Iceland and the UK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation on fisheries matters.
This follows agreements already signed with Norway, the Faroe Islands and Greenland which aim to put in place bespoke arrangements with each of the UK’s principal fisheries partners across the North-East Atlantic.
The agreement will come into effect on 1st January 2021. It has been signed during a video conference by UK Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis and Icelandic Minister of Fisheries Kristján Thór Júlíusson.
“This agreement demonstrates the strong relationship between our two nations on matters including trade and fisheries. I would like to thank our Icelandic counterparts for the constructive approach they have adopted throughout these negotiations. We have already seen the potential of working together given the number of shared issues and objectives our countries have on fishery management, and we look forward to continuing this constructive dialogue,” Victoria Prentis said.
It sets out a UK-Iceland Fisheries Dialogue, in which both countries can share best practice and co-operate on a range of issues, including product innovation and food waste reduction. Businesses will also be able to exchange knowledge on the adoption of new technologies, and ways to enhance the value, traceability and marketing of seafood products.
“With this Memorandum of Understanding we are ensuring that Britain’s exit from the European Union results in enhancing further the good co-operation Iceland has had with the United Kingdom. I am pleased to note that there is clear mutual interest in the two countries to have close co-ordination and co-operation regarding fisheries,” commented Iceland’s Minister of Fisheries Kristján Thór Júlíusson.
“Britain is an important market for many Icelandic companies and the British government is an important partner for us in many international organisations. I’m convinced that this Memorandum of Understanding is the start of a very good co-operation.”
This Memorandum of Understanding reaffirms and builds on the fisheries commitments both the UK and Iceland made within the UK-Iceland Joint Vision for 2030 that was signed earlier this year. As part of this vision, the UK and Iceland recognise the need to promote responsible fisheries to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, and endeavour to use a science-based approach to fisheries and aquaculture management in order to minimise the impacts on the marine environment.
