Fishing boat – Image Pixabay
(BRUSSELS) – The European Union and the United Kingdom concluded Wednesday their negotiations on an agreement in principle setting out catch limits for jointly managed fish stocks until the end of 2021.
The agreement was finalised in a phone call between Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius and UK Secretary of State for Environment George Eustice MP.
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). The successful conclusion of the negotiations, which started in January, creates a strong basis for continued EU-UK cooperation in the area of fisheries.
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 the total allowable catches (TAC) 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.
Mr Sinkevicius said: “Today we reached a deal with the UK on fishing opportunities under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. 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 Commission says the agreement is based on the best available scientific advice on the state of fish stocks, as provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. It takes into account important sustainability and management principles, such as maximum sustainable yield and the precautionary approach, which are central to both the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy and to the fisheries provisions of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The Commission is now expected to shortly propose to the Council to incorporate the agreement into EU legislation.
