is quite open to align the “quota year” with the availability of the most recent scientific advice and set the TAC in May or June – whichever best fits the managers. The exact timing is not the most important issue – the 12 months quota year is.
On behalf of Sveriges Fiskares PO, Norges Fiskarlag and Danmarks Fiskeriforening PO, sincerely Yours
Svend-Erik Andersen Chairman, Danish Fishermen PO