Brussels, 05/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, and members of the Norwegian government met in Oslo on 4 October to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries. The MoU sets out joint rules for the monitoring of Norwegian vessels, which fish in the North Sea, and EU boats operating in Norwegian waters. These arrangements will form part of the bilateral fisheries agreement between the EU and Norway which, every year, sets quotas for shared stocks in the North Sea and determines quota transfers between EU and Norwegian fishermen.
The MoU allows joint guidelines for controlling EU and Norwegian vessels operating in the waters of each party to be set out. The activities which will feature in any agreement between Member States and Norway are: - exchange of information on landings; - exchange of officials, including inspectors; - exchange of information on inspections; - cooperation on the planning of aerial surveillance of fishing activities; - exchange of information on aircraft sightings of fishing vessels; - cooperation on the training of officials; - arrangement of meetings between officials from the individual Member States and Norway in order to discuss surveillance and enforcement issues. Some Member States have already concluded bilateral agreements with Norway on control activities. These agreements will have to be modified to take account of the terms of the new MoU.
Even though it is the Member States which are responsible for control and enforcement, the Commission is convinced that this MoU will simplify the management of shared stocks and make a contribution to the fight against illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing. “Illegal fishing activities are one of the major challenges facing both Norway and the European Union. By joining forces, we increase our capacity to combat them. We have a long history of cooperation with Norway, and this development is further proof of our joint commitment to ensuring sustainable fisheries,” said Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg. The MoU, moreover, recognises that illegal fishing is a major problem from both flag states and coastal states which are responsible for the management of the stocks concerned, and that both parties have every interest in exchanging information to combat these practices.
Bilateral fisheries negotiations for 2007 to start on 6 November
Discussions between the EU and Norway on the bilateral fisheries agreement for 2007 will begin in Bergen (south west Norway) on 6 November. A further meeting is scheduled for 27 November in Brussels. A few days ago, Dr Borg said he hoped for a good outcome to the first series of negotiations, the aim being to conclude a full agreement before the end-of-year Fisheries Council (19-21 December) at which total allowable catches (TACs) are quotas for 2007 are due to be set.
Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands and France are the member States which get most from the agreement with Norway. Negotiations comprise two main elements; setting TACs and quotas for the seven shared North Sea stocks (cod, haddock, saithe, whiting, plaice, mackerel and herring) and quota exchanges between EU and Norwegian vessels. The second strand of the agreement is the more difficult to negotiate since the EU has to find a quid pro quo for access to cod stocks in Norwegian waters. In addition, both parties have to agree on technical and control measures for stocks that are subject to recovery plans (cod, haddock, saithe and herring). Dr Borg said that the parties were due to approve a management plan for plaice and possible, depending on the scientific opinion, amend the measures applying to haddock. (lc)