The Council approved an agreement between the EU and the UK on Fishing Opportunities for 2023 and for Certain Deep Sea Fish Stocks for 2023 and 2024, which guarantees fishing rights for EU fishermen in the Atlantic and North Sea. They settle down before the next hunting season.
I am very pleased that this year’s consultation with the UK on Shared Fish Stocks concluded successfully before the start of the new year. This agreement guarantees security and stability for our fishermen and the protection of their fishing rights in the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea until 2023.
Czech Minister of Agriculture Zdenek Nikola
The agreement sets out fishing rights for about 100 shared fish stocks in EU and UK waters, including 2023 TACs for each species, and 2023 and 2024 TACs for some deep-sea fish stocks. This agreement also represents the final step in the annual process of identifying fishing opportunities for 2023 and 2024 for EU and non-EU waters, as well as for certain deep-sea fish stocks. Ministers developed temporary TACs for joint fish stocks with the UK at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 11-12 December. These temporary fishing limits will now be amended to reflect the final agreement with the UK.
For fish stocks for which the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has not issued an opinion, the EU and UK have agreed to work together to improve the availability of data on which to base future scientific opinions. Delegations agreed that it would be appropriate to specify the total individual amounts allowed for bycatch of fish stocks for which the expert opinion suggested a complete ban. These fisheries have been scaled so that fishing mortality does not increase and the stock can recover.
According to scientific opinions, the total allowable amounts were agreed with the UK last year shorthand For the following groups:
- Single: -39% in the North Sea -23% in the irish sea, -27% in the waters west of Ireland and -23% In the western part of the English Channel
- Haddock: -32% in rockall, -22% in the western waters of Ireland, in the Bay of Biscay, in the Portuguese waters and in the fishing grounds of the Azores; And -14% in the Irish Sea
- Herring: -66% In the fishing grounds of the Faroe Islands and Rockall, -39% in the Irish Sea and -40% In the western part of the English Channel and in the Bristol Channel
- Horse mackerel: -78% In the North Sea, the waters west of Scotland, the Irish Sea, the waters west of Ireland, the Porcupine Shelf, the western English Channel, the Bristol Channel, the Celtic Sea, and the waters southwest of Ireland. The same reduction applies in the Norwegian Sea, fishing grounds in the Faroe Islands, waters north of the Azores and fishing grounds in Greenland.
- Regular flounder: -79% In the Bristol Channel and the Celtic Sea, -32% east and west of the English Channel and -26% in the Irish Sea
The European Union and the United Kingdom also agreed on this compared to the previous year They increase The total shareable quantities for the following inventories:
- Code: +63% in the eastern part of the English Channel
- Golden salmon: + 36% in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea
- Rhombic: +17% in the Irish Sea
- Norwegian lobster: +12% In the waters of western Scotland and in the fishing grounds of the Faroe Islands
- Flatfish bycatch: +16% In the Celtic Sea and waters southwest of Ireland
- White cod bycatch: +43% In the areas west of Scotland, the fishing grounds of the Faroe Islands, the waters north of the Azores and the fishing grounds of Greenland
With regard to deep-sea fish stocks, the European Union and the United Kingdom agreed on a for agate fish The relevant total deliverable quantity is specified for 2023 only, so the specified quantity can be adjusted during the year. Similarly, delegations agree on the need for improvement For big-eyed western durbins relevant scientific information. As a result, it was agreed that the total catchable amount will be determined only for the year 2023 and the actual catch in 2023 will be monitored, and that when deciding whether to justify the reduction of the total catchable amount for the year 2024. Then take into account the effectiveness of the measures in terms of catch reduction Unwanted accidental. The European Union and the United Kingdom also agreed to a For black tire fish The relevant 2023 TAC will only be set for review during the 2024 consultations, where appropriate, reflecting the agreed distribution of the TAC.
background
After the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, the fish stocks are jointly managed by the European Union and the United Kingdom under international law common resource Eligible. between two sides Trade and Cooperation Agreement It sets out the terms under which the EU and UK will decide fishing rights in the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea.
Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the two parties agreed to Annual meetings To determine TACs and quotas for the following year. UNHCR leads the consultations and takes into account a number of factors, including:
- international obligations
- Recommended for each type maximum sustainable return (MFH), in line with the Common Fisheries Policy, in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of fisheries
- the The best scientific opinion availableIn cases where expert opinions are not available, a precautionary approach is used
- hunters Livelihood protection essential
The Council provides political direction to the Commission throughout the negotiation process and formally approves the final agreement.
further steps
The 2023, 2023 and 2024 Fishing Opportunities Decree for some deep-sea fish stocks – which includes the amendment involving final quotas – will be finalized by the Council’s legal linguistic experts, after which it will be formally adopted by the Council, and will be announced in the Official Gazette by the end of January 2023. It will be The provisions apply retroactively from January 1, 2023.
