Increased fishing opportunities worth 拢750 million agreed for 2023
The UK fishing industry will benefit from increased fishing opportunities in 2023 as the latest round of negotiations conclude.
The UK fishing industry will benefit from 140,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities worth over 拢280 million in 2023 after the UK today (20 December 2022) reached an agreement with the EU.
This brings the total value of fishing opportunities secured for the UK fleet in 2023 in the three main negotiation forums to 拢750 million, a 拢34 million increase from last year.
In the third year of annual fisheries negotiations with the UK operating as an independent coastal state, the UK and EU today agreed catch levels for 69 important fish stocks. This included some of the most commercially valuable stocks to the UK fishing industry such as North Sea Nephrops (拢54m), Anglerfish (拢31m) and Western hake (拢25m).
Throughout the negotiations, the UK Government has worked closely with the devolved administrations to ensure fishing communities across the UK will benefit from the agreement.聽The Scottish industry, for example, will benefit from improved catch levels for North Sea stocks including cod, hake, whiting and nephrops.
The agreement also commits the UK and EU to work together to provide more sustainable fisheries management.
Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:
Our agreement with the EU secures valuable fishing opportunities for the UK fishing industry while cementing our joint commitment to manage fisheries sustainably.
These decisions are based on the latest scientific advice to help protect key fish stocks with the long-term health of the marine environment at the forefront of our minds.
We are backing the fishing industry across the country to succeed, with a landmark 拢100m investment in infrastructure, skills and better scientific data so that our fishing industry thrives for generations to come.
This latest deal follows an agreement with the UK, EU and Norway on six North Sea fish stocks including cod, haddock and herring worth 拢202m to the UK fishing industry, and a further 拢11 million in stocks in other waters around the UK.
In the same week, the UK secured catch limits worth a further 拢256m with the North East Atlantic coastal States, while an last month will see the UK fishing industry benefit from fishing opportunities worth 拢5 million in 2023.
Sustainability has been at the heart of the UK鈥檚 approach to all the negotiations to ensure key fish stocks are protected and to support the long-term viability of the UK fishing industry. Wherever possible, catch levels 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), and there is an estimated 13% increase in catch levels that align with ICES advice compared to last year.
The outcome of annual fisheries negotiations is published in the鈥疭ecretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats.
The UK has also started negotiations with the Faroe Islands on exchanges of fishing opportunities for 2023.
拢100m UK Seafood Fund
The UK fishing industry is currently receiving a significant funding investment from the UK Government to help modernise its facilities, train and upskill fishermen, and invest in better scientific research on key fish stocks.
Last month, 拢20 million from the UK Seafood Fund had been awarded to expand processing facilities for popular British fish like Scottish salmon, mackerel and herring. A further 拢30 million is now available for infrastructure projects in the latest round of funding open for bids.
Last week, five pioneering research over 拢3.5 million through the Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) scheme to gather vital evidence to inform how we manage our fisheries and protect marine habitats across the UK. Almost 30 projects have received funding through FISP so far, and the fourth and final round opened earlier this month, running until midday on 19 January 2022.