From January 1, 2024, it is no longer permitted to fish beyond the outer limits of Norway's economic zone, the fishing zone at Jan Mayen and the fishing protection zone at Svalbard.
It is also not permitted to carry out fishing operations where the fishing gear or vessel crosses the borders of areas in Norwegian waters that are regulated with different quota bases.
The new ban entails an actual change in the Skagerrak, while in other parts of Norwegian waters the new ban only entails a clarification of the applicable law.
In the Skagerrak, the ban initially applies to Norwegian and foreign vessels over 12 meters.
A proposal to extend the ban in the Skagerrak to apply to all vessel lengths will be submitted for consultation during the first quarter of 2024, with effect from January 1, 2025. Both Norwegian and foreign vessels under 12 meters therefore still have 1 year to adapt its fishing activity to a ban on cross-border fishing in the Skagerrak.
A ban on cross-border fishing is already in force in all Norwegian waters except the Skagerrak. The ban will therefore not entail a change for fishermen outside the Skagerrak.
Reporting Requirements When Crossing the Borders in Skagerrak
Norwegian and foreign vessels over 12 meters are already covered by reporting with ERS and can therefore use existing equipment for reporting. Foreign vessels must send a notice of commencement of fishing (COE) and notice of termination of fishing (COX).
Requirements for corresponding messages for Norwegian vessels will have to be regulated by EU regulations. The Directorate of Fisheries draws attention to the fact that the EU has not yet introduced corresponding requirements for Norwegian vessels to send a message when crossing zones in the Skagerrak. The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries nevertheless assumes that Norwegian vessels can expect that, in the long term, similar requirements may also be introduced for them.
Danish and Swedish vessels that fish in the Skagerrak are exempt from the deadlines in connection with notification of start of fishing (COE) and notification of termination of fishing (COX). These vessels can cross the borders immediately after receiving a return message with status ACK.
The exception to the deadlines only applies in the Skagerrak, and those who fish 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 regulations for electronic reporting. Reporting will not be required for vessels that are not otherwise covered by requirements for ERS.
Vessels crossing the border between the Skagerrak and the North Sea (both ways) in the Norwegian zone must not send new messages (COE/COX).
