Fishing Licence Numbers: UK and the Crown Dependencies Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateVictoria Prentis
Main Page: Victoria Prentis (Conservative - Banbury)Department Debates - View all Victoria Prentis's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(3 years, 3 months ago)
Written StatementsThis statement sets out, for clarity, the numbers of fishing licences issued by the UK and the Crown dependencies since the trade and co-operation agreement (TCA) was signed. The information is correct as of 9 am on 3 November 2021.
The position does change as applications can be made or withdrawn at any time. Requests to withdraw licences by the European Commission can also be made at any time and therefore the number of active licences will be slightly different.
UK waters
Under the Fisheries Act 2020, all foreign vessels fishing in UK waters are required to have a licence. Article 2(1) of annex 38 to the TCA sets out the level of access which applies during the adjustment period, until 30 June 2026. This includes both the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and particular zones in the territorial sea (6 to 12 nautical miles from the shore in ICES divisions 4c and 7d-g). Access to the territorial sea is limited to “qualifying” vessels: those that fished in those zones in at least four of the years between 2012 and 2016, or their direct replacements. The TCA also places some limitations on access in terms of which stocks can be targeted, where and by which member states.
In the UK 6 to 12 nautical mile zone, our approach has been to license vessels once sufficient evidence has been provided that they have fished in UK waters on at least one day in four of the years between 2012 and 2016.
The number of licences that have been issued to EU vessels to fish in UK waters is as follows.
Overall total:
UK | ||
---|---|---|
Applications received | Licences issued | Licences pending further information from the Commission/Member State |
183[1] | 1793 | 38 |
[1] Licensed vessel was withdrawn at the EU’s request. |
Applications received | 1,673 |
Vessels licensed | 1,673 |
Member State | Applications received | Licences issued | Applications pending |
---|---|---|---|
Belgium | 65 | 65 | 0 |
Denmark | 121 | 121 | 0 |
France | 736 | 736 | 0 |
Germany | 49 | 49 | 0 |
Republic of Ireland | 358 | 358 | 0 |
Lithuania | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Netherlands | 192 | 192 | 0 |
Poland | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Portugal | 49 | 49 | 0 |
Spain | 90 | 90 | 0 |
Sweden | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Applications received | 109 |
Vessels licensed | 102 |
Member State | Applications received | Licences issued | Applications pending |
---|---|---|---|
Belgium | 21 | 17 | 4 |
France | 88 | 85 | 3 |
Applications received | 50 |
Vessels licensed | 19 |
Member State | Applications received | Licenses issued | Applications pending |
---|---|---|---|
France | 50 | 19 | 31 |
Total live applications | Permanent licences issued | Temporary licences granted. Valid until 31/1/22. Further information from the commission/member state required for them to be made permanent | Lapsed on 30/10 due to lack of evidence |
217 | 113 | 49 | 55 |