Brexit: EU sets provisional fishing quotas in the face of no deal with London
A British fisherman, off the coast of southwest England, February 4, 2021. AFP - BEN STANSALL
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European Fisheries Ministers, meeting in Brussels, adopted on Tuesday March 23 temporary fishing quotas until July 31 for waters shared with the United Kingdom.
Still in negotiations with London on this subject after Brexit, the Europeans anticipate the absence of an agreement by the expiration on March 31 of the current provisional quotas.
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Approved after bitter nightly negotiations, these quotas constitute "
a contingency plan
" to allow European fishing fleets to continue their activity, said Portuguese Minister of the Sea Ricardo Serrão, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU).
In mid-December, while the outcome of talks on the post-Brexit trade agreement remained uncertain, the
Twenty-Seven had renewed for three months the 2020 catch quotas
for stocks shared with the British.
Or a decision in force until the end of March in order to allow fishermen to continue their activity even in the event of a "
no deal
".
The agreement finally concluded at the end of December between the EU and the United Kingdom
provides for giving European fishermen
access to British waters
for a transitional period of five and a half years.
Europeans will then have to gradually give up 25% of their catch.
But precise 2021 catch quotas for shared stocks had not been defined.
However, despite intense negotiations between Brussels and London, no agreement seems to be emerging as the March 31 deadline approaches.
This scenario threatened to paralyze the activity of fishermen in shared waters, for lack of new rules in force.
A "
balanced agreement
" while waiting for the final one
The new provisional quotas which will henceforth apply to European fishermen until the end of July have been established "
in general
" in proportion to the scientific levels recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for the whole of 2021, while respecting the framework of the post-Brexit agreement with London, according to the conclusions consulted by AFP.
French Minister of the Sea Annick Girardin welcomed "
a balanced agreement
", but warns that Paris will remain "
very vigilant to preserve the interests of the French and European fishing fleets in the negotiations
" with London.
This agreement "
gives us time
", but "
we hope that this plan B can remain in the drawer
" or at least "
will have a short lifespan
" before the final quotas decided with London, said the European Commissioner for Environment, Virginijus Sinkevicius.
He said "
hope for a quick conclusion in the next few days
".
The ministers also endorsed the tripartite agreement concluded in mid-March between the EU, the United Kingdom and Norway to set fishing quotas in the North Sea in the respective waters of the three parties, deemed "
auspicious for the negotiations in progress
”by Mr. Sinkevicius.
(with AFP)
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