EU and Norway have adopted a management plan for setting annual total allowable catch for saithe in the North Sea. ICES has evaluated the plan and concluded that it is in agreement with the Precautionary Approach. This plan will be used for the first time in 2006.
Around the age of three the individuals gradually migrate from the costal areas to the northern part of the North Sea (57°'N - 62°N) where they reach maturity at four to six years. Spawning takes place between January and March along the Northern Shelf edge and the western edge of the Norwegian Deeps. Larvae and post-larvae are widely distributed in Atlantic water masses across the northern part of the North Sea. Around May young fish appear along the coast of Norway, Shetland and Scotland.
When saithe exceed 60 to70 cm in length, they change their diet from plankton (krill, copepods) to fish (mainly Norway pout, blue whiting, haddock and herring). Large saithe (longer than 70 cm) have a highly migratory behaviour and the feeding migrations extend from far into the Norwegian Sea to across the Norwegian Deeps to the coast.
Mainly directed trawl fishery
Over the last 38 years, average annual catch has been 132 000 tonnes. The catch in 2005 was 110 000 tonnes. Saithe in the North Sea are mainly taken in a directed trawl fishery in deep water near the Northern Shelf Edge and the Norwegian Deeps. The majority of the catches are taken by Norwegian, French and German trawlers. In the first half of the year, the fishery is directed towards mature fish, while immature fish dominate in the catches the rest of the year.
Norway has 57 % of the total allowable catch, and in a typical year, about 78 % of the Norwegian catch originates from bottom trawl, 13 % from gillnet and long-line, 9 % from purse seine and one % from other fishing gears.
Regulations and by-catches
In addition to quota regulations there are regulations aiming at protecting immature fish. In Norwegian waters, minimum catching size is 32 cm, and minimum mesh size in trawl and Danish seine is 120 mm. Discarding of commercial species is not allowed. In EU waters, minimum landing size is 35 cm and minimum mesh size 110 mm. There is no minimum catching size in EU waters. As a result, fishers in EU waters discard undersized fish and over quota fish.
By-catches of other species are low, and by-catches of sea mammals are rare.
Stock status and setting of quotas
Fishing mortality has declined since 1986, and ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and the harvest of North Sea saithe is sustainable.