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The UK government has published new determinations for fishing opportunities in 2026, confirming that catch limits for whiting in the Celtic Sea will be set higher than scientific recommendations. The decision, released on 23 December 2025, follows international negotiations aimed at balancing the long-term health of fish stocks with the economic survival of coastal communities.
According to a statement published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Secretary of State has set a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for whiting in the southern Celtic Seas and western English Channel that exceeds the “zero catch” advice issued by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). While scientists warned that the spawning stock biomass has fallen below critical biological safety levels, the government argued that a complete ban would cause a “choke species” crisis, effectively forcing the closure of other healthy fisheries where whiting is caught accidentally.
The new limit has been set at 2,310 tonnes for 2026. While this is above the scientific recommendation for zero take, the government noted that the figure represents a 51% reduction compared to the bycatch allowance permitted in 2025. Officials stated that the move was necessary to “secure overall agreement in international negotiations” and to comply with the legal frameworks of the Fisheries Act 2020.
The decision comes amid a broader debate over the state of British waters. Earlier this month, as reported by the BBC, Fisheries Minister Dame Angela Eagle said that it was “vitally important to respond to concerning scientific evidence about fish stock levels” while still securing over 520,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities for the UK fleet, valued at approximately £840 million. Dame Angela stated that the government’s approach is “balanced and sustainable,” intending to recover stocks to healthy levels while allowing fishing communities to thrive.
However, environmental groups have expressed concern over the gap between science and policy. A recent audit by the charity Oceana claimed that one in six of all UK stocks are in a critical condition but are being fished beyond safe limits, warning that overfishing in the UK is a “political failure”.
In response to these pressures, the UK and EU have committed to developing new “rebuilding plans” during 2026. These plans will include technical measures designed to help achieve the objective of supporting the recovery of stocks to levels consistent with the overall objective of achieving MSY.