European Union and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: written record 2023

Summary

1. The Trade and Co-operation Agreement (the TCA) (Trade and co-operation agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, which was signed on 30 December 2020 and which came into force on 1 May 2021) between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) includes the objective of cooperating with a view to ensuring that fishing activities for shared stocks in their waters are environmentally sustainable in the long term and contribute to achieving economic and social benefits, and requires the Parties to hold consultations annually to agree the total allowable catches (TACs) for the following year for the stocks listed in Annex 35 to the TCA.

2. A Delegation from the United Kingdom, headed by Mr Mike Dowell, and a Delegation from the European Union, headed by Mrs Eva Maria Carballeira Fernandez, met between November and December 2022 to consult on fishing opportunities for 2023, and for certain deep-sea stocks for 2023 and 2024, in accordance with Article 498 (Fishing Opportunities) of the TCA. This Written Record documents the outcome of those consultations.

3. The Heads of Delegations agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements for 2023, and for certain deep-sea stocks also for 2024, outlined in this Written Record, including Annexes 1, 2 and 3. Accordingly, where this Written Record refers to the Delegations (or the Parties) having agreed on a matter, it should be read as an agreement to recommend to the Delegations’ respective authorities to implement the arrangements in this Written Record, including Annexes 1, 2 and 3.