HB Grandi’s vessels are likely to find themselves with a 17,000 tonne herring quota and a 14,400 tonne blue whiting quota. This represents a drop in the herring allocation of around 3,400 tons from this year to the next, but a significant increase in blue whiting from just 1,400  to 14,400 tons.

Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson, head of department at HB Grandi’s pelagic division, said that the advice on Atlanto-Scandian herring is a disappointment in the light of the positive reports on the state of the stock this spring and summer. On the other hand, he was very pleased that the blue whiting stock does not appear to be in such a poor condition as ICES had previously believed, and according to the ICES information, it seems clear that the size of the stock had been underestimated during last year’s research.

According to a statement by the Icelandic Marine Research Institute, year classes of Atlanto-Scandian herring were strong in 1998, 1999 and 2002-2004, leading to a growing spawning stock from 2003 onwards up to 2009 when it reached its peak. Year classes since 2004 have all been assessed as being weak, indicating that both catches and the spawning stock will decrease in the coming years. According to the  latest estimates, the 2011 spawning stock is thought to be around 8 million tonnes, or 2 million tonnes below its 2009 level.

Mr Vilhjálmsson also said that there is a great deal of uncertainty over next year’s mackerel quotas. Efforts are being made this week to reach agreement on dividing the fishery between Iceland, the Faroes and the EU and Norway. But if no such agreement can be reached, the responsibility lies with the Icelandic Minister of Fisheries to decide on catch limits for next year.

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