UK fishermen will benefit from
continued access to Norwegian North Sea waters to fish for stocks
such as cod, haddock and hake following the conclusion of annual
fisheries negotiations, the UK Government has announced today
(Friday 15 December).
Leaving the EU has meant that
the UK has been able to seize post Brexit freedoms, negotiating
deals as an independent coastal state which are in the best
interests of the UK fishing industry.
The arrangements see the
continuation of the UK and Norway’s close partnership and aim to
support a sustainable and profitable fishing sector, as well as
providing continuity for industry.
Next year, UK industry will
benefit from:
- Access to 30,000 tonnes of whitefish stocks such as cod,
haddock and hake in Norwegian waters in the North Sea.
- Mutual access to fish up to 20,000 tonnes of herring in our
respective waters
- Quota transfers in key UK stocks, including anglerfish and
Arctic stocks.
Fisheries Minister
said:
“Leaving the EU has presented
us with the chance to seize the post Brexit freedoms that are on
offer, negotiating deals and implementing broader fisheries
measures that will support our fishing industry towards a more
profitable and sustainable future.
“Through negotiations this year
we’ve already secured deals to give our fishermen access to
stocks worth £970 million, and the arrangements with Norway
announced today will provide certainty and continuity, allowing
fishermen to access to important North Sea stocks such as cod,
haddock and hake.”
The agreement highlights both
parties’ continued commitment to manage fisheries sustainably and
support the long-term viability of stocks in the North
Sea.
It follows the completion of
bilateral negotiations with the EU and trilateral negotiations,
which secured the UK fishing industry access to
420,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities worth up to £700
million.
ENDS
Notes
to editors: