North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

What is NEAFC ?
The North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission is made up of delegations from Contracting Parties who have agreed to abide by the rules of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in North East Atlantic Fisheries, which entered into force in its current form in November 1982.
 

Where is the NEAFC Regulatory Area?
The NEAFC Convention Area covers the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans east of a line south of Cape Farewell - the southern tip of Greenland, (42° W), north of a line to the west of Cape Hatteras - the southern tip of Spain, (36° N) and west of a line touching the western tip of Novya Semlya (51°E). The Baltic and Mediterranean Seas are excluded.

View map of the Regulatory Area

Most of this area is under the fisheries jurisdiction of NEAFC's Contracting Parties, as it is defined as their national waters, but three large areas are international waters and constitute the NEAFC Regulatory Area.  

Who are our Contracting Parties?
Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation .
 

What is the purpose of NEAFC?
The Commission was formed to recommend measures to maintain the rational exploitation of fish stocks in the Convention Area, taking scientific advice from ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

What does NEAFC do?
NEAFC is the competent organisation for recommending measures to Contracting Parties to promote the rational exploitation of fisheries in the NEAFC area, but beyond areas under national fisheries jurisdiction of Contracting Parties.

If Contracting Parties request, NEAFC will also recommend measures for areas under the fisheries jurisdiction of Contracting Parties.