House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement
December Agriculture and Fisheries Council
16 January 2020 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Proposed by George Eustice Con Camborne and Redruth
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
At a glance
Key points
- The UK led efforts to protect cod stocks in the Celtic Sea during EU quota negotiations.
- Discussions focused on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy reform package.
- The minister reported on agreed fishing opportunities and sustainable practices.
Issue summary
The statement discusses the outcomes of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, focusing on EU quota negotiations for fisheries and discussions on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy reform package.
Action requested
No specific action is requested; the minister provides information on agreed fishing opportunities, sustainable practices, and policy proposals for future CAP reforms. The UK led efforts to protect cod stocks in the Celtic Sea and pushed for enhanced rules on sustainable fishing practices.
Key facts
- Council focused on EU quota negotiations involving fishing opportunities for next year's quota stocks.
- Significant cuts in cod quotas were agreed due to scientific concerns about stock health.
- Zero TAC was set for Celtic cod to avoid tying up the fleet prematurely.
- Enhanced rules on sustainable fishing practices, such as changing net sizes, were successfully pushed.
- By-catch levels for seabass were slightly increased with a bag limit of two specimens per fisherman per day from March to November 2020.
- Increased quotas for North Sea haddock (+23%) and sole in the Western Channel (+19%).
- Three legislative proposals on CAP strategic plans, financing, management, monitoring, and CMO were discussed.
- Five other items were briefly mentioned under 'any other business'.