Referanseflåten er en gruppe aktive fiskefartøy, valgt ut som en tilnærmet stratifisert tilfeldig utvalg (stratified random sample) av fartøy fra den Norske fiskeflåten. Disse fiskefartøyenes hovedoppdrag for Havforskningsinstituttet er å bidra med informasjon om fangster og drift av fiskeriene. Fiskeridata er innsamlet ved såkalt «self sampling», hvor mannskapet om bord på fiskefartøyene selv utfører prøvetaking og dataregistrering. Formålet med denne rapporten er å redegjøre for hvordan Referanseflåten registrerer sine fangster og å presentere total fangstsammensetning i forhold til antall arter. Total har Referanseflåten registrert 271 arter mellom 2015 og 2018. I tillegg er det 39 registreringer av ikke identifiserte arter, som enten var ødelagte individer som ikke kunne identifiseres eller en bekreftet feilidentifisering som ikke kunne rettes.
Monitoring bycatches in Norwegian fisheries
— Species registered by the Norwegian Reference Fleet 2015-2018
Report series:
Rapport fra Havforskningen 2020-8
ISSN: 1893-4536
Published: 12.03.2020
Project No.: 15561
Research group(s):
Fiskeridynamikk
Program:
Barentshavet og Polhavet
Approved by:
Forskningsdirektøre(r) en:
Geir Huse
Program leader(s):
Elena Eriksen
Norsk sammendrag
Summary
The Norwegian Reference Fleet is a group of active fishing vessels, selected as an approximate stratified random sample of vessels from the Norwegian fishing fleet, and tasked with providing information about catches and general fishing activity to the Institute of Marine Research. Fisheries data is collected by the crew members themselves, an approach commonly known as self-sampling of catches. This report aims to give an overview of how the Norwegian Reference Fleet record their catches and presents the reported catch composition with regards to number of species. A total of 271 species have been recorded by the Norwegian Reference Fleet between 2015 and 2018. There are an additional 39 records of unidentified species, which can occur because of excessive damage limiting an identification or a known misidentification that cannot be rectified.
1 - Background and objectives
Monitoring bycatches in fisheries has become an integral part of fisheries management with regards to sustaining healthy ecosystems and the fisheries they support (Bellido et al. 2011). The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in collaboration with the Norwegian fishing fleets, has developed the Norwegian Reference Fleet, a self-sampling programme used as a platform for supporting stock assessments with additional biological data including fishing effort, catch composition and bycatches. Since it was established in 2000, the data have been routinely used in stock assessments, but so far there have been relatively few publications on bycatch issues based on these data (e.g. Fangel et al. 2015; Bjørge & Moan 2017; Bærum et al., 2019). The aim of this report is to document the scope of sampling by the Norwegian Reference Fleet and provide an overview of the available data with regards to species reported in catches. A summary of species registered by the Norwegian Reference Fleet are provided in this report, along with the full dataset available for download ( http://metadata.nmdc.no/metadata-api/landingpage/19d05ab8e0afe1ceac1b2be3ddf68612 ). Also included is an overview of the fisheries and fishing vessel categories that are prioritised in the Norwegian Reference Fleet, and the procedures used for reporting and sampling catches.
2 - The Norwegian Reference Fleet
2.1 - Aims of the project
The Norwegian Reference Fleet is a group of active fishing vessels tasked with providing information about catches and general fishing activity to the Institute of Marine Research. The fleet consists of both high-seas and coastal vessels that cover most of Norwegian waters. The High-seas Reference Fleet began in 2000 and was expanded to include coastal vessels in 2005. The four main goals of the Norwegian Reference Fleet are to:
- Support stock assessments with biological data including:
- Length composition of catches (length and weight measurements for all species captured)
- Age composition of catches (otolith and scale collected)
- Quality control and facilitation of data for stock-assessment
- Document the fishing effort and catch composition of total catches, including bycatch, discards and catches of non-commercial species, seabirds and sea mammals to provide data for the monitoring of biodiversity, fishing effort and catch per unit effort (CPUE) over time
- Provide a platform for the collection of additional samples from fisheries.
- Increase collaboration and strengthen dialogue between researchers and the fishing industry.
2.2 - Vessel selection
The selection of vessels in the Norwegian Reference Fleet is required by law to follow an open tender process. The tender lists a series of criteria which are based on prioritised fisheries, vessel specifications and fishing gears (full description in Appendix Tables A1 and A2). These criteria prioritise data needed for stock assessments for commercially important stocks and reflect both spatial and temporal variation of fishing fleets. If multiple vessels are eligible under a certain category, then the contract is awarded randomly. The goal of the tender specifications and selection process is to approximate stratified random sampling, such that the Norwegian Reference Fleet is representative of the general fleet activity. A contract lasts for a period of four years, although renewal is possible if the vessel is still eligible.
For the larger vessels (>28m vessel length) in the Norwegian fishing fleet, the fisheries prioritised in the High-seas Reference Fleet are:
demersal fisheries for cod, haddock and saithe north of latitude 62°N.
demersal fisheries for cod, haddock and saithe south of latitude 62°N.
beaked redfish trawl fishery.
Greenland halibut fishery.
ling and tusk fisheries with gillnet and longline.
wolfish fishery with longline in the Barents Sea.
pelagic fisheries with purse seine for herring, mackerel and saithe.
industrial trawl fisheries south of latitude 62°N and in the North Sea targeting sandeel, Norwegian pout and blue whiting for fish-meal production.
pelagic trawl fisheries for herring, mackerel, blue whiting and silver smelt.
For the smaller vessels (<28m vessel length) in the Norwegian fishing fleet, the fisheries prioritised in the Coastal Reference Fleet are:
demersal fisheries for cod, haddock and saithe north and south of latitude 62°N (with particular focus on the Norwegian coastal cod component).
Greenland halibut fishery.
wrasse fishery with pots supplying cleaner fish to fish-farms.
anglerfish fishery with gillnet.
shrimp trawl fishery in the Skagerrak and North Sea.
In general, the demersal fisheries have been prioritised in both the High-seas and Coastal Reference Fleet, although for different reasons . Larger vessels in the demersal fisheries process their catches on board, meaning that at-sea sampling is necessary for obtaining length and age data of catches before they are processed. The fisheries prioritised in the Coastal Reference Fleet represent the most important fisheries in this sector of the Norwegian fishing fleet, which primarily target demersal species.
Vessels in the Norwegian Reference Fleet have the possibility to shift fisheries and target species, as long as it is in the constraints of the contract. This flexibility prevents excessive replacement of vessels due to vessels making small changes to their harvesting strategies, and because of the unpredictable nature of some fisheries. This means that there is a likelihood that not all prioritised fisheries will be covered by the Norwegian Reference Fleet each year. In addition, coastal fishing vessels are very adaptable to changes in the fisheries and can switch fishing gears and harvest strategies on very short timescales. Therefore, the Coastal Reference Fleet often provide additional data outside of the scope of the requirements and prioritised fisheries for each vessel category.
In 2019, the High-seas and Coastal Reference Fleet consisted of 16 and 22 vessels respectively (Appendix Tables A3 and A4). The number of vessels in the Norwegian Reference Fleet has been relatively stable throughout the period 2015–2019, with some vessels leaving the fleet after the contract period or for other reasons such as the fishing company selling the vessel. In each case, tenders were made to replace these vessels, although not always immediately after the contract was terminated.
2.3 - Sampling protocol and data handling
New vessels entering the Norwegian Reference Fleet are equipped with the necessary equipment and crew members are trained by IMR staff to ensure standardised sample processing and measurements. Alongside constant reporting of fishing activity and retained catches, bycatches and discards are also reported at regular intervals. The routine for documenting bycatches and discards in catches, and the sampling effort varies between fisheries and vessels (Appendix B). Bycatch of seabirds, sea mammals and rare fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark) are also recorded for every fishing operation. From 2019, registering bycatch of corals and sponges is also included in the procedures.
Fishers are motivated to follow the protocol both through payment and an understanding of the importance of the collected data for stock assessment and management of the fisheries. Payment is effort based, with a price both for number of fish measured and number of species recorded in each catch, in order to give an incentive for fishers to use more time to follow the procedures correctly. The fishing vessels commitment to carry out this task is also outlined in the contract. There is an agreement between fishers, IMR and the relevant authorities that these data shall not be requested for enforcement purposes. This ensures that vessels can honestly report their catches without risk of prosecution, ensuring the data reflects the true catches. It is important to note that to date, this agreement has not been compromised.
Data are recorded electronically and regularly delivered to a database at IMR, where assigned IMR staff run quality control checks before approval. IMR staff are in regular contact with crew and skippers, and visit the vessels to provide support for self-sampling. C rew are also given training on species identification and new equipment both at sea and on land, and are issued the necessary literature to assist in species identification. If crew are uncertain about a species, they are encouraged to send photographs or samples to IMR for verification by taxonomists.
3 - Species registered by the Norwegian Reference Fleet
Data from Norwegian Reference Fleet vessels targeting Norwegian fish stocks between 2015 and 2018 is shown in Figure 1. Data from 2019 were incomplete at the time of publication and are therefore not included in this report. Species lists were generated for fishing gears used by the High-seas and Coastal Reference Fleet, divided between two areas north and south of 62°N latitude. Not all fishes were identified to species level, and are therefore grouped separately, whilst animals in other species groups were identified to different taxonomic levels.
A comprehensive list of registered species has been archived by the Norwegian Marine Data Centre at IMR ( http://metadata.nmdc.no/metadata-api/landingpage/19d05ab8e0afe1ceac1b2be3ddf68612 ), and is summarised by
species group in Figure 2. Tables 1-4 list the 30 most common species registered by vessel category. For each fishing gear, Table 2 lists the fisheries represented by target species. A total of 271 species have been recorded in 33,381 fishing operations by the Norwegian Reference Fleet between 2015 and 2018. There are an additional 39 records of unidentified species, which occur from issues flagged during quality control that cannot be rectified.
The list includes both landed and discarded species, but it is important to note that the Norwegian Reference Fleet do not record whether an animal was dead or alive when discarded. Reported quantities of catches are not provided as they are based on the relevant sampling protocols for a fishing gear. Therefore, reliable estimates of total catches for any given species in a fishery require dedicated methods for extrapolation, which is out of the scope of this report.


Table 1. List of the most common species registered tin total catches by the High-seas Reference Fleet, north of 62°N latitude. Species are listed in descending order with the most regular occurring species in the top row.
Gillnet bottom-set | Hook longline | Seine demersal | Seine purse | Trawl bottom | Trawl industrial | Trawl pelagic | Trawl shrimp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic cod | Atlantic cod | Atlantic cod | Saithe | Atlantic cod | Blue whiting | Saithe | Deep sea shrimp |
Saithe | Haddock | Saithe | Atlantic herring | Haddock | Greater argentine | Atlantic herring | Long rough dab |
Haddock | Starry skate | Haddock | Atlantic cod | Golden redfish | Saithe | Redfishes | Deepwater redfish |
Ling | Spotted catfish | Ling | Haddock | Saithe | Atlantic herring | Blue whiting | Capelin |
Golden redfish | Northern wolffish | Tusk | Mackerel | Deepwater redfish | Redfishes | Greater argentine | Polar cod |
Tusk | Long rough dab | Atlantic halibut | Capelin | Starry skate | Haddock | Spurdog | Sclerocrangon |
Pollack | Tusk | Golden redfish | Bluefin tuna | Greenland halibut | Argentines | Atlantic cod | Spotted snake blenny |
Long rough dab | Atlantic catfish | Atlantic catfish | Gulls | Spotted catfish | Mackerel | Haddock | Atlantic hookear sculpin |
Atlantic halibut | Golden redfish | Anglerfish (monk) | Tusk | Long rough dab | Golden redfish |
| Snakeblenny |
Greenland halibut | Greenland halibut | Lumpsucker | Anglerfish (monk) | Atlantic catfish | Lanternfishes |
| Atlantic cod |
Rabbitfish | Round skate | European plaice | Atlantic halibut | Lumpsucker | Porbeagle shark |
| Atlantic poacher |
Blackmouthed dogfish | Atlantic halibut | Long rough dab | Blue whiting | Northern wolffish | Velvet belly |
| Lycodes |
Starry skate | Ling | Redfishes | Ling | Atlantic halibut | European hake |
| Sea tadpole |
European hake | Saithe | Greater argentine | Lumpsucker | Tusk | Ling |
| Greenland halibut |
Atlantic herring | Deepwater redfish | European hake | Red king crab | Flounder | Silvery pout |
| Snailfishes |
Anglerfish (monk) | Rough rattail | Lemon sole | Salmons | Greater argentine | Anglerfish (monk) |
| Shrimps |
Spurdog | Spinytail skate | Spotted catfish |
| Ling | Atlantic cod |
| Haddock |
Whiting | Rabbitfish | Whiting |
| Blue whiting | Blackmouthed dogfish |
| Prawns |
European plaice | Greater forkbeard | Deepwater redfish |
| Round skate | Dealfish |
| Spotted catfish |
Greater forkbeard | Esmark's eelpout | Flatfishes |
| Whiting | Deepwater redfish |
| Threespot eelpout |
Spotted catfish | Blackmouthed dogfish | Starry skate |
| Spinytail skate | Greater forkbeard |
| White barracudina |
Deepwater redfish | Arctic skate | Rabbitfish |
| Norway redfish | Long rough dab |
| Eelpouts |
Northern wolffish | Velvet belly | Grey gurnard |
| Greater forkbeard | Norway pout |
| Glacial eelpout |
Megrim | Norway redfish | Righteye flounders |
| Rabbitfish | Norway redfish |
| Snow crab |
Rough rattail | Blue skate | Greater forkbeard |
| Lemon sole | Pollack |
| Golden redfish |
Atlantic catfish | European plaice | Skates and rayes |
| Pollack | Spurdog |
| Starry skate |
Norway redfish | Blue ling | Spurdog |
| Megrim | Whiting |
| Atlantic catfish |
Lumpsucker | Roundnose grenadier |
|
| Anglerfish (monk) |
|
| Barracudinas |
Redfishes | Spurdog |
|
| Esmark's eelpout |
|
| Bigeye sculpin |
Round skate | Whiting |
|
| European hake |
|
| Shorthorn sculpin |
Table 2. List of the most common species registered tin total catches by the High-seas Reference Fleet, south of 62°N latitude. Species are listed in descending order with the most regular occurring species in the top row.
Gillnet bottom-set | Hook longline | Seine purse | Trawl bottom | Trawl industrial | Trawl pelagic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic cod | Ling | Atlantic herring | Saithe | Blue whiting | Blue whiting |
Saithe | Haddock | Mackerel | Ling | Norway pout | Mackerel |
Haddock | Atlantic cod | Saithe | European hake | Saithe | Norway pout |
Ling | Tusk | Atlantic cod | Atlantic cod | European hake | Atlantic herring |
European hake | Saithe | Grey gurnard | Haddock | Silvery pout | Horse mackerel |
Anglerfish (monk) | Small-spotted catshark |
| Mackerel | Atlantic cod | Argentines |
Whiting | Cuckoo ray |
| Grey gurnard | Ling | Saithe |
Pollack | Blue skate |
| Anglerfish (monk) | Argentines | European hake |
Mackerel | Whiting |
| Tusk | Horse mackerel | Silvery pout |
Starry skate | Pollack |
| Megrim | Anglerfish (monk) | Ling |
European plaice | Spurdog |
| Atlantic herring | Haddock | Anglerfish (monk) |
Tusk | European hake |
| Lemon sole | Witch | Atlantic cod |
Spurdog | Anglerfish (monk) |
| Horse mackerel | Argentine | Whiting |
Small-spotted catshark | Atlantic catfish |
| Blue whiting | Mackerel | Long rough dab |
Witch | Starry skate |
| Greater argentine | Velvet belly | Argentine |
Atlantic halibut | European conger eel |
| Starry skate | Whiting | Haddock |
Megrim | Grey gurnard |
| Pollack | Atlantic herring | Pollack |
Horse mackerel | Blackmouthed dogfish |
| Whiting | Long rough dab | Velvet belly |
Atlantic catfish | Greater forkbeard |
| Atlantic halibut | Pollack | Hakes |
Grey gurnard | Shagreen ray |
| Cuckoo ray | Pearlside | Atlantic catfish |
Long rough dab | Triglops |
| Triglops | Blackmouthed dogfish | Boarfish |
Tub gurnard | Rabbitfish |
| Witch | Blue-mouth redfish | Greater argentine |
Atlantic herring | Longnosed skate |
| Greenland halibut | Spurdog | Rockfishes |
Cuckoo ray | Atlantic halibut |
| Deepwater redfish | Poor cod | Triglops |
Longnosed skate | Thornback ray |
| Greater forkbeard | Sand eel | Witch |
Lemon sole | Blue-mouth redfish |
| Atlantic catfish | Atlantic catfish |
|
Spotted ray | Deepwater redfish |
| Blackmouthed dogfish | Tusk |
|
Turbot | European plaice |
| Golden redfish | Grey gurnard |
|
Dab | Golden redfish |
| Long rough dab | Greater forkbeard |
|
Starry smooth-hound | Sandy ray |
| Roundnose grenadier | Norway lobster |
|
Table 3. List of the most common species registered tin total catches by the Coastal Reference Fleet, north of 62°N latitude. Species are listed in descending order with the most regular occurring species in the top row.
Gillnet bottom-set | Hook longline | Other | Pot | Seine demersal | Seine purse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edible crab | Haddock | Mackerel | Edible crab | Atlantic cod | Atlantic herring |
Atlantic cod | Saithe | Saithe | Tusk | Haddock | Mackerel |
Stone crab | Atlantic cod | Pollack | European plaice | Saithe | Saithe |
Saithe | Tusk | Atlantic herring | Atlantic cod | European plaice | Atlantic cod |
Haddock | Golden redfish | Horse mackerel | Red king crab | Anglerfish (monk) | Pollack |
Ling | Atlantic halibut | Atlantic cod | European lobster | Lumpsucker | Horse mackerel |
Atlantic halibut | Ling | Whiting | Atlantic catfish | Atlantic halibut | European hake |
Pollack | Whiting |
| European conger eel | Megrim | Haddock |
Anglerfish (monk) | Velvet belly |
| Shorthorn sculpin | Atlantic catfish | Whiting |
Tusk | Blackmouthed dogfish |
| Common harbour seal | Ling |
|
Rabbitfish | Mackerel |
| Saithe | Dab |
|
Golden redfish | Norway redfish |
| Norway lobster | Norway pout |
|
European hake | Rabbitfish |
| Atlantic halibut | Spotted catfish |
|
Megrim | Atlantic catfish |
| Common dragonet | Turbot |
|
European plaice | Greenland halibut |
| Fourbeard rockling | Tusk |
|
Lemon sole | Skates and rayes |
| Hooknose | Grey gurnard |
|
Whiting | Grey gurnard |
| Ling | Pollack |
|
Blackmouthed dogfish | Starry skate |
| Shore rockling | Whiting |
|
Norway redfish | Pollack |
| Stone crab | Redfishes |
|
Starry skate | Greater forkbeard |
|
| Brill |
|
Lumpsucker | European hake |
|
| Golden redfish |
|
Spurdog | Spotted catfish |
|
| Lemon sole |
|
Grey gurnard | Deepwater redfish |
|
| Thornback ray |
|
Poor cod | Anglerfish (monk) |
|
| Norway lobster |
|
Velvet belly | Spurdog |
|
| Rockfishes |
|
Thornback ray | Redfishes |
|
| Spotted ray |
|
Greater forkbeard | Rough rattail |
|
|
|
|
Small-spotted catshark | Horse mackerel |
|
|
|
|
Mackerel | European plaice |
|
|
|
|
Atlantic herring | Edible crab |
|
|
|
|
Table 4. List of the most common species registered tin total catches by the Coastal Reference Fleet, south of 62°N latitude. Species are listed in descending order with the most regular occurring species in the top row.
Gillnet bottom-set | Gillnet pelagic | Net fyke | Other | Pot | Seine demersal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stone crab | Mackerel | Atlantic cod | Mackerel | Corkwing | Atlantic cod |
Atlantic cod | Atlantic herring | Ballan wrasse | Horse mackerel | Goldsinny wrasse | Haddock |
Pollack | Saithe | Corkwing | Pollack | Ballan wrasse | European plaice |
Ling | Garfish | Cuckoo wrasse | Saithe | Cuckoo wrasse | Anglerfish (monk) |
Rabbitfish | Lumpsucker | Goldsinny wrasse | Greater sand eel | Edible crab | Pollack |
Edible crab | Pollack | Pollack | Atlantic herring | Smallmouthed wrasse | Grey gurnard |
Saithe | Spurdog | Poor cod | Atlantic salmon | European eel | Dab |
Haddock | European hake | Smallmouthed wrasse | Whiting | Green shore crab | Turbot |
Anglerfish (monk) | Razorbill | Bullheads and sculpins | Atlantic cod | Atlantic cod | Atlantic halibut |
European hake | Trout | Green shore crab | Grey gurnard | European lobster | Saithe |
Spurdog | Atlantic cod | Yarrell's blenny | Garfish | Bullheads and sculpins | Lemon sole |
Velvet belly | Atlantic salmon | European eel | Red mullet | Pollack | Spurdog |
Megrim | Ballan wrasse | Black goby | Sand lances | Poor cod | Brill |
Norway redfish | Common eider | Edible crab | Blue whiting | Saithe | Ling |
Tusk | Cuckoo wrasse | Viviporous eelpout | Cormorants | Tadpole fish | Megrim |
Witch | Edible crab | Shanny | Poor cod | Shanny | Whiting |
Blackmouthed dogfish | Northern fulmar | Ling | Rainbow trout | Black goby | European hake |
Grey gurnard | Whiting | Saithe |
| Viviporous eelpout | John dory |
Poor cod |
| Lemon sole |
| Ling | Skates and rayes |
Lemon sole |
| Righteye flounders |
| Fivebeard rockling | Thornback ray |
Blue ling |
| Common topknot |
| Gobies | Tub gurnard |
Blue whiting |
| Eels |
| Munida | Atlantic catfish |
Starry skate |
| Whiting |
| Butterfish | Flounder |
Horse mackerel |
| Zoarcoids |
| Hyas | Greater weever |
Atlantic halibut |
| Butterfish |
| Yarrell's blenny | Lumpsucker |
Long rough dab |
| Flatfishes |
| Three-bearded rockling | Rabbitfish |
Mackerel |
| Goatfishes |
| Shorthorn sculpin | Righteye flounders |
Turbot |
| Pricklebacks |
| Common topknot | Stone crab |
Whiting |
| Tadpole fish |
| Rocklings | Witch |
Longnosed skate |
| Trout |
| Norway bullhead | Edible crab |
Table 5. Description of target species for each fishing gear used by the Norwegian Reference Fleet. Area is relative to 62°N latitude.
Gear type | Area | Fleet | Vessel categories | Target Species |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hook jigging | North | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessels north Gillnet/longline vessel south | Cod, saithe |
South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Cod, saithe, pollock, mackerel | |
Hook longline | North | High-seas | Longline/gillnet vessel | Cod, haddock, saithe, wolffish, ling, tusk, Greenland halibut |
South | High-seas | Longline/gillnet vessel | Cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk | |
North | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessels north | Cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk, Greenland halibut | |
Hook trolling | North | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Mackerel |
South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Mackerel | |
Gillnet bottom-set | North | High-seas | Longline/gillnet vessel Gillnet vessel (Barents Sea) | Cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk, Greenland halibut |
Gillnet vessel (North Sea) | Cod | |||
South | High-seas | Longline/gillnet vessel Gillnet vessel (North Sea) | Cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk | |
North | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessels north. | Cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk, Greenland halibut, anglerfish | |
Gillnet/longline vessel south Shrimp trawler (9-15m) | Cod, haddock, saithe | |||
South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Cod, haddock, saithe, ling, tusk | |
Shrimp trawler (9-15m) | Cod, haddock, saithe | |||
Gillnet pelagic | South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Mackerel |
Net fyke | South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Wrasse, cod?? |
Net pound/lift | South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Mackerel |
Pot | North | Coastal | Demersal seine vessel south | Mackerel |
Gillnet/longline vessel south | Wrasse, brown crab, Nephrops | |||
South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Wrasse, brown crab, Nephrops | |
Demersal seine vessel south | Nephrops | |||
Seine demersal | North | High-seas | Demersal/purse seine vessel | Cod, haddock |
North | Coastal | Demersal seine vessel north Demersal seine vessel south | Cod, haddock, saithe | |
South | Coastal | Demersal seine vessel south | Cod, haddock, saithe | |
Shrimp trawler 9-15m | Cod | |||
Seine purse | North | High-seas | Demersal/purse seine vessel | Saithe, herring, mackerel, sprat, horse mackerel |
Industry trawler | Herring | |||
North | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessels north | Herring | |
Demersal seine vessel south Gillnet/longline vessel south | Herring, mackerel | |||
South | Coastal | Demersal seine vessel south | Mackerel, horse mackerel | |
Gillnet/longline vessel south | Mackerel | |||
Seine beach | North | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessels north. | Herring |
South | Coastal | Gillnet/longline vessel south | Mackerel | |
Trawl demersal | North | High-seas | Demersal factory trawler | Cod, haddock, saithe, Greenland halibut, beaked redfish |
South | High-seas | Demersal factory trawler | Saithe, Greenland halibut | |
Trawl industrial | North | High-seas | Industry trawler | Blue whiting, silver smelt, saithe |
South | High-seas | Industry trawler | Sandeel, Norwegian pout, blue whiting, saithe | |
Trawl pelagic | North | High-seas | Demersal factory trawler | Beaked redfish |
Industry trawler | Herring, mackerel | |||
South | High-seas | Industry trawler | Herring, mackerel, blue whiting, sprat | |
Trawl shrimp | North | High-seas | Demersal factory trawler | Shrimp |
South | Coastal | Shrimp trawler 9-15m Shrimp trawler 15-28m | Shrimp |
4 - References
Bellido JM, Santos MB, Pennino MG, et al (2011) Fishery discards and bycatch: solutions for an ecosystem approach to fisheries management? Hydrobiologia 670:317–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0721-5
Bjørge A, Moan A (2017) Revised estimates of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) bycatches in two Norwegian coastal gillnet fisheries. ICES By-catch WG. SC/24/BYCWG/08
Bærum KM, Anker-Nilssen T, Christensen-Dalsgaard S, et al (2019) Spatial and temporal variations in seabird bycatch: Incidental bycatch in the Norwegian coastal gillnet-fishery. PLoS One 14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212786
Fangel K, Aas Ø, Vølstad JH, et al (2015) Assessing incidental bycatch of seabirds in Norwegian coastal commercial fisheries: Empirical and methodological lessons. Glob Ecol Conserv 4:127–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2015.06.001
5 - Appendices
5.1 - Appendix A: General information on the Norwegian Reference Fleet
Table A1. Vessel requirements in the High-Seas Reference Fleet
Category | Vessel requirements | Prioritised fisheries |
---|---|---|
Demersal factory trawler | Length >39m Permit and quota for fishing with trawl for cod, haddock, saithe, north of 62°N Permit and quota for fishing with trawl for saithe, south of 62°N One or more vessels with licence for shrimp-trawl north of 62°N One vessel >53 m and equipped for fillet production One or more vessels equipped also for pelagic trawl | Cod, haddock, saithe with demersal trawl north of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles Saithe with demersal trawl south of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles Beaked redfish with pelagic/demersal trawl Greenland halibut with demersal trawl Shrimp trawl in the Barents Sea outside 12 nautical miles |
Gillnet vessel fishing mainly in the North Sea | Length 28‒40m Permit and quota for fishing with conventional gear (gillnet, longline, demersal seine) for cod south of 62°N Primary fishery for the vessel must be gillnet targeting cod in the North Sea | Cod, haddock, saithe with gillnet south of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles |
Gillnet vessel fishing mainly in the Barents Sea | Length 28‒40m Permit and quota for fishing with conventional gear (gillnet, longline, demersal seine) for cod, haddock, saithe north of 62°N Primary fishery for the vessel must be gillnet targeting cod in the Barents Sea and saithe on the fishing banks north of 62°N | Cod, haddock, saithe with gillnet north of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles Greenland halibut with gillnet |
Longline and combined longline/gillnet vessel | Length >35m Permit and quota for fishing with conventional gear (gillnet, longline, demersal seine) for cod, haddock, saithe north of 62°N Two vessels with permit and quota for fishing with conventional gear (gillnet, longline, demersal seine) for saithe south of 62°N One vessel with permit and quota for fishing with conventional gear (gillnet, longline, demersal seine) for cod south of 62°N Primary fishery for the vessel must be longline targeting cod, haddock, ling, tusk, Greenland halibut and wolffish Two vessels fishing directly saithe with gillnet both north and south of 62°N One or more vessels with activity annually west of 4°W One or more vessels fishing cod, ling and tusk in the North Sea | Cod, haddock, saithe with longline/gillnet north of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles Cod, saithe with longline/gillnet south of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles Ling and tusk with longline north and south of 62°N outside 12 nautical miles Wolffish in the Barents Sea Greenland halibut with longline/gillnet Ling, tusk with longline/gillnet west of 4°W |
Demersal seine/ purse seine vessel | Length >28m Permit and quota for fishing with conventional gear (gillnet, longline, demersal seine) for cod north of 62°N Permit and quota for fishing with purse seine for saithe north of 62°N Primary fisheries for the vessel must be with demersal seine for cod and with purse seine for saithe north of 62°N | Cod, haddock, with demersal seine north of 62°N outside 4 nautical miles Saithe with purse seine north of 62°N Norwegian Spring spawning herring with purse seine North Sea herring with purse seine Mackerel with purse seine |
Industry trawler (vessel targeting species primarily used for fish- meal production) | Licence for pelagic trawl Primary fisheries for the vessel must be with trawl for sandeel, Norwegian pout and blue whiting in the North Sea One vessel with permit and quota for fishing silver smelt with pelagic trawl north of 62°N | Sandeel with trawl in the North Sea/ south of 62°N Norwegian pout/blue whiting mixed fishery with trawl in the North Sea/ south of 62°N Saithe as retained bycatch in the North Sea/ south of 62°N trawl fishery Blue whiting with pelagic trawl outside 12 nautical miles Mackerel with pelagic trawl outside 12 nautical miles Norwegian Spring spawning herring with pelagic trawl outside 12 nautical miles North Sea herring with pelagic trawl outside 12 nautical miles North Sea sprat with pelagic trawl outside 12 nautical miles Capelin with pelagic trawl Silver smelt with pelagic trawl north of 62°N |
Table A2. Vessel categories in the Coastal Reference Fleet. See Figure A1 for map of statistical areas
Category | Vessel requirements | Prioritised fisheries |
---|---|---|
Gillnet/longline vessels north Home harbours in statistical areas 03, 04, 05, 00, 06 & 07 | Length 9‒16m Home adresse and carries out most of its fishing in one of the areas described under the vessel category Active in the predominant coastal fisheries for the area Main fishing gear is gillnet/longline | Cod, haddock, saithe with gillnet/longline coastal north of 62°N Ling and tusk with gillnet/longline coastal north of 62°N Anglerfish with gillnet north of 62°N Greenland halibut coastal fishery with gillnet/longline north of 62°N |
Gillnet/longline vessel south Home harbours in statistical areas 28, 08 & 09 | Length 9‒16m Home adresse and carries out most of its fishing in one of the areas described under the vessel category Active in the predominant coastal fisheries for the area Main fishing gear is gillnet/longline | Cod, haddock, saithe with gillnet/longline coastal south of 62°N Anglerfish with gillnet south of 62°N Mackerel coastal fishery with gillnet/jigging/other gears Wrasse pot fishery |
Demersal seine vessel north Home harbour in statistical area 03 | Length 9‒16m Home adresse and carries out most of its fishing in one of the areas described under the vessel category Active in the predominant coastal fisheries for the area Main fishing gear is demersal seine | Cod, haddock, saithe with demersal seine coastal north of 62°N |
Demersal seine vessel south Home harbour in statistical area 08 | Length 9‒16m Home adresse and carries out most of its fishing in one of the areas described under the vessel category Active in the predominant coastal fisheries for the area Main fishing gear is demersal seine | Cod, haddock, saithe with demersal seine coastal south of 62°N Mackerel coastal fishery with seine/other gears |
Shrimp trawler – Skagerrak and North Sea Home harbours in statistical areas 08 & 09 | Length 9‒15m One vessel with length 15‒28m Home adresse and carries out most of its fishing in one of the areas described under the vessel category Active in the coastal shrimp fishery Main fishing gear is shrimp trawl | Shrimp fishery in the Skagerrak and North Sea |
Table A3. List of vessels in the High-Seas Reference Fleet between 2015 and 2019
Vessel category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demersal factory trawler | Andenesfisk 1 (LJWI) Havbryn (LDBT) Hermes (LLOP) Ramoen (LMLT) Vesttind (LLDH) | Andenesfisk 1 (LJWI) Havbryn (LDBT) Hermes (LLOP) Vesttind (LLDH) | Andenesfisk 1 (LJWI) Havbryn (LDBT) Hermes (LLOP) Ramoen (LDNV) | Havbryn (LDBT) Hermes (LLOP) Ramoen (LDNV) | Gadus Neptun (LDDG) Havbryn (LDBT) Hermes (LLOP) Ramoen (LDNV) |
Gillnet vessel fishing mainly in the North Sea | Nesejenta (3WYO) Skjongholm (LHSQ) | Nesejenta (3WYO) Skjongholm (LHSQ) | Nesejenta (3WYO) Skjongholm (LHSQ) | Nesejenta (3WYO) Skjongholm (LHSQ) | Nesejenta (3WYO) Skjongholm (LHSQ) |
Gillnet vessel fishing mainly in the Barents Sea | Kato (LLJC) | Kato (LLJC) | Kato (LLJC) | Kato (LLJC) | Kato (LLJC) |
Longline/gillnet vessel | Carisma Viking (LLPZ) Nesbakk (LJZJ) O.Husby (LJQG) Vonar (LMCJ) | Carisma Viking (LLPZ) Nesbakk (LJZJ) O.Husby (LJQG) Vonar (LMCJ) | Atlantic (LIYX) Nesbakk (LJZJ) O.Husby (LJQG) Vonar (LMCJ) | Atlantic (LIYX) Nesbakk (LJZJ) O.Husby (LJQG) Vonar (LMCJ) | Atlantic (LIYX) Nesbakk (LJZJ) O.Husby (LJQG) Vonar (LMCJ) |
Demersal /purse seine vessel | Hovden Viking (JWLM) Skagøysund (LMUR) | Hovden Viking (JWLM) Skagøysund (LMUR) | Kamilla Grande (JWLM) Skagøysund (LMUR) | Kamilla Grande (JWLM) Skagøysund (LMUR) | Hovden Viking (LEYN) Skagøysund (LMUR) |
Industry trawler | Cetus (LLYM) Herøyfjord (LMHM) | Cetus (JXML) | Cetus (JXML) Håflu (LEQI) | Håflu (LEQI) Vikingbank (LLAS) | Cetus (LFFK) Håflu (LEQI) Vikingbank (LLAS) |
Table A4. List of vessels in the Coastal Reference Fleet between 2015 and 2019. See Figure A1 for map of statistical areas
Category | Statistical area | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gillnet/longline vessels north. | 03 | Solgløtt (LM2890) | Solgløtt (LM2890) | Solgløtt (LM2890) | Solgløtt (LM2890) | Solgløtt (LM2890) |
04 | Odd Yngve (LM2864) Øyværing (LM8662) | Odd Yngve (LM2864) Øyværing (LM8662) | Odd Yngve (LM2864) Øyværing (LM8662) | Odd Yngve (LM2864) Øyværing (LK3925) | MT Senior (LG7408) Øyværing (LK3925) | |
05 | Ægir (LK5045) Vornesværing (LK5647) | Ægir (LK5045) Vornesværing (LK5647) | Ægir (LK5045) Vornesværing (LK5647) | Ægir (LK5045) | Ægir (LK5045) Braken (LM7459) | |
00/05 | T.Sivertsen (LK5948) Hellskjær (LM8308) | T.Sivertsen (LK5948) Hellskjær (LM8308) | T.Sivertsen (LK5376) Hellskjær (LM8308) | T.Sivertsen (LK5376) Hellskjær (LM8308) | T.Sivertsen (LK5376) | |
00 | Rånes Viking (LK5016) Økssund (LK6737) | Rånes Viking (LK5016) Økssund (LK6737) | Rånes Viking (LK5016) Økssund (LK6737) | Rånes Viking (LK5016) Økssund (LK6737) | Rånes Viking (LK5016) Økssund (LK6737) | |
06 | Haldorson (LK4789) | Haldorson (LK4789) | Haldorson (LK4789) | Haldorson (LK4789) | Haldorson (LK4789) | |
07 | Tramsegg (LK7141) Haaværbuen (LM5498) Øygutt (LK5160) | Tramsegg (LK7141) Haaværbuen (LM5498) Leon Olai (LK2759) | Tramsegg (LK7141) Sørhav (LG4010) | Tramsegg (LG3690) Sørhav (LG4010) | Tramsegg (LG3690) Sørhav (LG4010) | |
Demersal seine vessel north | 03 | Charmi (LK3293) | Charmi (LK3293) | Kristian Gerhard (LK7556) | Kristian Gerhard (LK7556) | |
Gillnet/longline vessel south | 28 | Vester Junior LM5970) Britt Evelyn (LK6966) | Vester Junior LM5970) Britt Evelyn (LK6966) | Vester Junior LM5970) Britt Evelyn (LK6966) | Vester Junior LM5970) Britt Evelyn (LK6966) | Vester Junior LM5970) Britt Evelyn (LK6966) |
08 | Austbris (LK9305) Ramona (LK6606) Repsøy (LK3270) | Austbris (LK9305) Ramona (LK6606) Repsøy (LK3270) | Austbris (LK9305) Ramona (LK6606) Vicma (LG9311) | Austbris (LK9305) Ramona (LK6606) Eggøy (LM8940) | Trellevik (LG4914) Fjorden (LK6326) Eggøy (LM8940) | |
09 | Skogsøyjenta (LK5485) Vesleper (LM7915) | Skogsøyjenta (LK5485) | Skogsøyjenta (LK5485) | Skogsøyjenta (LK5485) | Skogsøyjenta (LK5485) | |
Demersal seine vessel south | 08 | Molinergutt (LG7405) | Molinergutt (LG7405) | Molinergutt (LG7405) | Molinergutt (LG7405) | Molinergutt (LG7405) |
Shrimp trawler (9-15m) | 09 | Brattholm (LK7238) Tormo (LM3995) | Brattholm (LK7238) Tormo (LM3995) Mostein (LK5352) | Brattholm (LK7238) Tormo (LM3995) Mostein (LK5352) | Grepan Junior (LK5485) Tormo (LM3995) Mostein (LK5352) | Brattholm (LH2820) Tormo (LM3995) |
Shrimp trawler (15-28m) | 08/09 | Guldringnes (LKZZ) |

5.2 - Appendix B: Sampling protocols
Table B1. Protocol for catch registration and sampling in the High-Seas Reference Fleet
Gear type | Catch registration | Sampling |
Demersal trawl | Every haul – the processed (landed) catch is registered and bycatch of seabirds, sea-mammals and seldom fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark). From 2019 registering bycatch of corals and sponges is also included in the procedure. One haul every other day - total catch is registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. From 2019 discards are registered separately from the retained catch per species that is processed for fishmeal. | One haul every other day – length and weight measurements are taken of up to 20 individuals of all species in the catch, both landed and from discards One haul per week – Otolith samples are taken for important demersal species |
Shrimp trawl | Every haul – the processed (landed) catch is registered and bycatch of seabirds, sea-mammals and seldom fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark). From 2019 registering bycatch of corals and sponges is also included in the procedure. One haul every other day - total catch is estimated from 3 basket samples from the catch and registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. From 2019 discards are registered separately from the retained catch per species that is processed for fishmeal. | One haul every other day – length and weight measurements are taken of up to 50 individuals of all species in the catch, both landed and from discards |
Demersal seine | Every other haul – the processed (landed) catch is registered and bycatch of seabirds, sea-mammals and seldom fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark). One haul every other day - total catch is registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. | One haul every other day – length and weight measurements are taken of up to 20 individuals of all species in the catch, both landed and from discards One haul per week – Otolith samples are taken for important demersal species |
Pelagic trawl and purse seine | Every other haul/cast – the processed (landed) catch is registered and bycatch of seabirds, sea-mammals and rare fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark). Every alternate haul/cast - total catch is registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. End of trip – if the onboard pumping of the catch is a closed system. Total catch, including bycatch species. Hauls/casts with zero catch or slipping of all/part of the catch is also registered | Every other haul/cast –samples length and weight measurements for all species in the catch. Number of individuals in a sample dependent upon the species Every other haul/cast –frozen sample of target species for length/age determination and other important variables. For some pelagic species frozen samples are taken for each catch. One catch per week – Otolith samples are taken for important demersal species |
Industrial trawl (Target species: Sandeel, Norwegian pout & Blue whiting) | Every haul – the landed catch is separated in to catch to consume and catch that is pumped into the holding tanks for fish-meal production, and registered by species. Bycatch of seabirds, sea-mammals and seldom fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark) is also registered. From 20One9 registering bycatch of corals and sponges is also included in the procedure. One haul every other day - total catch is registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. Species composition catch that is pumped into the holding tanks is estimated from 3 basket samples of following the IMR sampling procedure for catch sampling. | Every other haul – frozen sample of some target species for length/age determination and other important variables. For some species frozen samples are taken for each catch. One haul every other day – length and weight measurements are taken of samples of all species in the catch, both landed and from discards. The number of individuals in a sample dependent upon species. One haul per week – Otolith samples are taken for important demersal species |
Long-line/gillnet | Every daily catch – the processed (landed) catch is registered and bycatch of seabirds, sea-mammals and seldom fish species (e.g. porbeagle and basking shark). Effort is recorded in number of hooks/gillnets, but not soak time. Every other day – for a representative portion of the total gear hauled that day (approximately 16,000 hooks or 100 gillnets), total catch is registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. Effort is recorded in number of hooks/gillnets and soak time. | One haul every other day – length and weight measurements are taken of up to 20 individuals of all species in the catch, both landed and from discards One haul per week – Otolith samples are taken for important demersal species |
Table B2. Protocol for catch registration and sampling in the Coastal Reference Fleet
Gear type | Catch registration | Sampling |
All gear types | Each day – total catch is registered, including all bycatch species and discards of both commercial and bycatch species. Shrimp trawl – from 2019 registering bycatch of corals and sponges is also included in the procedure. Splitting the catch – if the day’s catch is taken from multiple fishing operations from different depths, fishing area or different gear types, then the catch should be split and registered separately. For example, two gillnets used the same day with different mesh-sizes and set at different depths. | One catch per week– length and weight measurements are taken of up to 20 individuals for each species in the catch, both landed and from discards. Otolith samples are taken for important demersal species |