The UK has reached a fisheries agreement with Norway. The Fisheries Framework Agreement signed by Environment Secretary George Eustice and Norwegian Fisheries Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen will mean that the UK and Norway hold annual negotiations on the issues of access to waters and quotas.
“This is a great day! I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with the United Kingdom, which will be an important coastal state and partner from January 2021,” said Norwegian Fisheries and Seafood Minister Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen.
“This agreement facilitates a good and solid fisheries co-operation for the future. The management of shared fish stocks is at its best when the coastal states agree on how this should happen.”
This is seen as a significant step forward as the UK prepares to leave the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy at the end of December.
“I am delighted that a Framework Fisheries Agreement with Norway has been successfully secured. The agreement is testament to our commitment to acting as a co-operative independent coastal state, seeking to ensure a sustainable and a prosperous future for the whole of the UK fishing industry,” commented Environment Secretary George Eustice.
“I pay tribute to our Norwegian counterparts for the constructive approach they adopted throughout these negotiations, and we look forward to working with them closely in the coming years.”
The UK fishing fleet lands approximately £32 million worth of fish from Norwegian waters. In previous years, bilateral negotiations with Norway were led by the European Commission on behalf of the UK and other Member States. This autumn the UK will be negotiating fishing opportunities for 2021 as an independent coastal state.
