Norway’s Pelagisk Forening has asked fisheries authorities to change harvesting rules so vessels can legally sort mackerel from North Sea herring and sandeel catches at sea.
The industry group said current rules under sections 54 and 54A of the harvesting regulations were designed to prevent illegal fish dumping, but argued the framework is outdated.
Pelagisk Forening said the regulations are based on rules that are at least 20 years old and no longer reflect modern monitoring technology or fisheries controls.
Industry seeks higher value from catches
The organisation said low quotas make value creation increasingly important for the pelagic sector. It argued that separately sorting mackerel from North Sea herring catches would allow the mackerel to be sold at a far higher price instead of being landed together with herring.
The same applies to mackerel taken as bycatch in the sandeel fishery, according to the association.
Pelagisk Forening proposed allowing vessels to use onboard equipment that directs mackerel into separate tanks, provided the systems make it physically impossible to discharge fish overboard.
REM monitoring highlighted
The association also pointed to stricter monitoring requirements in UK waters, including REM systems that monitor fishing gear, pumps and winches. It said the technology makes illegal dumping difficult to conceal.
According to the group, large parts of Norway’s North Sea herring quota are now caught in UK waters, where REM requirements already apply.
Call for talks with UK authorities
Pelagisk Forening asked Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries to review the regulations together with the ministry, if needed.
The organisation also said UK authorities could be encouraged to consider similar regulatory changes because Britain has comparable restrictions on onboard sorting.