European Union and the United Kingdom – Norway Pout consultations: written record for 2026
Written Record from the 2026 fisheries consultation between the EU and UK on Norway Pout.
Written Record of fisheries consultations on 20 October 2025 between the European Union and the United Kingdom on Norway Pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) in ICES division 3a, UK and Union waters of sub-area 4, and UK waters of division 2a, (North Sea) from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026.
1. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (‘the TCA’) between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) includes the objective of cooperating with a view to ensuring that fishing activities for shared stocks in their waters are environmentally sustainable in the long term and contribute to achieving economic and social benefits, and requires the Parties to hold consultations annually to agree the total allowable catches (TACs) for the following year for the stocks listed in Annex 35 to the TCA. Norway Pout (North Sea) (NOP/2A3A4) is included in that Annex.
2. A Delegation from the European Union headed by Dr Norman Graham and a Delegation from the United Kingdom headed by Ms Imogen Cessford met in a virtual format on 20 October 2025 to consult on fishing opportunities for Norway Pout (North Sea) (NOP/2A3A4) from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 in accordance with Article 498 (Fishing Opportunities) of the TCA. This Written Record documents the outcome of those consultations.
3. The Heads of Delegations agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 outlined in this Written Record, including Annex 1. Accordingly, where this Written Record refers to the Delegations (or the Parties) having agreed on a matter, it should be read as an agreement to recommend to the Delegations’ respective authorities to implement the arrangements in this Written Record, including Annex 1.
4. The Delegations took note of the ICES zero-catch advice for Norway pout (ICES sub area 4 and division 3.a) from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026, therefore no directed fisheries for Norway Pout will be permitted during this period. In order to account for small amounts of unavoidable bycatches of other fisheries, the Parties agreed to set a bycatch TAC of 400t from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026. The level of the bycatch TAC is based on levels of recent unavoidable bycatches in other fisheries. Details of the TAC and each Party’s allocation are shown in Annex 1.
5. The other relevant arrangements for Norway Pout (North Sea) set out in paragraph 14 of the Written Record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2025, signed on 6 December 2024 will continue to apply.
Brussels
For the European Union
Norman Graham
London
For the United Kingdom
Imogen Cessford
Annex 1
UK allocation
| Code | Common Name | ICES areas | Agreed Total Allowable Catch (tonnes) | TCA TAC share (%) | TCA quota (tonnes) | Transfer to/from EU (tonnes) | UK post-transfer quota (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOP/2A3A4 | Norway Pout (North Sea) Trisopterus esmarkii |
3a; United Kingdom and European Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a | 400(1) | 25% | 100 | 0 | 100 |
EU allocation
| Code | Common Name | ICES areas | Agreed Total Allowable Catch (tonnes) | TCA TAC share (%) | TCA quota (tonnes) | Transfer to/from EU (tonnes) | UK post-transfer quota (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOP/2A3A4 | Norway Pout (North Sea) Trisopterus esmarkii |
3a; United Kingdom and European Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a | 400(1) | 75% | 300 | 0 | 300(2) |
(1) Exclusively for bycatches. No directed fisheries for Norway pout are permitted under this quota.
(2) Bycatch quota may be fished in 3a, United Kingdom and European Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a only.
Contact
Email: MD.Communications@gov.scot