United Kingdom and Faroe Islands fisheries consultations: agreed record for 2022

UK-Faroe Islands special area

9.1 The Delegations recalled the provisions in the Agreement between their Governments, relating to the Maritime Delimitation in the area between the Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom done at Tórshavn on 18 May 1999, hereinafter referred to as “the 1999 Agreement”, concerning the exercise of fisheries jurisdiction by the Contracting Parties in the Special Area defined by that Agreement.

9.2 In order to effectively regulate third country vessels fishing in the Special Area and practically implement the 1999 Agreement, the Delegations agreed to continue consultations between them during 2022 until they reach a legally robust, bilaterally agreed system for the licensing of third country vessels fishing in the Special Area. The Delegations agreed that they will establish such a system during 2022 and make said system operational as soon as possible and no later than 31 December 2022.

9.3 The Delegations have decided that, solely as an interim approach during 2022 while consultations continue, they will exchange information on all third country vessels to which they have issued a licence that either implicitly or explicitly grants access to fish within the Special Area. The aforementioned exchange of information will include Vessel data (IMO number/registration etc.) and the licence conditions that apply to such vessels, including any conditions which apply specifically to the Special Area. This exchange of information will take place no later than 24 hours after the issuing by either Party of a licence to a third country vessel that either implicitly or explicitly grants access to fish within the Special Area.

9.4 The Delegations recognised the importance of the unique marine and benthic habitats that lie within the Special Area and reaffirmed their mutual obligations, under Article 7 of the 1999 Agreement and Article 2 of the 2013 Protocol to the 1999 Agreement, to cooperate on measures to protect the marine environment.