The Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans has set the crab quotas by 2024. In line with the advice from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, following the positive population development, more snow crab can be caught next year. However, the same will not be true for king crab. Despite being a product that reaches a very high price in the market and contributes to value creation in the country, the Ministry has decided to significantly reduce the total quota, as the population size is estimated to be smaller.
"There has been a positive development in the snow crab stock, and we can harvest more snow crab in 2024," said Cecilie Myrseth, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. "Over the last six years, we have gained more and more secure knowledge about the distribution of snow crab on the Norwegian shelf in the Barents Sea, thanks to research expeditions and gear experiments. This knowledge enables us to increase the quotas," she added.
The total quota set for this year increased by 2,510 tonnes over last year to 10,300 tonnes of snow crab for catch on the Norwegian continental shelf in 2024. Of this, 542 tonnes are deducted within the 10% quota flexion and the amount by which the total quota was overfished in 2023, and 71.5 tonnes are allocated for research purposes.
Also, following the recommendation of the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, the Ministry decided to extend the closed season by one month, so that the closed season for snow crab fishing will be from July 1 to November 30. The objective is to protect the crab during the period when it molts and builds up the meat fill level, which in turn will optimize the value of the catch.
Finally, in terms of allowable traps, by 2024 they will be reduced from 9,000 to 8,000. The Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans noted that environmental problems and the management of lost and remaining traps, leading to ghost fishing and gear conflicts, have been major problems in the snow crab fishery. Therefore, to reduce the risk of trap loss, the Ministry has opted for stricter gear use in the catch.
"The king crab has contributed significantly to substantial value creation in East Finnmark over many years, with ripple effects beyond the region," appreciated Minister Myrseth. However, her following words were to announce worse news. "This year, we see a significant reduction in the total quota compared to recent years because the stock is assessed to be smaller in size than before," she said. "At the same time, we must emphasize that the stock is still within the management goal. The regulation of the king crab is largely continued, and the changes in the regulation for 2024 are made to safeguard the stock and value creation in the future."
The total king crab quota for 2024 is 1026 tons, 966 tons for males and 60 for females, up from 2375 tons for males and 120 tons for females in 2023. Of the total quota, 1 ton of male crabs is allocated to recreational fishing, 5 tons to research, and 10 tons to tourist fishing and tourist companies, with an additional 70 tons for bycatch in bottom trawling and bottom longlining. In addition, 10 tons are reserved for the continuation of the juvenile catch program. "A significant reduction in the quota advice makes it natural to reduce all allocations," Myrseth summed up.
For its part, the closure is extended by one month to also include March, thus, except for limited activities of tourist companies, March and April will be closed for king crab fishing due to its shell molting process. Short-term closures have also been approved to facilitate research expeditions inside and outside the quota area, with exceptions also for the activities of tourist companies.
Likewise, the Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean said in 2024 the landing fees for king crab will be abolished. In addition, the department headed by Cecilie Myrsetht also reported that the sales requirement of NOK 200,000 (EUR 17,688 / USD 19,435) for a full quota of king crab will be maintained next year.
Regarding the king crab sales requirement, the Ministry acknowledged that the quota model has been subject to debate since its introduction and that it has not worked as intended, partly because more participants have been allowed in the catch, and the steps in the model have not been adjusted as desired. As a result, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries proposed changes to the hearing for the 2024 regulation, although these will be delayed.
"I have decided there will be no changes now, but we will take the input from the hearing and make a thorough assessment of the entire model before proposing changes. Therefore, the sales requirement is continued at the same level in 2024 as in previous years," said the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
This will not be the only decision that will not be reflected for some time. The Ministry has also decided to limit participation in the snow crab fishery and, although the regulation with detailed conditions will be established at the beginning of 2024, the limitation will apply from January 1, 2025. "A strict limitation of the catch is necessary to ensure better profitability in snow crab fishing. Fewer participants will also provide more predictability for the actors and contribute to better control of environmental challenges that arise when there are many participants in a limited area with a lot of gear," claimed Cecilie Myrseth.
Finally, Norway has decided to allocate 10% of the total quota for the delivery of live snow crab. This will be a raw material that vessels with a permit to fish for snow crab will be able to apply for on terms negotiated with the shore-based industry. "I am keen to stimulate more activity on land," said Myrseth. "It's worth seeing if a specific earmarking of the quota can contribute. A high percentage is not allocated now. We must safeguard the profitability of the vessels, and adjustments are needed in line with new operating patterns, but if this has positive ripple effects, we can consider whether the allocation should be increased in the future." The decision will enter into force on January 1, 2025, to allow time to prepare for the arrangement.
