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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson subtly recalled one of the most controversial negotiating issues when he announced the Brexit trade pact with the EU. Many small fish adorned his dark necktie when he announced the advance of months of negotiations in London on Christmas Eve. Until recently, the access of EU fishermen to British waters was one of the most contentious issues between London and Brussels.
At a dinner between the head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Johnson, cooks in Brussels had recently served cakes on the subject of fishing: the main dish was scallops, on which a bitter dispute between France and Great Britain in the English Channel. The post-Brexit trade deal now provides for a five-and-a-half-year transition period for reducing fishing quotas for EU fishers.
The fishing problem apparently prevented a breakthrough
As the EU representatives explained, a 25 percent reduction in catches was agreed with Great Britain during this period. Starting in June 2026, catch quotas should be renegotiated with Great Britain every year. Negotiators from Britain and the EU had agreed to a post-Brexit trade deal after ten months. The subject of fishing was one of the central subjects of controversy until the end. According to information from EU circles, the issue has been the point that has prevented progress since Wednesday.
Details on the affected fish species have yet to be decided, according to EU circles. In the transition period until mid-2026, EU fishermen would still have access to the fishing zone between six and twelve miles off the British coast.
Fishermen in the EU catch marine animals worth around € 650 million annually in UK waters. Despite its low economic weight, the sector is of great political and social importance for Member States such as France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland. On the other hand, for many Britons, control over their own waters has become a symbol of sovereignty regained through Brexit.
