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North Sea Autumn Spawning herring

Management Plan for North Sea Herring
(Agreed between the European Union and Norway on 02 Dec 1997, last update on 15 Dec 2001)

The parties agreed to continue to implement the management system for North Sea herring, which entered into force on 1 January 1998 and which is consistent with the precautionary approach and designed to ensure a rational exploitation pattern and provide for stable and high yields. This system consists of the following:

1. Every effort shall be made to maintain a level of SSB greater than the Minimum Biological Acceptable Level (MBAL) of 800,000 t.

2. A medium-term management strategy, by which annual quotas shall be set for the directed fishery and for by-catches in other fisheries as defiend by ICES, reflecting a fishing mortality rate of 0.25 for 2-ringers and older and 0.12 for 0-1 ringers, shall be implemented.

3. Should the SSB fall below a reference point of 1.3 mill.t, the fishing mortality rate referred to under paragraph 2, will be adapted in the light of scientific estimates of the precise conditions then prevailing, to ensure a rapid recovery of SSB to levels in excess of 1.3 mill. t.
The recovery plan referred to above may, inter alia, include additional limitations on effort in the form of special licensing of vessels, restrictions on fishing days, closing of areas and/or seasons, special reporting requirements or other appropriate control measures.

4. By-catches of herring may only be landed in ports where adequate sampling schemes to effectively monitor the landings have been set up. All catches landed shall be deducted from the respective quotas set, and the fisheries shall be stopped immediately in the event that the quotas are exhausted.

5. The allocation of the TAC for the directed fishery for herring shall be 29% to Norway and 71% to the Community. The by-catch quota for herring shall be allocated to the Community.

6. The Parties shall, if appropriate, consult and adjust management measures and strategies on the basis of any new advice provided by ICES including that from the assessment of the abundance of the most recent year-class.

A review of this arrangement shall take place no later than (31 December 2001) 31 December 2004.

7. This arrangement shall enter into force on (1 January 1998) 1 January 2002.

entered/updated by (Date)
Christopher Zimmermann (15-05-00/14-02-02)