Norway And Greenland Finalise 2026 Fisheries Agreement
Norway and Greenland have agreed a bilateral fisheries quota agreement for 2026, concluding negotiations during a digital meeting held on 8 January.
The deal continues a long-standing cooperation framework covering both fisheries management and scientific collaboration, but reflects reduced quota levels following stock declines.
The agreement aligns with lower cod quotas in the Barents Sea and results in an overall reduction compared with 2025, underscoring the continued pressure on key shared stocks.
Quotas Allocated In Greenlandic Waters
Under the 2026 arrangement, Norway will be permitted to fish 600 tonnes of Greenland halibut in West Greenland and 250 tonnes in East Greenland. Additional allocations in East Greenland include 15 tonnes of halibut, 400 tonnes of redfish, 360 tonnes of tusk, 100 tonnes of ling and 325 tonnes of other species as bycatch.
Norway will also be allowed to take a combined total of 720 tonnes of cod across West and East Greenland waters.
While these volumes ensure continued access, they remain modest and reflect the more restrictive management approach now shaping Arctic and sub-Arctic fisheries.
Greenland Quotas In Barents Sea Reduced
Greenland’s allocations in Norwegian and Russian waters of the Barents Sea have also been scaled back. For 2026, Greenland will receive quotas of 2,920 tonnes of cod, 533 tonnes of haddock, 454 tonnes of saithe and 425 tonnes of other species as bycatch.
The reductions mirror broader quota cuts in the Barents Sea cod stock and reinforce concerns within the fishing industry about tightening biological limits across northern fisheries.
Emphasis On Cooperation And Sustainability
Norwegian fisheries and oceans minister Marianne Sivertsen Næss said the agreement demonstrated the importance of continued bilateral cooperation, stating that it balanced sustainability considerations with the need to maintain activity in the fishing sector.
She said Norway and Greenland had found solutions that took account of responsible resource management while still supporting fisheries operations, adding that joint stewardship of shared stocks remained essential.
Whether the reduced quotas will be sufficient to support fleet economics on either side remains an open question, particularly if further stock reassessments lead to additional cuts in coming years.
