The European Union and the United Kingdom have concluded the negotiations on an agreement in principle setting out catch limits for jointly managed fish stocks for 2021.
This was finalised in a phone call today between Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, and UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice.
The agreement closes the first ever annual consultations on fishing opportunities between the EU and the UK under the terms of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).
‘Today we reached a deal with the UK on fishing opportunities under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement,’ Virginijus Sinkevičius commented.
‘This agreement provides predictability and continuity for our fleets with definitive TACs for the remainder of the year. This is good for fishermen and women, our coastal communities and our ports, as well as for the sustainable use of our marine resources. This also proves that two partners on both sides of the Channel can find agreements and move forward if they work together.’
The agreement in principle on the management of key shared stocks secures the fishing rights of both the EU and the UK fleets in both the EU and the UK waters until the end of 2021, as foreseen under the TCA.
It establishes TACs for 75 shared fish stocks for 2021, as well as for some deep-sea stocks for 2021 and 2022. It also provides clarity on access limits for non-quota species. The signing of the agreement, expected in the coming days, will also enable both parties to engage in quota exchanges.
The European Commission will shortly propose to the Council the incorporation of this agreement into EU legislation.
