As we move into the trade talks about the future relationship between the UK and the EU, no surprise that fisheries is up there amongst the ‘difficult issues’. For a summary of the current positions Click here

The UK view is that fisheries should be one of a series of mini-deals with different arrangements for resolving disputes where needed. The EU wants one over-arching agreement covering everything, underpinned by a common dispute-settlement system. George Eustice, Secretary of State for the Environment told the House of Lords EU Energy & Environment committee that he was optimistic of reaching a deal. “We are not asking for something extraordinary here – we are simply saying that we would like to become an independent coastal state such as Norway.”  click here. He also said that Britain planned to ensure foreign-owned, UK flagged vessels were required to land more of their catch in UK ports so the UK got more of the economic benefit Click here to read more

Michel Barnier is reported as saying that the UK’s proposal to negotiate the level of catches in British waters on an annual basis, similar to an agreement with Norway, was impractical. He noted that the EU and Norway negotiated over five species of fish while there were 100 shared stocks in European and British seas. Click here to read more