The UK has secured bilateral fisheries agreements with Norway and the Faroe Islands for 2026, valued at approximately £8 million based on historic landing prices. These agreements maintain the same access to Arctic stocks in Norwegian waters and key stocks, including haddock and saithe, in Faroese waters as in 2025, ensuring continuity for the UK fishing industry.
The deals transfer over 1,000 tonnes of Arctic stocks and more than 2,000 tonnes of Faroese stocks to the UK, along with additional North Sea herring quota. Both agreements reflect the UK’s commitment to sustainable fisheries management and cooperative monitoring, control, and surveillance with international partners to support the long-term viability of fish stocks.
Combined with other fisheries agreements signed with the EU and coastal states earlier in 2025, the UK’s total fishing opportunities for 2026 are estimated at around £840 million based on historic landing prices. A Defra spokesperson emphasized that the agreements provide stability and continuity, allowing fishing communities to plan, invest in their businesses, and support coastal economies.
Under the UK-Norway bilateral agreement, the UK secured around £3 million in fishing opportunities, including Arctic stocks in Norwegian waters and an additional 657 tonnes of North Sea herring quota, following trilateral UK-EU-Norway negotiations. UK vessels will have access to up to 30,000 tonnes of whitefish stocks in Norwegian waters, with a longer-term herring arrangement allowing access to up to 20,000 tonnes of Atlanto-Scandian herring annually.
Through the UK-Faroe Islands agreement, the UK gained over 2,000 tonnes of quota in Faroese waters, worth approximately £5 million. The agreement maintains the 2025 arrangements, providing continuity for the UK fleet amid challenging scientific assessments of key stocks in the North Sea. Quotas include haddock, cod, saithe, blue ling, ling, redfish, flatfish, and other species, ensuring stable access to valuable fishing opportunities for 2026.
