European Union, Norway and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: agreed records 2023

Summary

1. A European Union Delegation headed by Mr Erik LINDEBO, a Norwegian Delegation headed by Ms Ann Kristin WESTBERG and a United Kingdom Delegation headed by Mr Colin FAULKNER met in the period from 3 to 4 November in Oslo, from 21 to 24 November in Brussels, and on 2 and 6 December via videoconference, to consult on mutual fisheries relations including the management of shared stocks for 2023.

2. The Heads of Delegations agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements for 2023 as outlined in this Agreed Record, including Annexes I to X and Tables 1, 2 and 3.

3. The Delegations underlined their determination to cooperate, in their mutual interest, in securing continued responsible fisheries and ensuring the long-term sustainability and optimum utilisation of shared stocks.

4. The Parties took note of the progress made in consulting on a trilateral framework agreement, which will be the basis for their future co-operation to ensure the long-term sustainability and optimum use of their shared stocks. The Parties confirmed their ambition that that agreement should enter into force in good time before the annual consultations for 2024.

5. The Delegations agreed that the scope of this Agreed Record should be the stocks occurring within the areas under the jurisdiction of all three Parties.

6. The Delegations noted that certain arrangements between the Parties, including but not limited to arrangements for access to waters, quota transfers, licencing of vessels and other conditions for fishing in the respective zones of fisheries jurisdiction, may be regulated by bilateral arrangements.

7. The Delegations agreed to exchange information relevant to stocks within the scope of this Agreed Record on a timely, efficient and transparent basis: for example, information relating to quota transfers, access arrangements, catches, and any relevant management measures. The Delegations further noted the benefits of continued close collaboration and information exchange.

8. The Delegations agreed that management measures and sharing of stocks as per Table 1 are without prejudice to possible future arrangements between the Parties.

9. In that context, the Norwegian Delegation signalled their intention to invite in due course the other Parties to consultations with a view to revisit and review the sharing keys for some of these stocks. 

10. The Delegations agreed to hold an intersessional meeting in late May-early June in 2023 to review progress on the actions set out in this Agreed Record. They agreed that they would use that opportunity to establish a TAC for sprat in ICES Division 3.a and Subarea 4.