Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 November 2025
Correspondence from Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs regarding the United Kingdom approach for 2025 annual fisheries negotiations, dated 4 November 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Fisheries and the marine environment
Summary
Dame Angela Eagle, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, outlines the UK government's approach to 2025 annual fisheries negotiations for 2026 fishing opportunities. The UK will negotiate TACs for approximately 100 stocks guided by the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement, balancing environmental sustainability with economic viability. Scientific advice from ICES indicates a challenging sustainability picture, with 61 of 87 stocks advised to decline or zero catch, necessitating careful management of trade-offs.
Key findings
- 61 of 87 stocks have received declining or zero catch advice compared to 2025; notable restrictions include zero catch for Northern Shelf cod and Celtic Sea haddock, and a 70% cut for mackerel
- UK pursuing negotiations across multiple forums: coastal States (pelagic stocks), UK-EU bilateral, UK-EU-Norway trilateral, UK-Norway, UK-Faroe Islands, ICCAT, NEAFC, UN General Assembly, and OECD Committee on Fisheries
- Government approach guided by best available scientific evidence from ICES and informed by UK fishing industry and environmental NGOs
- Additional management measures being considered to support stock recovery, including work through Specialised Committee on Fisheries with EU and trilateral cod management working group with Norway
- Negotiations timeline spans October to early December 2025, with a Written Ministerial Statement to follow conclusion of all negotiations
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Dame Angela Eagle, Alistair Carmichael, Lord Ricketts, International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES), European Union, Norway, Faroe Islands, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
Notable line
“61 of the 87 stocks ICES have advised on so far this year have received declining or zero catch advice compared to 2025 levels.”
Key Quotes
“As an independent coastal State, the UK negotiates annually with other coastal States to set fishing opportunities for the following year.”
“The JFS requires us to balance environmental sustainability with the economic viability of the UK fleet and other matters.”
“The scientific advice from ICES for 2026 creates a challenging sustainability picture. 61 of the 87 stocks ICES have advised on so far this year have received declining or zero catch advice compared to 2025 levels.”
“This includes, zero catch advice for Northern Shelf cod and Celtic Sea haddock, and a 70% cut for mackerel.”
“In the face of these challenges, we need to continue to balance short-term economic viability with the longer-term sustainability of our fish stocks, fishing industry and seafood sector.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗