Brussels, 20/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - One week after the agreement reached on seven stocks jointly managed in the North Sea, such as cod and haddock (EUROPE 9081), the EU and Norway agreed, on 9 December, on the other elements of their bilateral fisheries agreement. These arrangements will be included in the regulation on total allowable catch (TAC) and quotas for 2006.
Blue whiting: Before agreeing on the TAC level with the other North Sea coastal countries (see other article), the EU and Norway decided that 61% of their respective quotas may be fished in the waters of the other countries. The EU will be able to catch up to 61% of its blue whiting quota in Norwegian waters and vice versa. (Norway may catch 61% of its quota in the North Sea).
Atlanto-Scandian (Norwegian spring-spawning) herring: The EU fleet will be able to fish 100% of their quota in Norwegian waters, in 2006, in exchange for reciprocal access for Norwegian vessels to fish the same number of tonnes in EU waters.
Landing in Norwegian ports: Oslo had decided to ban EU vessels from landing Atlanto-Scandian herring catches in Norwegian ports. The dispute has now been resolved and EU fisheries may again offload herring in Norway, which will facilitate EU vessels' activities.
Transit: Norway has agreed to open up transit through its territories for fish catches taken by EU vessels.