Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led the International Institute of Marine Research (ICES) to exclude Russia from the Council.
– ICES Delegate Council has voted to suspend all delegates, members and experts from Russia from participating in ICES activities, writes Council in a statement.
ICES consists of 20 member countries, including Norway, and is an advisory body for fisheries management in these countries.
Every year, ICES provides quota advice for the most important fish stocks, but ultimately it is the authorities in the various countries that set the quotas in their sea areas.
As Norway does with, among other things, cod in the Barents Sea in collaboration with Russia in particular.
– Can have consequences
Leader Kåre Heggebø of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association says that they are excited about the consequences this will have for the important cooperation with the Russians.
– It is too early to conclude here, but it may have consequences for the collaboration. We are afraid of anything that could negatively affect the cod stock, he says to NRK.
Together, Norway and Russia have managed to manage the cod stock and distributed the quotas among themselves so that both countries have been able to reap the benefits in a sustainable way.
This year, the common cod quota is 708,480 tonnes. Norway’s share is 321,605 tonnes.
The two countries were the first in the world to introduce a quota system for the common cod stock.
Which has led to the cod stock today being one of the world’s largest and most robust.
Since 1958, researchers from the two countries have met annually to discuss subjects and plan joint cruises, conferences and meetings. In 1965, the researchers went on their first joint voyage.
Must deal with the situation
Geir Huse is research director at the Institute of Marine Research, and one of two Norwegian delegates in the ICES Council.
– It is of course sad that we are in this situation, but these are the realities we have to deal with, he says in a statement on the department’s websites.
– Now it is important to work to find good solutions on how we can carry out stock assessments and provide quota advice for the stocks we share with Russia, in the Barents Sea. The quota councils lay the foundation for sustainable fishing, robust stocks and the ecosystem in the north. Therefore, we must handle this situation, both in the short and possibly longer term, says Huse.
ICES points out that a number of member states have already instructed their researchers and representatives to boycott Russia, or to refrain from engaging in activities in which representatives from Russia are present.
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