The European Union has finalized bilateral and trilateral agreements with the United Kingdom and Norway, securing access to waters and fishing opportunities for next year.
“While challenges remain, the successful and coordinated completion of this very complex process demonstrates how cooperation between the E.U., the U.K., and Norway can benefit fishing communities and ensure the sustainable management of our shared stocks,” E.U. Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said.
The trilateral arrangement between the three entities on jointly managed stocks in the North Sea establishes total allowable catches (TACs) of more than 915,000 metric tons (MT) for 2024, including an E.U. quota of almost 415,000 MT. This total comprises haddock, saithe, whiting, plaice, herring, and cod, the latter species of which coming with an increased TAC.
The U.K. government has estimated the trilateral deal provides its fleet with 290,000 MT of North Sea fishing opportunities worth around GBP 360 million (USD 452.7 million, EUR 420.4 million).
The E.U. and Norway concluded bilateral talks, meanwhile, for shared stocks in the North Sea and the Skagerrak Strait, as well as quota exchanges.
Among exchanges for other stocks, the E.U. will receive 9,983 MT of Arctic cod for 2024, and it will transfer 48,000 MT of blue whiting to Norway. Through this deal, the E.U. gained access to catch up to 15,107 MT of Atlanto-Scandian herring in Norwegian waters, while Norway has attained access to fish 150,000 MT of blue whiting in E.U. waters.
Bilateral talks between the E.U. and the U.K., which entailed negotiations over 85 TACs in the Northeast Atlantic, also concluded recently, providing fishing opportunities of almost 388,000 MT for the E.U. fleet and an estimated EUR 1 billion (USD 1.1 billion) to the bloc, according to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
“The agreement we reached will secure fishing opportunities for fishers on both sides of the [English] Channel, Irish Sea, and North Sea,” Sinkevičius said. “It takes into account the sustainability of stocks and the socioeconomic impact for fishers, providing protection for our ocean and certainty for our fishers. The agreement establishes a strong basis to continue cooperating in fisheries management with the U.K.”
Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Luis Planas Puchades noted the success of the agreement was largely “thanks to the good will” demonstrated by both parties during the negotiations.
“We have ensured that our fishing rights in the Atlantic and the North Sea will continue to be protected in the coming year, and we are living up to our sustainability commitments,” he said.
The European Commission also highlighted that close cooperation between the E.U. and the U.K. through the Specialized Committee on Fisheries (SCF) contributed to the positive outcome.
The E.U.-U.K. agreement relied on scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) while aligning with the objectives of the E.U. Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). For stocks with no ICES advice, the two parties agreed to work together to improve data availability that helps inform future scientific advice.
Agreed TAC increases for 2024 include 20 percent more West of Scotland whiting and 9.6 percent more megrim in the North Sea, while TAC cuts include 14.5 percent less haddock in the Irish Sea.
For U.K. fishers, the deal with the E.U. has secured access to opportunities equating to 130,000 MT and worth up to GBP 340 million (USD 427.6 million, EUR 397.1 million), while the Scottish government in particular estimates it provides a value to Scotland of around GBP 194 million (USD 244 million, EUR 226.6 million).
“They are based on the latest scientific advice and support a sustainable, profitable fishing sector for years to come while continuing to protect our marine environment and vital fishing grounds,” U.K. Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said.
Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands Mairi Gougeon said she was “particularly pleased” that quotas for North Sea and West of Scotland cod are reflective of the latest scientific advice.
“This is the first step in transforming the way in which we manage this iconic stock, and I look forward to the continuation of that important work in 2024,” she said.
So far, the United Kingdom has negotiated 750,000 MT of fishing opportunities for 2024, worth around GBP 970 million (USD 1.2 billion, EUR 1.1 billion), and equating to year-over-year increases of 80,000 MT and GBP 70 million (USD 88 million, EUR 81.8 million).
The U.K. government claims the country has secured 120,000 MT more quota than it would have done as an E.U. member state.
Photo courtesy of the European Commission
