Marine

Bilateral Norway agreement brings additional fishing opportunities

January 22, 2024 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category fish stocks, Fisheries, fisheries agreement

Consultations with Norway on exchanges of fishing opportunities with the UK in 2024, including quotas and access, concluded with the signing of an Agreed Record on 14 December. Fishing activity has now commenced in both UK and Norwegian waters under the terms of this agreement.

The agreement includes reciprocal access for demersal stocks such as haddock, cod and plaice, which will allow Scottish fishers to catch up to 30,000 tonnes of their existing North Sea quotas in Norwegian waters. Access has also been agreed for North Sea herring in UK waters, and Atlanto-Scandian herring in Norwegian waters, up to a cap of 20,000 tonnes. These are the same levels of access agreed for 2023.

Exchanges of quotas have also been agreed, including an inward transfer to the UK of monkfish, a key stock for many Scottish vessels.

Discussions with the Faroe Islands on further exchanges of opportunities are ongoing.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon said:

“Norway is a key partner and we welcome the agreed additional opportunities and flexibility for Scotland’s fishing industry in 2024.

“I would like to thank our negotiators for consistently seeking the best outcomes for Scotland by securing sustainable and evidence-based catching-opportunities.

“This package provides additional opportunities and flexibility for Scotland’s fishing industry and builds on the good relations that we have with Norway, following successful implementation of bilateral arrangements over the last two years.”

Background

The UK signed a Framework Agreement on Fisheries with Norway in 2020. Bilateral exchanges of opportunities were agreed for 2022 and 2023.

Through the UK/Norway agreement, Scottish vessels will be able to fish key whitefish stocks in Norwegian waters of subarea 4 (North Sea), including haddock, cod, monkfish, hake, saithe, whiting, and plaice. Pelagic vessels are granted access to fish Atlanto-Scandian herring.

The UK has exchanged out quotas including Greenland halibut, saithe, ling, and tusk.

The Agreed Record can be viewed here.

Tags: fisheries, Norway UK bilateral fisheries agreement

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