Norway and the EU increase shrimp quota by 15%

Norway and the European Union have agreed to increase the shrimp quota by 15% for the 2026–2027 fishing year, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, bringing the total quota to 4,612 tonnes.

During the previous period, the total quota was set at 4,010 tonnes, of which 2,511 tonnes were allocated to Norway. Compared with the previous year's quota of 4,557 tonnes in total and 2,854 tonnes for Norway, the quota for 2025 represented a 12% reduction.

"I am pleased that Norway and the EU have agreed on a quota for shrimp in the Skagerrak and the North Sea. I am also pleased that we were finally able to adopt a moderate increase in the quota," said Minister of Fisheries and the Oceans Marianne Sivertsen Næss.

This is in line with the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The increase is due to the growth of the shrimp population, although the stock remains at a low level, the government warned.

Regarding this, the Minister clarified: "ICES advice is the scientific basis on which our decisions are based. The situation for the shrimp industry has been challenging in recent years, and I hope for continued positive developments and that the situation will improve for both the fishermen and the industry."

Recently, China became Norway's largest shrimp market. According to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), in July 2025, Norway exported nearly 1,500 tons of shrimp worth almost NOK 81 million, representing a value increase of NOK 78 million compared to July 2024.

This trend is linked to the high availability of shrimp in the Barents Sea, where Norway shares a 150,000-tonne quota with the EU and Russia. Lower cod quotas and strong shrimp stocks have also led many Norwegian fishermen to switch from cod to shrimp fishing.