United Kingdom and Norway - fisheries consultations: agreed record for 2026

Summary

1. A Delegation from the United Kingdom (UK) headed by Mr. Colin Faulkner and a Norwegian Delegation, headed by Ms. Ann Kristin Westberg met in Oslo on 31 October 2025, in Edinburgh on 19 November 2025, and virtually on 10 December 2025 to consult on mutual fisheries relations for 2026.

2. The Delegations recalled the Fisheries Framework Agreement between the Parties, signed on 30 September 2020. They recalled the principles which underpin their close cooperation as set out in Article 1 of that agreement. They also recalled the Parties’ understanding of December 2021 about enhancing cooperation on fisheries in ICES areas I and II. They further recalled their close cooperation in 2025 in international fisheries forums, including Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, the Food & Agriculture Organisation and beyond. They looked forward to deepening their dialogue further in 2026.

3. The Delegations recalled the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between Norway and the United Kingdom on the management of mackerel in the North-East Atlantic which they had signed on 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 also committed themselves to playing their part in 2026 in reaching a comprehensive quota-sharing arrangement for the stock.

4. The Delegations noted that the Fisheries Consultations between the United Kingdom, Norway and the European Union concluded on 5 December 2025. 

5. The Delegations noted that the Agreed Record of Fisheries Consultations between the UK and Norway signed in December 2021, and the subsequent agreements every year since November 2022, marked the start of a new bilateral fisheries arrangement between Norway and the UK. Both Delegations agreed on the successful implementation of the December 2024 agreement during 2025.

6. The Delegations recalled the fruitful and constructive discussions they had held in Ålesund in May 2025 as part of their third intersessional meeting and agreed on the considerable usefulness of such meetings. Accordingly, they agreed to meet in May or June 2026 for the annual intersessional meeting in order to review the functioning of the agreement, to ensure the successful implementation of this Agreed Record, and to continue to deepen the strategic relationship between the Parties. The UK offered to host that meeting.

7. The Heads of Delegation agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements for 2026 as outlined in this Agreed Record, including Tables 1 to 7.