The UK has struck fresh bilateral fishing deals with Norway and the Faroe Islands for 2026, securing around £8 million worth of additional quota based on historic landing prices.
Announced by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the agreements will maintain the UK’s access to Arctic stocks in Norwegian waters and key whitefish species, including haddock and saithe, in Faroese waters next year. Officials say this continuity will allow the industry to plan with confidence despite volatile stock conditions elsewhere.
Under the new arrangements, more than 1,000 tonnes of Arctic quota and over 2,000 tonnes in Faroese waters will be transferred to the UK, alongside increased access to North Sea herring.
Government sources say the deals demonstrate the UK’s ongoing commitment to sustainable fisheries management and international cooperation on stock monitoring and conservation in the North Sea. They also follow a string of recent agreements with the EU and other coastal states, bringing the UK’s total projected fishing opportunities for 2026 to roughly £840 million.
A Defra spokesperson said the agreements “deliver tangible benefits for our fishing communities” and will provide much-needed long-term stability for fleets and coastal economies.
Norway deal
The UK-Norway agreement secures about £3 million in quota value through exchanges, including continued access to Arctic stocks and an additional 657 tonnes of North Sea herring. That follows the major trilateral herring deal agreed with the EU and Norway earlier this month.
Fleets will retain access to up to 30,000 tonnes of whitefish in Norwegian waters, and a longer-term herring arrangement has been established, allowing the UK to fish up to 20,000 tonnes of Atlanto-Scandian herring in both nations’ waters.
Faroe Islands deal
Talks with the Faroe Islands delivered more than 2,000 tonnes of extra quota for 2026, valued at around £5 million. The agreement largely mirrors 2025 arrangements, supporting UK fleets during what officials describe as a “challenging” scientific outlook for some North Sea stocks.
UK vessels will gain access to Faroese quota across a wide range of species, including haddock, cod, saithe, blue ling, ling, redfish and flatfish.
Full records of both agreements are available on GOV.UK, with final fishing allocations for UK vessels due to be published by the Secretary of State in the coming months.