European Union, Norway and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: agreed records 2025

Annexes

Annex I

Conditions for fisheries by the Parties in 2025

I. Joint stocks

1. The Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for the stocks mentioned in Table 1 for 2025 shall be as indicated in that table. If ICES make new scientific recommendations, the Parties will review these TACs.
2. The TACs referred to in paragraph 1 shall be divided between the Parties as indicated in Table 1.
3. Each Party shall inform the other Parties of allocations granted to a third country for fishing of the stocks referred to in Table 1.
4. The Parties shall supply each other with monthly catch statistics for fishing on the stocks referred to in Table 1 by their own vessels. Communication of these statistics for the preceding month shall take place at the latest on the last day of each month.

II. Fishery regulations

1. The Parties will inform each other of their respective fishery regulations applicable in the North Sea.
2. A Party intending to introduce or amend fishery regulations applicable to vessels of the other Parties shall duly inform the other Parties of such intentions.

Annex II

Inter-annual quota flexibility

The inter-annual quota flexibility scheme applicable to the jointly managed stocks discussed during these consultations shall be terminated if:

• the spawning stock biomass is estimated to be below the precautionary reference point Bpa in the TAC year and the fishing mortality is estimated to be above the precautionary reference point Fpa in the intermediate year; or
• the SSB is estimated to be below Bpa in both the TAC year and the year thereafter.

Each Party may transfer unutilised quota from the TAC year to be caught in the following year. Each Party may transfer up to 10% of its total quota allocation. This quantity cannot be transferred further in subsequent years.

Each Party may authorise fishing by its vessels beyond its total quota allocation for the TAC year by up to 10%. The quantity fished beyond the allocated quota shall be deducted from the Party’s allocation for the year after the TAC year.

The Delegations agreed that in order to ensure transparency in the operation of inter-annual quota flexibility, more detailed information on catch utilisation shall be exchanged.

To note, the TAC year is the year for which the agreed TAC applies, and the intermediate year is the year prior to the TAC year.

Annex III

Seasonal area closures to protect spawning cod

The following areas in the table below will be closed for all gears excluding pelagic gears (purse seine and trawl), for the identified time period:

Time Limited Closures
No	Area Name	Coordinates	Time period	Additional Comment
1	Stanhope ground	60° 25N - 001° 45E 60° 25N - 002° 00E 60° 10N - 002° 00E 60° 10N - 001° 45E	01 January to 30 April
2	Long Hole	59o 07.35N - 0o 31.04W 59o 03.60N - 0o 22.25W 58o 59.35N - 0o 17.85W 58o 56.00N - 0o 11.01W 58o 56.60N - 0o 08.85W 58o 59.86N - 0o 15.65W 59o 03.50N - 0o 20.00W 59o 08.15N - 0o 29.07W	01 January to 31 March
3	Coral edge	58o 51.70N - 03o 26.70E 58o 40.66N - 03o 34.60E 58o 24 00N - 03o 12.40E 58o 24 00N - 02o 55.00E 58o 35 65N - 02o 56.30E	01 January to 28 February
4	Papa Bank	59o 56N - 03o 08W 59o 56N - 02o 45W 59o 35N - 03o 15W 59o 35N - 03o 35W	01 January to 15 March
5	Foula Deeps	60o 17.5N - 01o 45W 60o 11.0N - 01o 45W 60o 11.0N - 02o 10W 60o 20.0N - 02o 00W 60o 20.0N - 01o 50W	01 November to 31 December
6	Egersund Bank	58o 07.40N - 04o 33.0E 57o 53.00N - 05o 12.0E 57o 40.00N - 05o 10.9E 57o 57.90N - 04o 31.9E	01 January to 31 March	(10 x 25 nm)
7	East of Fair Isle	59o 40N - 01o 23W 59o 40N - 01o 13W 59o 30N - 01o 20W 59o 10N - 01o 20W 59o 10N - 01o 28W 59o 30N - 01o 28W	01 January to 15 March
8	West Bank	57o 15N - 05o 01E 56o 56N - 05o 00E 56o 56N - 06o 20E 57o 15N - 06o 20E	01 February to 15 March	(18 x 4 nm)
9	Revet	57o 28.43N - 08o 05.66E 57o 27.44N - 08o 07.20E 57o 51.77N - 09o 26.33E 57o 52.88N - 09o 25.00E	01 February to 15 March	(1.5 x 49 nm)
10	Rabarberen	57o 47.00N - 11o 04.00E 57o 43.00N - 11o 04.00E 57o 43.00N - 11o 09.00E 57o 47.00N – 11o 09.00E	01 February to 15 March	East of Skagen (2.7x4 nm)

Annex IV

Please refer to the separate PDF of the technical annexes published alongside this agreed record

Annex V

Terms of reference for a working group on hake

Terms of Reference for a Working Group on the distribution of hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, the Northern Bay of Biscay and adjacent waters.

The objective of the Working Group is to collect and collate information on the entire geographical distribution of all life stages of hake (Northern stock), based on internationally recognised data collection methods and on the distribution of catches from this stock.

The Working Group shall:

1. Present currently available fishery independent data on the geographical distribution on an annual survey basis for all life stages (biomass and abundance or their appropriate proxies) at the highest level of spatial resolution possible and coded by relevant ICES Areas and national fisheries jurisdiction and international waters since year 1987, or for an alternative period if so decided by the Working Group.
2. Describe/Evaluate the quality, coverage and utility of the survey data for the purposes of assessing the distribution of the stock in time and space, consistent with standards acceptable to the Working Group, including listing all the scientific surveys which are available for determining the distribution of the stock or which are carried out by the Parties.
3. For each coastal State, present total annual catch data by month and ICES statistical rectangle from 1987-2020, and by the respective zones of national fisheries jurisdiction and international waters as precisely as the data allow since 1987, or for an alternative period if so decided by the Working Group.
4. Describe the quality, coverage and utility of the catch data for the purposes of assessing the distribution of the stock in time and space.
5. Compile the management measures, as provided by fisheries managers, adopted by the Parties for the stock, such as catch limitations and quota schemes (including quota uptake levels), as well as any management measures which would have an impact on such catch limitations.
6. Present a description of the fleet segments involved in the fisheries of the stock by each Party since year 1987, or for an alternative period if so decided by the Working Group.

The Working Group shall be composed of scientific experts from the Coastal States. Managers will provide the Working Group with the necessary material to document the management measures.

Annex VI

Terms of reference for a working group on the technical management of northern shelf cod (gadus morhua) in subarea 4, divisions 6a and 7d and subdivision 20 (North Sea, West of Scotland, Eastern England Channel, and Skagerrak)

The objective of the working group is to provide an overview of the current spatial, seasonal, and technical measures that promotes the sustainable management of the Northern Shelf cod stock and to identify the potential effects of such measures. This will include a focus on possible improvements or modifications to such measures that could provide additional protection to the sub-stocks identified by ICES. These measures should be developed with due regard to the level of mixing between the sub-stocks.  

The Northern Shelf Cod Management Working Group should: 

1. Exchange experiences and work collaboratively to build a shared understanding of existing management across the area.  
2. Produce a shared report which details existing management measures with a focus on operational and technical measures, in a format which is clear and transparent to all parties. This report shall also include a shared understanding of where and when Northern Shelf cod are caught, including historic catches, and by which fisheries and country. The report should be presented to the three parties by February 2025.
3. Identify evidence gaps which, if filled, could provide necessary evidence to support the development of management measures.
4.  Use the above report to identify the potential effects of existing measures such as: 
   • spatial measures, including real-time closures
   • seasonal closures  
   • gear selectivity measures
   • reporting requirements
5. Identify best management approaches.

Annex VII

Joint request to ICES to advise on a long-term management plan for North Sea herring autumn spawners in North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat and eastern English Channel

The EU, Norway, and the UK jointly request ICES to advise on the long-term management strategies on North Sea autumn spawners herring (Clupea harengus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d, (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel). A request is provided below.

ICES is requested to identify appropriate precautionary combinations in the format of Tables given in its response to the EU, Norway and the UK request to ICES to evaluate a multi-annual management strategy for herring (Clupea harengus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d, autumn spawners (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel) (her.27.3a47d), using:

• a harvest control rule with a fishing mortality equal to the target F when SSB is at or above Btrigger

In the case that the SSB is forecast to be less than Btrigger at spawning time in the year for which the TAC is to be set, the TAC shall be fixed consistently with a fishing mortality that is given by: F = Ftarget*SSB/Btrigger

• a range of Btrigger from 800 000 to 1 700 00 tonnes with a range of target Fs up to FLim
• for the combinations above explore the following exploitation pattern scenarios:
  1. Recent exploitation pattern (averaged over 2012-2021).
  2. A historic exploitation pattern (averaged over 1998-2007).
  3. Ranges of assumptions for values of F0-1 that vary between 0-0.1 independent from recent exploitation patterns for older fish (F2+).
  4. The recent exploitation pattern with F0-1=0 from above contrasted with exploitation patterns moved to one year older and one year younger fish (three scenarios).

Long term goals:

• maximise yield
• minimising the risk of falling below Blim
• achieve stability of catches

All alternatives should be evaluated with and without a constraint on the inter-annual variation of TAC. When the rules would lead to a TAC, which deviates by more than 20% below or 25% above the TAC of the preceding year, the Parties shall fix a TAC that is respectively no more than 20% less or 25% more than the TAC of the preceding year. The TAC constraint shall not apply if the SSB at spawning time in the year for which the TAC is to be set is less or equal to Btrigger.

The constraint mechanism shall be tested separately from and in combination with 10% banking and borrowing mechanism. Banking and borrowing should be suspended when SSB is below Btrigger.

Evaluation and performance criteria

Each alternative shall be assessed in relation to how it performs in the short term (5 years), medium term (next 10 years) and long term (next 25 years) in relation to:

• average SSB
• average yield
• indicator for year to year variability in SSB and yield
• risk of SSB falling below Bli

Annex VIII

Please refer to the separate PDF of the technical annexes published alongside this agreed record.

Annex IX

Terms of reference for a working group on electronic exchange of data for 2025

The Delegations agreed that the Working Group on Electronic Exchange of data should meet as appropriate in 2025 under the Terms of Reference described below. The necessary technical scoping exercises can be conducted within the same Terms of Reference before the Working Group meets.

The Working Group shall seek to identify suitable technical arrangements for electronic exchange of data based on the United Nations Fisheries Language for Universal Exchange (UN/FLUX) standard.

The Working Group shall:

1. Establish templates (i.e. common principles) for electronic exchange of notification and authorisation data with the intention to revise the current bilateral arrangements between the Parties.
2. Establish templates (i.e. common principles) for electronic exchange of fishing activities data (ERS) with the intention to revise the current bilateral arrangements between the Parties. Furthermore, identify additional reporting needs, any outstanding issues and elements that can improve performance of the current bilateral systems for electronic exchange of fishing activities data (ERS). Establish technical procedures and specifications to implement the possibility to pull data covering fishing activities before entering and after exiting the economic zone of the other Party. Establish improved technical procedures to deliver RET messages directly to the fishing vessels to secure satisfactory exchange and increased quality of fishing activities data.

The Working Group should submit its report to the Parties well in advance of the annual consultations for 2026. Reports from possible technical scoping exercises should also be submitted to the Parties well in advance of the annual consultations for 2026.

Table 1

2025 quotas for jointly managed shared stocks in the North Sea

Species	ICES Area	TAC	Sharing
			Norway		EU		UK
			%	Tonnes	%	Tonnes	%	Tonnes
Cod	4	19,910	17	3,385	35.69	7,106	47.31	9,419
Haddock	4	95,862	23	22,048	12.19	11,686	64.81	62,128
Saithe	4, 3.a	71,638	52	37,252	35.52	25,446	12.48	8,940
Whiting	4	111,861	10	11,186	23.82	26,645	66.18	74,030
Plaice	4	155,755	7	10,903	66.53	103,624	26.47	41,228
Herring	4, 7.d	388,542	29	112,677	50.25	195,242	20.75	80,623

Table 2

2023 catch statistics for jointly managed shared stocks in the North Sea

Species	ICES area	EU catches[1]				Norway catches[2]				UK catches[3]
		Fisheries jurisdiction			Total	Fisheries jurisdiction			Total	Fisheries jurisdiction			Total
		EU	Norway	UK		EU	Norway	UK		EU	Norway	UK
Cod	4	1,264	3,822	900	5,986	14	1,924	1,525	3,463	28	1,648	9,737	11,413
Haddock	4	3,093	952	1,304	5,349	11	2,178	212	2,401	123	3,448	28,063	31,635
Saithe	4, 3.a	676	4,577	12,509	17,761	14	22,950	5,102	28,066	0	1,276	6,772	8,048
Whiting	4	1,084	183	874	2,141	30	949	35	1,014	134	686	10,710	11,529
Plaice	4	10,442	2,086	1,501	14,028	1	38	1	40	2,311	1,069	1,404	4,783
Herring	4, 7.d	18,055	3,015	177,176	198,247	31	94,542	18,960	113,534	363	0	78,026	78,390