The EU and UK have managed to agree on fishing in UK waters, the latest sticking point preventing a comprehensive deal on post-Brexit relations.

While many French fishermen are delighted by this news, some officials speak of an "agreement without agreement".

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An agreement on post-Brexit relations between the 27 and the United Kingdom was reached on Thursday thanks to an agreement on the exploitation of British waters.

French and European fishermen will be able to continue to cast their nets on the British side of the Channel but will have to reduce their quotas by 25%, the transition taking place over a period of five and a half years.

“It's the Christmas present we were hoping for,” says Jonathan, a fisherman in Boulogne-sur-Mer, at the microphone of Europe 1. “The only way for us to continue our activity is to be able to access to English waters. "

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A necessary adaptation

Like many others, Jonathan will be able to continue fishing in English waters, which he has been doing for twenty years.

Much more fishy, ​​they are particularly rich in flatfish or cod.

Even if the EU gives up a quarter of its catches in this area, Stéphane Pinto, vice-president of the Hauts-de-France Regional Committee for Maritime Fisheries and Marine Breeding, puts it into perspective: "Today we are being asked to manage better. , to better appropriate our work vis-à-vis these losses of 25% of fishing capacity ... We will know how. "

By his own admission, this drop in the quantities fished should translate into higher prices.

Fishermen are also counting a lot on the aid promised Thursday by the Department for the Sea: up to 30,000 euros depending on their activity in British waters.

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Concern and vigilance

For the mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer and former Secretary of State for Fisheries, Frédéric Cuvillier, the agreement reached with the British authorities is a source of many concerns and calls for strong vigilance.

"Today, the agreement in the agreement, that is to say that part on fishing in the general agreement, is not satisfactory for European fishermen."

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If the councilor concedes a form of relief for the fishermen who are now certain of being able to exploit British waters, he points to the will displayed by the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, "to increase his fishing capacities".

Frédéric Cuvillier also mentioned the possibility of seeing the United Kingdom sign other agreements on fisheries with third countries.

Finally, according to him, many questions remain unanswered, in particular concerning the assessment of stocks of different species, the risks of overexploitation and the extent of controls.

In short, the negotiators would have made "an agreement for the agreement ... but in substance, there is no agreement".