Bacalao

Initial Audit Report

Corrective Actions

Surveillance Audit Report

Basic description of the fleet/fishery

Fishery client: Orkla.

Fishing area: FAO area 27, ICES subarea IIa.

Fishing vessels: Vessels audited on site as fleet samples: NT-81-V; N-51-F; N-00254- VV; N-0325- VV; N-45-VV; F-43-BD; F-60-G.

Fishing method: Long line, jigging, snurrevad and fixed nets.

Certified species: Scientific name / Common name

Gadus morhua / Atlantic cod;

Management summary

The fisheries Norwegian authority is the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), which together with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), monitors the Lofoten area. In the fishing area, the bases for the ocean management are the advices from ICES and the surveys from IMR and Russian research Center. The Atlantic cod stock is managed by a system of fishing quotas.

Stock status summary

According to ICES, Atlantic cod stock is not overexploited and overfished.

Bycatch / discards

Bycatch of non-commercial species is very low and does not include any IUCN red list species. The main bycatch species are tusk, plaice, haddock, saithe and redfish. The whole catch is landed and sorted by the landing facilities. Fishermen are paid a small price for bycatch species, encouraging them to bring everything to land. Discards are illegal.

Habitat Impact 

The fleet operates only in the Lofoten area, outside protected areas. Each vessel has a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), monitored by the coast guard. Management approach measures are taken fixing Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and gear constraints to use in the event that the stocks status drop below the target level. All gears in contact with the seabed are passive gears.

Social Accountability performance

The fleet complies with the human rights and labour regulations of Norway.

Conclusion with reasons for approval

The fleet complies with Friend of the Sea requirements, without any non-conformities.

Corrective Actions

Atlantic cod, saithe – Mixed gears – FAO 27

Species: Gadus morhua, Pollachius virens
Gear type: Danish seine, hand line, longline
Fishing Area: FAO Area 27

Fishery management

The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) is the competent regional organisation for fisheries management in the region (FAO Statistical Area 27). NEAFC takes advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the intergovernmental organisation conducting research on marine resources in the North Atlantic.

In Iceland, the Icelandic Marine Research Institute (Hafrannsóknastofnun) also conducts regular research on the status of all major exploitable stocks. For instance, regular sampling is conducted from landings and the individuals length measured and weighed as well as determining their sex and gonad maturity.

Stock status:

Atlantic cod

The spawning stock biomass of cod in Icelandic waters is increasing and it is higher than has been observed over the last four decades. Fishing mortality has declined significantly in the last decade and it is presently at its historical low (ICES data published in 2016). Hence the stock of atlantic cod is currently not overexploited nor overfished.

Saithe

The spawning stock biomass of saithe in Icelandic waters in 2016 was above the MSY B_trigger. Fishing mortality has declined from 2009 and it is presently below F_MSY (ICES data published in 2016). Hence the stock of saithe is currently not overexploited nor overfished.

Discards:

A total discard ban is set within the fishery and all catch is required to be landed. This is monitored in Iceland by the Directorate of Fisheries (Fiskistofa) at the port during unloading, by observers on the vessels, and by the coast guard at sea.

Resources:

Icelandic Marine Research Institute http://www.hafro.is/undir_eng.php?ID=9&REF=2

Icelandic Fisheries http://www.fisheries.is/

ICES http://www.ices.dk/Pages/default.aspx