IFFO Pre-assessment made public

Participants confirmed

Workplan made public

The Blue Whiting sub-group held a meeting to review the ICES advice for 2025, highlighting a 5.4% reduction in the recommended catch and concerns about declining stock due to recruitment issues; the group discussed progressing Coastal States negotiations, enhancing sourcing statements by NAPA partners, and leveraging engagement strategies with Iceland and the Faroes to strengthen governance and sustainability initiatives.

Blue whiting communications strategy made available.

Blue whiting landings data from 2017-2022 made available; a total of 1,043,715 tonnes were landed in 2022,representing an annual decline of 8.9%.

The FIP participated in a Blue Whiting catching sector meeting which highlighted the urgent need for sustainable management of Northeast Atlantic blue whiting fisheries, emphasizing the potential expiration of the FIP and its implications for certification and the supply chain. NAPA noted their plans for targeted advocacy, starting with Norway, to address overfishing and push for Coastal State agreements on long-term fisheries management.

NAPA hosted a seminar at the North Atlantic Seafood Summit to present the issues and challenges affecting the blue whiting fishery and in-turn, the aquafeed and farmed salmon sector.

The FIP has sent several letters to Fisheries Ministers urging cooperation toward a quota sharing arrangement.

The third catching sector roundtable was held on March 30th, 2022; 23 pelagic fishing organizations were invited from all 7 coastal states 

A position paper was produced by NAPA and circulated to the flag states

The coastal states held a meeting to discuss setting the 2022 TAC; the meeting concluded with the 2022 TAC set at 752,736 tonnes (19% lower than for 2021) for the blue whiting. The parties involved also agreed to establish three working groups to analyze and report on the stock and catch distribution of these stocks.