The withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU has had a profound impact on fisheries relations in the North-East Atlantic. One of the most significant changes is the gradual transfer of EU fishing rights to the UK. This transfer is outlined in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which spanned the five years from 2021 to 2025, and is considered to represent 25 % of the value of the former EU27 landings from UK waters. We compare the fishing opportunities available to the EU in 2025 and 2026 — the first two years in which the transfer of fishing quotas was fully completed — with the theoretical quotas that would apply if the transfer of quotas had not taken place. In terms of volume, the pelagic species of herring and mackerel are most affected. In terms of value, demersal species, such as sole and Norway lobster, account for significant EU losses. As each Member State has a specific share of each stock, the loss of quota affects them to varying degrees. The transfer affects 13 Member States, but just seven bear almost the entire burden. A special case is north-east Atlantic mackerel, which is shared with several third countries. Since Brexit, the EU is no longer part of a quota-sharing agreement for this species. The sum of the fishing quotas set by all parties exceeds the scientifically recommended level, which is causing the stock to decline. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP Read more