email editor
Danish fishing industry has welcomed the positive start to negotiations on shared stocks taking place in London this week
The Danish fishing industry is optimistic as negotiations for the 2024 fisheries have commences, with the Danish Fish Producers Organisation (DFPO) travelling for the talks in London.
The focal points of these discussions are the quotas for cod and herring. Anticipation is high that before the close of the year, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), and Norway will reach a consensus on the fishing regulations for 2024.
The negotiations encompass a range of topics, including fishing quotas in key regions such as the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Kattegat. Various negotiation channels are being utilized, including bilateral discussions between the EU and the UK, the UK and Norway, and trilateral talks involving the EU, the UK, and Norway. Leading these negotiations are officials from the EU and member states, maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the industry. The Danish Fishermen’s Association actively participates in these discussions.
During the initial trilateral negotiations in London, Chief Biologist Michael Andersen, Claus Hjørne Pedersen (Chairman of the Skagerrak/Kattegat Committee), and Alfred Fisker Hansen (Chairman of the North Sea Committee) represented the interests of the fishermen. Chief Biologist Michael Andersen remarked, “The atmosphere is significantly better than last year. There is agreement on several species – the major sticking points are currently the cod quota and herring quota, where there is still some way to go.”
One major concern for the Danish Fishermen’s Association is the recommended reduction in the cod quota by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), despite a substantial 46 percent increase in the stock. This recommendation is viewed as deeply problematic.
In addition to trilateral negotiations, bilateral talks are also underway. Discussions between the UK and the EU focus on shared species, while negotiations between the EU and Norway cover various aspects, including balance. The Danish Fishermen’s Association emphasizes the importance of reaching an agreement between the EU and Norway before the year-end to prevent a recurrence of the situation where Danish fishermen were denied access to Norwegian waters until March 2023.
Bilateral negotiations between the EU and Norway are set to resume on November 27 in Oslo, with trilateral discussions between the EU, Norway, and the UK having taken place from October 21-23 in Brussels. The Danish Fishermen’s Association is actively engaged in both locations. The negotiations will extend into December, culminating in the traditional EU Fisheries Council meeting, where quotas will receive final approval in a political agreement.
