Written by Irina Popescu and Frederik Scholaert.
Brexit has reshaped fisheries relations in the North-east Atlantic on an unprecedented scale, with far-reaching consequences for the fishing sector in the region and beyond. This situation is highlighted in the European Parliament’s resolution on the future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean in the light of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU. After Brexit, most of the fish stocks in the region, managed for decades under EU rules, have become shared stocks jointly managed with the UK. Access for EU vessels to UK waters is now subject to licences delivered by UK authorities. Difficulties and delays were experienced however in licencing EU vessels to fish in the 6‑12 mile UK territorial waters and in the waters of Jersey and Guernsey in 2021. Access for EU vessels to UK waters is maintained for an adjustment period lasting until 30 June 2026, but the conditions after this date remain uncertain. More restrictive rules in the UK and the Falkland Islands are expected to affect UK-flagged vessels owned by EU fishing companies. More generally, relations between coastal states in the region have become less predictable, as seen in the unilateral decisions of Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands to increase their mackerel quotas in 2021, for example.
One of the most significant changes, fiercely contested until the final hours of the Brexit negotiations, concerns the transfer of EU fishing quotas to the UK. The total transfer is considered to represent 25 % of the value of the EU landings from UK waters. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) gradually reduces the EU fishing opportunities for 55 shared stocks from 2021 to 2025, specifying how the EU and UK shares change each year for each stock. Most of the quota transfer occurs in 2021 (60 %), with the remainder phased-in over the following years, to reach 70 % in 2022, 80 % in 2023, 92 % in 2024 and 100 % in 2025. For 2021, the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) estimated the quota reduction due to the TCA at 73 697 tonnes.
An EPRS analysis focused on the impact of the TCA changes on 16 of the most affected stocks, which together represented a quota transfer of 62 211 tonnes in 2021 (around 84 % of the total amount calculated by the STECF), with a value estimated at €103 million.[1]
The quota reduction mainly affects France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Spain and Belgium. Sweden, Poland, Portugal, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are affected to a lesser extent. France, Ireland and the Netherlands take the brunt of the 2021 transfer by value for the analysed stocks.
Western mackerel is by far the stock with the highest Brexit transfer (almost 30 % of the value of the analysed stocks), and as such it is an illustrative example. The EU share decreased from 41.68 % in 2020 (pre-Brexit) to 35.15 % in 2021 (post-Brexit), leading to a transfer of 24 021 tonnes, with a value estimated at €30.08 million. More than half of this amount is provided by Ireland, with the Netherlands, Germany and France sharing most of the remainder. In practice, the effect of the Brexit transfer due to the TCA cumulates with the effect of the change in total allowable catches (TAC) from 2020 to 2021, resulting in a net quota change. The TAC trend has a major impact on the net quota change: if the TAC decreases, as was the case for Western mackerel in 2021, the impact of the quota reduction from the Brexit transfer is amplified, from 24 021 tonnes to 33 812 for the EU total, and accordingly for each Member State (shown below in light shades).
An updated EPRS analysis of the Brexit quota transfer in 2022 is currently in progress.
[1] The stocks covered by the EPRS analysis are Mackerel (Western), Herring (North Sea), Blue whiting (Northern), Norway pout (North Sea), Mackerel (North Sea), Sole (North Sea), Norway lobster (zone 7), Anglerfish (zone 7), Hake (Western), Saithe (North Sea), Anglerfish (North Sea), Anglerfish (West of Scotland), Pollack (zone 7), Megrims (zone 7), Cod (North Sea) and Hake (North Sea). The net quota change is the difference between a Member State’s quotas for a given stock for two successive years. We used the initial fishing opportunities for 2020 and 2021, as indicated in Regulations 2020/123 and 2021/1239. The Brexit transfer for a Member State in a given year is calculated by applying the EU share reduction according to the TCA to the quota from the previous year. EU and UK quota shares are from the EU-UK TCA, Annexes 35 and 36. To neutralise unusual pandemic effects, the value is based on 2019 prices from the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA). National sources have been used for German and Irish prices (unavailable in EUMOFA).
Read this briefing on Post-Brexit fishing quota changes: 2021 on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is considered one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as a part of a voluntary govt decommissioning plan presented after Britain withdrew from the Eu Union. As a part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred again 25 p.c of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in flip, considerably restricted Irish vessels within the numbers of fish they’re allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Eire one of the most Eu nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] L’Aquila est l’un des dizaines de bateaux irlandais mis au rebut dans le cadre d’un plan de déclassement volontaire du gouvernement introduit après le retrait de la Grande-Bretagne de l’Union européenne. Dans le cadre du retrait de la Grande-Bretagne, l’UE a restitué 25 % de ses droits de pêche dans les eaux britanniques. Cela, à son tour, a considérablement limité les navires irlandais dans le nombre de poissons qu’ils sont autorisés à pêcher – une perte annuelle anticipée de 43 millions d’euros (46 millions de dollars), faisant de l’Irlande l’un des pays européens nations les plus touchées. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] El Aquila es uno de las docenas de barcos irlandeses desguazados bajo un plan de desmantelamiento voluntario del gobierno introducido después de la retirada de Gran Bretaña de la Unión Europea. Como parte de la retirada de Gran Bretaña, la UE devolvió el 25% de sus derechos de pesca en aguas británicas. Esto, a su vez, ha limitado en gran medida a los barcos irlandeses en cuanto al número de peces que pueden pescar. una pérdida anual prevista de 43 millones de euros ($46 millones), convirtiendo a Irlanda en uno de los países europeos naciones más afectadas. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one among dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as a part of a voluntary executive decommissioning plan offered after Britain withdrew from the Ecu Union. As a part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred again 25 p.c of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in flip, considerably restricted Irish vessels within the numbers of fish they’re allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Eire some of the Ecu nations most affected. […]
[…] 作为英国退出欧盟后推出的自愿政府退役计划的一部分，天鹰号是数十艘被报废的爱尔兰船只之一。 作为英国退出的一部分，欧盟收回了其在英国水域的 25% 的捕鱼权。 反过来，这大大限制了爱尔兰船只允许捕捞的鱼类数量—— 预计每年亏损 4300 万欧元 （4600 万美元），使爱尔兰成为欧洲国家之一 受影响最严重的国家. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union, and transferred 25 percent of Europe’s fishing rights in British waters. That significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union, and transferred 25 percent of Europe’s fishing rights in British waters. That significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is considered one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as a part of a voluntary authorities decommissioning plan launched after Britain withdrew from the European Union, and transferred 25 p.c of Europe’s fishing rights in British waters. That considerably restricted Irish vessels within the numbers of fish they’re allowed to catch — an anticipated annual lack of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Eire one of many European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
[…] The Aquila is one of dozens of Irish boats being scrapped as part of a voluntary government decommissioning plan introduced after Britain withdrew from the European Union. As part of Britain’s withdrawal, the E.U. transferred back 25 percent of its fishing rights in British waters. That, in turn, significantly limited Irish vessels in the numbers of fish they are allowed to catch — an anticipated annual loss of 43 million euros ($46 million), making Ireland one of the European nations most affected. […]
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