The Shetland Fishermen's Association (SFA) has called on the UK and Scottish governments to tighten controls on Norwegian fishing in UK waters after the 70-metre freezer trawler Havstrand landed 787 tonnes of saithe at Ålesund on August 17.
The association said the catch, taken around Shetland, equalled nearly 12 per cent of the UK's 2026 North Sea saithe quota. That quota is 6,746 tonnes, down 25 per cent from 8,940 tonnes in 2025.
The vessel's owner, Janne Grethe Strand Aasnæs, disputed the figure. She told Kyst og Fjord that Havstrand landed 606 tonnes of round saithe, within the share allocated to Norwegian vessels.
"Nobody is suggesting that the Norwegian vessels are breaking the rules," said SFA executive officer Daniel Lawson. "The question is whether those agreements are fair, sustainable or remotely in the interests of our fishing communities."
The SFA wants a review of the reciprocal access arrangement to set a lower limit that reflects what UK vessels catch in Norwegian waters. It is also seeking stronger monitoring and enforcement by the Scottish Government.
The arrangement allows up to 30,000 tonnes of mutual demersal access in the North Sea.
Provisional 2025 data show Norwegian vessels caught 16,514 tonnes of saithe in the UK zone, while UK vessels took 2,064 tonnes in Norwegian waters.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) told The Scotsman that consultations with Norway on 2027 arrangements are due later this autumn.
