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Summary
- The agreement guarantees fishing rights of the British and EU fleet in EU and UK waters until the end of 2021.
- Fish worth around 650 million euros are caught every year by the European Union’s fishing fleets in the UK waters.
- The deal proved that the two partners are fully capable of finding agreements and move forward in case they decide to work together.
The European Commission (EC) has announced that the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) arrived at an in-principal agreement on fishing rights for this year. The fisheries negotiations had begun earlier in January. The agreement was finalised via a call between George Eustice, Secretary of State for the Environment, UK and Virginijus Sinkevicius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, the EU.
The written deal is due to be signed in the next few days. After that, the EC will propose incorporating the agreement into the EU legislation.
The accord holds importance as fish worth around 650 million euros are caught every year by the European Union’s fishing fleets in the UK waters. The successful conclusion of the fisheries negotiations created a milestone for continued cooperation between the two regions.
Sinkevicius said that the settlement would allow predictability for the British fleets with definitive trade and cooperation agreements for the remaining part of the year. It will be beneficial for the country’s fishermen, ports and marine resources, he added.
The deal showed that the two partners are fully capable of finding agreements and move forward in case they decide to work together, Sinkevicius told.
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The agreement details
The pact has fixed the total allowable catches for 75 shared fish stocks for this year, along with some deep-sea stocks for this as well as the next year.
The deal has also clarified the access limits for species outside of the set quota. Additionally, once signed, the treaty will enable both regions to engage in quota exchanges.
The accord is based on scientific advice by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. It incorporates sustainability and management principles that are crucial to the fisheries provisions of both partners.
Also Read: Lens On 2 Food Stocks as UK Food & Drinks Export Collapse Post Brexit
The source of discord
The European fleet had to release one-fourth of its catches in the UK waters after a transition period that would last until the month of June 2026. It has been decided that the approach will be re-negotiated every year. The requirement to get licensed had fueled dissatisfaction among European fishermen.
Fishing rights
It goes without saying that fishing was the toughest part of negotiating a post-Brexit trade deal between the two parties. The UK had left the European Union on 31 January last year. According to the post-Brexit deal, the new relationship between the EU and the UK began on 1 January 2021 provided an official arrangement was arrived at and approved by the EU and the UK.
Apart from fisheries, other areas covered under the new rules for the UK and the EU are border controls, travel regulations, trade in goods and services, competitive environment, and social security.
