Incoming Faroese minister of fisheries Árni Skaale, who took over the post last month from Jacob Vestergaard, has welcomed the agreement reached with the UK on fishing opportunities in each other’s waters.
He commented that this is a historic occasion, marking the latest development in a long history of co-operation on fisheries between the Faroe Islands and the UK.
The agreement was signed at the Faroese consulate in Copenhagen by UK negotiator Will Francis and his Faroese counterpart Herluf Sigvaldsson, following rounds of negotiation that came to a close at the end of January.
On the UK side, the agreement is seen as being more balanced than previous arrangements had been, securing the UK fleet access to 1000 tonnes of cod and haddock and 1250 tonnes of saithe, as well as volumes of ling, blue ling, redfish and flatfish species in Faroese waters.
Faroese vessels get access to Greenland halibut, cod, horse mackerel, haddock, ling, tusk and blue ling in UK waters.
UK Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis described the agreement with the Faroe Islands as ‘fair and balanced.’
UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord commented that this is an important step as an independent coastal state.
‘Scottish whitefish vessels will be big beneficiaries of this deal but it’s good news for the fishing sector across Scotland and the UK more widely as we help to deliver a sustainable and profitable future for this vital industry,’ he said.
