Report of the North Western Working Group (NWWG), Sec 6

Total annual landings in Divisions Va, Vb and Sub-area XIV are presented for the years 1981–1998 in Tables 6.1.1–6.1.5. During the period 1982–1986, landings were stable at about 31 000–34 000 t. In the years 1987–1989 landings increased to about 62 000 t, followed by a decrease to about 35 000 t in 1992. The landings increased to 41 000 t in 1993, but have thereafter decreased to 20 000 t in 1998. Catches not officially reported to ICES have been included in the assessment. Landings within Icelandic EEZ have traditionally been reported as caught in Division Va. Therefore, when referring to Division Va (or Icelandic waters) the area covers both Va and the Icelandic EEZ part of XIVb. Landings and fishery relates to the Greenland EEZ part of XIVb as well as international waters on the Reykjanes Ridge. Catches in Icelandic waters have, due to quota regulations, decreased from 37 000 t in 1990 to 10 700 t in 1998. Faroese catches in Vb increased from a level of about 1 000 t in 1981–1991 to 6 500 t in 1996, whereafter it decreased to about 3 800 t in 1998. Catches in division XIVb have increased from below 1 000 t in 1987–1991 to 8 500 t in 1997, but have decreased again to 5 900 t in 1998.