Fremmedstoffer i flekksteinbit, gråsteinbit og vassild/strømsild - Sluttrapport for kartleggingsprogrammet «Miljøgifter i fisk og fiskevarer» 2019-2022

I dette arbeidet ble det gjennomført en kartlegging av viktige fremmedstoffer i flekksteinbit (Anarhichas minor), gråsteinbit (Anarhichas lupus), vassild (Argentina silus) og strømsild (Argentina sphyraena) fra norske farvann. Vi undersøkte 250 flekksteinbit, 176 gråsteinbit, 325 vassild og 18 strømsild i kommersiell størrelse og filetene av alle artene inneholdt i gjennomsnitt mellom 4,7 prosent fett i flekksteinbit og 1,4 % fett i strømsild. Konsentrasjonene av tungmetaller i filet var lave. Nivåene av kvikksølv var høyest i gråsteinbit fulgt av flekksteinbit, vassild og strømsild. Mens gjennomsnittskonsentrasjonene av kvikksølv lå langt lavere, var filetprøver fra fem individer av gråsteinbit fra forskjellige områder over grenseverdien på 0,5 mg/kg våtvekt som gjelder humant konsum i Norge og EU.Fremmedstoffer i flekksteinbit, gråsteinbit og vassild/strømsild - Sluttrapport for kartleggingsprogrammet «Miljøgifter i fisk og fiskevarer» 2019-2022publishedVersio

Population structure discovered in juveniles of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides Walbaum, 1792)

Understanding the genetic differentiation among populations of most marine fish requires investigating the differences among spawning grounds. However, this can be challenging as spawning grounds for some species are not well known, or spawning fish are difficult to collect. An alternative is to collect juvenile fish in nursery habitats closely associated with potential spawning grounds. Greenland halibut is a deep-dwelling, commercially important species with at least two identified major offshore spawning grounds in the North Atlantic and weak genetic differentiation across the Atlantic. In this study, we sampled juveniles from three sites representing the Davis Strait spawning area in the northwest Atlantic and one site in the northeast Atlantic representing the primary spawning area along the western slope of the Barents Sea. We applied genotype by sequencing and discovered 90 genetic markers that could be used to assess genetic differentiation among the four sites. The northeast and northwest Atlantic showed major genetic differentiation, supporting the existence of the two primary spawning clusters. Additionally, we found genetic differentiation between the three northwest Atlantic samples implying the existence of more than one spawning area in the northwest.publishedVersio

Advice on fishing opportunities for Greenland halibut in 2024 in ICES subareas 1 and 2

Stock Name: Northeast Arctic Greenland halibut (ICES areas 1 and 2) The Joint Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG) advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2024 should be no more than 15 560 tonnes.publishedVersio

Report of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG) 2023

On 30 th March 2022 all Russian participation in ICES was temporally suspended. Although the announcement of the suspension stressed the role of ICES as a “multilateral science organization”, this suspension applied not only to research activities, but also to the ICES work providing fisheries advice for the sustainable management of fish stocks and ecosystems. As a result of the suspension, the ICES AFWG provided advice only for saithe, coastal cod north, coastal cod south, and golden redfish ( Sebastes norvegicus ). Northeast Arctic (NEA) cod, haddock and Greenland halibut assessments have been conducted outside of ICES in a newly constituted Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG). Although this work has been conducted independently of ICES, the methodologies agreed at ICES benchmarks and agreed HCRs (Harvest Control Rules) have been followed in providing this advice. The Greenland halibut model has been revised at an ICES benchmark in 2023. The JRN-AFWG has agreed to use the new ICES model, with the addition of revising the Russian survey tuning index (as was recommended at the benchmark). Although the overall biomass level in the model has been revised, the trends and advice are similar to the old model. The Greenland halibut advice is for one year to bring the timing back in line with the slope survey, after this a two-year advice cycle will resume. The main worry with that stock is a history of TACs and catches well above advice. Given that the model is now indicating that the stock will drop below B pa by the end of 2023, continuing to set quota above advice poses a risk of serious harm to the stock.publishedVersio

Advice on fishing opportunities for Northeast arctic haddock in 2024 in ICES subareas 1 and 2

Stock Name: Northeast Arctic haddock (ICES areas 1 and 2) The Joint Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG) advises that when the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission management plan is applied, catches in 2024 should be no more than 127 550 tonnes.publishedVersio

Advice on fishing opportunities for Northeast Arctic cod in 2024 in ICES subareas 1 and 2

Stock Name: Northeast Arctic cod (ICES areas 1 and 2) The Joint Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG) advises that when the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission management plan is applied, catches in 2024 should be no more than 453 427 tonnes.publishedVersio

Migration patterns of Greenland halibut in the North Atlantic revealed by a compiled mark-recapture dataset

Marine fisheries are often allocated to stocks that reflect pragmatic considerations and may not represent the species’ spatial population structure, increasing the risk of mismanagement and unsustainable harvesting. Here we compile mark–recapture data collected across the North Atlantic to gain insight into the spatial population structure of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), an issue that has been unresolved for decades. The dataset contains 168130 fish tagged from 1952 to 2021, with 5466 (3.3%) recaptured individuals. Our results indicate that fish tagged at <50 cm body length migrate at higher rates, suggesting that mark–recapture studies on adult individuals underestimate population-level migration rates. We find evidence for migrations across management units in the North Atlantic indicating two regional offshore populations: one in the Northeast Atlantic, where the West Nordic and Northeast Arctic stocks, currently managed separately, likely belong to a single population that spans from the Kara Sea to Southeast Greenland; and one in the Northwest Atlantic where migration was observed between the Newfoundland and Labrador stock and the Northwest Arctic stock in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay. Our findings indicate complex population structure with implications for international and domestic fisheries management of this long-lived species.publishedVersio

Fish assemblages at the Yermak Plateau and in northern Svalbard waters during the period 2012–2020

During several surveys covering the north-western and northern Svalbard waters, and the deeper Yermak Plateau north of Svalbard during the period 2012–2020, 291 standardized hauls with a demersal trawl were made. All fishes in the catches were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level, mostly to species. In addition to the data generated from the trawl catches, bottom temperature, salinity, and depth were recorded at each trawl station. The eelpouts were the most species rich family, with 15 species, followed by codfishes and sculpins with six species each. The other 13 families were represented with one to four species each. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) dominated by weight in the catches, while polar cod (Boreogadus saida) dominated by numbers. In the deeper areas including the Yermak Plateau, Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) dominated by weight. Zoogeographically, 23 species were Arctic, 5 were Mainly Arctic, 4 Arctoboreal, 25 Mainly Boreal, 9 Boreal, and 2 Widely Distributed. The Arctic species dominated in the deeper areas (Yermak Plateau and slope > 500 m) and on the shallow eastern shelf, whereas the Mainly Boreal species dominated along the slope and on the western and northern shelves < 500 m. A hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three prominent station clusters consistent with the zoogeographical classifications which reflected the oceanographic conditions, water masses and sea ice. The hierarchical cluster analysis additionally separated the cold-water species into two groups consistent with the bathymetry of the region. Diet studies of Atlantic cod revealed that it mainly fed on hyperiids, and that its preferred food further south, capelin, was not prominent in the diet. Regional index terms: Northeast Atlantic, Fram Strait, Svalbard, Yermak Plateau

Joint Russian Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG) Report 2024

On 30th March 2022 all Russian participation in ICES was temporally suspended. Although the announcement of the suspension stressed the role of ICES as a “multilateral science organization”, this suspension applied not only to research activities, but also to the ICES work providing fisheries advice for the sustainable management of fish stocks and ecosystems. As a result of the suspension, the ICES AFWG provided advice only for saithe, coastal cod north, coastal cod south, and golden redfish (Sebastes norvegicus). Northeast Arctic (NEA) cod, haddock and Greenland halibut assessments have been conducted outside of ICES in a newly constituted Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG). Although this work has been conducted independently of ICES, the methodologies agreed at ICES benchmarks and agreed HCRs (Harvest Control Rules) have been followed in providing this advice. In 2024 we are giving 2-year advice for both Greenland halibut and beaked redfish. The beaked redfish model is planned for a method revision prior to the next advice. Advice on fishing opportunities for NEA cod The NEA cod stock is continuing to decline following a period of moderate to poor recruitment. Following the agreed HCR, the advice for 2025 is that catches should be no more than 311 587 tonnes. This is down from 453 427 because the stock is projected to fall below Bpa, and therefore the stability constraint on interannual catch variation does not apply. Provided that this advice is followed, then projections indicate that at current recruitment levels the stock should stabilize and start to rise after 2027. Advice on fishing opportunities for NEA haddock Advice is that catches in 2025 should not exceed 106 912 tonnes, down from 127 550 tonnes, from the advice in 2023. A relatively good yearclass in 2021 should enter the fishery in 2026- Provided that this yearclass is not heavily caught at small sizes then then should lead to an increase in stock and catches thereafter. In recent years there has been a rise in the catch of small haddock, and if this is not curtailed then there is a risk that a large part of the incoming yearclass could be fished before reaching a size to give optimum yield. Advice on fishing opportunities for Greenland halibut The Greenland halibut stock is projected to fall below Bpa in the course of 2024, which has resulted in lowered advice. The advice is that catches in 2025 should be no more than 12 431 tonnes, and catches in 2016 should be no more than 14 891. This stock has a history of quota and catches being set above advice, which has led to the decline of the stock. There is good yearclass in 2019 which offers a prospect of an increase in stock and advice – provided the advice is followed and the stock is not further reduced. Advice on fishing opportunities for beaked redfish The stock is at a high level, with SSB rising slowly and total fishable biomass relatively stable. The catch advice is no more than 67 191 tonnes in 2025 and 69 177 tonnes in 2026, compared to an advice of 70 164 tonnes for 2024. There has been a high retrospective pattern for this stock assessment, and a method revision is planned before the next advice is due (for the 2027 fishing season).Joint Russian Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG) Report 2024publishedVersio