Transparency data

First meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries on 20 July 2021 - minutes

Updated 14 March 2024

Meeting held on: Monday 20 July 2021 at 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm BST / 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm CEST

Virtual meeting hosted by the UK delegation

Item 1: welcome

The UK, as host, welcomed both delegations to the first meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF). The UK and the EU co-chairs welcomed the event as the first meeting of the SCF. The EU co-chair updated the delegations on the status of the EU mandate for operating in the SCF, which implied some limitations to what could be discussed and decided at this meeting.

Item 2: presentation of delegations

The co-chairs introduced their respective delegations (see Annex 1 for the full delegations lists).

Item 3: organisation of the SCF

The Parties took note of the Rules of Procedure in Annex 1 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) as the basis for the operation of the SCF.

The SCF is expected to meet 3 to 5 times annually. Both co-chairs highlighted the need to concentrate the work in the first 9 months of the year, given the busy schedule of international consultations and negotiations about total allowable catches (TAC) in the latter months.

Item 4: actions for discussion

The Parties noted the general functions of Specialised Committees under Article 8 of the TCA and the specific functions of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries under Article 508 of the TCA. The Written Record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2021 also includes additional tasks for the Committee (summarised in paragraph 15 of the Written Record).

The Parties exchanged initial views on priority issues and noted the importance of establishing Working Groups to facilitate technical discussions and prepare issues for consideration by the SCF.

Item 5: update on quota swaps

The Parties noted progress on setting up an interim mechanism for in-year transfers of fishing opportunities, ahead of the development through the SCF of the in-year mechanism referred to in Art. 498(8) of the TCA, with the execution of the first tranche of agreed transfers likely to take place in July 2021.

Item 6: preparing the annual consultations for 2022

The Parties took note of the Written Record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2021 (which also covers some stocks for 2021 and 2022), as signed by both Parties on 11 June 2021.

The Parties exchanged views on preparations for annual negotiations for fishing opportunities in 2022 and noted the obligation under the TCA to seek to reach agreement by 10 December 2021.

Item 7: timing and preparation by parties of the next SCF meeting

The Parties agreed to hold the next meeting preferably in September 2021, with the EU as host.

Item 8: any other business

In light of his imminent retirement, both co-chairs paid tribute to the contribution to EU and UK fisheries management made by Nigel Gooding, Deputy Director for EU Fisheries Policy in the UK Government.

Item 9: closure

Approved by the Joint Secretariat of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries

Annex 1: list of participants at the first meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries

UK delegation (25 members)

• UK Co-Chair of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
• UK Government Officials from DEFRA and Cabinet Office
• Scottish Government Officials
• Northern Ireland Executive Officials
• Welsh Government Officials
• Isle of Man Government Officials
• Government of Jersey Officials
• States of Guernsey Officials
• Marine Management Organisation Officials
• UK Mission to the European Union Officials

EU delegation (31 members)

• EU Co-Chair of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
• European Commission Officials
• European External Action Service Official
• Delegation of the European Union to the UK Officials
• Representatives of EU Member States