Joint Russian Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group (JRN-AFWG) Report 2025

Abstract

On 30 March 2022 all Russian participation in ICES was temporally suspended. Althoughthe announcement of the suspension stressed the role of ICES as a “multilateral scienceorganization”, this suspension applied not only to research activities but also to the ICESwork providing fisheries advice for the sustainable management of fish stocks andecosystems. On 9 December 2024 Russia announced its intention to leave ICES by 9December 2025. As a result, since 2022 the ICES AFWG has provided advice only for saithe, coastal cod north, coastal cod south, and golden redfish. Northeast Arctic (NEA) cod, haddock, beaked redfish, Greenland halibut, and capelin assessments have beenconducted outside of ICES in a bilateral Joint Russian-Norwegian Working Group on ArcticFisheries (JRN-AFWG). Although this work has been conducted independently of ICES, the methodologies agreed at ICES benchmarks and agreed HCRs (Harvest Control Rules) have been followed in providing this advice. The chapter numbering in this report is not continuous (Chapter 2,5 and 7 are missing). This is done in order to be consistent with the chapter numbering in ICES AFWG reports. In 2025 we are giving advice for NEA cod and haddock. There is a 2-year advice for bothGreenland halibut and beaked redfish, with the next advice release planned for 2026. Thecapelin advice is conducted and released in the autumn via a separate report. The beakedredfish model is planned for a method revision prior to the next advice. We would note that both cod and haddock had TAC quota set above advice in 2025. Bothstocks are projected to increase provided the HCRs are followed. However, any further fishing above scientific advice would imperil the improvements for these stocks, and for NEA cod in particular would increase the risk of the stock falling below Blim.