Management of shared fish stocks: coastal state agreed records 2024

Mackerel: UK, Norway and Faroe

Agreed record of fisheries consultations between the Faroe Islands, Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2024

1. A Delegation from the Faroe Islands, headed by Mr Herluf SIGVALDSSON, a Delegation from Norway, headed by Ms Ann Kristin WESTBERG, and a Delegation from the United Kingdom (UK), headed by Mr Colin FAULKNER, met in Copenhagen, London and Oslo in April and May 2024 to consult on fisheries relations with respect to the management of North-East Atlantic mackerel.

2. The Delegations recalled the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between Iceland, the European Union, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2024, signed on 18 October 2023 (the “Agreed Record of 18 October 2023”).

3. The Delegations further noted: the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic of 17 June 2024; the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic of 17 June 2024; and the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the Faroe Islands and Norway on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic of 17 June 2024.

4. The Delegations decided to recommend to their respective authorities the arrangements as set out in this Agreed Record.

5. Quota shares

5.1 The Delegations reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to engage in the intensive consultations between coastal States to agree a sustainable and comprehensive quota-sharing arrangement for the stock. They reiterated their determination to cooperate in reducing the fishing pressure on the stock. 

5.2 In the absence of a comprehensive quota-sharing arrangement for the stock, the Delegations noted the importance of implementing responsible interim management measures.  Although the mackerel stock is within safe biological limits, these measures should aim to bring benefits to the long-term condition of the stock, while discussions to agree quota shares for all coastal States continue.

5.3 The Delegations noted that paragraph 2 of the “Agreed Record of 18 October 2023” stated that the Delegations agreed that 739,386 tonnes should represent the level of catches for mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2024.

5.4 In the absence of a comprehensive quota-sharing arrangement for the stock, and on condition that they implement their bilateral arrangements with each other on mackerel, the Delegations decided they would set the following national quotas, before transfers, for 2024:

• the Faroe Islands would set a national quota of 98,708 tonnes based on a coastal State share of 13.35% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC)
• Norway would set a national quota of 229,210 tonnes based on a coastal State share of 31% of the TAC
• the UK would set a national quota of 203,211 tonnes based on a coastal State share of 27.48% of the TAC

5.5 The Delegations confirmed that, should there still be no comprehensive sharing arrangement for the stock, the Faroe Islands and Norway would set their national quotas at the same percentages of the TAC for 2025 and 2026. They further noted that, in these circumstances, the UK would set its national quota at 27.83% (rounded to two decimal places) of the TAC.

5.6 The Delegations noted their intention to set their national quotas at the same percentages after 2026 should there continue to be no comprehensive sharing arrangement, or unless one or more parties provides at least 12 months’ notice of their intention to withdraw from this arrangement.

5.7 The Delegations confirmed that they were open to timely consultations should one or more coastal State(s) indicate an interest in joining this arrangement.

6. Annual quota flexibility 

6.1 The Delegations further decided that each party may transfer to the following year unutilised quantities of up to 10% of their national quota (including from 2023 to 2024). The quantity transferred shall be in addition to the national quota to the party concerned in the following year. This quantity cannot be transferred further to subsequent years.

6.2 The Delegations also decided that each party may authorise fishing by its vessels of up to 10% beyond the national quota it has set for that year. All quantities fished beyond the set quota for that year will be deducted from the party's allocated quota for the following year.

6.3 The Delegations noted that if a Long-term Management Strategy is agreed, the arrangements on annual quota flexibility in that Strategy would supersede those in this Agreed Record.

7. Scientific cooperation

7.1 The Delegations noted that contribution to science is vital for obtaining a robust evidence base on the abundance and distribution of the stock, which is needed to both generate advice on how to manage the stock sustainably and to establish a basis for quota shares. The Delegations confirmed that they would continue to contribute significantly to the major international dedicated mackerel surveys used in the stock assessment in ICES. 

For the Delegation of the Faroes Islands For the Delegation of Norway
Herluf Sigvaldsson and Ann Kristin Westberg

For the Delegation of the United Kingdom
Colin Faulkner