Norwegian Quota Agreement With the EU and the UK for 2023

Norway, the EU, and the UK have entered into a tripartite agreement on the management of joint stocks in the North Sea. 

"The tripartite agreement serves as a basis for the bilateral agreements and it is essential that we agree on total quotas for the joint stocks in the North Sea. Total quotas and their distribution are crucial for sustainable management. I am happy that this has been settled now," says Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Bjørnar Skjæran (Labor) in a press release.

In addition to this agreement, Norway is negotiating quota swaps and zone access with the EU.

The quotas vary. Some have increased, while others have decreased since last year. The pollock quota has increased by 18,7% and is 53 374 tonnes, of which the Norwegian quota is 27 755 tonnes. The quota for North Sea herring was set to 396 556 tonnes, of which the Norwegian quota is 115 001 tonnes.

The cod quota was set at 21 652 tonnes, of which the Norwegian quota is 3 681 tonnes before provisions. The cod quota is in line with the advice from the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and involves an increase from the record low level in 2022.

"The increase of the cod quota is good news for Norwegian fishers," says the minister.

In addition to the closed spawning grounds to be continued by the parties at the start of 2023, Norway will also consider closing fields in the Norwegian zone to protect small cod later next year, as part of continuing the rebuilding of the cod population.

The parties agreed to send a joint request to ICES about a new management plan for herring. In addition, a group is to be set up to collaborate on management plans for whitefish in the North Sea.