The EU and the UK finalised negotiations on 2 June on an agreement in principle setting catch limits for jointly managed fish stocks for 2021 (see EUROPE 12732/13)
EUROPE has obtained the text of the draft agreement, which will be assessed at an informal video conference of EU fisheries ministers on Wednesday 9 June.
The next steps are the approval of the agreement by the Commission and the EU Council, after which the formal signature of the act with the UK can take place.
The agreement reached on the management of the main shared stocks guarantees the fishing rights of the EU and UK fleets in each other’s waters until the end of 2021, as provided for in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
It fixes the total allowable catches (TACs) for 75 shared fish stocks in 2021 and for some deep-sea stocks in 2021 and 2022. It also clarifies access restrictions for non-quota species.
The agreement will also allow both parties to engage in quota trading. There are also provisions on: - TAC deductions due to derogations from the discard ban rule; - the modalities of sea bass fishing; - technical measures; - year-to-year flexibility in allowances (up to 10%).
Link to the draft agreement: https://bit.ly/3x6oEmx (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)