European Union and the United Kingdom - Norway Pout consultations: written record for 2022

1. The Trade and Co-operation Agreement (‘the TCA’) between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) includes the objective of co-operating with a view to ensuring that fishing activities for shared stocks in their waters are environmentally sustainable in the long term and contribute to achieving economic and social benefits, and requires the Parties to hold consultations annually to agree the total allowable catches (TACs) for the following year for the stocks listed in Annex 35 to the TCA. Norway Pout (North Sea) (NOP/2A3A4) is included in that Annex.
2. A Delegation from the European Union headed by Dr Norman GRAHAM and a Delegation from the United Kingdom headed by Mr Bavi SARMA met in a virtual format on 12 October 2022 to consult on fishing opportunities for Norway Pout (North Sea) (NOP/2A3A4) from 1 November to 31 December 2022 in accordance with Article 498 (Fishing Opportunities) of the TCA. This Written Record documents the outcome of those consultations.
3. The Heads of Delegations agreed to recommend to their respective authorities the fishery arrangements for 2022 outlined in this Written Record, including Annex 1. Accordingly, where this Written Record refers to the Delegations (or the Parties) having agreed on a matter, it should be read as an agreement to recommend to the Delegations’ respective authorities to implement the arrangements in this Written Record, including Annex 1.
4. The Delegations agreed to establish a total allowable catch (TAC) from 1 November to 31 December 2022 of 30 000 tonnes. Details of the TAC and each Party’s allocation are shown in Annex 1.
5. The other relevant arrangements for Norway Pout (North Sea) set out in paragraph 5 of the Written Record of fisheries consultations between the United Kingdom and the European Union for 2022, signed on 21 December 2021 and amended on 11 March 2022 and 23 May 2022, will continue to apply.
6. The Delegations agreed to continue consultations for the setting of fishing opportunities for Norway Pout (North Sea) for the period 1 January to 31 October 2023 in the EU-UK annual fisheries consultations for 2023 scheduled to take place in November and December 2022 in accordance with Article 498 (Fishing Opportunities) of the TCA.

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