Management of shared fish stocks: coastal state agreed records 2026

2. The Delegations recalled the Framework Agreement on Fisheries between the Government of the Faroe Islands and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland signed in Copenhagen on 29 October 2020 ("the Framework Agreement"). They recalled the principles which underpin their close cooperation as set out in Article 1 of that agreement.

3. The Delegations also recalled the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic which they had signed on 15 December 2025 (the “Agreed Record of 15 December 2025”) alongside the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic. They welcomed the consequential and much-needed reduction in fishing pressure as a result of this agreement, which builds on the reduction that was implemented through the 2024 agreement between the Faroe Islands, Norway and the United Kingdom. The Delegations committed themselves to playing their part in 2026 in reaching a comprehensive quota-sharing arrangement for the stock.

4. The Delegations further recalled the Agreed Records of Fisheries Consultations between the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands for 2026, which they had signed on 19 and 22 December 2025 and the Technical Annexes to the Agreed Record of Consultations on Fisheries between the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands (the “2025 Technical Annexes”).

5. The Delegations noted the importance of facilitating both the smooth implementation of those agreements and mackerel fishing in the UK zone from as early as practicable in the 2026 calendar year. In that regard, the Delegations agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the measures outlined in this Agreed Record. These measures are in addition to those outlined in the Agreed Record of 19 December 2025 and will last for the remainder of 2026.

5.1 First, the Delegations agreed to exchange quotas as set out in Table 1.

5.2 Second, the Delegations noted their strong cooperation in 2025 in implementing the relevant technical arrangements that apply to vessels fishing in the waters of the other Party, as set out in the 2025 Technical Annexes. They further agreed that those measures have shown themselves to be effective during 2025 but noted that the provisions of those annexes would expire on 31 December 2025. Therefore, they agreed that the measures set out in the 2025 Technical Annexes should continue to apply until the 2026 Technical Annexes are finalised and published. Additional monitoring measures relating to the implementation of the mackerel agreement are outlined in Annex 2. These measures replace the equivalent measures agreed in the Agreed Record of 15 December 2025 and the 2025 Technical Annexes, with all other measures remaining in place.

5.3 Third, they noted paragraph 7.1 of their Agreed Record of 15 December 2025 which stated that the Faroe Islands would supply the UK with monthly catch statistics of mackerel fishing by its vessels in the UK Exclusive Economic Zone. They agreed that in 2026 the Faroe Islands would supply the UK with mackerel catch statistics on a weekly basis and that both Parties’ respective experts should work together closely to monitor catches in the first quarter of 2026. The procedure for the submission of catch statistics is outlined in Annex 2. The Delegations reviewed the preliminary catch data for 2025 as set out in Table 2. They decided to continue to work together in 2026 to monitor and further develop their relevant catch information data exchange processes.

5.4 Finally, they agreed that the Parties would continue consultations with respect to exchanges of quotas to address the issue of Faroese by-catches of North Sea herring in UK waters in 2024.

26 January 2026

For the Delegation of the Faroe Islands
Ingibjørg Tummassardóttir Petersen                                     

For the Delegation of the United Kingdom
Catherine Perez

Table 1 - exchange of stocks for 2026 

Table 2 - preliminary catch data for exchange of stocks for 2025

Faroes landings of quota transferred from UK (Tonnes) 

[1] No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota. Exclusively for bycatch purposes in the North-East Atlantic mackerel fishery in UK waters.
[2] In addition to North Sea Autumn Spawning herring, this can include any catches of miscellaneous bycatch in all UK waters, excluding West of Scotland herring, up to 5 tonnes. Catches will be counted against the total quota. All species caught must be entered into the elog.
[3] North Sea Autumn Spawning Herring quota of 375 tonnes was reduced by 287 tonnes to 88 tonnes, as per the Addendum to the Agreed Record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the Faroe Islands for 2025 of 30 December 2024, signed on 5 December 2025.

Annex 1 - list of participants

Faroe Islands

• Ingibjørg Tummassardóttir Petersen (Head of Delegation)
• Petur Meinhard Jacobsen
• Jan Arge Jacobsen
• Durita Lamhauge Jóansdóttir
• Stefan í Skorini

United Kingdom

• Catherine Perez (Head of Delegation)
• Molly Weiland
• Lauren Reid
• Catherine Whitby
• Kate Smithers
• Richard Nash

Annex 2 - catch statistics submissions for mackerel

1.1 Specific arrangements for the reporting of weekly catch statistics from landing data corresponding to fishing activities by Faroese vessels targeting mackerel in UK waters are as follows.

1.2 Parties will use the live catch weights recorded by vessels for limit utilisation and catch statistic submissions. If any update is required after landing data is received to a previously submitted report, these changes will be sent when available.

1.3 The Faroese authorities will submit the weekly catch reports using the structure in Appendix 1. Submissions will be no later than the end of the following week to which the statistic relates. 

1.4 The Delegations decided that the Faroe Islands will submit daily catch reports when 80% of the access entitlement for mackerel is reached.

1.5 The Faroese authorities will submit catch information to statistics@marinemanagement.org.uk copying UKCatchStatistics@defra.gov.uk and UKFMC@gov.scot.

1.6 The respective authorities will work closely together to agree a procedure for reviewing and exchanging catch reports using the structure in Appendix 1.

1.7 In the case that one Party suspects erroneous catch data, the relevant catch monitoring authority will inform the other Party’s catch monitoring authority. The authorities will cooperate on identifying the error and correct the relevant registers.

1.8  An end of year summary of data will be submitted by the Faroese to the UK to reduce the possibility of erroneous data by end of January 2027 latest. This return will be based on landed catch live weight.

1.9 The Faroese will submit the year summary of final data using the structure in Appendix 1 by the end of January 2027 latest.

Appendix 1 - catch statistic report submissions’ structure for landing data corresponding to fishing activities by Faroese vessels targeting mackerel in UK waters.