Opening the meeting, NEAFC President Janet Nerregaard noted the continuous work of NEAFC in a remote format. She welcomed the return to face-to-face discussions. The President also noted the ongoing development of an improved electronic reporting system in NEAFC. While covering this issue, the meeting also provided updated information on the functional interactive user interface for NEAFC inspectors, which allows real-time access to records in the ship's log.
During the session, the ICES recommendations on pelagic fish stocks in the NEAFC regulatory area for 2022 were considered. There was a discussion of measures to regulate the fishing of aquatic biological resources for 2022, the operation of which is regulated by the commission: perch-beak in the Irminger Sea and in the IKES 1 and 2 subdistricts, whiting, Atlanto-Scandinavian herring, mackerel, haddock, Rockall, as well as various deep-sea fish species.
The members of the commission adopted a recommendation on the extraction of whiting, according to which the quota was allocated to the Russian side in accordance with the traditional national share. In addition, framework recommendations for Norwegian spring-spawning herring were adopted. The Contracting Parties have also adopted recommendations on catching mackerel.
During the session, the reports of the subsidiary bodies of the NEAFC Commission were presented: the Standing Committee on Management and Science (PECMAS), the Mixed Advisory Group on Data Management and Working Groups on fishing Statistics. The report of the working group on the future of NEAFC was heard.
"Despite the tense nature of the negotiations and the contradictory opinions, the Russian delegation managed to defend the interests of the Russian Federation on the issues of commercial exploitation of aquatic biological resources," said the Director of VNIRO, summing up the meeting.
Upon completion of the work, the participants set a date for the next NEAFC session. It will be held from November 15 to 20, 2022.
VNIRO Press Service