The document discusses sustainable fisheries management in Norway. It describes how overfishing in the 1960s-70s depleted fish stocks and served as a lesson. Key elements of sustainable management introduced include catch limits, individual quotas, limiting access, and international cooperation. These measures have led to increased spawning stocks, reduced fishing pressure per fisherman, and more stable incomes while optimizing long-term yields. The future of fisheries depends on continued sustainable management and cooperation.

1. The Blue Economy - Sustainable Fisheries
Management
Dr. Kathrine Michalsen
Center for Development Cooperation in Fisheries
Institute of Marine Research
Norway

2. SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES
• Norway: is now among world leading
countries in fisheries and fisheries
management.
• But: WE HAVE LEARNED IT THE
HARD WAY – FROM SERIOUS
MISTAKES WITH OVERFISHING AND
STOCK DEPLETION IN THE 1960-
70'ies.

3. Depletion of the largest fish stock in the N. Atlantic (NSS-
Herring): an eye opener and point of departure for
sustainable fisheries management
4,3
spawning stock (million tonnes)
15
4,1
12
9 3,9
to C
6
3,7
3
0 3,5
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000
(Toresen and Østvedt 2000)

4. The main elements for sustainable fisheries
Main elements in the management regime for sustainable fisheries
Fisheries research: Management Control:
measures: -how much fish is Sanctions:
- how much fish is caught -Fee
available? - who should fish -Fisheries statistics -Arrestment of vessel
- how much
Exploration rate Exploration pattern IUUN and overfishing
International cooperation
Stakeholder participation
Gullestad et al. 2012

5. Increased fishing capacity
1950+: accellerating increase in
fishing capacity:
larger vessels, larger engines,
echosounder, sonar, purse seine,
power block, nylon, improved
navigational systems
new species caught
still with an open access fishery -
until the 1970/80-ies.

6. NE-Atlantic fish catch, 1908-present
ICES areas I and II (thousand tonnes)
5000
4500
4000
3500
Redfish
Shrimp
3000
G. halibut
Polar cod
2500
Capelin
Herring
2000 Saithe
Haddock
1500 Cod
1000
500
0
1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008

7. Structural policy measures
• Limiting access – first as an emergency
action => necessary to avoid overfishing
• Ending of fishery subsidies
• Distribution of fishing rights – individual
licenses and quotas
• Scrapping schemes/license aggregation
schemes

8. Norwegian catches, fishermen and
productivity 1945 - 2011
* Preliminary figures 2011

9. Aggregate spawning stock of important
pelagic species 1985 – 2011 (1000 tonnes)
22 000
20 000
18 000
1000 tonn/1000 tonnes
16 000
14 000
12 000
10 000
8 000
6 000
4 000
2 000
0
1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

10. Aggregate spawning stock of important
groundfish species 1985 – 2012 (1000
tonnes)
3500
3000
1000 tonn/1000 tonnes
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011

11. In 2012;
modern purse seiner/pelagic trawler (2000 tons) – state of the art fishing gear,
equipment, technology etc. do catch more in tones than the old vessels, but
- fewer vessels
- selective gears (size and species, season, area)
- Reduced fishing pressure
 Increased outcome per fisherman
 Increased spawning stocks - optimizing long term economic yield based on
precautionary harvest control rules, stable income and F
 Easier to control and adjust fishery according to biological production and
environmental conditions

12. The future is dependent on cooperation!
Capture
Fisheries
Policy &
Management
Environment Aquaculture
Thank you for your attention