UK Secures £970 Million Fishing Opportunities for 2024: Key Highlights and Benefits

The UK fishing sector is set to benefit from 420,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities valued at approximately £700 million following successful negotiations with the EU and Norway, according to the latest announcement from the UK Government.

This recent development brings the total fish quotas secured for the UK fleet in 2024 to 750,000 tonnes—an increase of 80,000 tonnes compared to 2023—translating to a potential worth of £970 million based on historical landing prices.

The agreement with the EU has granted UK fishermen access to 130,000 tonnes for the upcoming year, which is estimated to be worth up to £340 million.

Simultaneously, a trilateral agreement with the EU and Norway has secured an additional 290,000 tonnes of North Sea stocks, valued at around £360 million.

This figure is in addition to the 330,000 tonnes secured from catch limits earlier in the year on widely distributed stocks in the northeast Atlantic, collectively worth approximately £270 million.

Thanks to quota share increases established in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK is set to gain up to 120,000 tonnes more quota from the 2024 negotiations compared to what it would have received as an EU Member State.

In its fourth year of functioning as an independent coastal state during negotiations, the UK has successfully agreed on catch levels for over 80 critical total allowable catches (TACs), covering significant commercial stocks including northern shelf cod, North Sea saithe, and Nephrop stocks in the Celtic and Irish Sea.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer commented:

These vital agreements provide UK fishermen with access to valuable fish stocks estimated at £970 million, reflecting our ability to independently negotiate in favor of our fishing community post-EU membership.

Our decisions are driven by the latest scientific recommendations, ensuring a sustainable and profitable fishing industry while safeguarding our marine environment and essential fishing grounds.

Commitment to sustainability has been at the forefront of the UK’s negotiation strategies, advocating for decisions rooted in the most reliable scientific data to protect critical stocks and ensure the long-term health of the UK fishing sector. The UK’s approach relies on guidance from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and, whenever feasible, catch limits have been established at or below these advised levels.

Preliminary estimates indicate that a consistent number of jointly managed stocks have been set either in alignment with or below the levels suggested by ICES scientists compared to the previous year, despite the challenging landscape for certain stocks. A comprehensive independent assessment of the sustainability of the negotiated outcomes is expected to be published early in the new year.

The results of the annual fisheries negotiations will be disclosed in the Secretary of State’s determination of fishing opportunities for British vessels by the end of this year.

Additional Information

The agreed records from the negotiations can be accessed here:

Due to the quota share increases outlined in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK will secure more quota from these negotiations than it would have had as an EU member.

Values are based on the complete utilization of fishing opportunities.

Ongoing bilateral fisheries negotiations are taking place between the UK and Norway, as well as between the UK and the Faroe Islands. 

During the course of these negotiations, the UK Government has collaborated closely with the Devolved Administrations to ensure that the benefits of these arrangements are distributed throughout the UK. For instance, Scottish fishermen will receive quotas for northern shelf cod, Welsh fishermen will benefit from retained access measures for seabass, and fishermen from Northern Ireland will gain increased quotas for Nephrops.

Results of UK/EU Bilateral Negotiations

This agreement established catch limits for around 70 total allowable catches (TACs). It also emphasizes the commitment of both the UK and EU to collaborate on more sustainable fisheries management, including a review of the effectiveness of current measures to protect the recently reopened spurdog fishery.

The agreement includes a by-catch only total allowable catch for pollack, following ICES recommendations published earlier this year. The government is aware of the implications for certain segments of the UK fleet and has been engaging frequently with stakeholders from the south-west region to explore potential mitigation strategies.

Results of UK/EU/Norway Trilateral Negotiations

This agreement has set catch limits on six North Sea fish stocks, including cod, haddock, and herring, in addition to other stocks in various waters around the UK.