An agreement has been reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom for 2022, applying to all shared and jointly managed fisheries resources in UK and EU waters.
This is the result of negotiations that have been in progress since early November and it establishes TACs for 65 shared stocks in UK and EU waters.
According to the European Commission, the agreement provides certainty for fishing communities in both the EU and the UK, confirms the sustainable use of marine living resources and establishes a strong basis for continued EU-UK cooperation in the area of fisheries.
A Defra spokesperson confirmed that this provides around 140,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities for the UK fleet, worth an estimated £313 million, based on historic landing prices.
The agreement also commits the UK and the EU to rapidly develop multi-year strategies for non-quota species, therefore ensuring sustainable management of these stocks. The UK and the EU agreed not to apply tonnage limits for non-quota stocks in 2022, meaning that non-quota stocks will be treated in the same way as in previous years.
‘The balanced agreement made today provides a strong foundation as we seek to deliver more sustainable fisheries management, as set out in our landmark Fisheries Act,’ said Environment Secretary George Eustice.
‘The agreement with the EU also provides a commitment, via the Specialised Committee on Fisheries established under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to hold constructive discussions on specific issues relating to fisheries management.’
This is the second time the UK has participated in negotiations with the EU as an independent coastal state.
