Late last week, the UK government secured fishing catch limits worth £202 million after DEFRA struck a deal with the EU and Norway.
The deal is a £33 million increase on the levels agreed for 2022 and covers six important North Sea fish species including cod, haddock and herring.
Westminster consulted with the devolved administrations in the wider UK throughout to ensure that fishing communities across the country will benefit from the deal.
Meanwhile, the government has also concluded its negotiations on catch limits with countries in the Northeast Atlantic on three more key fishing stocks, namely blue whiting, mackerel and Atlanto-Scandian herring. In total, the UK quota in these stocks will be worth some £256 million to the UK fishing industry in 2023.
Mark Spencer, minister of state for food, farming and fisheries, said: “I’m pleased we have reached agreements with the EU and Norway, and wider coastal states, to secure important fish stocks worth over £450 million for the UK fishing fleet in 2023.
“The deals will help support a sustainable, profitable fishing industry for years to come while continuing to protect our marine environment and vital fishing grounds.”
All of the UK’s quota levels were set out in line with, or below, those recommended as per advice by scientists from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea [ICES]. This reaffirms the UK’s commitment to sustainable fishing, which was a close consideration throughout the negotiating process and will help ensure the longevity of critical fish stocks in the North Sea.
According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs [DEFRA], the UK catch levels agreed for North Sea stocks next year are as follows:
- Cod: +63 per cent
- Haddock: +30 per cent
- Herring: -7.3 per cent
- Plaice: +5.8 per cent
- Saithe/Pollock: +18.7 per cent
- Whiting: +30 per cent
Last month, the UK struck an agreement with Norway which opened fishing opportunities worth £5 million to UK trawlers.
Meanwhile, talks are continuing with the EU over total permissible catches and other measures to manage overall fish stocks.
An assessment on the number of individual Total Allowable Catches that is set in line with ICES advice will be published when the UK’s annual fisheries negotiations have concluded in full.
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
