The UK and EU have signed an agreement on catch levels for 2021, but the NFFO has questioned the power balance after the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) ends.
This first annual bilateral fisheries agreement made under the terms of the TCA, where the UK participated in negotiations as an independent coastal State outside of the Common Fisheries Policy, has seen total allowable catches set for 70 fish stocks, remaining in line with the provisional catch limits set earlier this year, apart from 8 that have small increases.
“The agreement means the total value of the UK-EU fishing opportunities for the UK in 2021 is approximately £333 million. This equates to around 160,000 tonnes,” said the UK Government’s Defra. “The UK fleet will have around 26,000 tonnes more quota for these stocks compared to quotas allocated in 2020.”
NFFO warning
However, the NFFO warned the road ahead may be rocky. “Until 2026, the TCA will shape the outcome of annual negotiations,” said the NFFO. “What happens after that date is an open question. The EU is confident that there are sufficient dissuasive powers within the TCA to make the UK think twice about acting as any other normal coastal state. Time will tell.”
It noted the failure to reach fisheries agreements with Norway or Faroes, reflects a turbulent adjustment period.
The Specialised Committee on Fisheries will provide a forum for discussions on fisheries matters between the EU and UK and meets for the first time this month.
“The issue which reflects the terms of the TCA, but also throws up the most difficult management issues for the future, are the tonnage limits which will apply to catches of non-quota species like scallop, crab, red mullet, sardine, whelk, lemon sole and many others,” noted the NFFO. These will now be referred to the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF).
