United Kingdom and Norway - fisheries consultations: agreed record for 2025

Summary

1. A Norwegian Delegation, headed by Ms. Ann Kristin WESTBERG and a Delegation from the United Kingdom (UK) headed by Mr. Colin FAULKNER met in Brussels on 5 November 2024, in Oslo on 29 November 2024, and in London on 17 December 2024, to consult on mutual fisheries relations for 2025.
2. The Delegations recalled the Fisheries Framework Agreement between the Parties, signed on 30 September 2020. They recalled the principles which underpin their close cooperation as set out in Article 1 of that agreement. They also recalled the Parties’ understanding of December 2021 about enhancing cooperation on fisheries in ICES areas I and II.  They further recalled their close cooperation in 2024 in international fisheries forums, including Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, the Food & Agriculture Organisation and beyond. They looked forward to deepening their dialogue further in 2025.
3. The Delegations recalled the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic which they had signed on 17 June 2024 alongside the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the Faroe Islands, Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic. They welcomed the consequential and much-needed reduction in fishing pressure on the stock as compared to 2021, 2022 and 2023. They committed themselves to playing their part in 2025 in reaching a comprehensive quota-sharing arrangement for the stock.
4. The Delegations noted that the Fisheries Consultations between the United Kingdom, Norway and the European Union concluded on 29 November 2024.
5. The Delegations noted that the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the UK and Norway signed in December 2021, and the subsequent agreements in November 2022 and December 2023, marked the start of a new bilateral fisheries arrangement between Norway and the UK. Both Delegations agreed on the successful implementation of the December 2023 agreement during 2024.
6. The Delegations recalled the fruitful and constructive discussions they had held in Shetland in June 2024 as part of their second intersessional meeting and agreed on the considerable usefulness of such meetings. Accordingly, they agreed to meet in May or June 2025 for the annual intersessional meeting in order to review the functioning of the agreement, to ensure the successful implementation of this Agreed Record, and to continue to deepen the strategic relationship between the Parties. Norway offered to host that meeting.
7. The Heads of Delegation agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements for 2025 as outlined in this Agreed Record, including Tables 1 to 7.