Lumpfish catches in bottom trawl
Behavioral patterns and distribution of lumpfish in Icelandic waters makes it possible to catch the species in sufficient quantities with bottom trawl to make the species stock assessment, among other things, on trawler results. This is the opinion of the MRI scientists.
Green fishermen have complained about the agency’s low advice on maximum catch in the 2025 season, but the advice amounted to only 2,760 tonnes, which is 32% lower than in last year’s advice.
The lumpfish fishermen have argued that the advice cannot be taken seriously as it is based on trawl fishing, but lumpfish is pelagic fish caught in the net. At the same time, lumpfish fishermen point out that there has been a very good fishing on the tickets this lumpfish season.
Gudmundur J. Óskarsson, Head of the Pelagical Division of the Marine Research Institute, and James Kennedy Kennedy fisherman at the agency were sought, and they expressed an opinion on the criticism of lumpfish fishermen.
« Certainly, lumpfish is caught in the network of lumpfish fishermen, but our trawlers were in the spring fish measurement of spring (march). Electronic labels, which make it fishing in the bottom trawl, ”says in their reply.
Benefit index
In addition, a report was made in 2021, which examined the methodology for the stock assessment of lumpfish, there are the time series that the agency has to choose from in the preparation of the evaluation, which is available from march, autumn, cod and registered catches on lumpfish fishing.
« As stated in the report, the result was that the fishing of lumpfish in March (the stock survey of demersal fish in the spring) gives a useful index on the size of the stock and fishing advice should be based on it. The index comes from tow stations all over the country, » says the answer.
Catching does not give a correct picture
They count the amount of lumpfish in Marsrall reflects the size of the spawning stock of lumpfish. The agency’s data shows a correlation between the March index and the catch of seafarers who support scientists’ assessment. However, fishermen’s catches do not necessarily give a correct picture of the status of fish stocks.
« It has been shown with many utility stocks in Iceland and abroad, that the catch of a parish unit is not an optimal measure of the size of the stock with regard to the stock assessment for numerous factors that affect them, such as the development and application of fishing gear, increased knowledge and experience of fishermen.
We believe this is the case this year, ie that data from the current season on a large catch on a unit (ie catch in the net) is not to reflect the size of the stock. The reason is a small fishing load where the average number of deducted networks from the sea is the smallest for 18 years, but the catch per unit is higher as the parish is smaller. For these reasons, we would like to use standard methods between years in stock assessment when possible, as we do in the springfish stock measurement in the spring and most other initial assessment guides. Based on the index of demersal fish measurements in the spring of 2025, the lumpfish stock is close to the historic low, which explains low fishing advice. «
Uncertainty about the ride
In questioning whether reliable data on the position of the lumpfish stock would be dealt with in the application of other fishing gear other than the bottom trolls, they answer Gudmundur and James:
« We have certainly discussed whether other methods or time series could possibly be better at assessing the size of the lumpfish stock. One expedition that has been examined in this context is a so-called mackerel expedition in July, which covers a large area of the Northeast Atlantic. The spawning stock they belong to – for example, from Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Denmark – and what their journey is.
Log in to read forward
Access to this full -length news requires a subscription.
To read it, you need to log in.
Don’t you have user access? Go to the registration.
Get a subscription to read on
You are in regulated that … But do not subscribe.
Access to this full -length article requires a subscription to Morgunblaðið, electronic access such as a weekly pass or a special subscription to the relevant content category on mbl.is.
