The EU-Norway Fisheries Agreement for 2021: What You Need to Know

The EU-Norway Fisheries Agreement sets the rules for fishing in the North Sea and Skagerrak. Negotiated annually, it is a crucial agreement for both parties, as it determines how much fish each side can catch and where they can do so.

For 2021, the negotiations were intense, as the parties had to take into account the impact of Brexit and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the key points of the agreement:

1. Total allowable catches (TACs) for important species were reduced.

The TACs for some stocks, such as North Sea cod and haddock, were reduced to ensure their long-term sustainability. Other stocks, such as mackerel and blue whiting, saw their TACs increased. The total TAC for all stocks combined was set at 2.1 million tonnes, a slight decrease from the previous year.

2. The quota sharing arrangement remained unchanged.

Norway and the EU agreed to share quotas for most stocks according to a fixed percentage. This means that each year, Norway receives a set share of the TAC for each stock, while the remainder is divided among the EU member states. The percentage shares for each stock are based on historical fishing patterns.

3. The parties agreed on measures to reduce discards.

Discarding is the practice of throwing unwanted fish back into the sea, either because they are too small or because the quota for that species has been reached. It is a wasteful practice that has negative environmental consequences. The agreement includes measures to reduce discards, such as using more selective fishing gear and improving catch monitoring.

4. The agreement includes provisions for cooperation and dispute resolution.

As in previous years, the agreement includes provisions for joint management of shared stocks, cooperation on scientific research, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Both parties committed to continued cooperation on these issues.

Overall, the 2021 EU-Norway Fisheries Agreement strikes a balance between conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. While some TACs were reduced, this is a necessary step to ensure the long-term health of fish stocks. By including measures to reduce discards and promote cooperation, the agreement sets a positive example for other countries and regions to follow.