UK Fisheries will be able to fish in Norwegian waters post-Brexit, as a new deal is struck between the UK and Norway.
The Hull-headquartered company, which operates the Kirkella trawler, currently fishes in Norwegian waters under an agreement between EU nations and the Scandinavian country.
Once the UK leaves the EU on October 31 however, that deal would disappear, and UK Fisheries recently spoke of the perils a no-deal Brexit could have on the firm.
However, UK Fisheries has now announced the UK and Norway have struck a "continuity agreement" which allows the business’ trawlers to continue to fish in Norwegian waters until December 31.
In a tweet, it said: "The UK and Norway have signed continuity agreement which enables UK vessels such as #Kirkella to continue fishing in Norwegian waters after 31 October (but only until 31 December)."
It comes as a major boost for the company and its Kirkella trawler, which carries out all of its operations in the White Sea, north of Scandinavia.
Speaking to Hull Live and Business Live last month, UK Fisheries CEO Jane Sandell said of the Brexit situation: “There is the potential for us to be severely damaged.
“The agreements we currently have with Norway to fish in its waters would disappear. On day one of a no-deal Brexit, that would be gone.
“There isn’t really an alternative for us. If we cannot fish in those waters then we will stop fishing, and we have 150 people who work at UK Fisheries.”
While the new deal is not indefinite, it gives UK Fisheries two extra months to continue its operations, with the hope of a more permanent solution being found in the meantime.
Once the UK leaves the EU, it will become an independent coastal state.
In further preparation for Brexit, a new authority – the Single Issuing Authority – has been launched to ensure fishing companies are ready for November 1.
Post-Brexit, fishermen must have the correct licences to legally operate.
The SIA is calling on vessel owners in the over 12-metre fleet to ensure their vessel has an IMO number, which will be needed to fish outside UK waters.
UK Fisheries’ Kirkella trawler supplies around a twelfth of UK fish and chip shops with its stock, and lands its enormous catch in Hull.
Watch: The countdown to Brexit
“It has got to be the right deal for the fishing industry,” Ms Sandell said of the current Brexit situation.
“Clearly our aspirations for the next two or three months are to be able to continue to operate in Norwegian waters.
“Our operations are dependent on work in waters outside of both of the UK and the EU. We have to get deals in place with Norway to get access to those waters.”
A deal is now in place until December 31. Beyond that, the future is currently more uncertain.
