Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
Following the 2025 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting recently held in Seville, Spain, Norway announced that its quota for Atlantic bluefin tuna for the next management period (2026–2028) will increase by 25%.
The Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans reported that a total quota of about 461 tons has been secured, but Norway can also make use of a 20% quota flexibility, which means it could catch up to 535 tons of Atlantic bluefin tuna in 2026.
"Bluefin tuna is now well established in Norwegian waters, and fishing opportunities are better than ever. Now we must begin to make use of this fantastic resource," said Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
The new population assessment shows that there is a basis for a higher total quota over the next three years, so after what it described as "long and intense discussions" during the meeting in Seville, ICCAT decided to adopt an increase in the total quota for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean.
Thus, while the total allowable catch (TAC) for western Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks was set at 3,081.6 tons, the TAC for eastern Atlantic stocks, which affects Norway, was set at 48,403 tons for 2026.
Compared to the 40,570 tons in 2025, this new TAC for the eastern Atlantic represents an increase of 7,833 tons, or 19.3%.
Simultaneously with this increase, the national share of the total quota for Norway also increased, to 0.95%. Currently, 20 parties share the total quota.
Commenting on Norway's achievements at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meeting in Seville, Marianne Sivertsen Næss acknowledged the pressure her country had faced going into the ICCAT meeting.
"In recent years, we have not managed to catch the Norwegian bluefin tuna quota, which has put pressure on us in the negotiations," she said, before encouraging Norwegian fishermen to participate in fishing for this species with great commercial potential.
"At a time of quota reductions in many fisheries, I hope that strengthened opportunities in this fishery can be positive for fishers who wish to participate," she said.
"This is a first-class food fish and a resource we should be able to fully utilize. In the coming years, we will work so that more Norwegian vessels can participate in the fishery," Næss added.
Among the fisheries facing a quota reduction is, for example, mackerel. As reported by WeAreAquaculture, the Northeast Atlantic mackerel stock is at its lowest level in 20 years.
This could lead to a crisis, especially following the disagreement between the European Union, which supports ICES' advice of a 77% year-on-year quota reduction, while most members of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) rejected this limit.
Mackerel plays an important role in Norway's seafood exports, even overtaking salmon in terms of export value in September, according to figures from the Norwegian Seafood Council.
The same applies to king crab, an increasingly important species for Norwegian exports, especially to the United States, for which the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research has recommended a 44% year-on-year reduction in the 2026 quota.