The European Commission, negotiating on behalf of the European Union, and the Faroe Islands have agreed on the levels of fishing possibilities in each other''s waters, as well as access provisions for blue whiting for 2010.
The Commission welcomes the arrangement, which confirms the current climate of cooperation between the two Parties, which have a shared interest in ensuring the sustainability of North Atlantic fisheries.
The fishing possibilities agreed take account of the most recent scientific advice on the stocks concerned.
Faroese access to fish blue whiting under their quota in the Coastal State arrangement in EU waters was reduced and in the absence of any Coastal State agreement on mackerel, no additional access was granted to the Faroe Islands to fish mackerel in 2010, other than through the reciprocal exchange of quotas.
Quotas for deep-sea species for both Parties were reduced in line with current scientific advice.
The two Parties agreed to continue their cooperation on control, and in particular on following up the work of the European Union, the Faroe Islands and Norway regarding control measures in the fisheries for pelagic species.
Changes for the EU fleet fishing in Faroese waters (in tonnes):
| Stock | 2009 | 2010 |
| Blue ling and ling | 3,065 | 2,700 |
| Blue whiting | 3,000 | 2,700 |
| Mackerel | 3,982 | 3,765 |
Changes for the Faroe Islands fishing in EU or Greenland waters (in tonnes):
| Stock | 2009 | 2009 |
| Ling and tusk | 250 | 200 |
| Blue ling | 200 | 150 |
| Blue whiting | 10,500 | 9,000 |
| Horse mackerel | 5,000 | 2,000 |
| Herring IIIa | 500 | 450 |
| Redfish (Greenland waters) | 200 | 385 |
| Mackerel | 4,798 | 4,536 |
