“The Council approved an Agreement on Fishing Opportunities 2023 between the EU and the UK, as well as on certain deep sea stocks for 2023 and 2024, guaranteeing fishing rights for EU fishermen in the Atlantic Ocean and the South Sea.” he said in a statement.
This agreement covers about 100 ‘stocks’ of fish, and sets the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for each species in 2023.
At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which convened between December 11-12, ministers have already reached agreement on interim TACs, which will now be updated, reflecting the final agreement.
In line with scientific advice, it was decided to reduce TACs per capita combined (-39% in the North Sea, -23% in the Irish Sea, -27% in the west of Ireland and -23% in the Western Channel).
The maximum allowable incidence of haddock decreased by 32% in Rockhol, 22% in the west of Ireland, the Bay of Biscay and Portuguese waters (including the Azores) and 14% in the Irish Sea.
For herring, catches decreased by 66% in the Faroe Islands and Rockhol, 39% in the Irish Sea, and 40% in the Western Channel and Bristol Channel.
Horse mackerel experienced an average reduction in energy consumption of 78% in the North Sea, West of Scotland, Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, West English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea, SW Orlando, Norwegian Sea, Faroe Islands and Northern Azores and Greenland.
For fish, the decline is 79% in the Bristol Channel and Celtic Sea, 32% in the east and west of the English Channel and 26% in the Irish Sea.
In the opposite direction, the EU and UK decided to increase the TAC of cod stocks by 63% in the eastern English Channel.
The TAC of megafish increases by 17% in the Irish Sea, Norway lobster increases by 12% in western Scotland and the Faroe Islands, and the rate of “larger silver smelt” increases by 36% in the Barents and Norwegian Seas.
Bycatch of salmon increased by 16% in the Celtic Sea and southwest Ireland, while bycatch of hake increased by 43% in western Scotland, the Faroe Islands, the northern Azores and Greenland.
