Russia: Scientists recommend cutting the Barents Sea cod quota by 31% in 2025

A Norwegian-Russian research group on fish stocks in the Barents Sea presented recommendations on Friday for a significant reduction in the cod quota, even sharper than the expected 20%. In 2024, the cod quota was reduced by 20% to 453,427 tonnes in line with the recommendations. The reduction, coupled with a complete US ban on Russian fish being processed in third countries, has caused prices for frozen Norwegian cod (H&G) to soar in China. Prices for Russian cod in China are also rising, but the difference with Norwegian cod still exceeds $1,500 per ton. In week 24 (June 10-16), prices for 1-2.5kg cod at the Norges Rafisklag auction in Northern Norway actually fell, although sources said this was due to low sales volumes. For haddock, scientists recommend catching 106,912 tonnes in 2025, which is 24% less than the quota and 16% less than what was recommended for 2024. The quota for 2024 was 141,000 tons, compared to the recommended 127,550 tons. H&G haddock prices for both ...