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

11. Electronic data exchange

11.1 The Delegations noted the decision by the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) to implement and set into production the new Electronic Reporting System (ERS) based on the United Nations Fisheries Language for Universal Exchange (UN/FLUX standard) on 15th January 2024. This date marked the start of the two-year transition period wherein the remaining Contracting Parties shall test and implement the new ERS data exchange system based on the UN/FLUX standard. Furthermore, the Delegations noted that the bilateral agreements on exchange of electronic vessel positions data between the EU and Norway and between Norway and the UK have been revised and completed to facilitate exchange of data based on UN/FLUX standard. 

11.2 The Delegations agreed that the timeframe established by NEAFC would also be an appropriate timeframe to finalise revisions of the current agreements on bilateral electronic exchange of data between the Parties, including fishing activities (ERS) and notifications and authorisations data. The Delegations noted that the discussions and work need to be intensified by the Parties to follow this timeframe, whilst recognising the technical challenges that need to be overcome.

11.3 Furthermore, the Delegations noted the progress made at technical level to develop a template (i.e. common principles) for an electronic notification and authorisation scheme based on the UN/FLUX standard with the intention to establish bilateral data exchanges, as appropriate. They also noted the ongoing technical work on fishing activities (ERS) data based on the UN/FLUX standard, and agreed to continue the development in a trilateral setting to establish a template (i.e. common principles) with the intention to establish bilateral data exchanges, as appropriate.

11.4 The Delegations agreed to seek suitable arrangements within the scope of the Working Group on electronic exchange of data as outlined in Annex 1. The Delegations noted the progress made on the electronic exchange of data. The parties noted the implementation of Vessel Position data over FLUX bilaterally between the UK and Norway has been completed.

11.5 The EU hosted the Working Group meeting in Brussels in June 2024 and the UK will host the next meeting in early 2025.