The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has recommended that the shrimp fishery in the Skagerrak, Kattegat, and northern North Sea, including the Norwegian Deep, should not exceed 4,557 tonnes from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. This recommendation represents a substantial reduction in the allowable catch for this period.

Basis for the Recommendation

The advice is grounded in the EU/Norway long-term management strategy for the shrimp resource shared between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. ICES notes the social and economic importance of the shrimp fishery for the fishing communities reliant on this resource.

In 2022, ICES conducted an assessment of the Northern shrimp stock, which significantly changed the perception of the stock’s status. The new modeling approach better accounted for the species’ life history, where shrimp transition from male to female as they age, a phenomenon known as hermaphroditism. Additionally, this model addressed uncertainties in natural mortality, leading to revised reference points for management. The 2024 assessment remains largely consistent with the previous year’s findings.

Reasons for Reduction

The 11% reduction in the advised catch for the 2024-2025 season, compared to the previous year, and the 25% reduction from the current season’s Total Allowable Catch (TAC), are linked to historically low recruitment observed in 2022. There is also a noted downward trend in the biomass of shrimps aged 1-3 years, which constitute the bulk of the catch. ICES emphasizes that this reduction is essential to maintain stock above the biomass limit reference point (Blim) and to rebuild towards the maximum sustainable yield biomass trigger (MSY Btrigger).

ICES has acknowledged industry concerns regarding the discrepancies between the assessment of a growing stock and the resulting TAC reductions. The introduction of a new assessment model in 2022, which better accounts for Northern shrimp’s unique life history and uncertainties in natural mortality, has created both improved understanding and new challenges in management.

Industry Reactions

Terje Eriksen, head of Sør-Norges Fiskarlag, expressed concerns about the challenging situation for the coastal shrimp fleet, exacerbated by high fuel prices and increasing CO2 taxes. He highlighted ongoing discussions about potential fishing restrictions in the Oslo Fjord and Skagerrak.

Kåre Heggebø from the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association pointed out that while the advice is tough, there is flexibility to negotiate with the EU on setting quotas. He stressed the importance of prioritizing research to improve the situation and expressed hope that stringent measures could lead to a quick turnaround.