Today the EU reached agreement with the UK on fishing opportunities for 2023 for fish stocks shared bilaterally with the UK in the Northeast Atlantic.

The agreement will contribute to the sustainable management of co-managed fish stocks in the waters of both parties and will provide stability and predictability for fleets and operators. This applies to more than 74 files and guarantees fishing opportunities of over 350,000 tonnes for the EU fleetestimated based on historical landing prices about EUR 1 billion feasible, adjusted for inflation.

The agreement concludes the third annual consultation on fishing opportunities between the EU and the UK in context trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and the UK (TCAs). It covers all joint and co-managed fish stocks in EU and UK waters, establishes a 2023 total allowable catch limit (TAC) for shared stocks, as well as mutual access to tuna fisheries.

The agreement is based on that the best available scientific advice on fish stock conditions, as provided by International Council for Ocean Exploration (ICE CREAM). There take into account important sustainability and management principlessuch as maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and the precautionary approach, which is the essence of general fisheries policy (CFP) from the EU and in the fisheries chapter of the TCA.

In addition, the Parties have committed to developing some concrete workflows within the EU-UK Special Committee on Fisheries over the next year to enhance the sustainable management of common fish stocks, including a review of technical measures to protect vulnerable fish stocks in the sea. basin.

The next step

The agreed catch limits will be incorporated by the Council into the fishing opportunity regulations for 2023, which were politically approved at the EU Council of fisheries ministers recently.

During 2023, the Parties will consult during the year on three other stocks that are jointly managed, for which scientific advice does not conform with the calendar year: sprats (Northern Sea and Groove) and sand eels (North Sea, all banks).

Background

Following the UK’s departure from the EU, most of the stockpiles in EU waters in the Northeast Atlantic are now shared with non-EU countries, particularly the UK.

That trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and the UK regulate stocks jointly managed between the EU and the UK, whereby the parties consult annually to set catch limits. Each side’s share of these stocks is regulated in the TCA, which also provides for reciprocal access for both sides’ fleets to the other side’s waters. The TCA also provides reciprocal access to quota-free fish stocks at historic catch levels.

The agreement with the UK follows recent agreements with Northeast Atlantic littoral states on catch limits for mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring for 2023, as well as a trilateral agreement between the EU, UK and Norway for six key fish. joint stock by three parties in the North Sea. Bilateral consultations with Norway are currently underway.

For more information

Written report of the fisheries consultation between the UK and the EU for 2023

European Commission Press Release – December 20, 2022 – Brussels