Survey finds lowest cod numbers on Faroese shelf since 1996

An annual survey by the research vessel Jákup Sverri has found very little cod but larger quantities of haddock on the Faroese shelf, KVF reports, citing the Faroe Marine Research Institute.

The survey was carried out in August, with 200 one-hour trawls conducted across the shelf.

Researchers said the amount of cod was the lowest recorded since the surveys began in 1996. The cod was also in poor condition and had mainly been feeding on blue whiting and crustaceans, with almost no sandeel found in its diet.

Haddock numbers were declining, and the fish were also in relatively poor condition. A substantial share of the haddock caught was small.

The survey found large quantities of greater argentine and blue whiting, while saithe numbers were roughly unchanged from other years. Ling numbers remained low, as did catches of large redfish and beaked redfish.