With an eye on the North Sea's declining fish stocks, the European Union and Norway agreed Friday on fishing quotas for seven species, the EU Commission announced in a statement.

The agreement between Oslo and the EU's executive arm sets catch quotas for cod, haddock, hake, whiting, plaice, mackerel and herring.

"The parties took into account the latest scientific advice when agreeing to the fishing possibilities, as well as the need to ensure sustainable fisheries," the EU's executive arm said of the agreement.

Environmentalists consider many of the species threatened.

The EU and Norway, which is not a member of the 25-nation bloc, have not always been in agreement on fishing matters.

Last year, Oslo filed a complaint over new EU restrictions on salmon imports with the World Trade Organization. Fishing is one of Norway's leading industries, and the Nordic country is one of the world's top salmon exporters.

Norway and the EU also agreed Friday to look for ways to sustainably manage the North Sea fisheries, the statement said. The two sides have also made strides in fighting illegal fishing.

The new agreement lowers quotas for cod, plaice and herring.

Cod catches will total 19.957 tonnes next year -- compared to 23,205 in 2006 (3,393 tonnes for Norway and 16,564 for EU countries). Plaice is also down to 50,261 tonnes next year, compared to 57,441 in 2006 (1,118 for Norway and 49,143 for the EU). And herring is set at 341,063 tonnes in 2007 (versus 454,756 in 2006) -- with 98,908 tonnes for Norway and 242,155 for the EU.

Meanwhile, mackerel quotas are up, at 53,073 tonnes in 2006 (compared to 47,132 in 2006) with 34,139 tonnes for Norway and 18,934 for the EU.

Quotas have also increased for haddock, from 54,640 tonnes next year (compared to 51,850 in 2006) -- or 7,657 for Norway and 46,983 for the EU.

Meanwhile, quotas for hake remain unchanged at 123,250 tonnes (64,090 for Norway and 59,160 for the EU. Ditto for whitefish, at 23,800 tonnes (2,380 for Norway, and 21,420 for the EU.