United Kingdom and Norway - fisheries consultations: agreed record for 2024

9. Control and enforcement

9.1 The Delegations recalled the longstanding cooperation between the Parties' respective control authorities, which entails both strategic and operational cooperation throughout the entire value chain. The Delegations shared the view that efficient and trustworthy Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) measures were key factors in a comprehensive management regime targeting sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources.

9.2 The Delegations noted the work that has been carried out in 2023 in line with the bilateral agreement to improve compliance with fisheries management measures which was signed in 2022. In particular, the Delegations commended the work of the joint Compliance Forum in 2023 in sharing good practice on improving monitoring, control and enforcement measures.  The Delegations agreed that the Compliance Forum should continue to meet at least annually and as appropriate. It was noted that the most recent Compliance Forum meeting on 4 October 2023 had agreed that data analysts should meet to share tools and identify common issues with shared fisheries.

9.3 The Delegations further agreed that the Compliance Forum should provide them with an update on its work, including any proposals on MCS measures well in advance of their bilateral consultations for 2025.

9.4 The Delegations noted the good cooperation this year to implement the relevant technical regulations that apply to vessels fishing in the waters of the other Party, as set out in the Technical Annexes. They further agreed that, as those measures have shown themselves to be effective during 2023, only minimal revision was required for the 2024 Technical Annex. Such revisions are set out in Annex 1.

9.5 The UK Delegation shared information with the Norwegian Delegation about the implementation of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) on pelagic vessels in the UK, the timing of which will be confirmed following the relevant legislative processes, and which, in the case of Scotland, will include a two-year lead in time for vessels to implement once the legislation is agreed. The Delegations agreed to have a dialogue about the implementation of this programme, in particular to clarify issues such as access to and sharing of data, expected involvement from Norwegian authorities, and other issues, as appropriate.

9.6 The Delegations also recalled the agreement on control measures for the pelagic stocks signed in November 2022, and in particular points 7 and 9 in the Agreed Record. They noted that the Coastal State MCS working group has been assigned to engage in testing technological solutions to be used on board fishing vessels to monitor their activity and to map experience and knowledge on the use of technological solutions, e.g. CCTV, sensors, artificial intelligence, to reduce slipping, discarding and high-grading in pelagic fisheries and to improve catch documentation on board fishing vessels, and as appropriate recommend measures on this topic. The Delegations recognised the importance of coordinating and sharing best practice wherever possible, whilst also noting that individual parties may have particular monitoring objectives for which they may deploy the technology and measures they deem most capable of achieving those. 

9.7 The Delegations agreed to meet early in 2024 to continue the dialogue on this important subject.