Greenland halibut

Greenland halibut is a slow growing species and therefore vulnerable to high [fishing pressure].

[Bottom otter trawls] cause damage to the seabed. Vulnerable cold-water corals are occuring in the fishing area.

A small Greenland halibut fishery in west Greenland is MSC-certified since 2017. A fishery from Iceland is in review.

Greenland halibut is a slow growing species and is therefore vulnerable to high [fishing pressure]. Fishing pressure on this stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period.   is low and the stock size is increasing.

Vulnerable cold-water corals are occuring in the fishing area. GillnetsGillnets:
A fishing technique whereby passing fish get caught in the meshes with their gills. The net stands vertically on the bottom or hangs on buoys in the water column. The by-catch of species such as porpoises and dolphins is a problem related to gillnets. and set longlinesPelagic Longlines:
A fishing method whereby a long main line (40-100 km long) with transverse lines with hooks with bait is expanded. The line floats on buoys in the water column.   can cause damage to vulnerable bottom [habitats]. Discarding of bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).   is forbidden in these areas. Seabirds can get caught in the longline fishery when hooks come to the surface.

The management plan is partially effective.

Greenland halibut is a slow growing species and is therefore vulnerable to high [fishing pressure]. The stock size in Iceland is at the minimum level. Fishing mortality has decreased but is still too high.

Greenland halibut is bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).   in the mixed [Danish seine] fishery. Bycatch in this fishery is low and discarding of bycatch is forbidden in Iceland. There is damage to the seabed.

The management system for this fishery is largely effective but is not considering the whole ecosystem sufficiently.

Greenland halibut is a slow growing species and is therefore vulnerable to high [fishing pressure]. The fishing pressure is higher than a level that makes a maximal catch possible (MSY(EN) MSY:
Theoretically the greatest possible 'safe' catch, in which fish populations have sufficient size to reproduce in the long term.    ). However, the stockStock:
The fish of a particular species reproducing in the same area in the same period.   seems to be growing.

[Bottom otter trawls] cause damage to the seabed. Vulnerable cold-water corals occur in the fishing area. There are several protected areas where bottom otter trawl fishery is forbidden. There is little bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).   in this fishery, discarding of bycatch is forbidden in Icelandic waters.

A jointly improved management plan is in process for Greenland halibut. The current management plan is partially effective.

The stocks and catches of Greenland halibut at the west of Greenland seem to be stable. This is not certain because there are no [stock assessments] being done. The [fishing pressure] is regulated by means of [catch limits].

[Longline] fishery and [gillnet] fishery have relatively low bycatchBycatch:
Species caught next to species targeted for fishery. By-catches can consist of non-commercial species and species that are too small, and can be kept (this part is sometimes called by-product) or thrown back into the sea (discards).  . There are however known for occasional bycatch of vulnerable species, in this case Greenland sharks, bottlenose whales, wolffish and grenadiers. Quantified bycatch and discard data are unknown but are probably low due to the discard ban of Greenland. Although longlines and gillnets are passive fishing gear, they can be harmful in vulnerable habitats like cold-water corals.

Canada and Greenland have a joint management plan for Greenland halibut. The fishery is managed with a catch limit, [quotas], a minimum [landing size], permits and landing checks. Measures are being taken to protect coral reefs and vulnerable species and to decrease bycatch. Research on the effects of bottom fishery is ongoing.