In developing our position on annual total allowable catch, Defra makes use of the best available science and takes account of the interaction between species that can be caught together. We are mindful of the need to uphold a balance that maintains fish stocks, including bycatch species, at sustainable levels.

The UK’s approach to negotiating total allowable catches (TACs) is founded on the best available scientific evidence. Once agreed, TACs and quota shares reflect negotiated outcomes that balance the objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020, including the needs of our fishing industry and the long-term sustainability of our fisheries and fish stocks.

The UK’s approach is that Total Allowable Catches for all species should be based on the best available scientific advice. The goal is to seek to maintain fish stocks and fisheries at sustainable levels in the long term or to rebuild them to such levels, where necessary.

The UK's approach is that Total Allowable Catches for all species should be based on the best available scientific advice. The goal is to seek to maintain fish stocks and fisheries at sustainable levels in the long term or to rebuild them to such levels, where necessary.

The objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020, the draft Joint Fisheries Statement and proposed Fisheries Management Plans collectively reaffirm our commitment to achieving sustainable fishing and protecting the marine environment. The Act enshrines in law the Government’s commitments for sustainable fishing, restating our commitment to fishing at maximum sustainable yield through the ‘sustainability objective’ and ‘precautionary objective’.

The UK's approach is that Total Allowable Catches for all species should be based on the best available scientific advice. The goal is to seek to maintain fish stocks and fisheries at sustainable levels in the long term or to rebuild them to such levels, where necessary.

The objectives in the Fisheries Act 2020, the draft Joint Fisheries Statement and proposed Fisheries Management Plans collectively reaffirm our commitment to achieving sustainable fishing and protecting the marine environment. The Act enshrines in law the Government’s commitments for sustainable fishing, restating our commitment to fishing at maximum sustainable yield through the ‘sustainability objective’ and ‘precautionary objective’.

The UK pursues a wide range of priorities when securing quota transfers in its annual fisheries negotiations with Norway, including reducing choke risk within the North Sea mixed fishery, as well as securing fishing opportunities in the Barents Sea.

In 2022, the UK’s total opportunities for Arctic whitefish stocks were estimated to be worth around £16 million. Inward transfers of such quotas are paid for by transferring to Norway quotas held by the UK, with the result that securing additional Arctic quotas from Norway automatically leads to a reduction in quotas available to UK fishers.

The UK imports significant quantities of whitefish, reflecting UK consumers’ tastes. Whilst the volume of the quota available to the UK in the Barents Sea is not close to covering the volume of fish that we import, the Government is working with the fishing industry to identify opportunities in the UK market for UK caught fish.

The UK EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for each Party to grant access to fish non-quota species at the average tonnage fished in the reference period 2012-2016, for a five and a half year adjustment period. There are no catch limits for individual vessels fishing for non-quota species.

Discussions with UK Fisheries Administrations, including the Welsh Government, on non-quota fisheries management have focused on implementing the provisions of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement in relation to applying a tonnage limit to fishing of non-quota species in UK and EU waters. Longer term management of non-quota species will be reflected in Fisheries Management Plans and in discussions on shared stocks with the EU.

Whilst it is for the Welsh Government to develop and implement measures in Welsh waters, all UK Fisheries Administrations are part of a Fisheries Management Plan Working Group to collaborate on the development of future plans.

Assessment of the impacts of any potential fisheries management measures in Welsh waters is the responsibility of the Welsh Government, as UK fisheries management is devolved.

UK Fisheries Administrations are working closely together on the development of future plans, including for non-quota fisheries, to ensure we secure sustainability of our stocks, the environment and a thriving industry.

The Government is fully committed to the sustainable management of our seas, whilst enabling a successful UK fishing fleet. The objectives in the Fisheries Act 2021 collectively reaffirm our commitment to achieving sustainable fishing and protecting the marine environment while tailoring our approach to our unique seas. This commitment will be delivered through the Joint Fisheries Statement and Fisheries Management Plans.

We set out policy how additional quota would be allocated in March. This is now included in the UK Quota Management Rules for 2021. Quota allocations have taken place and are available on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-quota-allocations-for-2021-for-england-and-the-uk

The UK has been a strong advocate for the sustainable management of fisheries and will continue to collect data to support this. The regulations that enable us to collect data have been rolled over into UK law and funding has been maintained in line with manifesto commitments. This ensures continuity and consistency of data collection in the short-term. We have now commenced work on developing a new fisheries' monitoring programme that supports UK priorities as well as our international commitments.

UK fishing quota is not held by EU registered vessels. It is only allocated to UK registered vessels.

We do not keep records of the nationality of UK registered vessel owners.

UK fishing quota is not held by EU registered vessels. It is only allocated to UK registered vessels.

We do not keep records of the nationality of UK registered vessel owners.

Full details, including what has been allocated to Wales, have been published on the Marine Management Organisation’s website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-quota-allocations-for-2021-for-england-and-the-uk

The UK’s approach in annual negotiations has been to seek solutions that are sustainable, and which support our fishing industries and local communities. Following the ICES advice for zero catches for quota stocks taken within mixed fisheries would, if applied, close economically important UK fisheries and have a significant impact on the associated coastal communities such as the Irish Sea Nephrops fishery where whiting is an unavoidable bycatch. In this situation, a total allowable catch (TAC) has been set at a level to allow a bycatch of whiting which seeks to prevent closing the Nephrops fishery while still allowing whiting to recover.

The data requested is set out in the tables below

Exchanges of quota within the UK are available as normal.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for exchanges of quota both at annual negotiations and in-year via a mechanism developed by the Specialised Committee on Fisheries. The UK and EU have also agreed to establish transfers on an interim basis before the in-year mechanism is developed.

No recent assessment has been made in relation to the effect of introducing an international quota exchange mechanism between the UK and EU.

Exchanges of quota within the UK are available as normal.

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for exchanges of quota both at annual negotiations and in-year via a mechanism developed by the Specialised Committee on Fisheries. The UK and EU have also agreed to establish transfers on an interim basis before the in-year mechanism is developed.

No recent assessment has been made in relation to the effect of introducing an international quota exchange mechanism between the UK and EU.

As annual negotiations to set fishing opportunities have not yet concluded the final quota allocations for each administration are not yet finalised.

On 22 April Defra published the UK quota management rules which set out how quota will be split across the UK. On 14 April we published the provisional quota for all parts of the UK in the Secretary of State determination.

The final allocations will be published on gov.uk once negotiations have concluded.

On 24 March, we announced the method we will use to apportion additional quota between the four UK administrations.

On 14 April, we announced how the English share of this additional quota will be allocated to industry. The details of both of these announcements can be found on gov.uk. We will be working with the Marine Management Organisation to finalise allocations for England in the coming weeks.

As the allocation of quota is a devolved responsibility it is for each administration to decide how and when to allocate their share of the UK quota.