Faroese goldsinnye catch limit may rise 24% in 2027

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has recommended increasing the goldsinnye catch limit by 24% next year, according to the Faroese Marine Research Institute (Havstovan).

ICES proposes a maximum catch of 22,865 tonnes in Faroese waters and west of Scotland for 2027. The Faroes typically allocate two-thirds of the recommended quota to its own fleet.

Goldsinnye fishing will be managed under a quota system, unlike most other Faroese fisheries, which operate under a day-at-sea system. No international agreement exists for goldsinnye quota sharing in the area.

For other species, ICES recommends a 41% reduction in blue ling catches for 2027–2028. The recommended quota for greater silver smelt increases by 5%, while those for black halibut and tusk remain unchanged.

ICES advises against fishing for ling—a key Faroese stock—in 2027, as in the past three years. Recent availability has been low, and uncertainty in assessments suggests the spawning stock may be near the critical threshold of 9,340 tonnes. Faroese catches have been average or below in the last three years, Havstovan noted.