The EU and UK fishing deal, a long-term agreement granting reciprocal fishing access to waters until 2038, has been welcomed by Commissioner Kadis
The European Union and the United Kingdom have officially cemented a long-term agreement granting full reciprocal access to each other’s waters for fishing activities until 30 June 2038.
This landmark decision, adopted by the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF), formalises a political agreement reached just ahead of the recent EU-UK Summit in London.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral fisheries cooperation between the two entities. It aims to provide essential legal certainty and long-term stability for fishing communities and fleets on both sides of the Channel. Under the terms of the decision, EU and UK vessels will continue to enjoy full access to each other’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and territorial waters, encompassing both quota-managed and non-quota fish stocks.
This sustained collaboration is expected to reinforce mutual trust and establish a clear path for ongoing cooperation in the sustainable management of shared marine resources.
Commenting on the decision, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, stated: “This decision represents more than just another step forward—it reaffirms the strength of what the EU and UK can achieve through sustained partnership. By building on the proven foundation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, we are delivering concrete results: stability for our fishing communities, certainty for our fleets, and good neighbourly relations.”
Background
Following the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union, the majority of fish stocks in the EU waters of the north-east Atlantic are now shared with non-EU countries, predominantly the UK. The fisheries relations between the EU and the UK post-Brexit are governed by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). This agreement also established the joint EU-UK Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF), which serves as the forum for the EU and UK to collaborate on the sustainable management of shared fisheries and other related management issues.
Source: EU Commission