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

9. Zonal access

9.1 The Delegations agreed for 2025 to establish mutual zonal access of 30,000 tonnes for all demersal/whitefish stocks in ICES Subarea 4. This will be on the basis that if the relevant Party’s vessels are entitled to catch demersal/whitefish stocks in their own Exclusive Economic Zone, then that same entitlement will apply in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the other Party up to the maximum overall limit of 30,000 tonnes (This includes an unavoidable bycatch of Nephrops/Norwegian Lobster caught with a 120mm net) (As an exception to paragraph 9.1, Norwegian catches of North Sea blue ling in 2a from the Greenland halibut bycatch stocks shall also be counted as part of Norway’s demersal/whitefish zonal access arrangement, using Norwegian quota to account for catches).

9.2 The Delegations committed to continue applying appropriate safeguards to ensure that these access arrangements do not have detrimental consequences for fish stocks and the wider marine environment. The Delegations noted the importance of suitable and robust monitoring mechanisms to detect and react swiftly to significant changes from historic fishing patterns and catches as a result of these new arrangements.  They further agreed that they will formally review catch data on a regular basis and, where appropriate, implement amended management measures, for example quota management measures, as soon as practicable. 

9.3 The Delegations agreed that vessels from the UK will be granted zonal access of 20,000 tonnes of Norwegian Spring Spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring in Norway's Exclusive Economic Zone North of 62°N and that Norwegian vessels will be granted zonal access of 20,000 tonnes of North Sea herring in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the North Sea (ICES Subarea 4).