For common fish stocks: EU and Great Britain agree on fishing quotas


For common fish stocks
The EU and Great Britain agree on catch quotas

Despite the UK’s exit from the EU, the international community and Great Britain continue to manage important fish stocks together. After almost six months of negotiations, they are now able to set catch quotas for this year and in some cases for the coming year.

The EU and the UK have signed an agreement in principle on catch restrictions for shared fish stocks. The successful conclusion of the negotiations started in January created a solid basis for further cooperation in the field of fisheries, announced the EU Commission in the evening.

The agreement was therefore reached during a telephone conversation between EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius and the British Environment Minister George Eustice. The deal “proves that two partners on both sides of the English Channel can reach agreements and move forward if they work together,” said Sinkevicius.

According to the information, the agreement specifies the total fishing limits for 75 stocks by the end of 2021 and for certain deep-sea stocks for the years 2021 and 2022. It will also provide clarity on access restrictions to non-quota species. Sinkevicius commented that the agreement creates predictability and continuity for the rest of the year. It is good for fishermen, coastal communities and ports, but also for the sustainable use of marine resources. The agreement is expected to be signed in the coming days.

The EU manages large parts of the Atlantic and the North Sea together with Great Britain. Fisheries were the toughest part of the post-Brexit trade deal negotiations between the EU and the UK.

In mid-March there was an agreement on common fishing quotas for the first time since Brexit. At that time, the EU, Great Britain and Norway brought their trilateral negotiations on the management of the North Sea to an end.

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