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

12. Scientific cooperation

12.1 The Delegations recognised the value in scientific cooperation and noted that their respective scientists have been successfully collaborating on issues of shared interest for many years. They agreed in 2023 to explore the potential to strengthen and formalise those bilateral working arrangements.

12.2 The Delegations agreed that they would aim to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between their respective institutions, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Institute of Marine Research no later than end of 2024. They also agreed to explore a state-to-state Memorandum of Understanding in the future. The Delegations also noted that there could be particular benefit in the Parties increasing their joint working on the science underpinning shared stocks.

12.3 The Delegations agreed that it would be in their joint interest to hold a joint industry-science workshop, to explore, inter alia, opportunities and priorities for research collaboration on surveys used to estimate the abundance and distribution of the mackerel stock, and other key pelagic stocks. It was therefore agreed to convene an exploratory meeting during the first half of 2024.