ICES Advice 2006, Book 3 - The Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea

3 THE BARENTS SEA AND THE NORWEGIAN SEA 1

3.1 Ecosystem overview 1

3.1.1 Ecosystem components 1

3.1.2 Major significant ecological events and trends 10

3.2 Human impacts on the ecosystem 10

3.2.1 Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities 10

3.2.2 References 11

3.3 Assessments and advice 12

3.3.1 Assessments and advice regarding protection of biota and habitats. 12

3.3.2 Assessments and advice regarding fisheries 12

3.3.3 Special requests 18

3.3.3.1 Harvest control rules for Northeast Arctic haddock (Subareas I and II) 18

3.3.3.2 Request from the Norwegian Government regarding Greenland Sea hooded seals. 22

3.3.3.3 Request from the Russian Federation on North East Arctic Cod. 28

3.4 Stock summaries 29

3.4.1 Northeast Arctic cod 29

3.4.2 Norwegian coastal cod (Subareas I and II) 39

3.4.3 Northeast Arctic haddock (Subareas I and II) 45

3.4.4 Northeast Arctic saithe (Subareas I and II) 52

3.4.5 Redfish (Sebastes mentella) in Subareas I and II 60

3.4.6 Redfish (Sebastes marinus) in Subareas I and II 69

3.4.7 Greenland halibut in Subareas I and II 77

3.4.8 Barents Sea capelin (Subareas I and II, excluding Division IIa west of 5°W) 84