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Norway welcomes the tripartite agreement the EU and UK have on the management of the joint stocks in the North Sea for 2023
Norway welcomes the tripartite agreement the EU and UK have on the management of the joint stocks in the North Sea for 2023.
“The tripartite agreement is the basis for the bilateral agreements, and it is important 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 is now in place,” says Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bjørnar Skjæran.
In addition to this agreement, Norway is negotiating quota swaps and zone access with the EU.
Increased cod quota
Quotas vary. Some have increased, while others have decreased from last year. The cod 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 396,556 tonnes and here the Norwegian quota is 115,001 tonnes.
The cod quota was set at 21,652 tonnes, where the Norwegian quota is 3,681 tonnes before provisions. The cod quota is in accordance with the advice from ICES and involves an increase from a record low level in 2022.
“The increase in the cod quota is good news for Norwegian fishermen,” says the minister.
| Quotas | 2022 | 2023 | % change in total quota |
| Cod ICES area 4 | 13,246 | 21,652 | +63 |
| Haddock ICES area 4 | 44,924 | 58,402 | +30 |
| Say ICES areas 4 and 3a | 44,950 | 53,374 | +18.5 |
| Plaice ICES area 4 | 125,962 | 132,922 | +5.8 |
| Whiting ICES area 4 | 26,636 | 34,294 | +30 |
| North Sea herring ICES area 4 (A fleet, direct fishing) | 427,628 | 396,556 | -7.3 |
Reconstruction
In addition to the closed spawning grounds to be continued by the parties at the start of the year in 2023, Norway will also in 2023 consider closing fields in the Norwegian zone to protect small cod later next year, as part of continuing the rebuilding of the cod stock.
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 and management plans for whitefish in the North Sea.
