BarentsNews.com

The annual Atlantic herring negotiations between Norway, Russian Federation, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and EU that took place last week in St. Petersburg, Russia, ended with no results. The participants did not succeed to arrive at a final decision on total allowable catch of herring for 2003.

Under the present agreement, signed in 1997, Norway has 57 per cent of the total Atlantic herring quota, Iceland - 15 percent, Russia - 13 percent, EU – 9 percent and the Faroes – 5 percent. This year, however, Norway demanded to increase its quota share up to 70 per cent, with reference to zonal attachment.

Other parties did not agree to re-negotiate the current quota distribution in such a way.

Therefore, the question of determining the 2003 TAC for herring and redistribution of the quota shares remains open and will be discussed at the next session of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission to be held in mid-November.