"This is good news for the industry during an otherwise challenging time, as the king crab stock shows a positive trend," said Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
Photo: Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans of Norway.
In 2025, there will be more Norwegian king crab. Last Friday, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research published its quota recommendation, suggesting a catch limit of 1,510 tons (male crabs). This represents an increase of 544 tons, up 56%, compared to 2024, when the recommended quota was 966 tons.
This quota increase recommendation by the Institute of Marine Research comes after two recent reduction advice for both mackerel, where it recommended reducing the fishing pressure, and capelin, for which it recommended zero quota.
"The stock assessment indicates an increase in the harvestable king crab stock, and it appears that the reduced quota this year has led to lower fishing mortality," explained Ann Merete Hjelset, responsible for stock management.
"This is good news for the industry during an otherwise challenging time, as the king crab stock shows a positive trend. We will now, as usual, review the recommendation from the Institute of Marine Research before setting the final quota for 2025," said Norway's Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, for her part.
Although it has not given a specific date, the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries will finalize the decision on the king crab quota in the course of November.
In addition to the recommendation for a maximum catch quota for king crab, the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has also recommended that unrestricted fishing outside the quota area should continue, as well as maintaining and extending the protection period as a management tool.
King crab is an introduced species in Norwegian waters. It is caught with pots, mainly in the fjords and coastal waters along East Finnmark and is managed for a dual purpose.
In East Finnmark, the aim is to maintain a long-term fishery through quota-based advice. About 1,000 vessels participate in this fishery east of Nordkapp, where the minimum catch size is 130 mm for both sexes.
However, west of Nordkapp, the king crab fishery is not restricted to limit the spread of the species and there are no minimum size requirements. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research recommendation is that free fishing outside the quota-regulated area be maintained.
"This is both to slow the spread of king crab and to ensure the management goal of keeping the king crab density in this area at a low level," said the researcher Ann Merete Hjelset.
Currently, king crab fishing is prohibited in April. This is to minimize damage to crabs that are molting and are more vulnerable and to protect them during the breeding season.
Now, along with the quota advice, by 2025 marine researchers have also suggested that this protection period be extended to the end of May. The Norwegian Institute of Marine Research believes that a longer protection period could be beneficial for the fishery.
"We see that the proportion of damaged crabs — those missing legs or claws — has increased in line with the growing fishing pressure," stated the marine researcher Ann Merete Hjelset. "A longer protection period could help alleviate this."
"The fill rate of the crabs is best in autumn and winter. If fishing takes place during this period, the crabs are of higher quality and provide better returns for the fishermen," the responsible for king crab stock management at the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research concluded.