As part of the outcome of the EU-UK Summit on 19 May 2025, the EU and UK agreed to a 12-year extension of the current arrangements on fisheries, as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which grants reciprocal access to waters.
The commitment to extend the reciprocal access for EU and UK vessels to fish in each other’s waters for the next 12 years, with no change to existing quota shares, is a significant result. This will provide certainty for our fishermen and women, and the wider seafood sector, allowing operators to make sustainable, long-term decisions for their businesses.
The time period covered by this agreement, up to June 2038, also ensures that responsible sustainable fishing practices, as agreed between the EU and the UK, will continue.
Without such an agreement, Irish fisheries would have the possibility of losing access to the waters every year after 2026.
Along with other Member States, Ireland fought hard and succeeded in achieving the 12 year time period and no additional transfer of quota to the UK. This positive outcome demonstrates what can be achieved when Member States stand together in solidarity.
It is evident that the fisheries environment, in the North East Atlantic and North Sea, has changed completely as a result of the UK’s withdrawal. The Common Fisheries Policy must take account of this new reality.
In light of this, Ireland has consistently called for the Commission to fully analyse and report on the impacts of Brexit on the Common Fisheries Policy, and in particular, the impact on the EU and Member States’ fishing opportunities as a result of quota transfers under the EU-UK Trade & Cooperation Agreement.
In March 2024, the Commission announced that an evaluation of the CFP would be carried out. That is currently underway and the report is expected next year.
My Department will continue work with like-minded Member States and the Commission to highlight the need for the CFP to take account of the new reality of our fisheries environment.
