Genetic studies support the distinctness of different populations in the Atlantic Ocean (Bradbury et al. 2013), being two stocks identified in the Barents Sea: NE Arctic and Norwegian coastal waters. There is some overlap over the spawning season in the Norwegian coast but the stocks are assessed by ICES separately as following: cod in Subareas I and II (Northeast Arctic cod) and cod in Subareas I and II (Norwegian coastal waters cod). Haddock and saithe are also targeted in this fishery.