Evaluation of Northeast Arctic Cod Stock Harvest Rates Corresponding to Different Management Objectives

Abstract

A model of population and fisheries dynamics for the Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua morhua) in the Barents Sea was developed. The model based assessments include: maximum sustainable yield (655,000 t) and corresponding fisheries mortality level (F) (0.48); maximum mean annual profit of cod fisheries (13.7 bln RUR) with F = 0.23; fisheries mortality level correspoding to maximum employment in fisheries F = 0.85. The existing cod exploitation level based on 0.4 target mortality level promotes for achieving the objectives to maximize catch and profit.