The UK fishing industry is set to benefit from more than 2,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in Faroese waters in 2025, following successful annual negotiations with the Faroe Islands, the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) announced this week.
The deal, valued at approximately £5 million based on historical prices, marks the conclusion of the UK’s international fisheries negotiations for the year.
Under the new agreement, UK vessels will be granted access to fish a range of species in Faroese waters, including 880 tonnes of cod and haddock, 575 tonnes of saithe, as well as allocations for redfish, blue ling, ling, flatfish, and other species.
Meanwhile, the Faroe Islands' fishing opportunities in UK waters include 700 tonnes of Greenland Halibut and 200 tonnes of cod.
"I’m pleased the UK has reached an agreement with the Faroe Islands that will allow UK fishing vessels to take advantage of valuable fishing opportunities in 2025," said Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner, in a press statement.
"This agreement concludes the UK’s fisheries negotiations for 2025 and will see our fleet ready to take advantage of the quotas secured through these key negotiating forums. This government will always stand up for the British fishing industry, supporting our coastal communities through a sustainable and economically successful fishing sector," Zeichner added.
In addition to securing fishing quotas, the agreement also renews the UK and Faroe Islands’ commitment to scientific collaboration and introduces a new joint Compliance Forum. This forum will enable both countries to share best practices in monitoring, control, and surveillance to ensure responsible fisheries management.
This deal follows the UK’s earlier negotiations with the EU, Norway, and other coastal states, which collectively secured 750,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities for the UK fleet in 2025, worth up to £960 million.
The UK negotiates annually with the Faroe Islands under the UK-Faroe Islands fisheries framework agreement, with a focus on sustainable quota exchanges and broader fisheries management measures. The UK Government said it also worked closely with devolved administrations throughout the negotiations to ensure that fishing communities across all the nations of the UK benefit from the outcome.
