Transparency data

Ninth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries on Fisheries on 24 September 2024 - minutes

Updated 8 May 2025

Hybrid (London and video conference)

1pm to 4pm British Summer Time (BST) and 2pm to 5pm Central European Summer Time (CEST)

Item 1: Opening of the Specialised Committee and adoption of the agenda

The UK, as host, welcomed both delegations to the ninth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF). In opening remarks, both parties noted the significant progress that the SCF has made in 2024 and looked ahead to continuing that cooperation in 2025. The parties adopted the provisional agenda for the meeting.

Item 2: Fisheries management and conservation

a) Update on fisheries management and control measures

i. Marine protected areas (MPAs) and highly protected marine areas (HPMAs)

The parties noted the value of the recent engagement on MPAs and HPMAs and their joint views on the importance of ensuring MPAs are effectively protected to meet their stated objectives and meet national and international commitments, with the UK updating on the recent developments and offering a follow-up meeting in due course. The parties flagged the EU and Scottish Government meeting, regarding the recent announcement on proposing fisheries management measures in existing Scottish MPAs. Both parties highlighted their ambition to continue the exchange of views on relevant measures, to improve mutual understanding of the underpinning science and impacts

ii. Fisheries management plans (FMPs)

The parties referred to the dedicated meeting on 18 September in Brussels, which covered the UK’s plans on launching a consultation on the next 5 Defra FMPs (cockle and queen scallop in English waters, North Sea and Channel sprat in English and Scottish waters, non-quota demersal species in the Southern North Sea, and skates and rays in the Southern North Sea and English Channel). The meeting also covered FMPs that are being developed by other UK fisheries administrations. The meeting shared further information on the implementation of the initial FMPs, published in December 2023 (crab and lobster, king scallop, whelk, channel demersal non-quota species and bass), including the UK’s intention to lay legislation soon for several measures. The parties are keen to continue detailed discussions, and the EU stressed the importance of early engagement.

b) Pollack commercial and recreational

The joint UK and EU expert group on pollack that took place in April provided in-depth expertise and produced a short-term plan in support of the new pollack benchmark assessment scheduled for 2025. The parties also noted the medium to longer term actions that were identified by the expert group and the imminent publication of the expert group report. The UK covered the progress of the close-kin mark recapture project, led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). The parties are jointly awaiting the outcome of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) work on the benchmark preparation and are looking forward to collaborating on the next steps of the plans for the stock.

c) Celtic and Irish Sea technical measures

The parties recognised the significant challenges with zero catch advice stocks in the Celtic Sea and reiterated the commitment to explore the potential of enhanced technical measures in supporting the recovery of depleted stocks. The EU acknowledged the North Western Waters Advisory Council’s (NWWAC’s) advice and the recent workshop on the effects of climate change on Celtic Sea cod. The UK is undertaking an evaluation of possible measures that were identified in the data collation report, to understand the potential benefits and costs.

In the Irish Sea, the parties noted the longstanding issue of bycatch and discards, and the UK and EU efforts to explore new potential technical measures for the Whiting and Nephrops fishery in the Irish Sea. The EU flagged a recent literature review on the reductions of unwanted catches. The parties look forward to their continued collaboration, with the next step being jointly developing terms of reference through a UK and EU steering group.

d) Skates and rays  

Both parties noted the importance of continuing to progress the work on finding an alternative to the current group total allowable catch (TAC) for skates and rays. The parties highlighted a joint expert workshop taking place in London on 25 September 2024, the day after the SCF. The aim of this workshop was to bring together the scientific work from both sides, establish a common understanding and identify potential actions, which will be documented in a report to be published and to serve as the basis of future discussions.

e) Small-eyed ray

On small-eyed ray, the UK reported that the sentinel monitoring fishery and data collection is underway, in line with the relevant commitment for the stock in 7e. Both parties noted they were keen to discuss further during the skates and rays expert workshop, with a view to align efforts closely and ensure the best data is available for a future stock assessment.

f) Spurdog

The parties noted the progress and collaboration on the stock to date, and the continued importance of the 2024 written record commitment to take a precautionary approach to the management of the fishery. The parties noted the progress on the 2024 written record commitment to review the effectiveness of precautionary measures. Early results on survivability analysis conducted by the EU are positive, and the publication of the report from the meeting of scientific experts held in May is expected imminently. The parties will meet in October to review the recent scientific findings and explore the option of submitting a joint request to ICES for management scenarios for spurdog.

g) Mixed fish

The parties referred to the joint ICES request on mixed fisheries science that was submitted in May 2023, and thanked ICES experts for the response received this spring. They highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and the joint review of the outcome of the ICES request. The EU noted the need to better understand the spatial, temporal and technical interactions between fleets and stocks.

Item 3: Fishing opportunities, including scientific coordination

a) Guidelines for setting provisional TACs for Special Stocks

The parties referred to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) commitment to develop guidelines for setting provisional TACs for special stocks and noted the paper that was shared by the UK in May. The EU noted the complex legal considerations associated with this item. Both parties are keen to advance as swiftly as possible in these discussions.

b) Interannual flexibilities

The parties noted the commitment to exchange complete catch statistics and quota data and the importance of fulfilling this, for the effective management of shared stocks and in supporting a strong EU and UK working relationship. Both parties signalled the intention to exchange data in November.

c) Footnote flexibilities

Similarly, the parties noted the commitment to exchange data on the uptake of footnote flexibilities, which has now been met successfully. The UK flagged the importance of reviewing the current footnote flexibilities.

d) Sole 7hjk 

The parties highlighted the work that has taken place on both sides on developing the scientific understanding for the stock. Results from the UK data collection and analysis are expected in spring 2025. Both parties agreed to hold a technical meeting to jointly review progress on this item and to explore how the parties can contribute to improving the scientific basis underpinning the advice.

e) Tusk

The parties noted the challenges of the way TAC setting is linked to advice areas for tusk and welcome a meeting with a view to share methodologies and improve the common understanding for the stock.

f) TAC deductions 

The parties welcomed the recent joint meeting on TAC deductions, where each party gave an overview of the methodology of carrying out deductions and both jointly reflected on the similarities, pursuant to the 2024 EU and UK written record. Both parties are keen to continue discussions on this issue, in particular in the event of any potential changes.

Item 4: Non-quota stocks:

a) Multi-year strategy for Channel king scallops

The parties held a joint workshop in Brussels on 17 September, aiming to share scientific knowledge and increase the understanding of the scallop fishery in the Channel. This reflects a shared vision to move forward together, get input from stakeholders on both sides and develop a multi-year strategy.

The parties agreed to document this in a joint report from the workshop, to be published and to serve as the basis of future discussions, and to hold technical meetings in Q1 of 2025 to discuss the next steps for moving forward with the development of the multi-year strategy for shared Channel king scallops.

b) Seabass shore-netting and seabass allocation tool

Both parties noted the recent constructive technical meeting on the seabass joint commitments and the plans for a further detailed discussion later in the year, in parallel to the UK reviewing the shore-netting provision with stakeholders. The EU reiterated the importance of progressing the work on the ICES seabass allocation tool given the ICES seabass benchmarking exercise that is expected in November.

Item 5: Control and enforcement, data exchange:

a) Cooperation on control: arrangements on monitoring, enforcement, and surveillance

The parties highlighted the development of a mature document outlining the joint arrangements on monitoring, control, and surveillance. They are currently exploring the best, most appropriate route of formalising the agreement.

Item 6: Any other business

a) Post 2026

The EU noted that the end of the fisheries adjustment period in 2026 is fast approaching, and it is crucial to ensure stable and reciprocal fisheries access beyond this date. The EU stressed the importance of setting a date to hold technical discussions on how parties view the post 2026 scenario as soon as possible. The UK noted the EU’s position and responded that the normal access arrangements of the TCA will apply from July 2026 by default.

Item 7: Closure

The UK, as host, closed the ninth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries. 

[Approved by the Joint Secretariat of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries] 

Annex 1: List of participants in the sixth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries 

EU delegation 

• EU Co-Chair of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
• European Commission officials
• Delegation of the European Union to the UK official
• Representatives of EU member states

UK delegation 

• UK co-chair of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries
• UK government officials from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign, Commonwealth
• and Development 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

Annex 2: Non-quota stocks (NQS) landings 

Cumulative UK and EU landings of non-quota species from each other’s waters. Each year these figures will be updated quarterly with provisional figures available from the most recent data exchange between the parties.

UK NQS landings (tonnes)

Year	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Provisional 2024 totals	2,423	4,675	7,219	10,480
Final 2023 totals	1,647	3,432	6,286	9,622

EU NQS landings (tonnes)

Year	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
Provisional 2024 totals	5,765	9,491	13,337	19,624
Final 2023 totals	5,515	9,883	14,006	19,741

Annex 3: Expert workshop report on king scallop

The parties, as part of the SCF, held an expert workshop on the king scallop multi-year strategy (MYSt) and produced a report. This report has been published on GOV.UK and the European Union website:

• King scallop MYSt report (GOV.UK)
• King scallop MYSt report (EC.EUROPA.EU)