On 8 July, the European Parliament approved an agreement that allows EU vessels to fish for cod, redfish, halibut, and shrimp in Greenlandic waters for an additional six years. Under the 2025-2030 protocol of the EU’s Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with Greenland, the EU will allocate €17.3 million annually for access to its fisheries, with €14.1 million for access rights and €3.2 million to support Greenland’s fisheries sector. Authorisation fees paid by EU vessel owners may total around €4.5 million annually and are scheduled to increase every two years.
The protocol establishes annual fishing opportunities, permitting EU vessels to catch up to 30,906 tonnes, including 13,000 tonnes of capelin (if the fishery reopens), 6,675 tonnes of halibut, 6,581 tonnes of prawn, 2,100 tonnes of demersal redfish, and 2,050 tonnes of cod. The agreement also includes by-catch limits, scientific cooperation, monitoring, controls, and designated fishing areas.
Having been provisionally applied since 12 December 2024, the new protocol secured approval from Parliament with 616 votes in favour, 29 against, and 36 abstentions.
“Today the European Parliament reiterates the importance of its fisheries partnership with Greenland in the current geopolitical context. The resolution also sends a strong message on the need to adapt Arctic fisheries to the effects of climate change, address the impact on deep sea marine ecosystems, and increase EU support for coastal fishing communities in Greenland and for scientific research”, said rapporteur Emma Fourreau (The Left, FR).
In an accompanying resolution, MEPs emphasised Greenland’s strategic importance in the Arctic and highlighted the agreement’s relevance in the context of current geopolitical tensions and climate change challenges.
MEPs emphasised the need for sustainable fisheries policies and equitable application of EU standards to Norwegian vessels as part of ongoing partnerships with Greenland and Nordic neighbours.
The EU exchanges a substantial portion of its quotas from Greenland with Norway. In contrast, the remaining quotas are allocated primarily to Germany, Denmark, and France. Therefore, the agreements with Greenland and Norway are interrelated.
While commending Greenland’s monitoring and by-catch management efforts, concerns were raised about the lack of accurate fish stock data and the sustainability of Northern prawn populations. MEPs called for more comprehensive scientific data on benthic habitats in the Greenland Sea to safeguard vulnerable marine ecosystems.
