The European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Visits Iceland

During the visit, the Commissioner met with Hanna Katrín Friðriksson, Iceland's Minister of Industries, for a High-Level Dialogue to review progress under the EU-Iceland Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhancing Cooperation on Fisheries and Ocean Affairs. The discussions focused on several key areas such as Arctic cooperation, addressing shared regional challenges; fisheries management, with an emphasis on strengthening stock conservation and quota agreements; and ocean governance, enhancing multilateral engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) while advancing global initiatives for marine protection and a sustainable blue economy. The MoU, signed in July 2025, aims to strengthen cooperation on marine sustainability, scientific research, and the energy transition in the fisheries sector, building on a longstanding bilateral fisheries partnership dating back to 1993.

Commissioner Kadis said:

"The EU and Iceland are close partners when it comes to the North-East Atlantic. We are facing many of the same challenges, from climate change to pressure on fish stocks, and we need to work closely together. Strengthening cooperation on broader ocean matters, including international ocean governance and our engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations, is essential to ensure sustainable and resilient seas in line with the objectives of the Ocean Pact. That means relying on science, managing our fisheries responsibly, and giving people in the sector more certainty and opportunities. Today's discussions were a good step forward, and I am confident we can build on this cooperation in the years ahead, and the EU-Iceland MoU is a good basis for that."

In addition to the High-Level Dialogue, the Commissioner had the opportunity to meet resident Ambassadors of EU Member States; tour Benchmark Genetics, an aquaculture genetics company operating in Iceland; and assess the impact of the recent volcanic eruptions on the fishing town of Grindavík. He also visited the Iceland Ocean Cluster, where he explored Icelandic innovations in fisheries and the role of EU funding in supporting the sector, followed by an informative visit to the seafood company Brim.