European Union and the United Kingdom - fisheries consultations: written record 2026

Access to waters

(a) Albacore

i. The Parties agreed the access arrangements for albacore (ALB/AN05N) specified below. These arrangements will remain in place until 31 December 2030 and are without prejudice to agreement between the Parties to extend these arrangements in future years.

ii. Each Party will grant access to vessels of the other Party during the period established under paragraph 5(i), to target an initial total of 560 tonnes of albacore in its exclusive economic zone [4]. This total tonnage may be increased in-year by agreement between the Parties.

iii. Implementation of these access arrangements was discussed in 2025 resulting in the issuance of the relevant licences. The Parties agreed to rollover these arrangements for 2026 and until 31 December 2030.

iv. The Parties agreed that if the tonnage limits described in paragraph 5(ii) are exceeded in any given year, the Parties will discuss the most appropriate corrective measures, without prejudice to the option for the Party affected to unilaterally suspend the access arrangements for the following year unless otherwise agreed by the Parties. 

v. For greater certainty, the Parties confirm that all non-albacore catches (quota or non-quota stocks) by vessels fishing under this access arrangement are covered by Article 2(1) of Annex 38 to the TCA and Decision 1/2025 of 19 June 2025 of the SCF.