UK secures £840m in fishing opportunities for 2026
UK secures £840m in fishing opportunities for 2026
The UK government has finalised international agreements that secure fishing opportunities for 2026 worth an estimated £840 million. Deals with the EU, Norway and other coastal states guarantee access to more than 520,000 tonnes of catch for UK fleets and include quota increases and technical measures aimed at sustainability.
Key figures and outcomes
Under a bilateral agreement with the EU the UK secured around 150,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities, valued at approximately £430 million. A trilateral arrangement with the EU and Norway adds some 290,000 tonnes for North Sea and adjacent waters, worth up to £380 million. Multilateral talks and other forums account for the remainder, including bluefin tuna quota increases.
Bluefin and other international gains
The UK secured an increase in bluefin tuna quota from 63 tonnes to 230.65 tonnes for 2026–2028, enabling growth in commercial and recreational fisheries. Agreements with coastal states also deliver access to stocks such as blue whiting and Norwegian spring-spawning herring, estimated value around £20 million to UK fishers.
Conservation and technical measures
Negotiators emphasised that some stocks remain under significant pressure. Scientific advice identified concerns for cod, whiting, haddock, sole and plaice. The deals include new technical measures — for example larger mesh sizes and selectivity improvements — and agreed steps to recover depleted stocks while maintaining viable opportunities for communities dependent on fishing.
International cooperation and next steps
The outcomes reflect work across multiple bodies, including NEAFC, NAFO and ICCAT, and continued engagement with devolved administrations and stakeholders. The government says the final determination of fishing opportunities for British vessels will be published by the end of the year and that Defra will support industry implementation of new measures in 2026.