Photo: Knut Arne Høyvik/ Norges Sildesalgslag

Tripartite agreement on North Sea herring

EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, December 11, 2023, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Norway, the EU and the UK have today signed a tripartite agreement on quota determination and management of the joint stocks in the North Sea

"It is gratifying that we are on target with the negotiations with the EU and Great Britain. This means that we agree on quotas for important stocks that we manage together in the North Sea. This is crucial for sustainable management", says Fisheries and Oceans Minister Cecilie Myrseth.

The total quota for Nordsjøsild for 2024 is 532,166 tonnes, an increase of over 28 per cent. The Norwegian quota will then be 147,994 tonnes

The negotiations started in November, and have gone through three rounds. This year, the parties have spent a lot of time discussing and reaching agreement on the management of cod and North Sea herring.

About the agreement

Cod

The parties have agreed on a total quota for 2024 of 31,301 tonnes, which is an increase of 15 per cent compared to the quota for 2023. This quota includes cod west of Scotland. The quota set aside for the North Sea is 24,900 tonnes. The Norwegian quota is 4,233 tonnes.

The scientific advisory body ICES presented this autumn a quota council for cod which divided the stock in the North Sea into 3 sub-stocks. In addition, the quota council included cod in the West of Scotland area, which has previously been managed separately. The changes have complicated quota determination, and there is a need to look more closely at how this will be done in the future. The method for setting the quota for cod for 2024 is therefore temporary.

The parties also agree to continue closing the spawning grounds for cod in 2024. The closures will take place in the first quarter. Norway will, as in previous years, consider closing fields in the Norwegian zone to protect small cod later in the year.

North Sea herring

For 2024, the parties have adopted quotas for North Sea herring, which total 532,166 tonnes. This is an increase of 28.3 per cent compared to 2023. The Norwegian quota is 147,994 tonnes.

Other stocks

ICES has recommended increased quotas for saithe and haddock for 2024.

For saithe, the parties have adopted a total quota for 2024 of 73,815 tonnes, which is an increase of 25 per cent. The Norwegian quota is 34,776 tonnes.

For whiting, the parties have agreed a total quota for 2024 of 101,420 tonnes, which is an increase of 17.8 per cent. The Norwegian quota is 23,327 tonnes.

Read the agreement (PDF)

Author/Source: Roar Bjånesøy/ Norges Sildesalgslag (translated from original in norwegian)

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