Bilateral Norway agreement brings additional fishing opportunities in the UK

Bilateral Norway agreement brings additional fishing opportunities. Consultations with Norway on exchanges of fishing opportunities with the UK in 2024, including quotas and access, concluded with the signing of an Agreed Record on 14 December. Fishing activity has now commenced in both UK and Norwegian waters under the terms of this agreement. The agreement includes reciprocal access for demersal stocks such as haddock, cod and plaice, which will allow Scottish fishers to catch up to 30,000 tonnes of their existing North Sea quotas in Norwegian waters. Access has also been agreed for North Sea herring in UK waters, and Atlanto-Scandian herring in Norwegian waters, up to a cap of 20,000 tonnes. These are the same levels of access agreed for 2023. Exchanges of quotas have also been agreed, including an inward transfer to the UK of monkfish, a key stock for many Scottish vessels. Discussions with the Faroe Islands on further exchanges of opportunities are ongoing. Cabinet Secretary ...