Agreement on fishing quotas: more cod and whiting next year, less sole and plaice

Flemish Minister of Fisheries Hilde Crevits led the negotiations for Belgium, an agreement was reached early Tuesday morning.

During this Council, an agreement in principle was also reached with the United Kingdom on the fishing opportunities in 2023. This gives the Belgian fishing industry more certainty about the fishing rights of 2023. Based on the scientific advice, our fishermen will be able to catch more cod and whiting in the North Sea next year. fish, but fewer plaice and sole in western waters.

“These were difficult negotiations, especially since our Belgian fishermen have had little access to alternative fishing grounds since the loss of fishing rights as a result of Brexit. That is why maintaining the viability of the fleet was my priority during this European Council of Ministers. The socio-economic impact is major for our fishing industry due to the decrease in fishing opportunities for sole and plaice after Brexit. In the coming months, at my explicit request, the European Commission will focus on strengthening the exchange options with the United Kingdom. The Commission will also examine how the viability of the Belgian fleet can be guaranteed through support measures. But we certainly have enough fishing opportunities so that everyone can still eat a tasty sole, plaice or ray,” said Flemish Minister of Fisheries, Hilde Crevits.

More cod, less sole

Fishing rights for sole are very important for the Belgian fishing industry. The same amount can be fished in the Bristol Channel as in 2022. The opportunities for rays in the North Sea will also remain the same. Fishing rights for cod in the North Sea are rising. The opportunities for haddock and whiting in the North Sea will also increase next year, as will anglerfish in the western waters and sole in the Bay of Biscay. To the great disappointment of our fishermen, less plaice can be fished in the Bristol Channel and the possibilities for sole in the Irish Sea and in the western part of the Channel are also diminishing.