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On the basis of data from annual summertime oceanographic surveys, conducted by PINRO in the Norwegian Sea, considerable variations in the maritime climate of this region during the 1990s have been identified. The early and later parts ot the 1990s were characterized by significant increases of water temperature of the Norwegian Current comparable to that in the early 1960s and mid-1970s. In the mid-1990s, transgression of cold water from the East Icelandic Current into the central part of the Norwegian Sea was accompanied by an abnormal decline of sea water temperature similar in magnitude to that observed at the end of the 1960s and early 1980s. Alternation of variation of water temperature anomalies in the Norwegian Sea during the 1990s took place against a considerable increase of water temperature in the Northeast Atlantic. The observed variations of climate influenced substantially the status of zooplankton ( Calanus fmmarchicus) and migration pattern of Atlanto-Scandian herring. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The contributions to the Special Scientific Meeting “THE COD” which are submitted herewith show that, during the 20 years that have passed since our last meeting dealing with the cod, very great attention has been paid to a census of the cod stocks. The long series of observations recording length and age compositions of the cod constitute very valuable material, and new facts of paramount importance have been presented. Our plan of arranging all the contributions within a particular frame work may have prevented some interesting observations from appearing, but it has enabled us to present data for a direct comparison of the different stocks examined by various workers. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Please note: The present advice extends the advice given in June 2022 (for catches in 2022/2023) to include advice for 2023/2024. ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in each of the fishing years 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 and 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be no more than 259 tonnes.

Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in Divisions IIa, IVa, Vb, VIa, VIIa-c, e-k, VIIIa-e (Western stock)

The terms of reference for the Study Group were set out in ICES C.Res.1991/2:7:4 as folIows: "The Study Group on the Norwegian Sea and Faroes Salmon Fishery (Chairman: Mr E.C.E. Potter, UK) will meet in Dublin, Ireland from 28 February - 1 March 1992 to prepare the relevant data for presentation to the Working Group on North Atlantic Salmon at its meeting in March 1992".

The 2009 data (landings and survey) do not change the perception of the stock in the Barents Sea and Svalbard area. Therefore, the advice for this fishery in 2011 is the same as the advice given in 2009 for the 2010 fishery. ICES advises that: “there should be no directed trawl fishery on Sebastes mentella in Subareas I and II in 2011. Area closures should be maintained and by-catch limits should be as low as possible until a significant increase in the spawning-stock biomass (and a subsequent increase in the number of juveniles) has been verified”.

The ICES Working Group on integrated assessments for the Norwegian Sea (WGINOR) synthe-sizes and evaluates information on physical, chemical, ecological, human, and environmental processes affecting the Norwegian Sea ecosystem. For this purpose, it gathers information, per-forms data analyses, and interacts with stakeholders. Based on these, WGINOR develops and produces an annual ecosystem status summary and assembles a knowledge base that supports the Norwegian Sea Ecosystem Overview. In 2022, WGINOR reports that 1) while the extent of Arctic Water is increasing, the temperature of the Atlantic inflow has been close to the long-term mean, 2) the annual primary production remains stable, but the seasonal timing of peak production is gradually shifting to a later date, 3) zooplankton spring biomass, measured since 1995, declined in the mid-2000s and has since remained relatively stable, 4) Norwegian spring-spawning herring and mackerel mature bio-masses declined slightly in 2022. After a few years of decline, the biomass of mature blue whiting increased, driven by historically high recruitment, 5) breeding numbers for Atlantic puffin and black-legged kittiwake continue to decline and common guillemot remains at high risk of extinc-tion, 6) seals pup production is declining or at low levels and baleen whales’ distribution has gradually moved from the Norwegian Sea and towards the Barents Sea. WGINOR is gradually implementing standardized data analysis procedures. For the first time, some of these analyses are implemented in the ICES Transparent Assessment Framework (TAF). WGINOR is also developing a set of geographical polygons to report the results of regional anal-yses in a standardized manner. In 2022, WGINOR invited stakeholders from Norwegian organizations to further develop the dialogue between WGINOR scientists and the end-users of WGINOR work. Additional scientific highlights from the group include research on oceanographic conditions in the Icelandic Sea and its impact on the climate of the Norwegian Sea, quantification of mackerel migration patterns using PIT-tags, emerging dynamics of the hake fishery, and diet analyses of small pelagic fish.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) and, fishing mortality (in 2008), ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably (F=0.29). Year classes 2005-2008 are among the lowest observed. Due to recent low recruitment, SSB has declined from its historical peak in 2003-2004 of more than 7 million tonnes to 3.6 million tonnes at the beginning of 2009, and the decline is expected to continue in the short-term.

According to the Resolutions adopted at the 1996 Annual Science Conference 84th Statutory Meeting, a Planning Group on Surveys on Pelagic Fish in the Norwegian Sea [PGSPEN] (Chairman: Dr. O.A. Misund, Norway) will be established and meet in Bergen, Norway for two days in February 1997 to: a) plan and coordinate the national surveys on the pelagic resources and the environment in the Norwegian Sea in 1997, and, in particular; b) plan a coordinated survey on Norwegian spring-spawning herring in May 1997.

ICES advises on the basis of the Joint Russian–Norwegian Fisheries Commission management plan that TAC in 2015 should be set at 894000 t. All catches are assumed to be landed. Bycatches of coastal cod and Sebastes norvegicus should be kept as low as possible.

The objective of this benchmark process was to propose and evaluate assessment methods and the data upon which they depend for the four stocks: 1) Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2; 2) Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14; 3) golden redfish in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14; and 4) beaked redfish in Subarea 14 and Division 5.a. Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2 was previously assessed by the AFWG-Arctic Fisheries Working Group (Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2) using a Gadget model, while the others were assessed by the NWWG-Northwest Working Group using either a surplus production model (Greenland halibut in subareas 5, 6, 12, and 14), a Gadget model (golden redfish), or an ICES category 3 assessment method (beaked redfish). For both Greenland halibut stocks, age data were sparse and diverse data sources were compiled to fit Gadget length- and age-based models, which was also sex dependent for Greenland halibut in subareas 1 and 2 due to sex-dependent life history variation. Both Gadget models were improvements from previous assessment methods, although the lack of age data creates high uncertainty. A SAM model was proposed for golden redfish, which was tuned using survey data from Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. The SAM model showed better diagnostic results and resulted in higher current biomass levels than the previous model, but also confirms the previous view that recruitment has been consistently poor in recent years. Beaked redfish has sparse age data and was also assessed using the Gadget framework, tuned to surveys in Icelandic Waters, and indicates that the stock is below Blim and shows consistently low recruitment in recent years. It is recommended that migration and stock mixing be evaluated in future and that efforts be made to increase age data availability. Reference points were calculated according to the ICES category 1 methods. Harvest control rules proposed and evaluated were based on the ICES MSY advice rule. The current harvest control rule used for golden redfish was considered precautionary.

Hydrographic data from three standard sections (Svinøy, Gimsøy, and Sørkapp) in the Norwegian Sea are used along with a simple analytical model to investigate the heat loss of the Norwegian Atlantic Current toward the Arctic. The sections include data from 1978 to 2000. Only in the northern part of the Norwegian Sea is there a significant negative trend in salinity. The area occupied by Atlantic Water in the Svinøy Section decreased over a similar period, but showed a similarly rising tempera­ture trend. Summer heat contents in the Svinøy and Gimsøy sections, however, show no prominent trend from 1979 to 2000. Results from the analytical model show that the lateral mixing process and the ocean-atmosphere heat flux in the Norwegian Atlantic Current are of the same order. The model also indicates a propagation speed of 3.2 cm s-1 from the Svinøy to the Gimsøy Section. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

ICES advises on the basis of the Norwegian management plan that catches in 2015 should be no more than 122 000 t. All catches are assumed to be landed. Bycatches of coastal cod and Sebastes norvegicus1 in fisheries targeting saithe in Subareas I and II should be kept as low as possible.

The overflow of cold water from the Arctic Mediterranean (Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas) across the Greenland-Scotland Ridge into the Atlantic is a key process in the form ation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW ) and a driving mechanism for the Atlantic inflow to the Nordic Seas. About half the overflow flux passes east of Iceland, carried by three separate branches. Previous investigations have shown that the branch that flows through the Faroe Bank Channel decreased in flux from 1950 to 2000. We argue that the same conclusion can be drawn for the cold com ponent of the overflow across the southern part of the Iceland-Faroe Ridge and for the cold com ponent of the overflow across the Wyville-Thomson Ridge. If not compensated by unobserved increases in other sources, the results imply a reduced production of NADW and reduced inflow of Atlantic Water to the Nordic Seas. We briefly discuss the potential biological consequences of the changing transport of organisms by overflow currents, changing bottom temperature regimes in areas affected by overflow water, and changing Atlantic inflow. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB (in 2009) ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity. Based on the most recent estimate of fishing mortality (in 2008) ICES classifies the stock as being harvested sustainably. SSB in 2009 is well above Bpa and is estimated as one of the highest in the time-series. The stock contains a number of good year classes. In the last 10 years, four large year classes have been produced (1998, 1999, 2002 and 2004). However, the available information indicates that year classes after 2004 have been of low abundance.

Report on surveys of the distribution, abundance and migrations of the Norwegian springspawning herring, other pelagic fish and the environment of the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters in late winter, spring and summer of 1998

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches should be no more than 13 317 tonnes in each of the years 2024 and 2025. If discard rates do not change from the average of the last three years (2020–2022), this implies landings of no more than 12 785 tonnes.

Corrigendum (23/06/2023): An error in the data used to support primary production estimates was detected and corrected in 2022. Increasing trends in net primary production reported in the highlights, in the graphical summary and in the phytoplankton section are erroneous. Readers should refer to the WGINOR 2023 report (ICES, 2023; https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.22110260) where the error has been corrected. The Working Group on Integrated Ecosystem Assessments for the Norwegian Sea (WGINOR) executes and develops an integrated ecosystem assessment (IEA) for the Norwegian Sea ecoregion. This report summarizes the working group’s progress on annual updates to the IEA and time series, development of an ocean climate forecast, a food-web based assessment of the pelagic ecosystem, evaluation of single and multispecies harvest control rules for pelagic fish, revisions of the Ecosystem Overview completed in 2021, and establishment of dialogue with pelagic fisheries stakeholders and managers in Norway, Faroe Islands, and Iceland. The Norwegian Sea Ecosystem Overview revision included updates to the pressures and their importance, and a re-evaluation of the sector-pressure-component pathways. Other outputs included: (1) a 10-page ecosystem state summary for a non-scientific audience was produced (Annex 3), (2) a framework for identifying extreme values in the time series for in-depth analysis was developed, and (3) a study on multispecies harvest control rules scenarios and another on impact of value- and ecosystem-based management scenarios on Norwegian Spring-spawning herring showed impact of management decisions on the ecosystem. Dialogue was also successfully initiated with pelagic fisheries stakeholders and managers in Iceland. Research on ocean climate impacts on ecosystem productivity indicated Arctic water masses facilitate greater abundance of nutrients and zooplankton compared to Atlantic waters. Preliminary results suggest oceanographic conditions are influenced by many processes operating at different time-scales complicating the development of ocean climate forecast products. Model reconstruction of trophic interactions in the pelagic ecosystem suggests limited competitions between dominant pelagic fish stocks. Comparison of diet estimation methods reveals occurrence-based methods give similar results to weight-based methods but are more robust and cost efficient. Furthermore, sampling fewer specimens at more stations reduces diet variance. WGINOR priorities for the next term is to continue development of robust IEAs to support development of ecosystem-based management and ecosystem-based fisheries management in the Norwegian Sea.

The Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission requested ICES to review the stock status for the Northeast Arctic cod before the autumn ACFM meeting. ICES responded to the Commission that the Arctic Fisheries Working Group would hold an extraordinary meeting from May 9-12, 2000 at the Institute of Marine Research in Bergen, Norway to reassess the status of, and re-consider catch options for, the year 2000 for the cod in Sub-areas I and II.

To determine volume and heat transports through Fram Strait, an array of current meter moorings was maintained in the Strait between 1997 and 2001, with annual redeployments. The transports obtained by averaging the monthly means from the first 2 years were 9.5 Sv to the north and 11.1 Sv to the south (ISv = 106m3s-1). The net transport over the 2 years was 4.2 Sv to the south, taking into account that there is some recirculation from the eastern to the western side of the transect which has a meridional offset of 10 nmi. The northward transport consists of about 50% of Atlantic Water, of which about 65% recirculates north of the transect. The northward heat flow, 85% of which is by Atlantic Water, is 16TW (1997/1998) and 41TW (1998/1999). Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Various data sources are used to derive the biomass flow from fish to the fish themselves, to fisheries, and to marine mammals in six ecosystems: Eastern Bering Sea, Norwegian coast and Barents Sea, North Sea, Benguela current, Georges Bank, and Balsfjorden. The largest proportion of fish biomass provides food for the fish themselves in all areas. The North Sea has the highest loss of fish biomass to fishing. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

The ICES IBPNorwayPout inter-benchmark exercise evaluated alternative biological inputs in the stock assessment for natural mortality, sexual maturity and growth (mean weight-at-age in the stock) for the Norway pout stock in the North Sea and Skagerrak. The natural mortality, maturity, and mean weight used in the scenarios evaluated in the benchmarking process originate from results published in Nielsen et al. (2012); Lambert et al. (2009); Sparholt et al. (2002a,b); as well as from the multispe-cies assessment working group ICES WGSAM 2011. In particular, natural mortality estimates for Norway pout originating from the new key run of the multispecies SMS model were applied here. Five scenarios were considered, a Baseline Scenario follow-ing the current assessment approach and four additional scenarios which explored alternative biological inputs.

The advice given in 2012 for this stock is valid for 2013-2015 : “ICES advises on the basis of the precautionary approach that no fishing for porbeagle should be permitted. Landings of porbeagle should not be allowed. A rebuilding plan should be developed for this stock.”The advice is summarized in the table below. NB: new Advice will be provided in 2015

The 2010 data (landings and survey) do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given last year: “ICES advises that a management plan be developed and implemented which takes into account the uncertainties in science and the properties of the fisheries. ICES suggests that catches are set no higher than 10 000 t as a starting point for the adaptive part of the management plan.”

ICES advises that when the Norwegian management plan is applied, catches in 2023 should be no more than 29 347 tonnes (recreational and commercial catches combined).

The Icelandic stock of cod forms an important part of the cod populations in the North Atlantic. In the years 1930-1938 the catch on lcelanclio grounds was 38.7 % of the total European catch of cod. In the same period the Norwegian coast yielded 22.5 %, Bear Island 9.1 %, the Barents Sea 8.8 %, the Newfoundland/Greenland Banks 6.7 % and the North Sea 5.9 %. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

The Working Group on Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys (WGMEGS) is responsible for the planning, data collection, and data analysis of the ICES triennial mackerel and horse mackerel egg surveys. This report focuses on the execution of the mackerel and horse mackerel egg survey (MEGS) in 2022. The results of the two 2021 online Workshops on Mackerel, Horse Mackerel and Hake Eggs Identification and Staging (WKMACHIS) and on Adult Egg Production Methods Parameters estima-tion in Mackerel and Horse Mackerel (WKAEPM) were discussed, with the subsequent enhance-ments and recommendations proposed during these workshops outlined in the workshop re-ports (ICES, 2022 a,b) and also incorporated into both of the WGMEGS manuals (ICES 2019a, b). Although the broad planning of the 2022 survey was undertaken during the 2021 planning meet-ing and detailed in the WGMEGS 2021 report, the provisionally agreed plan required additional intersessional refinements. The settled plan for the 2022 survey has been included as an annex in the latest version of the WGMEGS Manual for the Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys (ICES SISP 6, 2019a). In 2022, the survey once again faced significant challenges with regards to its ability to provide adequate geographical and temporal coverage given the limited vessel resources at our disposal. In 2022, Portugal, Spain (IEO and AZTI), Ireland, UK/Scotland, the Netherlands, Germany, the Faroe Islands, and Norway participated in the egg survey in the western and southern areas. Denmark and UK/England, with some additional assistance from Norway surveyed the North Sea as a single-pass DEPM survey. This is the first time in many years that all surveys have been completed in the same year. In 2022, the survey was split into six sampling periods. The final period ended in late July. Waters west and southwest of Portugal were surveyed in period 2 only. The Cantabrian Sea was sam-pled in periods 3–5 while Biscay was sampled in periods 3 to 6. The Celtic Sea and waters west of the British Isles were sampled in periods 3 to 7, and the waters north and northwest of Britain towards Iceland and into the Norwegian Sea were sampled in periods 5 and 6. Mackerel daily egg production was highest in period 5, (May), for the western component, while for the southern component the maximum spawning intensity was observed in period 3. Total mackerel egg production (provisional, southern and western component combined) was 1.64 * 1015. Provisional fecundity estimate was 1178 egg per gram female, resulting in an SSB index of 3.88 * 106 tonnes. For the Western stock of horse mackerel, highest mean daily egg production was estimated dur-ing June, period 6. Spawning was very low throughout all survey periods, with an obvious peak occurring in period 6. Total annual egg production for western Horse mackerel was 5.15 * 1014, almost a 300% increase on 2019.

Appendix K of Rapport et Process-Verbaux des Reunions (RPVR) Vol. 3. Part I of this work (see link below) has given an account of the present-day condition of the fisheries in the countries bordering on the North Sea. At the same time, the sources of information general as well as statistical have been displayed, and the actual information which the statistics of each country yield has been subjected to a preliminary critical review. Some notion has been given thereby of the value of existing statistics, and the way has been cleared for the general summary which has to bring the principal data together. The first portion of this work has given an account of the present-day condition of the fisheries in the countries bordering on the North Sea. At the same time, the sources of information general as well as statistical have been displayed, and the actual information which the statistics of each country yield has been subjected to a preliminary critical review. Some notion has been given thereby of the value of existing statistics, and the way has been cleared for the general summary which has to bring the principal data together.

The Barents Sea is a shelf area of approximately 1.4 million km2, which borders to the Norwegian Sea in the west and the Arctic Ocean in the north, and is part of the continental shelf area surrounding the Arctic Ocean. The Barents Sea is bounded by the continental slope between Norway and Spitsbergen in the west, the continental slope towards the Arctic Ocean in the north, Novaya Zemlya in the east and the coast of Norway and Russia in the south (Figure 3.1.1). The average depth is 230 m, with a maximum depth of about 500 m at the western entrance. There are several bank areas, with depths between 50–200 m.

The surface circulation of the Nordic Seas and its variability during the 1990s is investigated using current data obtained from satellite-tracked drifters. We find a seasonal intensification of the circulation during winter and during the first half of the 1990s, both due to the enhanced atmospheric momentum forcing. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The report present the results from the acoustic, hydrographic, plankton, and fish sampling during the ICES co-ordinated surveys in the Norwegian Sea in 2003 (Norway, Faroes, Iceland and Russia). The PGSPFN met in Tórshavn, 27-29. August 2003. The survey results include the distribution and stock estimates of Norwegian spring-spawning herring and blue whiting, and the environment (oceanographic conditions and biomass of zooplankton) of the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters in late winter, spring and summer of 2003. The abundance estimates are used in the fish stock assessment of Norwegian spring spawning herring and blue whiting in ICES (NPBWWG) and the collection of environmental data further improve the basis for ecosystem modelling of the Northeast Atlantic. Broad plans for the ICES coordinated surveys for 2004 are also outlined with descriptions of the relevant protocols and suggested survey designs.

Based on the most recent estimates of SSB and fishing mortality, ICES classifies the stock as having full reproductive capacity and being harvested sustainably. The SSB has been above Bpa since 2002. Fishing mortality was reduced from well above Flim in 1999 to below Fpa in 2007. As predicted last year, surveys indicate that cod recruitment is anticipated to be below the long-term mean both in 2009 and 2010, and also additionally in 2011.

Appendix G of Rapport et process-verbaux des reunions (RPVR) Vol. 3 It is self-evident that tlie common work of marine investigation, in which the North- Enropean nations have joined, must take its commencement from what we already know con­cerning the sea and the life of the sea. From the beginning therefore, the investigations have been so instituted as to use and further the methods and results which existing institutions have already worked out in this iield of enquiry. The international work is so closely bound to these' results that it is often impossible, in the following review of the later work of the last two years, to show what comes from the present and what from the earlier investigations ; moreover, it was to some extent the same naturalists who conducted the work formerly as at present. We have thought it better accordingly, for the sake of continuity and the deeper inter­relations of the work, to keep chiefly to the facts and we have laid less weight on what both series of investigations have obtained separately. We would point out however, that the historical development is such, that the new and extended international investigations are in all essentials based on the results achieved by the earlier; the aim of both is the same and the means are of the same kind, but the new means regarded from the purely quantitative standpoint are greater. We have every reason to expect that the results will likewise be greater. The following report will perhaps confirm this view even though all the material is far from having been worked out.

The 2009 data (landings, survey and cpue) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given in 2009. The advice for the fishery in 2011 is the same as the advice given in 2009 for the 2010 fishery: “The stock has remained at a relatively low size in the last 25 years at catch levels of 15 000–25 000 t. In order to increase the SSB, catches should be kept well below that range. Catches should be below 13 000 t as advised since 2003; this is the level below which SSB has increased in the past”. Additionally, ICES notes that the evaluation of this stock is uncertain due to age-reading problems and lack of contrast in the data. The age-reading issue is being addressed and should be resolved in the not too distant future. Corrections to the whole time-series are required. The 38th Session of the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission in 2009 decided to cancel the ban against targeted Greenland halibut fishery and established a TAC at 15 000 t for next three years (2010-2012). The TAC was allocated between Norway, Russia and other countries with shares of 51, 45 and 4% respectively.

From 30 March 2022 onwards, all Russian Federation participation in ICES was suspended. Although the announcement of the suspension stressed the role of ICES as a “multilateral science organization” this suspension applied not only to research activities but also to the ICES work of providing fisheries advice for the sustainable management of fish stocks and ecosystems. As a result of the suspension, it is not possible to run ICES stock assessments or provide ICES advice for the Barents Sea stocks of NEA cod, NEA haddock, capelin, beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) or Greenland Halibut, as management and data collection for these stocks are shared between Norway and Russia. There are therefore no AFWG stock assessments for these stocks this year. Assessment and advice for these stocks are being conducted outside ICES through the bilateral Russian-Norwegian group, the Joint Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG). The most recent assessment reports are available via the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) website: Report of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG) 2023 Barents Sea Capelin–Report of the Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on Arctic Fisheries (JRN-AFWG) [2022] The assessments in 2022 and 2023 occurred outside ICES but were based on the stock annexes previously agreed within ICES, used the same data and models as previously, and were conducted by the same Russian and Norwegian scientists that were involved in the previous ICES assessments. The managing body in the Barents Sea (the Joint Norwegian Russian Fisheries Commission; JNRFC) has endorsed this approach and has used the advice from the JRN-AFWG as the basis of management following the same procedures previously used for ICES advice. There is therefore currently no possibility to produce, and no current management need for, ICES assessments for these stocks. This year AFWG is providing ICES advice for saithe, coastal cod north and coastal cod south, with golden redfish (S. norvegicus) advice next due in 2024. In addition, an assessment has been run for anglerfish, although there is no formal request for advice for this stock. Assessments for Greenland halibut, NEA cod, NEA haddock, beaked redfish (S. mentella), and capelin were run at the JRN-AFWG in 2022 and 2023, and there are links to the resulting advice below. Stock-by-stock summaries (ICES) The stock trends for the assessed stocks are as follows: Cod (Gadus morhua) in subareas 1 and 2 north of 67°N (Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea), northern Norwegian coastal cod; cod.27.1-2.coastN The coastal cod north assessment gives an SSB estimate of 71 599 tonnes for 2022 (down from 72 888 tonnes in 2021), and the catch advice is 26 612 tonnes (slightly up from 29 347 t last year). The stock has had a declining trend since 2016, partly due to the weak 2018-year class that is now part of the fishable biomass. There is no Blim for this stock and the status relative to this reference point can therefore not be determined, but SSB is above the biomass limit for which the HCR is valid (SSBlowerbound). The fishing mortality is 0.31, well above target F in the management plan (0.176). However, because of better recruitment in 2020–2021, a small increase in the stock is expected in 2023–2025 even under status quo fishing. It should be noted that this stock cannot be directly managed via a quota (as the fish are not visually distinguishable from NEA cod in the same area), and therefore management is based on gear and area regulation. Cod (Gadus morhua) in Subarea 2 between 62°N and 67°N (Norwegian Sea), southern Norwegian coastal cod; cod.27.2.coastS The new ICES advice guidelines for data-poor stocks indicate that advice should be given on a two-year basis. Accordingly, the advice given in 2022 for 2023 is extended to 2023 and 2024, and no new advice is given. Saithe in subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic) The NEA saithe stock is currently in good status, with the SSB well above Bpa at 727 666 tonnes, very slightly up from 715 674 t in last year’s assessment. Following the HCR the catch advice is 223 123 tonnes (almost unchanged from 226 794 t last year). This stock, together with the associated North Sea saithe stock, is aiming for a benchmark, likely in 2024. Anglerfish (Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius) in subareas 1 and 2 (Northeast Arctic) Data-limited model results based on length data from the fishery suggest that the biomass seems to be doing well and that the exploitation pattern is appropriate, while the rate might be near/slightly above the level that would lead to maximum yield. Management is based on technical measures rather than a quota. AFWG does not currently give advice on this stock but considers the current assessment of sufficient quality to base catch advice on if requested by the managers. Stock-by-stock summaries (non-ICES) Information for the for the stocks not currently assessed by AFWG (latest 2023 Greenland halibut, NEA cod, and NEA haddock; latest 2022 beaked redfish and capelin) via the IMR website: Barents Sea capelin The JRN-AFWG advice from 2022 is available here: https://www.hi.no/en/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2022-7 NEA cod The JRN-AFWG advice from 2023 is available here: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2023-5 NEA haddock The JRN-AFWG advice from 2023 is available here: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2023-4 Greenland halibut The JRN-AFWG advice from 2023 is available here: https://www.hi.no/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2023-6 Beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) The JRN-AFWG advice from 2022 is available here: https://www.hi.no/en/hi/nettrapporter/imr-pinro-en-2022-5

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be zero catches in each of the years 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. Closed areas to protect spawning should be maintained.

Stock-specific documentation of standard assessment procedures used by ICES. Stock Cod (Gadus morhua) in subareas 1 and 2, north of 67°N (Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea), northern Norwegian coastal cod; cod.27.1-2.coastN. Working group Arctic Fisheries Working Group (AFWG) Created 18 March 2021 Last updated 28 April 2021

Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus hyperboreus were sampled by five replicate Juday net tows from bottom to surface in February and October 1983-2000 in two deep fjord basins with different sill depths. C. finmarchicus was an order more abundant than C. hyperboreus in both fjords. Seasonal stock changes probably expressed the difference between rates of mortality and immigration. The interannual variability in abundance was about an order of magnitude. Only C. finmarchicus was positively correlated with North Atlantic Oscillation, in opposite phase with its abundance in the North Sea, possibly due to changing winds that generated latitudinal shifts in the C. finmarchicus base population of the Northeast Atlantic. However, latitudinal shifts in westerly storm tracks possibly also forced vernal river flow from Norway to regulate the neritic plankton productivity and growth in the population of C. finmarchicus. Positive correlation between Arctic Oscillation and both species may be due to forcing of advected recruitment. Arctic Oscillation possibly also regulated population size in C. hyperboreus.Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

In my view, a certain answer to the question— “Should fishing of a stock of fish be increased or decreased?”—can be obtained only by adequate estimates of recruitment, natural mortality, mortality by fishing and growth rate: that is, estimates of all the vital rates. Until those are obtained the problem is not solved. The necessary estimates are not available at present for either the Icelandic stock of cod or the Arcto-Norwegian stock. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

ICES advises on the basis of the approach to data-limited stocks,but cannot quantify the resulting catches. This implies annual landings of no more than 2628 tonnes.

Time-series of temperature and salinity from Ocean Weather Station M are analysed for periodic cycles of interannual to decadal scale. Time evolutions of the spectra show various spectral peaks at all depths, but none of these cycles show persistence throughout the 50 years. In addition, isopycnal surfaces and temperature and salinity values on these surfaces are estimated and studied in terms of the relative influence of horizontal advection and vertical movement on the observed changes of water properties. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

Age, length, and growth studies, and tagging experiments etc. undertaken on cod in Norwegian and Arctic waters have shown th a t there are many reasons for regarding the cod of the Barents Sea, and the spawning cod which every year appear on the Lofoten banks, as belonging to one population, the Arcto-Norwegian stock, or shorter, the arctic cod. This publication is part of Rapport et Proces-Verbaux des Reunions Vol. 136, which includes all contributions to a special scientific meeting on cod. To see all other articles in this volume, please click on the keyword "RPVR Vol. 136".

Request On basis of a request from the EU Commission 8th February 2013 ICES is asked for additional evaluations of modified and alternative harvest control rules for the Nor-way pout stock in the North Sea and Skagerrak. EU request to ICES on changing the TAC year for Norway pout. In 2012, the EU and Norway submitted a request to ICES to evaluate various measures for the management of Norway pout. ICES responded to this request in October 2012. The first option that ICES evaluated was a management strategy based on the existing ICES escapement strategy for Norway pout (catch should not exceed an amount that allows stock biomass to be above 150 000 tonnes at the beginning of the following year), modified to in-clude absolute constraints on the annual TAC (a minimum TAC higher than zero and a ceil-ing on the TAC). For this management strategy, ICES evaluated only the option whereby the September as-sessment is used for the TAC for the next calendar year (with an in-year update in May, but not in September). It was noted that this option, where the TAC for quarter 4 is set from the May assessment without knowing the recruitment indices from the third quarter, is less ro-bust than the alternative, which has an additional in-year update in September.In the light of this, ICES is asked to again evaluate a management strategy based on the existing ICES escapement strategy, but where the TAC year is changed to 1 November – 31 October rather than 1 January – 31 December. In this case, the TAC for quarter 4 and for quarters 1 to 3 of the following year would be fixed on the basis of the September assessment, with no update in May.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in the fishing year 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 should be no more than 12 080 tonnes.

The Norwegian Coastal Oceanographic Observing System consists of observations of temperature and salinity in the surface layer, carried out at fixed positions from coastal liners, and measurements in the whole water column, carried out by local observers. The observations date back to 1935. Additionally, long-term data from the Institute of Marine Research station in Flødevigen on the Skagerrak coast and some selected data from the Torungen-Hirtshals hydrographic section are included. These data have been used to elucidate the long-term hydrographic variability along the Norwegian coast. Four relatively warm winter periods could be identified in the surface layer, culminating around 1950, 1960, 1975, and in 1990-1992. The long-term temperature and salinity trend 1950-1989 is negative along the whole coast. The 1990s, however, are characterized by having the highest mean decadal temperature for the hole period of observations alon g the southern coast. The importance of the 1990s in the surface layer is gradually reduced northwards. Along the northernmost coast, other decades, such as the 1950s or the 1960s, show higher decadal mean tem ­perature. Also for the salinity the 1990s show high values along the southern coast, while other high salinity decades dominate further north. The high temperatures and salinities along the southern coast in the 1990s are caused by an increase in the Atlantic inflow in the late 1980s and early 1990s combined with the atmospheric conditions associated with periods of a high level of the North Atlantic Oscillations. Article from Marine Science Symposia Vol. 219 - "Hydrobiological variability in the ICES Area, 1990-1999", symposium held in Edinburgh, 8-10 August 2001. To access the remaining articles please click on the keyword "MSS Vol. 219".

The Study Group on Assessment Methods Applicable to Assessment of Norwegian Spring-Spawning Herring and Blue Whiting Stocks [SGAMHBW] will be established (chair: S. Murawski, USA) and will meet in Lisbon, Portugal, from 19-22 February, 2004 to: a) analyse and evaluate the assessment methods that are considered in assessing Norwegian spring-spawning herring and blue whiting; b) identify for each method the types of population dynamics and data availability for which the method is applicable and relate this to the dynamics observed for the Norwegian spring-spawning herring and blue whiting; c) devise one method that includes the strong points of all the proposed methods.

ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied there should be zero catch in 2023.

The new data (landings and survey) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock in the Barents Sea and Svalbard area. Therefore, the advice for this fishery in 2010 is the same as the advice given in 2007 for the 2008 fishery and re-iterated in 2008 for the 2009 fishery: There should be no directed trawl fishery on Sebastes mentella in Subareas I and II in 2010. Area closures should be maintained and by-catch limits should be as low as possible until a significant increase in the spawning-stock biomass (and a subsequent increase in the number of juveniles) has been verified . In addition, ICES offers the following consideration: Results from the pelagic survey conducted in 2008 indicate a significant, but unquantifiable, spawning biomass in the Norwegian Sea. There are indications, however, that recruitment in the next 12-15 years will be low. A limited fishery is prosecuted at present.

ICES advises that when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be no targeted fisheries on this stock in 2017 and 2018. Based on medium-term projections, annual catches at the recent assumed level (2468 tonnes) would allow the stock to increase at a rate close to that estimated with zero catches. Any possible provision for the landing of bycatch should be part of a management plan, including close monitoring of the stock and fisheries.

The new data (landings, survey and CPUE) available for this stock do not change the perception of the stock and give no reason to change the advice from that given last year in 2008. Therefore, the advice for the fishery in 2010 is the same as the advice given in 2008 for the 2009 fishery: The stock has remained at a relatively low size in the last 25 years at catch levels of 15 000 25 000 t. In order to increase the SSB, catches should be kept well below that range. Catches should be below 13 000 t as advised since 2003; this is the level below which SSB has increased in the past . Additionally, ICES notes that the evaluation of this stock is uncertain due to age-reading problems and lack of contrast in the data. The age-reading issue is being addressed and should be resolved in the not too distant future. Corrections to the whole time-series are required.