Today, Norway, the EU and the Faroe Islands have concluded a three-party Coastal States Agreement on mackerel for 2006.

The agreement stipulates a total allowable catch (TAC) for mackerel in the North-East Atlantic of 442,000 tonnes in 2006, in line with the management plan first adopted by the parties in 1999. The TAC is considerably below the management plan’s upper limit. Even so, the TAC means an increase of 22,000 tonnes compared with this year. The final Norwegian quota will be determined in connection with the agreement between Norway and the EU.

The Parties have agreed to continue and further strengthen their collaboration on compliance monitoring, including working together to implement the FAO model for strengthening port State control to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“The quota shows that the Parties attach great importance to the interests of a biologically justifiable catch within the framework of the management plan, and I am satisfied that the parties have agreed on a total allowable catch that addresses the interests of responsible management,” said the Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Helga Pedersen.

Within the TAC of 442,000 tonnes, a regulation of mackerel fishing in international waters will be decided. This will be discussed at the annual meeting of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) during the third week in November.

The Parties have also agreed to deepen their cooperation on research on the mackerel stock.