Image: Fiskeribladet / FIS

New regulations in fishing for halibut

NORWAY
Thursday, June 08, 2023, 07:00 (GMT + 9)

Extended protection during the spawning period, increased minimum size, new gear restrictions and reporting requirements are among the regulations that came into force on 1 June 2023.

Source: Fiskeribladet

The halibut population seems to have had a positive development with good recruitment in the north, but due to increased fishing efforts, new regulations have now been introduced. In the south, the population situation has been weak for a long time, which means that there is a need for reconstruction here.

Equipment limitations

Photo: HBLAD-->

In order to avoid local depletion of the stock, gear restrictions have been introduced per vessels in the halibut fishery. In longline fishing for halibut, a limit of a maximum of 1,200 hooks and 15,000 meters total length per year applies. Day and night. When fishing with nets for halibut, a limit of 150 nets (each 27.5 meters) per vessel.

At the same time, requirements have been introduced for the reporting of fixed gear in fishing for halibut. This also applies within the fjord lines, and the reporting requirement includes, among other things, positions and the number of meters of yarn in the individual links and/or the number of hooks in the individual sets.

Total peace

The spawning protection for halibut in the period b.o.m. 20 December until 31 March has now been extended to apply to all tools throughout the country, similar to what previously applied in the south. This means that it is also not permitted to fish for halibut with a rod or handline during the conservation period.

Source: NDLA

When fishing with nets and lines, during the protection period, it will be possible to have up to 1% by-catch per week, but no more than 0.5% by-catch calculated over the entire period. The by-catch access only applies to halibut that is not viable when it arrives on board, all viable catches of halibut during the conservation period must be immediately released into the sea.

New minimum goal

The minimum size for halibut has been increased from 80 to 84 cm, which corresponds to halibut of approx. 7 kg. This should help ensure recruitment and better utilization of the fish's growth potential. The increased minimum size applies to both professional and recreational fishing.

Source: Fiskeribladet

The smoking requirement for nets and lines in fishing for halibut (and plaice) has also been changed, from previously at least every three days to that the smoking requirement is now set to at least every four days. This is to facilitate a more rational operation.

In 2024, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries will carry out a new hearing where regulations in recreational and tourist fishing for halibut will be considered.

All the regulations for fishing for halibut are technical regulations that are part of the harvesting regulations.

Source: Fiskeridirektoratet (Traslated from the original in Norwegian)

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