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

Technical measures

In addition to the technical measures already in place in their respective legal frameworks, the Parties agreed to implement in their legal system the following supplementary remedial measures in 2026 to support the recovery of certain stocks in critical condition.

a) Celtic Sea Protection Zone

The Delegations noted that the ICES advice for cod (ICES divisions 7e-k), haddock (ICES divisions 7b-k) and whiting (ICES divisions 7e-k, b-k) in the Celtic Seas is for zero catch for 2026. The Delegations recognised the urgent need to recover these stocks and agreed that, for 2026, the following remedial measures will apply within their respective legal systems in order to support their recovery:

i. In the Celtic Sea Protection Zone (CSPZ) [5], vessels using otter trawls or seines will either use a 120mm cod-end or a 110mm cod-end with 120mm square-mesh panel. Existing derogations used by each Party will remain [6];

ii. In the CSPZ, vessels using otter trawls or seines with more than 55% anglerfish, hake and megrim combined, will use a 100mm cod-end with a 100mm squared mesh panel, or in EU waters alternatively a 100mm T90 cod-end and extension;

iii. In the CSPZ, vessels fishing with otter trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 30% of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) will use an 80mm cod-end plus one of the following gears:

• Nordmøre sorting grid [7] with a maximum bar spacing of 35mm or a similar Netgrid [8] selectivity device;
• SELTRA 300mm square-mesh sorting box [9];
• 300mm squared mesh panel [10] ; or 
• any means proven to be at least equally selective for avoidance of cod, haddock and whiting according to an assessment approach agreed by a technical group under the SCF.

b)  Channel

The Delegations recognised the depleted state of cod, sole and plaice stocks in the Channel (ICES divisions 7d and 7e) and cod, haddock and whiting in the Western Channel (ICES division 7e). The Delegations recognised the urgent need to recover these stocks. The Parties agreed that, for 2026, the following remedial measures will be introduced in their legal systems in order to support such recovery:

i. In ICES division 7e, and in accordance with each Party’s catch composition rules [11] and existing derogations, vessels using otter trawls or seines will use a 100mm cod-end, and any additional selectivity measure listed by each Parties will remain [12].

ii. Vessels operating with otter trawls, beam trawls or seines in ICES division 7e and beam trawls and seines in ICES division 7d previously using less than 100mm cod-end [13] in accordance with (EU) 2019/1241, will be required to use a minimum of a 90mm cod-end [14] in accordance with each Party’s catch composition rules [15] and existing derogations. Any additional selectivity measures listed by each Party will remain. [16]

The Parties agreed to supplement this written record in the first half of 2026 with remedial measures for otter trawls in 7d with the expectation of increasing the minimum cod-end mesh size to 90mm and implementation as soon as practically possible, with the objective of supporting the recovery of stocks to levels consistent with the MSY objective and in accordance with each Party’s catch composition rules.

c)  Irish Sea

The Delegations recognised the depleted state of the Irish Sea (ICES division 7a) whiting and cod stocks. The Delegations further recognised the urgent need to recover these stocks. The Parties agreed that, for 2026, the following remedial measures will be introduced in their legal systems in order to support such recovery:

Vessels fishing with otter trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 30% of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) will use an 80mm cod-end [17] plus one of the following gears: 

a) Nordmøre sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35mm or a similar Netgrid selectivity device; 
b) SELTRA 300mm square-mesh sorting box;
c) 300mm squared mesh panel [18]; or
d) any means proven to be at least equally selective for avoidance of cod and whiting according to an assessment approach agreed by a technical group under the SCF.

For the purpose of the above provisions, catch percentages will be calculated as the proportion, by live weight, of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip.

These measures will apply from the earliest practicable date in 2026 and, in principle no later than 1 June 2026, subject to the Parties having notified each other of the completion of their respective internal procedures required for their adoption. The Parties will consult without delay to clarify the indicative timing for the completion of such procedures and the consequent date of application.

The Parties agreed to continue the existing work under the SCF to assess and review the effectiveness of these technical measures. The Parties committed to further technical exchanges in 2026 with a view to designing and agreeing on rebuilding plans for the most vulnerable stocks. These plans shall be used to implement additional rebuilding measures or adjust existing remedial measures with the objective of supporting the recovery of stocks to levels consistent with the overall objective of achieving MSY.