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

9. Zonal access

9.1 The Delegations agreed for 2026 to establish mutual zonal access of 30,000 tonnes for all demersal/whitefish stocks in ICES Subarea 4. This will be on the basis that if the relevant Party’s vessels are entitled to catch demersal/whitefish stocks in their own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), then that same entitlement will apply in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the other Party up to the maximum overall limit of 30,000 tonnes [1], [2]. The Delegations agreed that Norway would account for catches of ling in Area 2a from 2025 fishing as part of the demersal/whitefish zonal access arrangement.

9.2 The Delegations noted that the reciprocal access arrangement for demersal/whitefish stocks had been in place and agreed annually since 2021. The Delegations agreed to review this arrangement during 2026, to consider how well it has been operating and whether moving to a more lasting footing is now appropriate. The Delegations agreed to discuss this at the forthcoming intersessional meeting.

9.3 The Delegations recalled the terms of the Fisheries Consultations between the United Kingdom, Norway and the European Union concluded on 5 December 2025 and welcomed the agreement on a new single Total Allowable Catch (TAC) management model for North Sea herring.

9.4 To support that agreement, the Delegations agreed that Norway would transfer 0.2 percentage points of its share to the UK, and the UK will in return grant Norway access to the UK EEZ of ICES Area 4 for the duration of the agreement set out in the trilateral Agreed Record on a single TAC management model for North Sea herring. That access tonnage would be set at 1.85% of the TAC for the year in which access is being granted. For 2026, this results in a transfer of 657 tonnes of North Sea Autumn Spawning herring from Norway  to the UK, and access for Norway to fish 6,078 tonnes of its quota in UK waters.

9.5 In parallel, the Delegations noted that the reciprocal access arrangements between the UK and Norway on North Sea herring and Norwegian spring spawning herring (Atlanto-Scandian herring) which had been agreed annually had remained stable and mutually beneficial since 2021. 

9.6 The Delegations agreed that they would put on to a more lasting footing those reciprocal access arrangements on North Sea herring and Norwegian spring spawning herring (Altanto-Scandian herring). Accordingly, the parties agreed that the UK would grant Norway a fixed annual access of 20,000 tonnes to the UK EEZ of ICES Area 4 for North Sea herring for the duration of the arrangement set out in the trilateral Agreed Record, and that Norway would grant the UK a fixed annual access of 20,000 tonnes to the waters of the Norwegian EEZ for Norwegian spring spawning herring (Atlanto-Scandian herring) for the same time period. 

9.7 Finally, the Delegations agreed to engage in discussions in the first half of 2026 on further long-term access arrangements for North Sea herring over and above those set out in paragraphs 9.4 and 9.6. They agreed to aim to put in place those further long-term access arrangements by the time of the summer 2026 herring fishery, and that such arrangements should be of a similar duration to the agreement on a single TAC management model for North Sea herring in the trilateral Agreed Record.

9.8 The Delegations committed to continue applying appropriate safeguards to ensure that these access arrangements do not have detrimental consequences for fish stocks and the wider marine environment. The Delegations noted the importance of suitable and robust monitoring mechanisms to detect and react swiftly to significant changes from historic fishing patterns and catches as a result of these new arrangements. They further agreed that they will formally review catch data on a regular basis and, where appropriate, implement amended management measures, for example quota management measures, as soon as practicable. 

[1] This includes an unavoidable bycatch of Nephrops/Norwegian Lobster caught with a 120mm net.

[2] As an exception to paragraph 9.1, Norwegian catches of North Sea blue ling and ling in 2a from the Greenland halibut bycatch stocks shall also be counted as part of Norway’s demersal/whitefish zonal access arrangement, using Norwegian quota to account for catches.