Fishing quotas after Brexit
Fishing quotas after Brexit
More than 100 fish stocks have been co-managed by the EU together with the United Kingdom over the last decades. Since January 2021, the rights to catch fish for shared stocks are established through annual bilateral consultations.
How fishing quotas are set
- The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement defines percentages for each party for every shared fish stock
- Every year, the EU and UK hold consultations to agree on fishing rights for the year to come
- The European Commission presents a proposal to the Council on the position the EU should take in the consultations with the UK
- The Council provides guidance on the proposal
- The Commission holds the consultations with the UK
- The Council is regularly updated and informed on the progress in the consultations
- When an agreement is reached, the Commission presents the deal to the Council
- The Council decides on its final approval, before the consultations are formally closed
The EU's principles
- Long-term sustainability
- Best scientific advice
- Precautionary approach (if no data)
- Quota transfers (in case of need)
Some examples of quotas
- Horse Mackerel (Western): the UK's allocation is 9% of the total annual catches, the EU's is 91%
- Sole (Eastern Channel): the UK's allocation is 20% of the overall annual catch; 80% for the EU
- Haddock (Rockall): the EU has 15% of the total catches, while the UK has 85%
- Herring (Irish Sea): the EU has 3% of the catches and the UK has 97%
- Saithe (Celtic Sea): the UK can catch 15% and the EU 85%
Last review: 1 February 2025