Vital talks under way in Brussels – Fishupdate.com

KEY talks which should this week agree the share-out of jointly owned fish stocks between the EU and Norway for next year kicked off in Brussels today.

The session represents the second round of the annual negotiations between Norway and the EU and Mike Park,the Executive Chairman of the Scottish White Fish Producers’ Association said today that this week’s session would represent the final round of the talks.

He said the plan was to finalise North Sea quotas by Friday of this week, decisions which would dictate the UK fleet’s fortunes next year in key quota terms.

As they are not jointly owned, nephrops and monkfish are not included in the talks but other stocks including cod haddock and whiting as well as pelagic species are.

Mr Park added:”These talks are crucial and some people do not realise the seriousness of this annual round. What happens here will dictate our main quotas for next year and these North Sea quotas shgould be finalised by Friday.”

It was, he said, “unknown” for the December fisheries council to unpick the Norway deal which was why this week’s session was so important.

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