PROHIBITION OF CROSS-BORDER FISHING IN NORWAY

Prohibition of cross-border fishing in Norway. From 1 January 2024, fishing across the outer limits of Norway’s economic zone, the fisheries zone around Jan Mayen and the fisheries protection zone around Svalbard will no longer be permitted.

Nor is it permitted to carry out fishing operations where the fishing gear or vessel crosses the boundaries of areas in Norwegian waters that are regulated with different quota basis.

The new ban entails an actual change in the Skagerrak, while in other parts of Norwegian waters the new prohibition only entails a clarification of current law.

In the Skagerrak, the ban initially applies to Norwegian and foreign vessels over 12 metres.

A proposal to extend the ban in the Skagerrak to all vessel lengths will be circulated for consultation during the first quarter of 2024, with effect from 1 January 2025. Both Norwegian and foreign vessels under 12 meters therefore still have 1 year to adjust their fishing activity to a ban on cross-border fishing in the Skagerrak.

The ban on cross-border fishing is already in force in all Norwegian waters except Skagerrak. The ban will therefore not entail a change for fishermen outside the Skagerrak.

Norwegian and foreign vessels over 12 metres are already covered by reporting with ERS, and can therefore use existing equipment for reporting. Foreign vessels must send a notice of fish start (COE) and notification of cessation of fishing (COX).

Requirements for similar notifications for Norwegian vessels will have to be regulated by EU regulations. The Directorate of Fisheries would like to point out that the EU has not yet introduced similar requirements for Norwegian vessels to send notifications when crossing zones in the Skagerrak. Nevertheless, the Directorate of Fisheries assumes that Norwegian vessels can expect similar requirements to be introduced for them in the long term.

Danish and Swedish vessels fishing in the Skagerrak are exempt from the deadlines in connection with notification of fish start (COE) and notification of cessation of fishing (COX). These vessels may immediately after receipt of the return notification with status ACK cross the borders.

The exemption from the deadlines only applies in the Skagerrak, and those fishing in other areas must report as before and adhere to the deadlines that already apply.

Reporting requirements for EU vessels [Swedish and Danish vessels] will follow the regulations for electronic reporting. No reporting will be required for vessels that are not otherwise covered by the ERS requirement.

Vessels crossing the border between the Skagerrak and the North Sea (both ways) in the Norwegian zone shall not send new messages (COE/COX).

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