The European Union (EU) has successfully concluded pivotal agreements with the United Kingdom and Norway, solidifying crucial fishing opportunities for EU fleets in 2024. These agreements, both trilateral and bilateral, play a vital role in providing predictability for stocks in the Northeast Atlantic and the North Sea, addressing a substantial majority of the stocks of interest for the EU.
Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, emphasized the importance of these agreements, stating, “The timely signature of these agreements will secure access to waters and important opportunities for EU fishers as from January 2024.”
The trilateral arrangement encompasses jointly managed fisheries stocks in the North Sea for 2024, establishing total allowable catches (TAC) exceeding 915,000 tonnes. Notably, this includes an EU quota of almost 415,000 tonnes covering key species such as cod, haddock, saithe, whiting, plaice, and herring. The TAC agreement incorporates sustainable management practices, with specific considerations for the southern sub-stock and precautionary measures for the cod population.
Furthermore, the EU, UK, and Norway have collaborated on reviewing the management model for herring in 2024, aligning TACs with Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) advice. The parties have also agreed to maintain measures safeguarding North Sea cod by retaining existing area closures.
Simultaneously, the EU and Norway concluded bilateral consultations, focusing on shared stocks in the North Sea, Skagerrak, and quota exchanges. These bilateral arrangements encompass quota exchanges, mutual access to fishing grounds, and quota setting in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat.
A significant aspect of the bilateral agreements involves an ambitious balance of exchanges for fishing opportunities, including the transfer of 48,000 tonnes of blue whiting from the EU to Norway and the reception of 9,983 tonnes of Arctic cod by the EU for 2024. Access to specific herring stocks in Norwegian waters and reciprocal access to Union waters for blue whiting further underscores the economic significance of these agreements.
The catch limits agreed upon trilaterally and bilaterally will undergo submission for incorporation into the Fishing Opportunities Regulation for 2024 during the upcoming Council of EU fisheries Ministers on December 10 and 11. Additionally, the EU and Norway have committed to in-year consultations during 2024 for Pandalus, addressing discrepancies with the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) scientific advice.
These comprehensive agreements reflect successful cooperation between the EU, the UK, and Norway, ensuring sustainable fishing practices and economic benefits for all involved parties.
Source: European Commission
