Surveillance Visit Report for the Norway North East Arctic haddock fishery

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1 SURVEILLANCE NO. 4 Surveillance Visit Report for the Norway North East Arctic haddock fishery Norges Fiskarlag Report No.: , Rev. 0 Certificate No.: DNV-NOR-MSC-F , DNV-NOR-MSC-F , DNV-NOR-MSC-F , DNV-NOR-MSC-F , DNV-NOR-MSC-F Date: 16. August 2014

2 Surveillance audit No.: Surveillance No. 4 Report title: Surveillance Visit Report for the Norway North East Arctic haddock fishery Customer: Norges Fiskarlag Pirsenteret, 7462 Trondheim, Norway Contact person: Jan Birger Jørgensen Date of issue: 16. August 2014 Project No.: PRJC MSC-NOR Organisation unit: ZNONO418 Report No.: , Rev. 0 Certificate No: DNV-NOR-MSC-F , DNV- NOR-MSC-F , DNV-NOR- MSC-F , DNV-NOR-MSC-F , DNV-NOR-MSC-F DNV GL - Business Assurance DNV GL Business Assurance Norway AS Veritasveien HØVIK, Norway Tel: Task and objective: The objective of this report is the 4 th surveillance audit of the Norway North East Arctic haddock fishery. Prepared by: Dr. Stephen Lockwood MSC Fishery Principle expert Verified by: NA Mr. John Nichols MSC Fishery Team Leader Guro Meldre Pedersen DNV GL Project manager x Unrestricted distribution (internal and external) Keywords: Unrestricted distribution within DNV GL MSC Fisheries, Norway, North East Arctic, haddock, Limited distribution within DNV GL after 3 years surveillance No distribution (confidential) Secret Reference to part of this report which may lead to misinterpretation is not permissible. Rev. No. Date Reason for Issue Prepared by Verified by Approved by First issue Dr. Stephen Lockwood Mr. John Nichols Guro Meldre Pedersen NA NA

3 Table of contents ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS... 1 STOCK ASSESSMENT REFERENCE POINTS GENERAL INFORMATION The Unit of Certification General background about the fishery Name and contact information for the certified fishery 4 2 THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS Summary of the original assessment Surveillance level First annual surveillance, Second annual surveillance, Third annual surveillance, Fourth annual surveillance, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND ANNUAL REVIEW A summary of the biology & fishery for the NEA haddock Stock Status Impact on the ecosystem ETP Species and Sensitive Marine Habitats Changes to the management system 18 4 COC CONSIDERATIONS RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Status of previously raised conditions New conditions and recommendations Status of the Certification 22 6 CATCH DATA REFERENCES APPENDIX 1 STAKEHOLDER SUBMISSIONS Appendix 1.1 Letter from Norwegian Vessel Owners Association 25 Appendix 1.2 Forskrift om endring I forskrift om utøvelse av fisket i sjøen Beskyttelse av korallrev 26 APPENDIX 2 LIST OF MEMBER VESSELS DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page i

4 ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS ACOM (ICES) Advisory Committee AFWG ASCOBANS CPUE CRISP DoF ETP FAM HCR ICES IMR IUU JRNFC MFCA MP MSC MSY MTIF NAMMCO NE NEA NINA PI SAM SSB TAC UoC VMS VPA WGBYA WGMME WGSE XSA (ICES) Arctic Fisheries Working Group Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the North Sea Catch per unit of effort Centre for Research-based Innovation in Sustainable fish capture and Preprocessing technology Directorate of Fisheries Endangered, threatened and protected species Fisheries Assessment Mehtodology Harvest Control Rule International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Institute for Marine Research (Havforskninsinstituttet), Norway Illegal, unregulated and unreported fisheries Joint Russian Norwegian Fisheries Commission Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Management plan Marine Stewardship Council Maximum sustainable yield Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission North East North-East Arctic Norsk institutt for naturforskning / The Norwegian nature conservation agency Performance Indicator State space assessment model Spawning Stock Biomass Total allowable catch Unit of certification Vessel monitoring system Virtual population analysis (ICES) Working Group on Bycatch of Protected Species (ICES) Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology (ICES) Working Group on Seabird Ecology Extended survivorship analysis DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 1

5 STOCK ASSESSMENT REFERENCE POINTS B lim B msy B pa F F lim F max F msy F pa MSY MSY B trigger Minimum biomass below which recruitment is expected to be impaired or the stock dynamics are unknown. Biomass corresponding to the maximum sustainable yield (biological reference point); the peak value on a domed yield-per-recruit curve. Precautionary biomass below which SSB should not be allowed to fall to safeguard it against falling to Blim. Instantaneous rate of fishing mortality Exploitation rate that is expected to be associated with stock collapse if maintained over a longer time (precautionary reference point). F where total yield or yield per recruit is highest (biological reference point) F giving maximum sustainable yield (biological reference point). Precautionary buffer to avoid that true fishing mortality is at Flim when the perceived fishing mortality is at Fpa. Maximum Sustainable Yield Precautionary biomass level at which the management plan initiates specific harvest control rules to minimise the risk of further decline in biomass and concomitant risk to recruitment. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 2

6 1 GENERAL INFORMATION This report contains the findings of the fourth annual MSC Fisheries surveillance audit conducted for the Norway North East Arctic haddock fishery on June The purpose of this annual Surveillance Report is: 1. To establish and report on any material changes to the circumstances and practices affecting the original complying assessment of the fishery; 2. To monitor the progress made to comply with any Conditions raised and described in the Public Certification Report of April 2010 for offshore component of Norwegian haddock fishery and in the Public Certification Report of October 2011 for coastal component of the Norwegian haddock fishery and in the corresponding Action Plan drawn up by the client; 3. To monitor any actions taken in response to any Recommendations made in the Public Report; 4. To re-score any Performance Indicators (PI) where practice or circumstances have materially changed during the intervening year, focusing on those PIs that form the basis of Conditions raised. Please note: The primary focus of this surveillance report is to review the changes occurred since the previous year. For a complete picture of the fishery, this report should be read in conjunction with the Public Certification Report available for download at The Unit of Certification The MSC Guidelines specify that the unit of certification is the fishery or fish stock (=biologically distinct unit) combined with the fishing method, gear and practice, and the vessel(s) pursuing the fish of that stock) and management framework. The fishery covered by this certification is defined as described in Table 1. Table 1 UoC Fishery Name Species Geographical area Method of capture Stock Management Client group Other eligible fishers: Norway North East Arctic haddock Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) North East Arctic Ocean, within FAO Area 27, ICES Sub-Areas I and II Trawl, longline, gill-net, Danish seine, hook and line gears North East Arctic haddock Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission & Norwegian Authorities The client is Norges Fiskarlag on behalf of the entire Norwegian fleet. No other eligible fishers have been identified for the fishery. 1.2 General background about the fishery Norges Fiskarlag was established in 1926 as an interest group for the hitherto unorganized Norwegian fishermen. The main focus was better control of the fish brought to shore and improved working conditions in the high-risk profession. As a direct result of the organization s efforts, the Raw Fish Act was introduced in 1938, ensuring the fishermen a minimum price for fish delivered. The NFA s most important objective is to organize all professional Norwegian fishermen, and the activities embrace the political, economic, social and cultural fields of interest to its members, as well as other matters more or less directly connected to their fishing activities. The organisation is a politically independent, national organisation based on voluntary membership of fishermen via their county DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 3

7 associations and group organizations. The highest governing body of the NFA is its Congress, which consists of 69 delegates, elected by the seven county associations and two group organizations which together constitute NFA. The Congress meets biannually. Intermediate authority is exercised by the National Committee that comprises of 14 members chosen from the member organisations and elected by the Congress. The main office in Trondheim is staffed by approximately 20 people, including the General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary and sections for areas of specific interest including resource management. The NFA organizes both owners of fishing vessels and fishermen working on a share or percentage basis. The organization today represents about 25% of the registered Norwegian fishermen. NFA coordinates MSC Fisheries certification processes for the following fisheries on behalf of the entire Norwegian fleet: North East Arctic cod North East Arctic haddock North East Atlantic mackerel North Sea and Skagerrak herring Norwegian Spring Spawning herring North East Arctic saithe North Sea saithe North East Arctic Cold Water prawn 1.3 Name and contact information for the certified fishery Table 2 Client contact information Client name Norges Fiskarlag (The Norwegian Fishermen s Association) Contact Person Jan Birger Jørgensen Contact Address Pirsenteret, 7462 Trondheim, Norway fiskarlaget@fiskarlaget.no / jan.birger.jorgensen@fiskarlaget.no Telephone / DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 4

8 2 THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS 2.1 Summary of the original assessment The Norwegian Seafood Industry s application for MSC certification of its NE Arctic haddock fishery was announced September 2008 as a single Unit of Certification for each gear type (trawl, long-line, Danish seine, gill-net and jigger), both in the offshore fishery (i.e. beyond 12 miles from baselines and where catches are assumed not to include coastal cod) and in the coastal fishery, [i.e. the fishery within the Norwegian Territorial Sea where coastal cod mix with NE Arctic (offshore) cod]. Following an initial review, at which the significant issue of coastal cod by-catch was identified, each Unit of Certification was split into an offshore (outside of 12 nm limit) and inshore (inside of 12 nm limit) component (ref. Advisory to Stakeholders; Clarification on Unit of Certification 17 November 2009). The offshore component was certified in April The inshore component, which does interact with the coastal cod stocks, was assessed on a separate timeline, taking account of the developing coastal cod management plan (see Advisory to Stakeholders; Resumption of Assessment of Inshore Cod and Haddock Fisheries, 14 January 2011) and was certified as of 21st October The initial assessment processes were performed according to the requirements set out in the MSC Fisheries Certification Methodology. The default assessment tree, according to the Fisheries Assessment Methodology (FAM) version 2, was used for this certification. With the inshore fishery certified in November 2011, the inshore and offshore fisheries were recombined for each gear type, as unified Units of Certification, under a single certificate. Scope of certification is up to the point of landing and chain of custody commences from point of sale/landing. The fishery attained a score of 80 or more against each of the MSC Principles and did not score less than 60 against any of the individual MSC Criteria. Principle scores from the initial assessments are provided in Table 3 and Table 4. Table 3 Principle scores Original assessment offshore haddock Principle Trawl Long-line Gill-net Danish seine Hook and line Principle 1 Target Species Principle 2 Ecosystem Principle 3 Management System Table 4 Principle scores Original assessment inshore haddock Principle Trawl Long-line Gill-net Danish seine Hook and line Principle 1 Target Species Principle 2 Ecosystem Principle 3 Management System The fishery achieved a score of below 80 against three scoring indicators. Three conditions were set at the initial certification of offshore and inshore components of the haddock stock for continuing certification that the client is required to address. Conditions raised are identical for inshore and offshore components and are later combined. No recommendations were made at the initial certification. Conditions and recommendations are presented in full in section 5 of this annual surveillance report. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 5

9 2.2 Surveillance level The surveillance level is determined based on Table C3 and C4 in the CR requirements v1.3. Table 5 Determination of surveillance score (Ref. CR v1.3 table C3) Criteria Alternatives Surveillance score Surveillance Score Trawl Surveillance score - Long-line Surveillance score - Gillnet Surveillance score Danish seine Surveillance score Hook and line Default assessment tree used? Number of open conditions Principle Level Scores Conditions on outcome PIs? Yes 0 No Zero conditions 0 Between 1-5 conditions More than < Yes 2 No Score per gear Total score 3 Table 6 Surveillance level (Ref. CR v1.2 table C4) Year after certification or recertification Surveillance score Surveillance level Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 2 or more Normal surveillance 1 Remote surveillance Option 1 Option 2 0 Reduced surveillance On-site surveillance audit Off-site surveillance audit On-site surveillance audit Review of new information On-site surveillance audit On-site surveillance audit Off-site surveillance audit On-site surveillance audit On-site surveillance audit Off-site surveillance audit On-site surveillance audit Review of new information On-site surveillance audit 1 On-site surveillance audit & recertification site visit According to MSC Certification Requirements Version 1.3, the overall surveillance score for this fishery is 3. The surveillance level for this fishery qualifies for Normal surveillance level with annual on-site surveillance audits. 2.3 First annual surveillance, 2011 The first annual audit was carried out for the offshore component of haddock fishery only, following certification of this component in April The surveillance audit was announced on the MSC website in March 2011 followed with a supporting notice to stakeholders issued by the MSC. Direct notification was also sent to the stakeholders that had previously been identified for this fishery, inviting DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 6

10 interested parties to contact the audit team. The audit team carried out a site visit May 2011 where the client, MFCA, IMR and DoF were consulted. The surveillance audit was conducted by member of the original assessment team Dr. Stephen Lockwood and DNV team leader Mrs. Sandhya Chaudhury. 2.4 Second annual surveillance, 2012 The second surveillance audit was performed as an on-site audit and conducted according to MSC Certification Requirements, v1.2, 10 January The default assessment tree, set out in the MSC Certification Requirements, was used for this surveillance. The second surveillance audit covered both inshore and offshore components of the Norway North East Arctic haddock fishery and was combined with the surveillance audits of the following Norwegian fisheries and the recertification of the two saithe fisheries: North East Arctic cod North East Atlantic mackerel North Sea and Skagerrak herring Norwegian Spring Spawning herring North East Arctic saithe North Sea saithe The surveillance audit was announced on the MSC website on 31st May 2012 followed by a supporting notice to stakeholders issued by the MSC on the same date. Direct notification was also sent to the stakeholders that had previously been identified for this fishery, inviting interested parties to contact the audit team. The audit team carried out a site visit and consulted the client, DoF, IMR and MFCA between 18th and 21st June The surveillance audit was conducted by member of the original assessment team Dr. Stephen Lockwood and DNV team leader Mrs. Sandhya Chaudhury. 2.5 Third annual surveillance, 2013 The third surveillance audit was performed as an on-site audit and conducted according to MSC Certification Requirements, v1.2, 10 January The default assessment tree, set out in the MSC Certification Requirements, was used for this surveillance. The surveillance was announced on the MSC website 2. April 2013 followed by a supporting notice to stakeholders issued by the MSC on the same date. Direct notification was also sent to the stakeholders that had previously been identified for this fishery, inviting interested parties to contact the audit team. The third surveillance audit covered both inshore and offshore components of haddock stock and was combined with surveillance audits of the following Norwegian fisheries and the recertification of the two herring fisheries: North East Arctic cod North East Atlantic mackerel North Sea and Skagerrak herring Norwegian Spring Spawning herring DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 7

11 The surveillance visit for this fishery was conducted on 24 th and 25 th June The surveillance audit was conducted by member of the original assessment team Dr. Stephen Lockwood and DNV team leader Mrs. Sandhya Chaudhury, who gathered input through consultations with the client, DoF, IMR and MFCA. 2.6 Fourth annual surveillance, 2014 The fourth surveillance audit was performed as an on-site audit and conducted according to MSC Certification Requirements, version 1.3, 14 January The default assessment tree, set out in the MSC Certification Requirements, was used for this surveillance. The surveillance was announced on the MSC website 20. May 2014 followed by a supporting notice to stakeholders issued by the MSC on the same date. Direct notification was also sent to the stakeholders that had previously been identified for this fishery, inviting interested parties to contact the audit team. No comments or requests for consultations were received. The audit was combined with the surveillance audits of the following Norwegian fisheries and the recertification of the Norway NEA cod and haddock fisheries: North East Arctic cod North East Arctic saithe North Sea saithe Norway North East Arctic cold water prawn The surveillance visit was conducted on June This surveillance audit was carried out by Principle expert Dr. Stephen Lockwood (member of the initial assessment team), MSC Fishery Team Leader Mr. John Nichols and DNV GL project manager/chain of custody responsible Mrs. Guro Meldre Pedersen. Changes to the assessment team were announced on the MSC website and listed stakeholders informed by direct mail notification. The assessment team gathered input from the various stakeholders, incl. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries, the Institute of Marine Research and the client, through site visit meetings and telephone consultations. Details on information submitted by stakeholders in the assessment process can be found in Attachment 1. A Variation Request to the MSC CR to allow the surveillance report to be submitted four weeks after the normal submission deadline of 30 days after the site-visit was submitted to and granted by the MSC. Supporting arguments were that: The Norwegian fisheries listed in section 1.3 are certified through the client Norges Fiskarlag, and main stakeholders involve the same institutions for all fisheries. The site visits for all relevant surveillance activities have been coordinated to the benefit of the client to reduce strain on stakeholders and to reduce overall costs. The assessment team members for the fisheries involved are overlapping. The delay in reporting would allow the assessment teams sufficient time to process information from the site visit for all fisheries before delivering all the surveillance reports. The fishery remains in conformance with the scope criteria relating to unilateral exemption and destructive fishing practices (Certification Requirements v1.3 section ). The fishery cannot be considered as an enhanced fishery as it does not meet the enhanced fisheries criteria required under the MSC CR There were no changes to scoring of performance indicators at the fourth surveillance audit. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 8

12 3 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND ANNUAL REVIEW 3.1 A summary of the biology & fishery for the NEA haddock The Biology of North-East Arctic Haddock Fundamental research and monitoring on the fish stocks and environment in the Norwegian and Barents Sea is undertaken by the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen (IMR) 1 and the Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Murmansk (PINRO). 2 Research in the Barents Sea is coordinated or undertaken jointly through the Joint Russian Norwegian Fisheries Commission (JRNFC). 3 In the Norwegian Sea, additional research by third parties is coordinated under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) 4. Catch and landing data are collected by the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, both from Norwegian-registered vessels and from third parties. These data are passed to IMR and ICES as the basis for the annual ICES NE Arctic (NEA) haddock stock assessment. (AWFG, 2014). 5 Some additional environmental and catch sampling data are provided by other nations with licences to fish the stock. Haddock is distributed from the Celtic Sea, south of Ireland to the Barents Sea in the north and westwards via Iceland and Greenland to the Grand Banks off North America. During the course of its life history, North East Arctic (NEA) haddock are found from the coastal waters of western Norway, north of 62 o N, and throughout the Barents Sea. The extent to which the NEA haddock move north and east in the Barents Sea is influenced by the position of the Polar Front. Throughout the year, NEA haddock are also found in association with NEA cod (Gadus morhua) and saithe (Pollachius virens), as well as other, less abundant, demersal species. In the early months of the year, mature haddock migrate southwards from the Barents Sea to the west coast of Norway where they spawn, mostly along the shelf edge, March May. After spawning, the adult fish migrate northwards to their summer feeding grounds in the Barents Sea. The extent of the summer winter haddock distribution within the Barents Sea varies from year to year in response to temperature and the distribution and abundance of prey The North-East Arctic Haddock Fishery Norwegian fisheries are managed by TAC and quotas; all demersal fishing vessels with quota to catch NE Arctic haddock also have quota for the other major demersal species, principally NE Arctic cod and NE Arctic saithe (DoF). It is illegal for any vessel to discard fish in Norwegian or Russian waters; all fish caught must be retained, recorded and landed. These catches then count against the corresponding vessel and national quotas. Since 2011, it has been a statutory requirement for all vessels over 15 m in length to record and report catch with an electronic (e)logbook. In addition to keeping records of all commercial fish species, the logbook requires that records are kept of non-commercial fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Although these data are now being gathered, it will be 2015 at the earliest before time or resources are prioritised for their analysis and publication (DoF, MTIF pers comm.). In a similar vein, if a significant amount of coral or sponges are taken, vessels are expected to report the catch to the Coastguard (as contributory data to the MAREANO project) 6 and to move a minimum of 5 nautical miles from that fishing position. Catch limitations are underpinned by, minimum mesh size, minimum size of fish in the catch, by-catch regulations, permanent, seasonal and real-time area closures, and other area and seasonal restrictions; sorting grids are obligatory in the trawl fishery AFWG, Report of the Arctic Fisheries Working Group. ICES CM 2014/ACOM: DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 9

13 The Norwegian Coastguard maintains close surveillance on the demersal fishing fleet throughout Norwegian waters with on-board inspection, visual observation from sea and surveillance aircraft overflights; a satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS) is also in operation. Any vessel entering the Russian zone must report to an enforcement vessel and embark a Russian observer. Even with the observer onboard, vessels are subject to unannounced at-sea inspection and inspection when disembarking the observer on leaving Russian waters. IMR maintain an observer presence on up to 20 coastal and 11 offshore reference vessels in the demersal fleet, primarily for the purposes of biological sampling but also recording losses through gear damage or discarding and the presence of marine mammals (Bowering et al., 2011) 7. These data are raised to estimate total losses across the fleet. An aspect of the surveillance regime is the operation of the real-time closure system that has been in force throughout Norwegian waters and the Barents Sea since 1984, aimed at protecting juvenile fish. Vessels must report immediately whenever the number of undersized haddock, cod, and saithe combined exceeds 15% (the size limits vary by species) the total catch by haul and move a minimum of 5 miles before shooting their gear again. These data are used to assess the need to close an area. A closed area is not opened until there is documented evidence of low juvenile catch rates from the sentinel-fishing vessels. A national evaluation of the effectiveness of the system up to 1998 found a clear decrease in the discarding of small cod and haddock. In 2006, an independent evaluation of the Norwegian monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) regime in Norwegian waters gave it an overall score of 9/10 (Skaret & Pitcher, 2006). 8 It is generally considered that IUU fishing in the Barents Sea fisheries has virtually been eradicated (Dof, MFCA pers. comm.). The current, historically good conditions of NE Arctic stocks indirectly indicate the success of the joint Norwegian Russian control system in the northeast Arctic (ACOMneah, 2014). 9 Norway accounts for c. 50% of the landings of NE Arctic haddock; the catch is taken by a variety of gears: demersal and pelagic trawl, Danish and purse seine, gillnets, longlines and jiggers. The total Norwegian catch of demersal species in the NE Arctic 2013, all fishing gears combined, was just over t (Table 7) of which c t (13.6%) was haddock. The other dominant species in the catch were cod (63.7%) and saithe (15.4%), which comprise the only main retained species for the fishery as a whole, although other species qualify with some gears (see below). Norway has a very broad range of general and species-specific regulations in place to limit bycatch, e.g. of juvenile fish or those that are in a depleted state, but the work in this area is ongoing. The industry is collaborating with IMR et al. to develop further improvements in gear selectivity or fishing methods through the multi-agency CRISP programme. The Centre for Research-based Innovation in Sustainable fish capture and Pre-processing technology (CRISP) was established as a specialist unit within IMR. 10 The Norwegian Research Council has guaranteed core funding but additional funding is provided by other organisations, including the fishing industry. The principal aim of CRISP will be to eliminate discarding and all other wasteful practices across all gears in all Norwegian fisheries, including this fishery. There are CRISP projects in progress to improve the identification of fish by species and size before capture and to improve the release of non-target or excess quota fish before trawls are hauled (CRISP, 2013) Bowering, R., Storr-Paulsen, M., Tingley, G., Bjørkan, M., Vølstad, H. H., Gullestad, P. & Lorentsen, E. (2011). Evaluation of the Norwegian Reference Fleet. Institute of Marine Research, Bergen. 8 Skaret, G. and Pitcher, T.J. (2006) An Estimation of Compliance of the Fisheries of Norway with Article 7 (Fisheries Management) of the FAO (UN) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. 19 pages in Pitcher, T.J., Kalikoski, D. and Pramod, G. (eds) Evaluations of Compliance with the FAO (UN) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Fisheries Centre Research Reports 14(2). 9 ACOMneah, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: northeast Arctic haddock (subareas I and II). ICES Advice Book CRISP, CRISP Annual Report Institute of Marine Research, Bergen. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 10

14 Table 7 Norwegian total catch of demersal fishes from the North-East Arctic and the per cent catch distribution for The principal main retained species (>5% of total annual catch of demersal species) across the fishery, all gears combined, are identified by shading. 3.2 Stock Status There were no changes to the stock status with implications on performance indicator scoring. Superficially, the total international landings of NEA haddock show a cyclical pattern peaking in the middle of each decade since the mid 1950s (Figure 1). Superimposed on this notional cycle is a negative trend from the 1950s to the 1980s followed by a positive trend from the 1980s to the present. The cyclical peaks in landings appear to follow similar notionally cyclical peaks in recruitment 4 5 years previously (Figure 1). Since c. 2000, recruitment has been moderately strong and relatively stable but with three strong year classes Since then, there have been two weakish and two moderately strong year classes. The NEA haddock stock is subject to a full age-based analytical extended survivor analysis (XSA) version of virtual population analysis (VPA) assessment. Data from four Russian Norwegian research-vessel trawl acoustic surveys are used to validate and refine the assessment, not least by providing estimates of recruitment. Although discarding commercial species is prohibited, it is known that some discarding occurs, particularly when strong year classes first recruit to the fishery, but the level of discarding is not estimated for the purposes of the stock assessment (ACOM neah, 2014). A full suite of biological reference DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 11

15 points have been estimated for the stock (Table 8) and the JRNFC has agreed a management plan and harvest control rules. Table 8 Biological target reference points agreed for the management of NEA haddock Objective Parameter Value Management plan SSB MP t F MP 0.35 MSY approach MSY B trigger t F MSY 0.35 Precautionary approach B lim t B pa t F lim 0.77 F pa 0.47 The NEA haddock stock management plan was implemented in 2004 by the JRNFC and was reviewed and modified in The current MP and harvest control rules (HCR) state that: - TAC for the next year will be set at level corresponding to F MSY. - The TAC should not be changed by more than ±25% compared with the previous year TAC. - If the spawning stock falls below B pa, the procedure for establishing TAC should be based on a fishing mortality that is linearly reduced from F MSY at B pa to F= 0 at SSB equal to zero. At SSB-levels below B pa in any of the operational years (current year and a year ahead) there should be no limitations on the year-to-year variations in TAC. The JRNFC has agreed that the performance of this MP swill be subject to further review in ICES has evaluated the MP and considers it to be in accordance with the precautionary approach and not in contradiction to the MSY approach (ACOM neac, 2014). DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 12

16 Figure 1 Summary of stock assessment of NEA haddock in ICES Subareas I (Barents Sea) and II (Norwegian Sea); weights in Mt (ACOMneac, 2014) The most recent NEA haddock stock assessment shows that fishing mortality was in excess of F pa for much of the time (Figure 1) but since 1990 F has fluctuated around F MSY and is currently a little below F MSY. Even when F was >F pa, however, spawning stock biomass (SSB) tended to be >B pa, although it did drop to B lim in the mid-1980s. From this low point, there has been a sustained positive trend in SSB to a peak c when SSB was c. twice as high as previous peak values (Figure 1). The recent fall in SSB is likely to continue until another strong year class enters the fishery. ICES has judged the stock retains full reproductive capacity and that it is being harvested sustainably (ACOM neah, 2014). 3.3 Impact on the ecosystem There were no changes to the fishery s impact on ecosystem components with implications on performance indicator scoring. Insofar as there has been a change, it is with the introduction of tighter controls to safeguard coral reefs and gardens. In addition to the formally designated marine protected areas, within which all fishing is prohibited, it is now an offence to use bottom-contact fishing gears in known areas of coral reef or coral garden (copy of regulation attached in Appendix 1.2) Retained and Bycatch Fishes There is rigorously enforced discard ban on all vessels fishing within Norwegian waters; all commercial fish species must be retained, recorded in the electronic log book and landed. There are over 250 species of fish reported from the Norwegian Sea, the majority of which are either pelagic or small (<30 cm total length) species not vulnerable to capture by large-mesh or large-hook commercial fishing gears. Insofar as non-commercial bycatch species are caught, they are caught either as very occasional individuals or in trivial quantities (Bowering et al., 2011). DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 13

17 Across the fishery as a whole, there are just two main retained species (species comprising more than 5% of total catch), cod and saithe (Table 9) but across the seven fishing methods covered by this unit of certification, the main retained species also include wolffish (two species combined), tusk and redfish (two species combined) (Table 9). Table 9 Reported weight and per cent of total Norwegian demersal species catch 2013, from the North-East Arctic by each fishing method covered under this unit of certification. Main retained species are identified by shading. *, main retained species, i.e. catch >5% of total landings by method of capture NE Arctic cod is a main retained species taken by: gillnet t, 73% of total gillnet catch; jigger t, 83.7%; longline t, 54.2%; Danish seine , 73.9; trawl t, 64.8% (Table 9). The NEA cod stock is subject to a full age-based analytical extended survivor analysis (XSA) version of virtual population analysis (VPA) assessment. Data from four Russian Norwegian research-vessel trawl acoustic surveys and commercial CPUE data are used to validate and refine the assessment, not least by providing estimates of recruitment. It is assumed that discarding is negligible. A full suite of biological reference points have been estimated for the stock and the JRNFC have agreed a management plan and harvest control rules that ICES considers it to be in accordance with the precautionary approach and not in contradiction to the MSY approach (ACOM neac, 2014). 12 The assessment is subject to internal and external peer review, not least during the periodic ICES benchmark review, which is next due in ACOMneac, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: Cod in Subareas I and II (Northeast Arctic cod). ICES Advice Book DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 14

18 Among the factors influencing cod growth and recruitment are water temperature, food supply, and cod population abundance. Environmental drivers (capelin biomass, ice coverage, temperature, and oxygen saturation) were used in the estimation of recruitment and temperature in the estimation of cod cannibalism. Changes in growth, maturity, and cod cannibalism are linked to the abundance of capelin but this linkage appears to be less pronounced in recent years than in the 1980s and 1990s (ACOM neac, 2014). Recruitment has been at or above the long-term average for a number of years with some strong year classes within the past decade. These have boosted SSB such that it is c. twice as high as any time in the past 70 years; i.e. well in excess of MSY B trigger. Fishing mortality rate is well below the target level of F MSY. ICES is satisfied that the stock is being fished sustainably and the it retains full reproductive capacity (ACOM neah, 2014). Coastal cod are indistinguishable from NEA cod when caught; they are taken by inshore (<12 miles) fisheries, principally by static gears. Their contribution to the total cod catch is estimated post hoc following examination of otoliths taken during the IMR biological sampling programme. The stock is in a depleted state but a stock recovery programme was implemented in 2010 and ICES considers the proposed plan to be provisionally consistent with the precautionary approach (ACOM coast, 2014). 13 The stock is subject to a research-vessel trawl-survey trends-based assessment that shows that the SSB has been relatively stable since c but is unlikely to show significant improvement until there is an upturn in the level of recruitment. The estimates of fishing mortality rate have been relatively stable since c and the fleet is compliant with recovery plan and the measures in place (e.g. extensive inshore gear restrictions and closed areas) to conserve the stock. NE Arctic saithe is a main retained species taken by: gillnet t, 15% of total gillnet catch; jigger 4267 t, 15%; Danish seine t, 6%; trawl t, 17% (Table 9). The NEA saithe stock is subject to a state space assessment model SAM (AFWG, 2014), using data from a Norwegian scientific acoustic survey to refine and validate the stock analysis. The assessment methods were last subject to a benchmark review in 2011, with an inter-benchmark review in 2014, which included validation of the current suite of biological reference points. It is assumed that discarding is negligible. A full suite of biological reference points have been estimated for the stock and Norway has implemented a management plan (MP) and harvest control rules (HCR) in 2007; ICES evaluated the HCR in 2007 and concluded that it is consistent with the precautionary approach (ACOM neas, 2014). 14 Recruitment has been relatively stable, neither strong nor weak, for a number of years with the occasional stronger year class. Following a succession of above average year classes in the 1990s, SSB increased from a level c. Blim in the 1980s to a peak value not seen since the 1970s. This peak was short lived and SSB has been falling in the absence of stronger than average recruitment. Fishing mortality has been about or below F pa for the past two decades. ICES considers the stock retains full reproductive capacity and is above MP B trigger but as stock falls towards B pa there is increase risk for the stock (ACOM neas, 2014). Tusk is a main retained species only in the longline fishery. The biological data available for stock assessment is very limited and ICES is unable to undertake more than a trends-based assessment using commercial catch per unit of effort (CPUE). Even so, these data do not enable any firm conclusions to be drawn and ICES advce has been to maintain international 13 ACOMcoast, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: Cod in Subareas I and II (Norwegian coastal waters cod). ICES Advice Book ACOMneas, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: northeast Arctic saithe (subareas I and II). ICES Advice Book DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 15

19 catches at the same level year on year (ACOM tusk, 2014). 15 Over the past three years, Norwegian catches have been consistent with ICES advice; indeed, they have declined from c t in 2011 to c t in 2012 and 8500 t in 2013 (Table 1). Nevertheless, tusk continues to comprise >5% the total longline catch (Table 9). Wolffish the total catch comprising three species, the Atlantic wolfish, Anarhichas lupus, the spotted wolfish A. minor and the northern wolfish A. denticulatus, contribute 9348 t, 6.7% (Table 9) to the longline catch but individual species, which probably contribute comparable quantities to the catch, do not qualify as main retained species. All three species are widely distributed throughout the Barents Sea, although, as the names suggest, A. denticulatus has a more northerly distribution and A. lupus tends to be less abundant in the north. Wolffish are not subject to ICES assessment but their distribution and abundance is monitored as part of the annual JRNFC Barents Sea (and national coastal states ) trawl surveys. The frequent presence of juveniles in the Barents Sea surveys, with higher abundance indices in 2013 than 2012 (Prokhorova, 2013), 16 suggests that there is not a problem with recruitment. Russian estimates of biomass in the Barents Sea have indicated an increasing trend in recent years (Wienerroither et al., 2013). 17 Redfish there are two commercial species of redfish, beaked redfish Sebastes mentella and golden redfish S. norvegicus. Together they account for 2592 t (1% total Norwegian catch; Table 9). Beaked redfish: The stock is subject to a statistical catch-at-age analysis (SCAA) , supplemented by the Schaefer biomass model ( ). Data comprise commercial catches: international landings (tonnes), age frequencies and weight-at-age from catch sampling and data from four Russian Norwegian research-vessel trawl acoustic surveys. Discarding is assumed to be negligible. While the absolute status of SSB is unknown, the indices point towards a steadily increasing SSB and falling fishing mortality. Most pertinently, ICES considers fishing pressure is below any relevant reference point (ACOM smen, 2014). 18 The assessment was subject to benchmark review in 2012 and draft management plans were reviewed by ICES in 2014 (ACOM smen, 2014). A request for ICES to review the draft management plans and HCRs was made by both NEAFC and JRNFC for Sebastes mentella in Subareas I and II. ICES evaluated a wide variety of proposed settings for a management plan for this stock and identified a number of options that it considered precautionary and consistent with the MSY approach, concluding that the following elements should be incorporated in a future management plan: A biomass trigger of 600 kt is a good starting point for management. There is little long-term gain in yield if F target is increased above The stock and recruitment might benefit from a delayed or gradual implementation of a management plan, or a gradual increase of F (fishing at F target only after the stronger incoming year classes have fully recruited to the fishery in 2017/2018). A low fixed TAC in the initial period or a stabilizing element in the management plan might have a similar effect if implemented on the basis of recent catches. 15 ACOMtusk, Widely distributed and migratory stocks: tusk (Brosme brosme) in subareas I and II. ICES Advice Book Prokhorova, T. (Ed.) Survey report from the joint Norwegian/Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters, August-October IMR/PINRO Joint Report Series, No. 4/ Wienerroither R., Johannesen E., Dolgov A., Byrkjedal I., Aglen A., Bjelland O., Drevetnyak, K., Eriksen KB., Høines Å., Langhelle G., Langøy H., Murashko P., Prokhorova T., Prozorkevich D., Smirnov O., Wenneck T Atlas of the Barents Sea Fishes based on the winter survey. IMR-PINRO Joint Report Series ACOMsmen, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) in subareas I and II. ICES Advice Book DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 16

20 Golden redfish: The stock is subject to the age length structured Globally applicable Area Disaggregated General Ecosystem Toolbox (Gadget) model analysis. Data are provided by sampling commercial catches and from one scientific trawl survey in the Barents Sea. The status of golden redfish is uncertain but although there may have been a recent improvement in the abundance of juvenile (3 6 year old) fish, the stock assessment indicators point in the opposite direction, i.e. SSB is decreasing and fishing mortality increasing. There is neither a management plan nor HCR and ICES recommends a total ban on (directed) fishing for this species (ACOM snor, 2013) ETP Species and Sensitive Marine Habitats In addition to the designated marine protected areas in Norwegian waters, within which all fishing is prohibited (as is also the case in Russian waters), it is now an offence for any fishing vessel to fish on or in close proximity to known areas of coral reef or coral garden. Whether or not vessels honour these obligations is monitored in quasi real time through the VMS. The Directorate of Fisheries is satisfied that there is a very high degree of compliance with these requirements (DoF pers comm.). Vessels equipped with electronic logbooks are now also required to keep records (including zero observation) of interactions with marine mammals and seabirds although the DoF has said that it will be 2015 at the earliest before the time or resources will be available to analyse these data. Norway continues to be a signatory to a wide range of international conventions that embrace the conservation and protection of marine biota, their habitats and environment. There are no records either in the mandatory logbooks or from reference-fleet records that any vessels within the UoC have direct interactions (i.e. catches) of seabird or marine mammal populations. In its most recent report, however, NAMMCO (2014) 20 has expressed concern about the number of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) taken in the inshore gillnet fishery in Norwegian coastal waters, a concern that is sufficiently great to trigger a gillnet-based research programme. It is recommended that gillnet vessels within this UoC take proactive steps to engage with and support this programme. Although the original NEA cod fishery assessment report highlighted comparable risks for all gears, evidence has not been produced to justify such concerns, least of all in the NEA haddock fishery (WGMME, 2014) 21. Similarly for seabirds, there is always concern with respect to static-gear fisheries although no records of seabird capture have been made in the statutory logbooks. Also, the ICES working group on seabird ecology (WGSE, 2014) 22 has not identified NE Arctic fisheries as specific cause for concern but Fangel et al. (2011) 23 conclude that gillnet and longline fisheries may pose a significant risk to (some) seabird populations. Studies with a remote electronic monitoring system of gillnet and longline fishing, however, found that in minutes of recording during hauling operations (in the Baltic), 136 seabirds were captured (both gears combined) but no marine mammals (WGBYA, 2014) 24. By observation and inference, therefore, these reports would tend to confirm the industry s contention that the capture of seabirds, by any method of fishing, is extremely rare. Monitoring of the marine environment and all aspects of its living resources are ongoing research programmes by IMR in support of Norwegian seas management plans 25, and further afield under the 19 ACOMsnor, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: golden redfish (Sebastes marinus) in subareas I and II. ICES Advice Book NAMMCO, Report of the Twentieth Meeting of the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO. Tromso WGMME, Report of the Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology. ICES CM 2014/ACOM: WGSE, Report of the Working Group on Seabird Ecology. ICES CM 20131/SSGEF: Fangel, K., Wold, L.C, Aas, Ø., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Qvenild, M. & Anker-Nilssen, T Bifangst av sjøfugl i norske kystfiskerier. Et kartleggings- og metodeutprøvingsprosjekt med focus på fiske med garn og line. NINA Rapport WGBYC, Report of the Working Group on Bycatch of Protected Species. ICES CM 2014/ACOM: forskning/programmer/okosystem_norskehavet/en DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 17

21 auspices of JRNFC (Prokhorova, 2013; Wienerroither et al., 2013). 26 These programmes include monitoring the effects of trawling on sensitive marine habitats and developing further protection measures where appropriate. Current practice is for Norwegian-registered fishing vessels to report the presence of cold-water corals or sponges in the catch and move a minimum of 5 miles before shooting once more. 3.5 Changes to the management system There were no changes to the management system with implications on performance indicator scoring. 4 COC CONSIDERATIONS No changes to Chain of Custody were observed during the surveillance activities. Norway NEA haddock and haddock products landed by Norwegian vessels, recorded by the Directorate of Fisheries and the sales organizations, and sold through or by approval from the sales organizations, are eligible to enter further Chain of Custody. The scope of the MSC Fishery certification is up to the point of landing and Chain of Custody commences from the point of landing and sale. Sales organizations: - Norges Råfisklag, - Surofi, - Vest-Norges Fiskesalslag - Rogaland Fiskesalgslag - Skagerakfisk 26 Wienerroither R., Johannesen E., Dolgov A., Byrkjedal I., Aglen A., Bjelland O., Drevetnyak, K., Eriksen KB., Høines Å., Langhelle G., Langøy H., Murashko P., Prokhorova T., Prozorkevich D., Smirnov O., Wenneck T Atlas of the Barents Sea Fishes based on the winter survey. IMR-PINRO Joint Report Series DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 18

22 5 RESULTS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Status of previously raised conditions Condition 1: All gears Performance indicator Score 70 The fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to the retained species and does not hinder recovery of depleted retained species. Rationale Condition Milestones Client Action Plan: Consultation on condition: Progress against milestones: For coastal cod and redfish there are strategies or partial strategies in place to ensure the fishery does not hinder recovery and rebuilding of any populations outside of biological limits. For elasmobranchs there are measures in place. In the case of coastal cod in particular, specific recovery plans are being implemented which are expected (through simulation) to be effective, but currently insufficient time has elapsed for practical evidence that these measures are effective to be gained. Assess the effects of catches of non-target species in relation to the distribution, ecology and abundance of the species and populations affected (including coastal cod). The potential consequences of non-target species removals on the populations affected and the wider ecosystem should be evaluated. Where assessments of fishery interactions with these species are shown to be significant, appropriate measures to reduce catches to acceptable and precautionary levels shall be developed and implemented. Within three years of final certification further assessments of the distribution, ecology and abundance of retained non-target species shall be conducted, on the basis of findings in the catch registration procedure and other information from mandatory landing requirement landing notes. Where assessments of species interactions are shown to be significant, appropriate mitigation measures to reduce or avoid such interactions shall be identified within 3 years, and implemented within 5 years, of final certification. Immediately following final certification the client shall undertake a follow-up progress check of proposed modifications to the reference-fleet programme to establish an all inclusive, gear specific catch recording of any species taken in the various fisheries (including, but not limited to ETP species). The client sets a target of having an all-inclusive reference fleet system up and running during Havforskningsinstitutt (IMR) and Directorate of Fisheries. The client has yet to produce the evidence that they have engaged with the authorities to enhance the sampling programme or mitigation measures for nontarget species that are either in a depleted state (e.g. coastal cod and redfish) of for which there are no robust assessments or management plans (e.g. tusk and wolffish). DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 19

23 Observations: All demersal fishing vessels with quota to catch NE Arctic haddock also have quota for the other major demersal species; principally NE Arctic cod and NE Arctic saithe (DoF). It is illegal for any vessel to discard fish in Norwegian or Russian waters. Updated regulations require all fish caught to be retained (commercial) and recorded (both commercial and non-commercial), and commercial species counted against the corresponding vessel and national quotas. For vessels >15 m length, these data are now recorded electronically. The client fleet complies with these regulations (DoF, pers. comm.); thus, the necessary data specified by this condition are being collected as required. The status of several retained species stocks specified in the original assessment for certifications (e.g. redfish, tusk) are still either in a vulnerable condition or there are insufficient data to complete a stock assessment and the client has not demonstrated that they have made an Initial evaluation of any potential impacts completed within 3 years (i.e. by 2013) of certification other than is implied by ICES assessments of these stocks. Specific measures for the management and conservation of coastal cod continue to be developed and implemented. Similarly, there are specific measures in place to safeguard redfish stocks; the client is fully compliant with these measures (DoF, per comm.) but again, the client has not demonstrated that they have made an Initial evaluation of any potential impacts completed within 3 years (i.e. by 2013) of certification other than is implied by ICES assessments of these stocks. Through discussions with the client it seems highly probable that they have met the requirements of this condition in principle but they have failed to draw all their actions together (consultations with DoF, IMR, participation in CRISP etc) and present it as a coherent evaluation of the fishery and their contribution to its management. Condition 2: All gears Performance indicator Score 75 The fishery meets national and international requirements for protection of ETP species. The fishery does not pose a risk of serious or irreversible harm to ETP species and does not hinder recovery of ETP species. Rationale Condition Milestones The assessment notes the general lack of fishery gear-specific data related to interactions of ETP species. A statistically rigorous monitoring programme should be developed relative to gear type, to allow the extent of interactions to be quantified. Where interactions are found to be unacceptable the fleet should implement appropriate actions (e.g. formalisation of the use of bird-scaring devices) to minimise interactions or eliminate mortalities of these species. The fishery must meet the overall SG80 requirement for PI within the timescale of this certification. Appropriate measures should be identified and implemented within 12 months of certification. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 20

24 Client Action Plan: Consultation on condition: Progress against milestones: Observations: Immediately following final certification the client shall undertake a follow-up progress check of proposed modifications to the reference-fleet programme to establish an all-inclusive, gear-specific catch recording of any species taken in the various fisheries (including, but not limited to ETP species). The client sets a target of having an all-inclusive reference fleet system up and running during Where interactions of ETP species are found to be unacceptable, appropriate measures are to be proposed and introduced within 12 months following final certification. Within three years of final certification further assessments of the distribution, ecology and abundance of retained non-target species shall be conducted, on the basis of findings in the catch-registration procedure and other information from mandatory landing requirement landing notes. Where assessments of species interactions are shown to be significant, appropriate mitigation measures to reduce or avoid such interactions shall be identified within 3 years, and implemented within 5 years, of final certification. Havforskningsinstitutt (IMR) and Directorate of Fisheries. The client submitted a proposal to IMR, DoF and DoF February 2009 for the registration of by-catch in all Norwegian fisheries, including haddock fisheries, not just the reference fleet. In 2010, the directorate of fisheries introduced a regulation that requires all vessels to record all species of commercial fish, birds and mammals in the e-logbook. All vessels >15 m length now use the elogbook but the DoF have advised that collation and analysis of these data are unlikely to be made before The industry continues to be engaged in the CRISP programme for improving gear selectivity and target identification and contributes data to the MAREANO programme on an opportunistic basis. Norwegian legislation now requires that all by-catches, including those of marine mammals and sea birds are recorded and reported electronically within 24 hours. In addition to that, IMR observers embarked on reference-fleet vessels record any occurrence of marine mammal (ETP) by-catch and henceforth will also record bird (ETP) by-catch. It is therefore considered that the client is compliant with the data collection aspect of condition 2 appropriately and it is expected that all Norwegian vessels targeting offshore haddock in the unit of certification comply with the requirements of regulation on electronic reporting on by-catch of marine mammals and sea birds. With the exception of the gillnet fishery, the body of evidence from ICES and NAMMCO working group reports is that there is no significant interaction between the NEA haddock fishery and ETP species and the client is compliant with this aspect of Condition2. In consultation with IMR and, or NINA (as appropriate) the client needs to assess the level of interaction between gillnet fishing and marine mammals, as highlighted in the NAMMCO (2014) report, before this condition can be closed on gillnets. Condition 3: Demersal trawl, Danish seine, Gillnet and longline gears Performance indicator Score 75 The fishery does not cause serious or irreversible harm to habitat structure, considered on a regional or bioregional basis, and function. Rationale Condition Milestones All bottom-contact fishing gears have the potential to affect the integrity, structure and function of sensitive marine habitats, such as coral reefs and gardens. The trawl, Danish seine, longline and gill-net fisheries must meet the overall SG80 requirement within the timescale of this certification. An assessment should be planned by the first surveillance audit, underway by the second surveillance audit and completed by the third audit. The identification and implementation of appropriate management measures for each gear type should be undertaken within the term of the current certification. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 21

25 Client Action Plan: Consultation on condition: Progress against milestones: Observations: An assessment of the potential impact of trawl, Danish seine, longline and gill net fishing within known sensitive habitats, notably identified areas of cold water coral, should be undertaken. If a potentially significant impact is identified, an appropriate management action should be implemented. It is noted that vessels may voluntarily avoid such areas; formalisation of such procedures may be one appropriate mechanism to address this. Havforskningsinstitutt (IMR) and Directorate of Fisheries. The client engaged with IMR and DoF from the time of the original certification to formalise earlier voluntary arrangements for minimising adverse interactions between fishing and sensitive marine habitats. Vessels continue to contribute data to the MAREANO programme on an opportunistic basis. At the time of the orginal assessment, sensitive marine areas were only given formal protection from fishing activities in designated marine protected areas. In consultation with the industry, this statutory protection has been developed so that there can be no bottom-contact fishing at depths >1000 m nor are bottom-contact fishing methods permitted in any known area of cold-water corals reefs or gardens. Where vessels find evidence of coral on hauling their gear, they must report its presence and move a minimum of 5 miles before shooting the gear once more. Following the introduction of these new and more extensive safeguards for sensitive marine habitats, the client is fully compliant with this condition. 5.2 New conditions and recommendations No new conditions or recommendations were raised during the fourth surveillance audit. 5.3 Status of the Certification The client has taken appropriate measures to address all bar one (Condition 1) aspect of the conditions of certification raised during the MSC certification assessment. The exception is to rely on the implied evaluation of haddock-fishery effects on non-target (main) retained species by the ICES stock assessments of these species. To be fully compliant, the client must prepare a more explicit assessment relating to the Norwegian NEA haddock fishery to close this condition. Satisfactory and timely progress has been made with progress on condition 2 except that the most recent findings reported to NAMMCO (2014) highlight an significant adverse interaction between gillnets in the NEA cod fishery and harbour porpoise. In consultation with the appropriate experts, the client needs to assess the full effect of these interactions and identify what mitigation measures can be applied before this condition can be closed completely. Following the introduction of more comprehensive fishery management regulations to safeguard sensitive marine habitats from the adverse effects of bottom-contact fishing gears, the client has met Condition 3 in full. The assessment team concludes that the MSC Certificate for this fishery shall remain active until the end of the current certification period. There were no changes to scoring of performance indicators at the fourth surveillance audit. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 22

26 6 CATCH DATA Table 10 Catch data Fishing TAC UoC Year (tonnes) share of the total TAC (tonnes) Client share of the total TAC (tonnes) Total green weight catch taken by the client group (tonnes) Trawl Longline Gillnet Danish seine Hook and line DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 23

27 7 REFERENCES ACOM coast, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: Cod in Subareas I and II (Norwegian coastal waters cod). ICES Advice Book ACOM neac, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: Cod in Subareas I and II (Northeast Arctic cod). ICES Advice Book ACOM neah, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: northeast Arctic haddock (subareas I and II). ICES Advice Book ACOM neas, Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: saithe in Subareas I and II (Notheast Arctic). ICES Advice Book ACOM smen, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) in subareas I and II. ICES Advice Book ACOM snor, Ecoregion Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea: golden redfish (Sebastes marinus) in subareas I and II. ICES Advice Book ACOM tusk, Widely distributed and migratory stocks: tusk (Brosme brosme) in subareas I and II. ICES Advice Book AFWG, Report of the Arctic Fisheries Working Group. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:05 Bowering, R., Storr-Paulsen, M., Tingley, G., Bjørkan, M., Vølstad, H. H., Gullestad, P. & Lorentsen, E. (2011). Evaluation of the Norwegian Reference Fleet. Institute of Marine Research, Bergen. CRISP, CRISP Annual Report Institute of Marine Research, Bergen. Fangel, K., Wold, L.C, Aas, Ø., Christensen-Dalsgaard, S., Qvenild, M. & Anker-Nilssen, T Bifangst av sjøfugl i norske kystfiskerier. Et kartleggings- og metodeutprøvingsprosjekt med focus på fiske med garn og line. NINA Rapport NAMMCO, Report of the Twentieth Meeting of the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO, Tromso. Prokhorova, T. (Ed.) Survey report from the joint Norwegian/Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters, August-October IMR/PINRO Joint Report Series, No. 4/2013 Skaret, G. and Pitcher, T.J. (2006) An Estimation of Compliance of the Fisheries of Norway with Article 7 (Fisheries Management) of the FAO (UN) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. In Pitcher, T.J., Kalikoski, D. and Pramod, G. (eds) Evaluations of Compliance with the FAO (UN) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. Fisheries Centre Research Reports 14(2). WGBYC, Report of the Working Group on Bycatch of Protected Species. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:28 WGMME, Report of the Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology. ICES CM 2014/ACOM:27. WGSE, Report of the Working Group on Seabird Ecology. ICES CM 20131/SSGEF:19. Wienerroither R., Johannesen E., Dolgov A., Byrkjedal I., Aglen A., Bjelland O., Drevetnyak, K., Eriksen KB., Høines Å., Langhelle G., Langøy H., Murashko P., Prokhorova T., Prozorkevich D., Smirnov O., Wenneck T Atlas of the Barents Sea Fishes based on the winter survey. IMR-PINRO Joint Report Series Kelleher, K Discards in the world s marine fisheries: an update. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 470. DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 24

28 APPENDIX 1 STAKEHOLDER SUBMISSIONS Appendix 1.1 Letter from Norwegian Vessel Owners Association (Request for meeting with Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries) DNV GL Report No , Rev. 0 Page 25

29 JIM/ Ålesund 18. mars 2014 Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet Forvaltningstiltak for å begrense bunnpåvirkning anmodning om møte Fiskebåt viser til at prosesser knyttet til vern av sårbare områder på havbunnen har tiltatt nasjonalt og internasjonalt i takt med økende kunnskapsnivå og miljøfokus. I Norge ble det etablert et vern mot fiske med bunnslepte redskaper på definerte korallrev allerede i Etter dette har Norge inntatt en aktiv rolle i internasjonale prosesser, og bidratt til at overnasjonale organ som FNs generalforsamling og FN-organet FAO, samt regionale fiskeriforvaltningsorganisasjoner som NAFO, NEAFC og CCAMLR, har satt temaet på dagsorden og etablert forvaltningstiltak. Fiskebåt har forsøkt å bidra konstruktivt i prosessene nasjonalt og internasjonalt med å utvikle forvaltningsregler som ivaretar hensynet til vern så vel som bruk, både i spørsmålet om vern av koraller og innblanding av svamp i fangstene. Fiskerinæringen blir stilt overfor stadig strengere krav om redusert påvirkning av bunnhabitat, ikke minst i arbeidet med miljøsertifisering av norsk fiske etter MSC-standarden. I andre sertifiseringsordninger, som svenske KRAV, er det i et høringsforslag foreslått å ekskludere all fisk som er fisket med bunntrål. Dette illustrerer at det er nødvendig å være føre var i forhold til disse prosessene. Fiskebåt aksepterer at våre omgivelser forventer en konstruktiv tilnærming til verneprosessene fra fiskerinæringens side. Samtidig er det ikke alltid like lett å se verneinteressenes forståelse og aksept for næringslivets legitime interesser. Spørsmål knyttet til vern av bunnhabitater er i stor grad preget av følelser og skjønnhetsvurderinger, og i liten grad av faktabasert kunnskap om fiskeriene og bunnhabitatene. Fiskebåt mener at det er viktig å understreke at høsting av naturressurser, enten det skjer i sjøen eller på land, innebærer en påvirkning av økosystemet. Påvirkning av økosystemene under fiske skjer uavhengig av om redskapen berører bunnen eller ikke. Det kan ofte være vanskelig å forstå det sterke engasjementet når det gjelder berøring av havbunnen under utøvelsen av fisket, sammenlignet med engasjementet når det gjelder påvirkning av naturen ved aktivitet på landjorden. Fiskebåt er positiv til å medvirke til å diskutere og iverksette tiltak som reduserer muligheten for skade på bunnhabitater. Fiskebåt mener at slike tiltak bør ta utgangspunkt i de internasjonale retningslinjene som er utarbeidet for vurdering av behov og omfang av vernetiltak. Det vil i første rekke si FAOs International guidelines for the Management of Deep-Sea Fisheries in the High Seas, som kyststater i henhold til art. 9 kan anvende i sine nasjonalsoner. Fiskebåt viser også til at det i FAOs retningslinjer (art. 42) er satt kriterier for å identifisere om det aktuelle området er et sårbart marint økosystem, og om det foreligger en risiko for signifikant negativ påvirkning av det aktuelle området. Disse kriteriene er: unikhet, sjeldent (habitat hovedsakelig bestående av stedegne arter, habitat kritisk for truede arter, unike gyte- eller oppvekstområder for saktevoksende/langtlevende arter) funksjonelt særegent habitat (av stor betydning som oppvekstområde for særskilte arter) sårbarhet (habitat spesielt følsomt for langsiktig degradering fra menneskelige aktiviteter) livshistorie-karakteristika ved habitatet som gjør gjenoppbygging vanskelig strukturell kompleksitet