On 6 December, the EU and the United Kingdom reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2025 for more than 88 total allowable catches (TACs) in the North-East Atlantic. The agreement will contribute to the sustainable management of fish stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK, as well as provide stability and predictability for fleets and operators from both parties.
This deal secures fishing opportunities for the EU fleet for about 428,000 tonnes, estimated to be worth almost €1.4 billion based on historic EU wholesale prices, adjusted for inflation. This agreement is important as the negotiated stocks represent most of the EU’s stocks of interest in non-EU countries of the North-East Atlantic.
These are the fifth annual consultations on fishing opportunities between the EU and UK agreed under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). They establish total allowable catch limits (TACs) for shared stocks in 2025, and reciprocal access to waters for albacore tuna fishing.
The EU based its negotiating position on the EU common fisheries policy (CFP), including sea-basin related multiannual plans. The EU and the UK conducted these negotiations guided by the best available scientific advice on the status of fish stocks. Socio-economic considerations were also taken into account to avoid choke situations that would lead to a premature closure of certain fisheries.
Besides the key role played by Member States in supporting the conclusion of this agreement, negotiations highlighted the importance of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF), which facilitated cooperation and contributed to the positive outcome.
The agreement also establishes a clear set of priorities for future SCF work, including cooperation on joint technical measures to protect vulnerable stocks across sea basins.
Next steps The agreed catch limits will be incorporated into the Fishing Opportunities Regulation for 2025, which will be agreed at political level during the Council of EU fisheries Ministers on 9 and 10 December.
The parties will hold in-year consultations during 2025 for three other jointly managed stocks, for which the ICES scientific advice does not align with the calendar year: sandeel (North Sea, all banks), sprat (North Sea and the English Channel) and Norway pout.
The document is the **2025 Written Record of Fisheries Consultations** between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), summarizing agreements under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). Key points include:
1. **Total Allowable Catches (TACs)**: Annual quotas for shared fish stocks were set, with specific conditions for adjustments based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
2. **Sustainability Goals**: Efforts were made to align quotas with long-term sustainability, balancing socio-economic factors with biological recovery, especially for depleted or vulnerable stocks.
3. **Bycatch TACs**: Small quotas were allocated for stocks with zero-catch advice to manage mixed fisheries without creating "choke species."
4. **Deep-Sea and Special Stocks**: Special attention was given to deep-sea stocks, with measures for species like roundnose grenadier, red seabream, and spurdog to ensure sustainable management and stock recovery.
5. **Quota Transfers and Flexibility**: Mechanisms for inter-annual quota transfers were established, allowing carryover or borrowing of quotas under certain limits to improve flexibility.
6. **Technical Measures and Research**: Technical and spatial management measures were discussed for depleted stocks, along with initiatives for collaborative research to improve scientific advice and stock assessments.
7. **Non-Quota Stocks**: Monitoring and data-sharing on non-quota species landings were emphasized, with commitments to manage these species sustainably.
8. **Electronic Data Exchange**: Continued development of electronic systems for data sharing was prioritized to enhance fisheries management and control.
The document contains detailed agreements on quotas, management conditions, and measures for numerous species. Here's a summary for key species groups: --
1. **Total Allowable Catches (TACs)**: Annual quotas for shared fish stocks were set, with specific conditions for adjustments based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
2. **Sustainability Goals**: Efforts were made to align quotas with long-term sustainability, balancing socio-economic factors with biological recovery, especially for depleted or vulnerable stocks.
3. **Bycatch TACs**: Small quotas were allocated for stocks with zero-catch advice to manage mixed fisheries without creating "choke species."
4. **Deep-Sea and Special Stocks**: Special attention was given to deep-sea stocks, with measures for species like roundnose grenadier, red seabream, and spurdog to ensure sustainable management and stock recovery.
5. **Quota Transfers and Flexibility**: Mechanisms for inter-annual quota transfers were established, allowing carryover or borrowing of quotas under certain limits to improve flexibility.
6. **Technical Measures and Research**: Technical and spatial management measures were discussed for depleted stocks, along with initiatives for collaborative research to improve scientific advice and stock assessments.
7. **Non-Quota Stocks**: Monitoring and data-sharing on non-quota species landings were emphasized, with commitments to manage these species sustainably.
8. **Electronic Data Exchange**: Continued development of electronic systems for data sharing was prioritized to enhance fisheries management and control.
The document contains detailed agreements on quotas, management conditions, and measures for numerous species. Here's a summary for key species groups: --
| Species | Area/Region | TAC (Tonnes) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monkfish/Anglerfish | North Sea (4, 2a) | 19,622 | Up to 30% may be fished in 6a north of 58°30’. |
| West of Scotland (6, 5b, 12, 14) | 11,104 | Up to 20% flexibility in areas 2a and 4. | |
| Celtic Sea (7) | 47,559 | Flexibility for fishing in 8a, 8b. | |
| Hake | North Sea (4, 2a) | 2,021 | Up to 6% flexibility in certain zones. |
| Western (6, 7, 5b, 12, 14) | 32,479 | Flexibility of up to 100% in 4 and 2a. | |
| Lemon Sole & Witch | North Sea (4, 2a) | 2,227 (combined) | Specific tonnages allocated for lemon sole and witch in adjacent areas. |
| Dover Sole | North Sea (4) | Managed | TACs managed under shared arrangements, details not provided. |
| Celtic Sea & Irish Sea | Managed | Sustainability-focused recovery plans. | |
| Pollack | Area 6 and 7 | 766 (bycatch) | Preventing closures in mixed fisheries; forecasted 20% spawning stock biomass increase by 2026. |
| Cod | Irish Sea (7a) | 165 (bycatch) | No directed fisheries permitted. |
| West of Scotland (6a) | 1,114 | Managed under trilateral consultations (UK-EU-Norway). | |
| Celtic Sea (7b-k, 8, 9, 10) | 644 (bycatch) | Zero-catch advice; small TAC for bycatches. | |
| Rockall (6b, 5b west, 12, 14) | 74 (bycatch) | No directed fisheries permitted. | |
| Haddock | Irish Sea (7a) | 1,893 | - |
| Rockall (6b, 12, 14) | 10,195 | - | |
| Celtic Sea (7b-k) | 6,353 | - | |
| Herring | Irish Sea (7a) | 5,223 | - |
| West of Scotland (6b, 6aN) | 1,745 | Restrictions on targeting in specific zones for spawning protection. | |
| Western Channel and Bristol Channel | 357 | - | |
| Celtic Sea (7g-k) | 869 | Allocations for sentinel fishery to gather data. | |
| Spurdog | Western (6, 7, 8) | 13,998 | Maximum size limit of 100 cm retained for conservation. |
| Ling | North Sea (4) | 2,266 | Up to 20% flexibility for fishing in specific zones. |
| Western (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) | 10,907 | - | |
| Horse Mackerel | Western (4a, 6, 7, 8) | 65,221 | Up to 80% quota utilization allowed in area 8c. |
| Southern North Sea/Eastern Channel | 970 (bycatch) | No directed fishery permitted. | |
| Nephrops | Functional Units | Managed | Aggregate TACs; tailored management for depleted areas. |
| Deep-Sea Stocks | Various (e.g., Roundnose Grenadier) | Managed | Focused on conservation and stock recovery. |
Read the full details here: