Additional fishing quota set for UK nations

Additional fishing quota with an estimated value of GBP 146 million (USD 203.1 million, EUR 170.5 million) over the next five years that was secured through the December fisheries negotiations has been allocated to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England by the United Kingdom government.

According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the uplift in fishing opportunities is equivalent to 25 percent of the value of the E.U.’s average annual historic catch in U.K. waters.

It is “over and above” the fishing quota that the U.K. had before leaving the E.U., the department said.

The majority of this quota – 15 percent of the E.U.’s historic catch in U.K. waters - will be transferred this year and will now be distributed across the four U.K. nations.

“I am pleased to announce how we will allocate the additional fishing quota we have obtained from leaving the E.U. across the U.K. fishing industry,” Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis, said. “As an independent coastal state, we can now make new decisions on how we manage our fisheries. These additional fishing opportunities will deliver increased economic benefits to fishermen and coastal communities across the union.”

The additional quota distribution follows a public consultation held in October last year, and takes into account the needs of the fishing fleet all around the United Kingdom. It is to be allocated between fisheries administrations based on the previous track record of fishing activity in each nation and the principle of zonal attachment which reflects the areas where fish are present in U.K. waters.

DEFRA has also confirmed that negotiations with the E.U. and Norway are underway that will determine the catch limits for shared stocks. Once these discussions have concluded, the department will issue communications that set out the fishing opportunities for 2021.

Photo courtesy of Adrian Phillips/Shutterstock

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