Marine

Faroe fisheries agreement delivers for Scotland’s fishing industry

March 14, 2024 by Marine Directorate Communications No Comments | Category fish stocks, Fisheries, fisheries agreement

Bilateral fisheries negotiations with the Faroe Islands, one of Scotland’s closest fishing neighbours, have now concluded for 2024. These agreements set out exchanges of fishing opportunities of quotas and access.

The UK/Faroe agreement sets out quota exchanges which will allow UK vessels to fish key species in Faroese waters. This includes quotas for cod, haddock, and saithe at similar levels to the 2023 agreement in exchange for stocks including Greenland halibut, North Sea haddock and Western blue ling.

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

I am pleased to confirm that an agreement was reached between the UK and the Faroe Islands on 1 March. This was the final in a suite of negotiations which have cumulatively provided over £600 million of fishing opportunities to Scottish fishers in 2024.

The Scottish Government has been fully involved in the negotiations, with these talks highlighted as a key priority by many in our industry. This deal sees exchanges of quota and access for Scottish vessels into Faroese waters for species such as cod, haddock and saithe in 2024.

The outcomes will provide additional opportunities and flexibility, enabling our larger whitefish vessels to divert their effort into Faroese waters, in turn putting less pressure on stocks in Scottish waters. This deal also provides a platform to continue to build on our already strong relationship with the Faroe Islands as we seek to manage our fish stocks sustainably.

Background

The UK signed Framework Agreements on Fisheries in 2020 with the Faroe Islands. Bilateral exchanges of opportunities were also agreed in 2022 and 2023.

Through the UK/Faroe agreement, Scottish vessels will be able to fish key whitefish stocks including cod, haddock, and saithe in Faroese waters. The UK has exchanged out quotas including Greenland halibut, haddock, blue ling, tusk and ling.

The UK/Faroe Agreed Record is published on the Scottish Government website.

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