The demersal fisheries are highly mixed, usually with a clear target species dominating, and with low linkage to the pelagic fisheries (Table 2.5.2). Although the degree of mixing may be high, the effect of the fisheries varies among the species. More specifically, the coastal cod stock and the two redfish stocks are presently at very low levels. Therefore, the effect of the mixed fishery will be largest for these stocks. In order to rebuild these stocks, further restrictions in the regulations should be considered (e.g. closures, moratorium, and restrictions in gears).
Successful management of an ecosystem includes being able to predict the effect of a mixed fishery on the individual stocks, and ICES is requested to provide advice which is consistent across stocks for mixed fisheries. Work on incorporating mixed fishery effects in ICES advice is ongoing and various approaches have been evaluated (ICES 2006/ACFM:14). At present such approaches are largely missing due to a need for improving methodology combined with lack of necessary data. However, technical interactions between the fisheries can be explored by the correlation in fishing mortalities among species (Figure 2.5.2). The correlation in fishing mortality is positive for Northeast Arctic cod and coastal cod, and for haddock and coastal cod confirming the linkage in these fisheries. There is also a significant relationship between saithe and Greenland halibut although the linkage in these fisheries is believed to be low (Table 2.5.2). The relationships between the other fishing mortalities are scattered and inconclusive. In case of strong dependencies in fishing mortalities this method can, in principle, be used to produce consistent advice across species concerning fishing mortality. It is however too simple since this correlation is influenced by too many confounding factors whose effect cannot be removed without a detailed analysis of data with a higher resolution (e.g. saithe and Greenland halibut, and changes in stock distribution (ICES 2006/ACFM:14).
A further quantification of the degree of mixing and impact on individual stocks requires detailed information about the target species and mix per catch/landing and gear. Such data exist for some fleets (e.g. the trawler fleet), but is incomplete for other fleets. The Russian and Norwegian trawl fleet catches show spatial and temporal differences in both composition and size as well as large differences between countries (Figures 2.5.3-2.5.6). In the north eastern part of the Barents Sea the major part of the Russian catches consists of cod, whereas the Norwegian catches include a large proportion of other species (mainly shrimp). In the most western part of the Barents Sea, the Norwegian catches consist of Sebastes mentella and Greenland halibut in addition to cod, whereas the Russian catches mainly consist of cod and haddock. The main reason for this disparity is the difference in spatial resolution of the data; the Norwegian strata system extends further west and thus covers the fishing grounds of Greenland halibut, whereas the Russian strata does not. The Norwegian trawl fishery along the Norwegian coast includes areas closer to the coast and is also more southerly distributed where other species are more dominant in the catches (e.g. saithe).
Estimates of unreported catches of cod and haddock in 2002-2008 indicate that this has been a considerable problem which now seems to be decreasing. A continuous control and surveillance of this problem is necessary. Discarding of cod and haddock (and in some years also saithe) is thought to be significant in periods, although discarding of these, and a number of other species, is illegal in Norway and Russia. Data on discards are scarce, but attempts to obtain better quantification are ongoing.
