Outcome of Coastal States consultations on mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring

Consultations between the Coastal States and Fishing Parties in the North-East Atlantic: the UK, EU, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Russian Federation, have now concluded with agreement on 2024 catch limits for shared pelagic stocks.

Agreed records for mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring were finalised on 18 October 2023 and set out Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and management measures for 2024 on these three stocks of key importance to the Scottish fishing fleet.

For all three stocks, the TACs were set in line with advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), resulting in the following changes compared with the catch limits set for 2023:

• Mackerel -5.46%
• Blue whiting +12.51%
• Atlanto-Scandian herring -23.70%

The agreed records also underline the importance that Parties are placing on agreeing new and comprehensive sharing arrangements for these stocks. This remains a key priority for Scotland, and officials will continue to put full energy behind the discussions to ensure the long-term sustainability for the benefit of Scotland’s fishers into the future.

Negotiations will continue in the coming weeks with bilateral and trilateral negotiations aiming to agree further fishing opportunities and management measures for 2024.

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