Norway and Russia Have Reached a Fisheries Agreement for 2026
A new quota year will begin soon, and the fishing industry now knows the total quotas for the important stocks in the Barents Sea. (Photo: the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue)
After much uncertainty regarding this year's fisheries negotiations, Norway and Russia reached a fisheries agreement for 2026 on Thursday. The parties have agreed on a continued decline in the quota for the important cod in the Barents Sea, among other things.
Norway and Russia have reached a fisheries agreement for 2026 in overtime. That is revealed in a press release from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries on Thursday afternoon.
“This year’s negotiations have been challenging. The listing of two Russian fishing companies has influenced the talks, but I am pleased that despite this, we have reached an agreement that will contribute to the sustainable management of the important fisheries resources in the north,” says Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
She notes that the agreement is particularly important after significant reductions in the cod quota over several years.
"We have now set a cod quota for 2026 at a level that contributes to rebuilding the stock,” she says.
Archive photo: From the signing of the 2022 Norwegian-Russian fisheries agreement. (Photo: The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries)
Further reduction in the cod quota
"The cod quota for next year is the lowest since 1991. But after several years of substantial quota cuts, it now appears that we have laid the foundation for an increase in the stock that will allow somewhat higher quotas further on,” the ministry writes in the press release.
The total quota for Northeast Arctic cod in 2026 is set at 285,000 tonnes, a reduction of 16 percent compared to this year’s quota.
The total quota for cod is distributed between Norway, Russia, and third countries based on the same principles as previous years, writes the ministry, informing that Norway's share of the quota for 2026 will be 139,827 tonnes.
Increased haddock quota
The haddoc quota shows a solid increase from this year's level.
The total quota for haddock is set at 153,293 tonnes for 2026, an increase of 18 percent compared to the current year. Norway’s share will be 76,345 tonnes.
The Greenland halibut quota for 2026 is set at 19,000 tonnes, the same as this year. Norway’s share will be 9,675 tonnes.
The quota for beaked redfish is set at 69,177 tonnes for 2026, a small increase of 3 percent compared to this year. Norway’s share will be 47,807 tonnes.
As in 2025, there will be no capelin fishery in 2026.
