The UK has today (10 December 2021) reached agreement with Norway
and the European Union on catch limits for 2022 for six jointly
managed fish stocks in the North Sea.
The agreement signals the Parties’ continued commitment to the
sustainable management of North Sea cod, haddock, plaice,
whiting, herring and saithe to ensure the long-term viability of
these stocks. The agreement has also established plans to review
the distribution and management of shared stocks such as hake – a
measure that aims to safeguard stocks which are important for the
whole UK catching sector.
Negotiating as an independent coastal State, the UK has agreed
catch levels for 2022 with Norway and the EU that provide fishing
opportunities estimated to be worth around £190 million to the UK
fishing industry, based on historic landing prices. This will
provide certainty and stability for the industry ahead of the new
year.
Fisheries Minister said:
I am pleased to announce we have concluded trilateral
negotiations between the UK, EU and Norway.
We are proud to have led discussion to a positive conclusion as
we seek to set a gold standard for the entire fishing industry.
We are confident that this agreement has struck a balance that
will benefit both our fishing industry and ensure our marine
environment is healthy and viable long into the future.
Throughout negotiations the UK, as chair, has advocated for stock
management decisions based on the best science available to
ensure sustainable agreements are made and stocks are protected
for the interests of our industry and a healthy, viable marine
environment.
Catch levels for five of the six stocks have been set in line
with, or lower than, the level advised by scientists at the
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The catch levels agreed for 2022 (compared to 2021) are:
- Cod rollover
- Haddock +5%
- Herring +20%
- Plaice -12%
- Saithe -24%
- Whiting +25%
The UK Government has worked closely throughout the negotiations
with the Scottish Government and other administrations to reach
this consensus which seeks to benefit the entire UK fishing
industry.
An assessment on the number of individual TACs set consistent
with ICES advice will be published on the conclusion of the UK’s
annual fisheries negotiations.
Additional information:
- This trilateral agreement marks the conclusion of one in a
series of annual fisheries negotiations. The UK’s bilateral
negotiations are underway, namely consultations with the Faroes
Islands and Norway to agree quota and access arrangements for
2022, and consultations with the EU concerning TACs and
management measures for the relevant stocks.
- This year the UK chaired the talks with rounds taking place
in Edinburgh and London, maximising opportunities for
face-to-face negotiations. Throughout the consultations the UK
pressed for evidenced-based and pragmatic decisions to provide
fishing opportunities whilst promoting the sustainability of
stocks for the marine environment and industry.
- ICES produced a substantial increase in advice for a number
of North Sea stocks, with haddock and whiting showing
considerable expansion in their biomass. However, all Parties
recognised that it would not be appropriate to take the full
quota increase advised by scientists for these two stocks given
their interactions with stocks like cod in the North Sea mixed
fishery. Parties therefore agreed moderate increases in catches
compared to 2021 to promote the health of all stocks in the
fishery. The Parties have also agreed a catch level for North Sea
herring below that recommended by ICES to deliver stability in
the TAC.
- North Sea cod will be subject to the same tonnage limits as
set for 2021. The agreed catch limit for 2022 is based on the
published ICES advice, but is higher than that advice. This
decision was based on the provisional landings data for the 2021
fishing year, which were not available when the advice was
originally produced. This data suggests a realised fishing
mortality in 2021 that is lower than that assumed for the
published ICES advice. This catch level is predicted to allow the
stock size to increase by a similar amount compared to following
the published ICES headline advice. All parties will continue
their individual management plans to protect the cod stock.
The UK’s cod avoidance
plan uses spatial measures and selective fishing gear
to protect high abundances of cod and spawning grounds
