UK secures £970m worth of fishing

These latest agreements takes the total fishing opportunities secured for the UK fleet in 2024 in the main negotiating forums to 750,000 tonnes – 80,000 tonnes more than in 2023 – worth up to GBP 970 million based on historic landing prices.

The deal with the EU has secured UK fishermen access to opportunities of 130,000 tonnes for 2024, worth up to GBP 340 million, while the trilateral deal with the EU and Norway secures access to opportunities of 290,000 tonnes of North Sea stocks, worth around GBP 360 million.

This is on top of 330,000 tonnes, worth around GBP 270 million, from catch limits agreed earlier in the year on widely distributed stocks with coastal states in the Northeast Atlantic.

As a result of quota share uplifts agreed in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK has up to 120,000 tonnes more quota from the 2024 negotiations than it would have received as an EU member state.

In the fourth year of the UK operating as an independent coastal state in the negotiations, catch levels were agreed for over 80 important total allowable catches (TACs). This included key commercial stock across the industry, including northern shelf cod, North Sea saithe, and nephrop stocks in the Celtic/Irish Sea.

“These significant deals give UK fishermen access to important fish stocks worth GBP 970 million and take advantage of our position outside the EU to independently negotiate in our fishing fleets best interest,” UK Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said.

“They are based on the latest scientific advice and support a sustainable, profitable fishing sector for years to come while continuing to protect our marine environment and vital fishing grounds.”

The outcome of the annual fisheries negotiations will be published in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for UK boats by the end of this year.