European Union and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: written record 2025
Written record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2025.
Technical measures
a) The Delegations continue to agree on the value of approaches to technical measures to support the recovery of depleted stocks and deliver wider benefits in terms of fisheries management. The Delegations reaffirmed their commitment to working closely together via the SCF to assess and review the effectiveness of technical measures in the Celtic Sea and Irish Sea.
b) Celtic Sea
i. In relation to Celtic Sea technical measures, the Parties continue to progress the evaluation of potential measures to reduce Celtic Sea cod bycatches, building on the joint data collation activity, and committed to further technical exchanges on this in 2025 with a view to identifying any appropriate measures as soon as possible. Recognising the depleted status of gadoid stocks across the Celtic Sea (including Celtic Sea whiting) the Parties committed to explore approaches to extend the focus of this work to other Celtic Sea gadoid stocks as appropriate, and potential recovery benefits associated with improvements in selectivity.
c) Irish Sea
i. The Delegations recognised the depleted state of the Irish Sea whiting and cod stocks. The Parties agreed to continue to examine appropriate technical measures in 2025 with a view to making effective reductions of unwanted bycatch within this sea basin.
ii. The Delegations recognised the work on gear trials by Northern Ireland and Ireland for reducing unwanted bycatch of whiting in Nephrops fisheries, for example via the use of coverless trawls. The Parties agreed to continue to progress the introduction of improved technical measures within their respective waters of the Irish Sea, focussing on making effective reductions of Irish Sea whiting bycatches within the Nephrops fishery.
iii. The Delegations have initiated work on a joint evaluation framework and data collation activity for technical measures, for the Irish Sea through the SCF. The Parties agreed to continue this work in 2025 with a view to establishing coordinated measures to reduce Irish Sea whiting catches with the aim of supporting the recovery of the stock.
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback