The European Union and Iceland have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their cooperation on fisheries and ocean affairs. This agreement creates a structured framework for collaboration in areas such as sustainable fisheries management, scientific research, and marine conservation. It also supports joint efforts to protect marine biodiversity and promote the energy transition within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
The MoU was signed by EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, and Iceland’s Minister of Industry, Hanna Katrín Friðriksson. As part of the agreement, an annual high-level dialogue will be introduced to assess progress and guide future cooperation. These meetings will alternate between the EU and Iceland, with the first scheduled for early 2026.
Key topics discussed included the sustainable management of shared fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic, the development of the sustainable blue economy, and the conservation and welfare of cetaceans. Both sides emphasized the importance of basing policy decisions on robust scientific evidence and maintaining international collaboration.
The EU and Iceland also reiterated their commitment to global biodiversity goals, including the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. They stressed the importance of aligning national and regional efforts to support conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
Finally, both parties called for the rapid ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, a critical treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. This reaffirmed their joint dedication to enhancing global ocean governance through effective multilateral engagement.
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