Council approves EU-UK fishing deal for 2026 18:05 Council approves an agreement reached with the United Kingdom which secures the fishing rights of EU fishers in the Atlantic[...]

The 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 fishers in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 2026 and its timely conclusion will ensure stability and certainty for EU fishers and the industry.

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.

Background

Following the UK's withdrawal from the EU, fish stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK are considered shared resources under international law.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the two parties sets out the terms under which the EU and the UK determine their respective fishing rights in the Atlantic and North Sea. The TCA includes rules on licensing for fishing vessels and on mutual access to each other's waters.

Under the TCA, both parties hold annual consultations to determine overall catch limits for the following year. The quotas of each party are then established in line with the TCA. Consultations are led by the Commission and take into account a number of factors, including:

• international obligations
• ensuring the long-term sustainability of marine resources, in line with the EU's common fisheries policy
• the best available scientific advice
• the need to protect the livelihoods of fishers

The Council receives regular updates on the progress of the negotiations and its role is to provide guidance to the Commission on the EU's position and approve the final agreement on the annual catch limits and quotas.

• Management of the EU's fish stocks (background information)
• Fish stocks shared between the EU and the UK (background information)