Quota swaps between the United Kingdom and the European Union

The fisheries agreement between the EU and the UK provided from the outset for the possibility of quota swaps between the two new fishing partners.

Now, the UK Government, through DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has published details of the agreement reached at the end of July to exchange fishing quotas between Member States and the UK. The EU fleets will cede a total of 3,526 tonnes to the UK fleet, and in return will receive fishing opportunities of 3,743 tonnes.

Of the list, the hake stock HKE/571214 in areas VI and VII (north-west coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland; the north-west coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland are also called West of Scotland; and Irish Sea, West of Ireland, Porcupine Bank, East and West Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea – North and South, and South-west Ireland – East and West). Spain transfers 320 tonnes of northern hake to the UK. In turn, the main UK transfer to Spain is 260 tonnes for anglerfish in zone VII.