The EU and Norway today reached a deal on the management of fisheries this year and, separately, concluded a long-term joint agreement on the management of mackerel stocks.

According to Norwegian officials, the two sides also agreed to increase controls and fisheries inspections and to cut quotas for cod, whiting, haddock and plaice in both the North Sea and the Barents Sea – more details to follow.

Talks on the annual fisheries agreement collapsed in December, preventing EU and Norwegian fishermen from catching fish in each other’s waters this year. The breakdown of those talks was connected to the longer-term issue of mackerel stocks.

However, a ten year deal on mackerel quotas has now been agreed, with Scots fleets accepting a 5% cut this year.

Scots white-fishermen will see a 16% increase in the amount of cod they are allowed to catch but will also see a 15% reduction in both whiting and haddock.

Giving the outcome of the marathon talks a cautious welcome, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "No country goes home with everything they want, especially with such complex and difficult issues and so many countries involved. Our guiding principle throughout was a determination to secure a deal, but not at any price, and we refused to buckle under pressure.

"Certain elements designed to conserve vulnerable fish stocks will be unwelcome to parts of the Scottish fleet. However, we have won broad agreement between the EU and Norway on how best to tackle the serious long-term dangers to the sustainability of the Mackerel stock – potentially a major breakthrough, and cause for optimism for our fleets.

"There was a great deal at stake for both our pelagic and whitefish sectors, which support the businesses, jobs and infrastructure that are so crucial to our coastal communities. That’s why I’m particularly pleased that a new long-term deal has been secured for Mackerel, which in 2009 became Scotland’s most valuable stock." – displacing Nephrops.

Today’s agreement will regulate the total quota for mackerel for both EU and Norwegian fishermen and grant access to each side’s waters.

Related posts:

1. EU – Norway talks stall
2. EU – Norway talks breakdown
3. EU Fisheries talks results
4. Draft UK priorities for 2009 fisheries negotiations
5. Mackerel Armageddon