EU and Iceland sign a MoU on fisheries, shared stocks, marine governance, biodiversity, and ocean diplomacy. Photo: European Union 2025
Memorandum Commits to Closer EU–Iceland Marine Cooperation
The European Union and Iceland have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for deeper cooperation on sustainable fisheries, shared stock management, ocean governance, marine conservation and scientific research.
The agreement reflects mounting geopolitical and environmental pressures in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions and underscores both parties’ desire to align policy in response to international biodiversity commitments.
The MoU was signed by Costas Kadis, the EU’s Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, and Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Iceland’s Minister of Industry. It formalises shared priorities and sets in motion an annual high-level dialogue, to be held alternately in Iceland and the EU, beginning in early 2026. According to the Commission, the arrangement builds on longstanding collaboration and shared values between Iceland and the EU on fisheries policy and marine sustainability.
Commissioner Kadis stated, “Iceland is a historical key partner for the EU. Today we are deepening our relationship to keep fisheries sustainable and to enhance our cooperation in ocean affairs. This will help us address common challenges in the North Atlantic and the Arctic that will require significant joint efforts in the coming years.”
Shared Stocks and Scientific Advice at the Forefront
The announcement comes amid long-standing challenges around the management of shared stocks in the North-East Atlantic, particularly for pelagic species such as mackerel, herring, and blue whiting. Although Iceland is not an EU member, it is a key coastal state in these regional fisheries, and decisions made between the two parties have direct implications for TAC setting, quota allocations, and access to international markets.
In recent years, disagreements over quota shares have strained relations between the EU, Iceland, Norway, and the UK, with unresolved disputes threatening the sustainability of key stocks. Against that backdrop, the MoU represents a political signal that both the EU and Iceland intend to approach future negotiations with renewed coordination and a commitment to scientific advice.
Minister Friðriksson said, “We are strengthening our mutual commitment in working together in ensuring sustainable fisheries and to face the many challenges in ocean affairs in the North Atlantic both today and in the future.”
Marine Protection and Blue Economy Also Addressed
Beyond fisheries, the MoU also includes a broad remit covering marine ecosystem protection, sustainable aquaculture, and energy transition. Topics under discussion included cetacean welfare, marine spatial planning, and development of the sustainable blue economy — particularly in light of Iceland’s recent policy shifts encouraging decarbonisation in the seafood sector.
Both parties acknowledged the need to coordinate responses to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, especially where it intersects with commercial fishing activity in ecologically sensitive areas. The agreement also promotes joint research and data exchange on ocean health, stock assessments, and climate impacts on migratory species.
Joint Push for Ratification of High Seas Treaty
A key political element of the agreement was the EU and Iceland’s shared call for urgent ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement. The treaty, adopted by the United Nations in 2023, seeks to regulate marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction — which account for more than two-thirds of the world’s oceans.
The BBNJ Agreement includes provisions on marine genetic resources, area-based management tools such as marine protected areas (MPAs), and environmental impact assessments. It is widely viewed as a critical step toward curbing destructive high-seas practices, including IUU fishing, in regions beyond direct national oversight.
Iceland’s support for the treaty is notable, given its strategic location and extensive maritime interests. The EU has positioned itself as a global leader in ocean governance and claims the BBNJ ratification process is central to its European Ocean Pact.
According to the Commission, the MoU with Iceland reinforces the EU’s aim to “safeguard the health of our oceans, protect biodiversity, and support the well-being of communities that depend on them” by leveraging international partnerships, improving governance frameworks, and promoting transparency in regional fisheries management.
Implications for Future Quota Talks
While the agreement does not resolve long-running tensions over quota allocations, it creates a new platform through which those issues may be addressed. It remains to be seen whether the EU and Iceland can build on this diplomatic framework to achieve concrete outcomes on disputed pelagic stocks in 2026 and beyond.
Nonetheless, the MoU appears to mark a shift away from fragmented coastal state negotiations and toward more formalised multilateral cooperation. For fishing industry representatives in the North Atlantic region, the arrangement may offer a route to greater policy stability, provided that future high-level dialogues are grounded in scientific evidence and produce enforceable outcomes.
Source: Press Release