The European Union and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2024, with more than 85 permitted catches (a method used to set maximum limits on fishing during a given period) in the North-East Atlantic, allowing resource management, stability and predictability for the fleets and operators involved.
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) annually sets jointly managed stocks, sets fishing limits, and stipulates maritime access for fleets to the other party, as well as ensuring the catchability of approximately 388,000 tonnes for the EU fleet. , which is estimated at around 1 billion euros based on wholesale prices, adjusted for inflation.
“The agreement reached will guarantee fishing opportunities for fishermen on both sides of the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Sea,” said Virginius Sinkevicius, European Commissioner responsible for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. “It takes into account the sustainability of stocks and the socio-economic impact on fishermen, providing protection for our ocean and safety.” For our fishermen. The agreement lays a solid foundation for continued fisheries management cooperation with the United Kingdom.
The negotiations were conducted with the support of available scientific advice on the status of fish stocks and socio-economic considerations to avoid bottlenecks that would lead to the premature closure of some fisheries.
In addition to the key role played by Member States in supporting the conclusion of this agreement, close cooperation between the EU and the UK in the Specialized Committee on Fisheries (SCF) contributed to the final solution of quotas.
Among other recommendations adopted this year, the Steering Committee completed the alignment of management areas with stock distribution for eight common stocks (e.g., Western Channel plaice, turbot, Eastern Channel plaice, Celtic perch, and Eastern Channel).
The written record of the EU-UK consultations also sets out a clear set of priorities for the future work of the SCF, including cooperation on joint technical measures to protect vulnerable stocks in marine basins.
Agreed catch limits for inclusion in the 2024 Fishing Opportunities Regulation were submitted during the EU Fisheries Council of Ministers on 10-11 December 2023, and approval is still awaited.
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