Norwegian Experience of Deep-Water Fishing with Longlines

Abstract

Experimental fishing with long lines for deep-water fish was carried out in four areas of the North Atlantic by staff of the Directorate of Fisheries, Bergen. These were off North Norway in 1990, west of the British Isles and along the Reykjanes Ridge in 1991 and frnally on Hatton Bank in 1992.

Along the edge of Tromsoeyflaket off North Norway the total catch for 48 hours fishing was 7, 900 kg of roughhead grenadier(Macrourus berglax) and 2, 000 kg of other fish. The catch was taken on 26, 400 hooks in depths ranging from 350 to 500 fathoms (640 to 915 m.)

However, the sale of the catches of roughhead grenadier to the fish processors was difficult, and the price was too low to give a adequate profit, and the fishermen were not interested in starting this fishery on a commercial basis.

Along the Reykjanes Ridge the experiments were carried out between depths from 280 to 520 fathoms (512 to 950 m.). The catches consisted of tusk, blue ling, halibut, red fish and sharks. The bottom conditions were rough and as a consequence the vessel suffered loss of fishing gear.

West of the British Isles and along the Hatton Bank the fishery was carried out between depths from 250 to 600 fathoms (458 to 1100 m.). Besides the types of fish usually caught with long lines west of the British Isles, commercial quantities of mora and sharks were caught. It was, however once again, difficult to obtain a profitable fishery mainly owing to low prices and marketing problems. Plans for experimental fishing with long lines in 1993 were not carried out owing to these difficulties.