The EU Council has approved an agreement reached with the United Kingdom on fishing opportunities for 95 total allowable catches (TACs) for stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). The agreement secures the fishing rights of EU fishermen in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 2026.
“The EU remains committed to sustainable cooperation, ensuring that our shared resources continue to be managed responsibly, while safeguarding the livelihoods of our fishermen and preserving our seas for future generations.” Jacob Jensen, Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries
Main elements of the agreement
The EU and the UK based their agreement on the best scientific advice available, provided in particular by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The deal reached by the two parties contributes to achieving the objectives of the EU’s common fisheries policy, namely ensuring that fisheries are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable. The deal is in line with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement concluded with the UK.
For stocks with no ICES advice, the EU and the UK agreed to continue working together to improve the availability of data to inform future scientific advice, while also noting progress made so far.
Delegations in most cases agreed that it would be appropriate to establish specific TACs for by-catches (species that are caught unintentionally, while fishing for other specific species) to avoid choke situations that would lead to the premature closure of healthy fisheries. These TACs have been set at levels aiming to prevent increases in the fishing mortality while allowing the stocks to be rebuilt.
For stocks which are seeing a decline below certain biomass levels, the parties agreed to combine the TACs with additional technical measures to speed up the return of these stocks to safe biological levels as soon as possible.
Next steps
During the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, taking place on 11 and 12 December, ministers will seek to reach a political agreement on the overall fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea for fish stocks managed independently by the EU. The figures for the EU-UK shared stocks will be incorporated into that overarching political agreement.
The new quotas will apply from 1 January 2026.
In the case of three other jointly managed stocks, for which the scientific advice does not align with the calendar year, i.e. sandeel (North Sea), sprat (North Sea and the English Channel) and Norway pout, the EU and UK will hold consultations in the course of 2026.
