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Oceans and fisheries

Northern agreements

Fisheries agreements with the United Kingdom, Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and coastal states.

EU fishing activities in the North Sea and North-East Atlantic are closely linked to those of our neighbours – the United Kingdom, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland. With many of the targeted stocks shared across boundaries, it makes good sense for all 5 parties to coordinate their activities, especially as the different fleets are not necessarily interested in the same stocks.

Therefore, many of the stocks concerned are jointly managed, and quotas are exchanged to ensure they are not wasted. Some of these stocks are managed through the intergovernmental North-East Atlantic Fisheries Convention (NEAFC) set up to manage fish stocks in the region, while others are managed through agreements between the coastal states.

These agreements are extremely important to a large section of the EU fleet, especially the agreement with Norway.

Bilateral agreements

The EU has bilateral agreements with the United Kingdom, Norway, Faroe Islands and Iceland.

United Kingdom

12/03/2024

15 MARCH 2024
European Union and United Kingdom – sandeels for 2024
English
(241.02 KB - PDF)
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29/01/2024

29 JANUARY 2024
Supplementary written record of fisheries consultations between the the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2024 signed on 6 December 2023
English
(153.02 KB - PDF)
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08/12/2023

8 DECEMBER 2023
Written Record of fisheries consultations between the European Union and the United Kingdom for 2024
English
(732.72 KB - PDF)
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8 DECEMBER 2023
Supplementary written record of fisheries consultations between the European Union and the United Kingdom for 2024
English
(195.11 KB - PDF)
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8 DECEMBER 2023
Agreed record of fisheries consultations between the European Union, Norway and the United Kingdom for 2024
English
(278.23 KB - PDF)
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20/10/2023

24 OCTOBER 2023
European Union and United Kingdom – Norway Pout for 2023-2024
English
(124.54 KB - PDF)
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01/06/2023

1 JUNE 2023
European Union and United Kingdom - sprat for 2023-2024
English
(463.99 KB - PDF)
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16/03/2023

16 MARCH 2023
European Union and United Kingdom - sandeels for 2023
English
(301.91 KB - PDF)
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20/12/2022

20 DECEMBER 2022
European Union and the United Kingdom for 2023
English
(1.08 MB - PDF)
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09/12/2022

15 DECEMBER 2022
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2023
English
(248.64 KB - PDF)
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12/10/2022

21 OCTOBER 2022
European Union and United Kingdom - Norway pout for 2022
English
(117.04 KB - PDF)
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23/05/2022

25 MAY 2022
European Union and United Kingdom - sprat for 2022-2023
English
(459.98 KB - PDF)
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11/03/2022

22 MARCH 2022
European Union and United Kingdom - sandeels for 2022
English
(167.38 KB - PDF)
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21/12/2021

22 DECEMBER 2021
European Union and United Kingdom for 2022
English
(1.06 MB - PDF)
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10/12/2021

14 DECEMBER 2021
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2022
English
(376.03 KB - PDF)
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18/06/2021

22 JUNE 2021
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway – sprat for 2021/22
English
(16.43 KB - PDF)
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11/06/2021

11 JUNE 2021
European Union and United Kingdom for 2021
English
(986.19 KB - PDF)
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16/03/2021

16 MARCH 2021
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2021
English
(303.81 KB - PDF)
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Norway

The EU has three fisheries agreements with Norway, namely bilateral, trilateral and neighbouring agreements. The bilateral arrangement covers the North Sea and the Atlantic, the trilateral agreement covers Skagerrak and Kattegat (Denmark, Sweden and Norway) and the neighbourhood arrangement covers the Swedish fishery in Norwegian waters of the North Sea.

Agreed record of fisheries consultations

08/12/2023

8 DECEMBER 2023
Protocol of fisheries consultations between Norway and the European Union, on behalf of Sweden, for 2024
English
(157.3 KB - PDF)
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8 DECEMBER 2023
Agreed record of fisheries consultations between the European Union and Norway for 2024
English
(317.38 KB - PDF)
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8 DECEMBER 2023
Agreed record of conclusions of fisheries consultations between Norway and the European Union on the regulation of fisheries in Skagerrak and Kattegat for 2024
English
(327.77 KB - PDF)
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8 DECEMBER 2023
Agreed record of fisheries consultations between the European Union, Norway and the United Kingdom for 2024
English
(278.23 KB - PDF)
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29/06/2023

3 JULY 2023
European Union and Norway for 2023 - Pandalus Borealis
English
(334.45 KB - PDF)
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17/03/2023

17 MARCH 2023
European Union (on behalf of Sweden) and Norway for 2023
English
(115.09 KB - PDF)
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17 MARCH 2023
European Union and Norway for 2023 - Skagerrak and Kattegat
English
(624.38 KB - PDF)
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17 MARCH 2023
European Union and Norway for 2023
English
(435.7 KB - PDF)
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09/12/2022

15 DECEMBER 2022
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2023
English
(248.64 KB - PDF)
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10/12/2021

14 DECEMBER 2021
European Union (on behalf of Sweden) and Norway for 2022
English
(115.71 KB - PDF)
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14 DECEMBER 2021
European Union and Norway for 2022 - Skagerrak and Kattegat
English
(619.31 KB - PDF)
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14 DECEMBER 2021
European Union and Norway for 2022
English
(440.96 KB - PDF)
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14 DECEMBER 2021
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2022
English
(376.03 KB - PDF)
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18/06/2021

22 JUNE 2021
European Union and Norway – sprat for 2021/22
English
(16.02 KB - PDF)
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22 JUNE 2021
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway – sprat for 2021/22
English
(16.43 KB - PDF)
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22/03/2021

25 MARCH 2021
European Union and Norway for 2021 – northern prawn
English
(209.46 KB - PDF)
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16/03/2021

16 MARCH 2021
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2021
English
(303.81 KB - PDF)
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16 MARCH 2021
European Union and Norway for 2021
English
(333.95 KB - PDF)
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16 MARCH 2021
European Union and Norway for 2021 - Skagerrak and Kattegat
English
(318.23 KB - PDF)
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16 MARCH 2021
European Union (on behalf of Sweden) and Norway for 2021
English
(148.36 KB - PDF)
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05/01/2021

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for January 2021 – Skagerrak access
English
(46.34 KB - PDF)
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19-21/10/2020

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom – Atlanto-scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic for 2021
English
(270.08 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom for 2021 - blue whiting
English
(1.83 MB - PDF)
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24/04/2020

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 – northern prawn
English
(235.28 KB - PDF)
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22/04/2020

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Norway and Faroe Islands for 2020 – control measures for pelagic stocks in the North-East Atlantic
English
(321.07 KB - PDF)
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12-13/12/2019

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 - North Sea
English
(3.01 MB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 - Skagerrak and Kattegat
English
(1.3 MB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union (on behalf of Sweden) and Norway for 2020
English
(108.69 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 - Norwegian spring spawning herring (Atlanto-Scandian herring) - licence arrangement
English
(112.49 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 - Blue whiting and Norwegian spring-spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring – access arrangement
English
(250.02 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Faroe islands and Norway for 2020 - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic
English
(640.06 KB - PDF)
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22-23/10/2019

23 OCTOBER 2019
European Union, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation for 2020 - Norwegian spring-spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring stock in the North-East Atlantic
English
(384.92 KB - PDF)
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23 OCTOBER 2019
European Union, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway for 2020 - Blue whiting in the North-East Atlantic
English
(365.17 KB - PDF)
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17/10/2019

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic – access and transfer arrangements
English
(328.34 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2020 - Mackerel – licence arrangement
English
(99.26 KB - PDF)
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11/04/2019

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2019 - saithe
English
(138.86 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2019 - northern prawn
English
(308.64 KB - PDF)
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07/12/2018

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2019 – North Sea
English
(11.02 MB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and Norway for 2019 - Skagerrak and Kattegat
English
(4.04 MB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union (on behalf of Sweden) and Norway for 2019
English
(572.28 KB - PDF)
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06/09/2018

10 FEBRUARY 2021
Agreed record of fisheries consultations between the European Union and Norway on technical measures in Skagerrak
English
(2.25 MB - PDF)
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07/06/2018

10 FEBRUARY 2021
Agreed record of consultations on long-term management strategies on joint stocks between Norway and the European Union
English
(274.2 KB - PDF)
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25/04/2018

25 MARCH 2021
Agreed record of fisheries consultations between the European Union and Norway for 2018
English
(2.14 MB - PDF)
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Arrangements

The agreements are implemented in the form of annual fisheries arrangements. The bilateral and the trilateral arrangements allow for the setting of TACs for joint stocks, transfers of fishing possibilities, joint technical measures and issues related to control and enforcement. The neighbourhood arrangement includes fishing possibilities transferred from Norway to Sweden in accordance with the fisheries agreement between Norway and Sweden of December 1976.

The bilateral agreement is the single most important agreement the EU has with a third party both in terms of exchange of fish possibilities and in terms of joint management measures.

Timeline

Entry into force: 16 June 1981

Initial period: 0 years to 1991 (OJ L 191 of 14 July 1981, page 19)

Renewal: Extended four further periods of 6 years until 2015, subsequent tacit renovation for periods of 6 years unless a notice of termination is given.

Notice of termination: 9 months

Legal framework

Framework agreement  adopted by Council regulation (EEC) 2214/80 of 27 June 1980, OJ - L 226 of 29 August 1980, page 47

Faroe Islands

Agreed record of fisheries consultations

19-21/10/2020

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom – Atlanto-scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic for 2021
English
(270.08 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom for 2021 - blue whiting
English
(1.83 MB - PDF)
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22/04/2020

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Norway and Faroe Islands for 2020 – control measures for pelagic stocks in the North-East Atlantic
English
(321.07 KB - PDF)
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12-13/12/2019

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Faroe islands and Norway for 2020 - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic
English
(640.06 KB - PDF)
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10/12/2019

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and the Faroe Islands for 2020
English
(800.31 KB - PDF)
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22-23/10/2019

23 OCTOBER 2019
European Union, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation for 2020 - Norwegian spring-spawning (Atlanto-Scandian) herring stock in the North-East Atlantic
English
(384.92 KB - PDF)
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23 OCTOBER 2019
European Union, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway for 2020 - Blue whiting in the North-East Atlantic
English
(365.17 KB - PDF)
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12/12/2018

10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union and the Faroe Islands for 2019
English
(713.77 KB - PDF)
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05/12/2007

9 APRIL 2021
European Union and the Faroe Islands for 2008 – Licence arrangement
English
(155.48 KB - PDF)
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Timeline

Entry into force: 2 February 1990

Initial period: 10 years to 2000

Renewal: Extended 2 further periods of 6 years to 2012, subsequent tacit renovation for periods of 6 years unless a notice of termination is given.

Notice of termination: 9 months

Legal framework

The Framework Agreement was adopted by Council Regulation (EEC) 2211/80 of 27 June 1980, OJ - L 226 of 29 August 1980, page 11

Iceland

The agreement with Iceland is "dormant". No bilateral fisheries arrangements have been agreed since 2008.

Legal framework

Agreement on fisheries and the marine environment between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Iceland OJ L 161, 2.7.1993, p. 2–3

Trilateral agreements

16/05/2023

16 MAY 2023
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway - sprat for 2023-2024
English
(91.24 KB - PDF)
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09/12/2022

15 DECEMBER 2022
European Union, United Kingdom and Norway for 2023
English
(248.64 KB - PDF)
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Multilateral agreement - Coastal states

Mackerel

19 OCTOBER 2023
European Union, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2024
English
(190.65 KB - PDF)
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9 DECEMBER 2022
European Union, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2023
English
(596.81 KB - PDF)
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28 OCTOBER 2021
European Union, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2022
English
(455.13 KB - PDF)
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21 APRIL 2021
European Union, Faroe Islands, Norway, United Kingdom, Iceland and Greenland – Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic for 2021
English
(218.93 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Faroe islands and Norway for 2020 - Mackerel in the North-East Atlantic
English
(640.06 KB - PDF)
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Atlanto-Scandian herring

19 OCTOBER 2023
Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom – Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic for 2024
English
(379.49 KB - PDF)
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15 NOVEMBER 2022
Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom – Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic for 2023
English
(492.84 KB - PDF)
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28 OCTOBER 2021
Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom – Atlanto-Scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic for 2022
English
(600.99 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom – Atlanto-scandian herring in the North-East Atlantic for 2021
English
(270.08 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Norway and the Russian Federation for 2020
English
(384.92 KB - PDF)
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Blue whiting

19 OCTOBER 2023
European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom - Blue whiting in the North-East Atlantic for 2024
English
(230.84 KB - PDF)
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9 DECEMBER 2022
European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom - Blue whiting in the North-East Atlantic for 2023
English
(621.28 KB - PDF)
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28 OCTOBER 2021
European Union, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom - Blue whiting in the North-East Atlantic for 2022
English
(1.06 MB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom for 2021 - blue whiting
English
(1.83 MB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Norway for 2020
English
(365.17 KB - PDF)
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Control measures

16 DECEMBER 2022
European Union, Norway, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom - control measures for pelagic stocks in the North-East Atlantic - November 2022
English
(230.07 KB - PDF)
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10 FEBRUARY 2021
European Union, Norway and Faroe Islands for 2020 – control measures for pelagic stocks in the North-East Atlantic
English
(321.07 KB - PDF)
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Regional agreements