Norway, EU, UK forge sustainable North Sea Fisheries agreement for 2025 

EUROPE – Norway, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have finalized a historic agreement on shared fish stock management and quotas in the North Sea for 2025.

Following two rounds of negotiations that began in October, the tripartite pact, signed on December 2, focuses on sustainability and collaborative oversight of critical fisheries, including cod and herring.  

A key element of the agreement is the 20% reduction in the total cod quota, now set at 25,028 tonnes. Of this, 19,910 tonnes are allocated to the North Sea, with Norway’s share at 3,385 tonnes. 

The total allowable catches (TACs) were set in line with ‘maximum sustainable yield’ – the highest amount of fish that can be taken from the environment without harming its ability to reproduce and sustain its population – for saithe, plaice and haddock.

These reductions align with recommendations from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to address management challenges stemming from the recent division of North Sea cod into three sub-stocks.  

Cod spawning grounds will remain closed during the first quarter of 2025 to support spawning and stock recovery. 

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss emphasised the importance of these measures, stating, “This agreement represents a critical step in sustainable fisheries management and reflects our shared commitment to conservation.”

The total quota for North Sea herring has been reduced by 22.8%, now set at 410,707 tonnes, with Norway receiving 112,677 tonnes. 

While the agreement retains the current management framework, ICES is expected to introduce a new plan during 2025, and discussions on a unified quota allocation are anticipated.  

In contrast, stocks like Saithe and Haddock show signs of stability, prompting moderate quota increases for 2025. The Saithe quota has risen by 7.1% to 71,638 tonnes, with Norway allocated 37,252 tonnes. 

Similarly, the Haddock quota increased by 5.5% to 112,435 tonnes, with Norway receiving 22,048 tonnes.  

The agreement underscores a shared commitment to sustainable fisheries management, with continued collaboration and dialogue among the three parties. 

Norwegian authorities highlighted the ongoing discussions with ICES on innovative management strategies, aiming to balance ecological conservation with the fishing industry’s economic needs.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.