The Norwegian authorities are preparing for the likelihood of a Hard Brexit with the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 29th March.
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has sent information to fishing companies with interests in the UK zone of what are currently EU waters concerning electronic reporting, vessel tracking, licenses, port state control and catch certificates.
According to the Directorate, it is unclear whether or not the UK and the EU will succeed in reaching an agreement before 29th March, and the result could be a Hard Brexit with no agreement on a host of issues.
Norway’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Directorate of Fisheries have, on this basis, initiated preparatory processes in collaboration with the British authorities.
The purpose is to ensure that Norwegian and British vessels can maintain activity in each other’s economic zones even after 29th March. Among other things, work is being done towards a common legal and technical framework that will ensure the establishment of necessary systems.
The Directorate has promised more information as it becomes available.
