International fishery and status of demersal fishes stocks in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters

Quantitative characteristics of commercial demersal fish in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters of the Norwegian and Greenland Seas are shown. The definition of demersal fish used in the Russian scientific literature is given. The ratio of yield of all species in international and Russian catch of demersal fish resided this part of the world’s oceans, i. e. the representatives of the cod family (Gadidae), flatfishes (Pleuronectidae), wolffishes (Anarhichadidae) and redfishes (Sebastes) are demonstrated. The main fishing areas of flatfish in the Barents Sea are shown. The harvest control system of Gadoids is shown and proportion of their total biomass allowed for removal by fishery is determined. On the basis of the ICES Arctic Fisheries Working Group results obtained in 2018 the status of the stocks of cod, haddock, saithe at the beginning of 2009–2018 is assessed. In order to analyze the current state of Gadidae stocks current values of the spawning biomass are compared with pre-defined biological reference points. The annual catches of these species in the 2009–2018 are shown. The dynamics of catches, total and spawning stocks of redfishes in 2008–2017 are given in comparison with their long-term mean values. Trends in the dynamics of stocks are identified for all stocks considered. Based on 2018 AFWG report the stock characteristics of the Greenland halibut and its annual catches in 2009–2018 are shown. For other species of demersal fish (plaice, long rough dab and wolffishes) which stocks are assessed by scientific surveys, and biological reference points are not specified, the current stock values are presented in comparison with the average annual indices. A general conclusion on the status of stocks of commercial demersal fish in the Barents Sea is drawn. 

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