Northeast Atlantic Blue Whiting and Herring: 2027 Total Quotas Agreed, Allocation Still Disputed

Coastal states of the Northeast Atlantic agreed at consultations held in London from 13 to 15 October 2026 that fishing quotas for 2027 for blue whiting and Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Atlantic-Scandinavian herring) will follow the recommendations of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), but the parties were unable to reach agreement on how the limits will be distributed among fishing participants.

Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, the United Kingdom and the European Union took part in the consultations, with Greenland representatives also joining the discussions; Russian experts also participated in the discussions on the herring fishing topic.

According to ICES recommendations, the advised catch for blue whiting in 2027 is 1.064 million tonnes, an increase of 25% from 851,300 tonnes in 2026; the advised catch for Atlantic-Scandinavian herring rises by 10% to 588,000 tonnes.

Norwegian Minister of Fisheries Marianne Sivertsen Næss said that agreeing total catches in line with scientific advice creates a basis for sustainable stock management and subsequent allocation negotiations.

The participants also stressed that setting next year's national quotas does not mean other countries recognise their quota levels. The meeting decided to continue negotiations in the near future towards a comprehensive agreement.

Foreign media noted that the issue of quota allocation for pelagic fish in the region has persisted for several years. Coastal states have repeatedly agreed to follow ICES recommendations on total allowable catches, yet have failed to reach agreement on national shares. In 2024, the United Kingdom, Norway and the Faroe Islands reached a separate agreement on the allocation of mackerel fishing quotas, but the European Union did not join that agreement.