ICES Advice 2008, 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

3.2 Human impacts on the ecosystem 7

3.2.1 Fishery effects on benthos and fish communities 7

3.2.2 References 7

3.2.3 The Norwegian Sea 9

3.3 Assessments and advice 15

3.3.1 Assessments and advice regarding protection of biota and habitats. 15

3.3.2 Assessments and advice regarding fisheries 15

3.3.3 Special requests 20

3.3.3.1 NEAFC request to evaluate and advice on the appropriateness of the plan for a scientific survey for pelagic Sebastes mentella in ICES sub-areas I and II 20

3.3.3.2 NEAFC request to evaluate the outcome of the survey for pelagic Sebastes mentella in ICES sub-areas I and II. 24

3.3.3.3 Norwegian request on management goals for the harp seal stock in the Northeast Atlantic 27

3.4 Stock summaries 43

3.4.1 Northeast Arctic cod 43

3.4.2 Norwegian coastal cod (Subareas I and II) 55

3.4.3 Northeast Arctic haddock (Subareas I and II) 61

3.4.4 Northeast Arctic saithe (Subareas I and II) 72

3.4.5 Redfish (Sebastes mentella) in Subareas I and II 82

3.4.6 Redfish (Sebastes marinus) in Subareas I and II 86

3.4.7 Greenland halibut in Subareas I and II 89

3.4.8 Barents Sea capelin (Subareas I and II, excluding Division IIa west of 5°W) 92

3.4.9 Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) in Subareas I and II