The Fishery for Northern Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) off West Greenland, 1970-2012

The Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) occurs on the continental shelf off West Greenland in NAFO Divisions 0A and 1A–1F in depths between approximately 150 and 600 m. Greenland fishes this stock in Subarea 1, Canada in Div. 0A; Canadian regulations set a separate shrimp TAC for the part of this Division lying east of 60°30'W (Canadian SFA1). The species is assessed in these waters as a single stock and managed by catch control. The fishery has been prosecuted over time by four fleets: Greenland smallvessel inshore; Greenland KGH offshore; Greenland recent offshore, and Canadian offshore. Catches peaked in 1992 at 105 000 tons but then decreased to around 80 000 tons by 1998 owing to management measures. Increases in allowed takes were subsequently accompanied by increased catches. The logbook recorded catches in 2005 and 2006, around 157 000 tons, were the highest recorded. In 2009 and 2010 the catches were near 135 000 tons decreasing to 124 000 tons in 2011. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the stock advised for 2008–10 was 110 000 tons live-caught weight, a reduction from 130