"A new course for Danish fisheries" is finally in place.

This fisheries agreement, which will be instrumental in steering Danish fishing towards a more sustainable future, has ended up being a very broad deal between the government – that is, the Moderates, the Liberal Party, and the Social Democrats – and the Socialist People’s Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Conservative People’s Party, the Red–Green Alliance, the Social Liberal Party, and the Alternative.

So, an agreement with no Inger, no Morten, and no New Right – which means that if you care about the sea, that’s clearly not where you should be voting!

Here are some highlights from the agreement:

First of all!!! And something we’ve been working towards for more than 10 years: there will be a large trawl-free zone in the Belt Sea and several smaller protected areas in the Kattegat! In the long run, this will be hugely significant and full of potential for expanding low-impact fishing!

In addition, there are these four important measures:

8. Support for the industry and municipalities affected by bans on bottom-towed fishing gear

Transition takes time, and economic support is needed for the island and coastal communities affected by zones banning bottom-towed gear. The agreement allocates DKK 22 million in de minimis support to affected fishers and fish-processing companies, as well as direct subsidies to municipalities such as Læsø and Langeland, which are expected to be impacted by the introduction of these ban zones. These municipalities will be able to use the funding for concrete projects supporting fishing-related activities and thus safeguarding local jobs.

18. Transition and modernisation support for more energy-efficient and low-impact fishing

The parties have agreed to allocate DKK 90 million between 2026 and 2029 to facilitate and support the transition towards developing and investing in more energy-efficient and low-impact fishing. The support can be used for energy-saving measures on fishing vessels, advisory services, development and investment in less energy-intensive gear types such as semi-pelagic trawl doors, gillnets, and pots, as well as fleet capacity adjustments through scrapping or temporary lay-up. It can also be used for converting to passive and low-impact fishing gear, and for developing and testing environmentally friendly gear and methods, including alternative fuels. In 2025, the government will present a concrete proposal to the agreement parties on how to implement the allocated funds.

23. Improving harbour logistics and infrastructure

Fishing plays an important economic and cultural role in many Danish local areas. The parties have therefore agreed to improve harbour infrastructure and logistics, particularly in communities dependent on fishing. This could include cooling facilities to keep catches fresh and high-quality, efficient logistics systems to ensure fast and safe transport to market or processing, or facilities for receiving worn-out gear or carrying out repairs. Applications from harbours affected by bottom-trawl ban zones, such as in the Belt Sea, will be prioritised when the funds are allocated. DKK 17 million is set aside for this initiative, in addition to the DKK 22 million already earmarked for support to affected fishers, industry, and municipalities (see point 8).

24. Strengthening the “NaturSkånsom” label

The parties have agreed to expand and strengthen the “NaturSkånsom” label and to boost consumer awareness of it. Vessels over 17 metres and with fishing trips of more than 48 hours using the defined low-impact gear under the regulation will now be included in the scheme. The requirement for participants to complete a special fish-handling course will be removed.

A knowledge synthesis will be launched to report on animal welfare issues under the label and to identify whether further research is needed, with a view to possibly introducing animal welfare requirements in the future. In addition, the government will present a proposal to introduce mandatory electronic monitoring on vessels in the scheme by 2028.

As for the rest of the agreement, there are many areas where the wording is vague, and we’ll only fully understand what they mean once the fine words are turned into practice. That’s why we’re not letting go of this agreement – we’ll keep digging into it again and again in upcoming episodes of Fiskerikajen Update.

We do this because, quite simply, this is the most important document for our shared sea and for the people who work with it in one way or another – so that fishers, chefs, fishmongers, guests, and ordinary folks can continue to enjoy the sea’s fantastic pantry in the future.