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"For the Estonian fisheries, the most important possibilities are fishing for redfish, halibut, shrimp, skate and cod in the North-West and North-East Atlantic. We can catch about 3,300 tonnes of these species, which is almost 200 tonnes more than this year," said Ministry of Environment Fish Resources Department Head Kaire Märtin.

As fish stocks in the Northwest Atlantic are recovering, the targeted fishing of witch flounder was reopened, which has been banned for over 20 years. Total quota was set at 1,000 tonnes, most of which belongs to Canada and Russia. Among European Union countries, the quota is owned just by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in equal parts. Each country can catch 44 tonnes of witch flounder.

In Northwest Atlantic, Estonia fishermen can catch 2,085 tonnes of redfish, 168 tonnes more than this year. For Greenland halibut, the quota increased slightly, next year Estonian fishermen can catch 313 tonnes of it. Squid and skate fishing volume remained at the same level as this year, i.e. 128 and 283 tonnes respectively.

In North-East Atlantic., Estonian ships mainly conduct shrimp fishing in the Barents Sea in international waters and the waters of Greenland. In the Barents Sea, shrimp fishing is not restricted with quotas. Among other species, Estonia's mackerel quota for next year is 262 tonnes, redfish in the Irminger Sea 44 tonnes and for Greenland halibut, skate and blue ling, there are by-catch quotas.

Next year will an additional chance will open up to catch redfish in the Norwegian Sea. For this, an international agreement with North-West Atlantic party countries has to be concluded. Negotiations commence in the first quarter of next year.