Value of Spain’s catch jumps 33%, says EU, as it fails to mention UK waters once in fishing report
EU figures show where fight will come from over extending EU’s ‘catch ‘n’ grab’ renegotiation
Yesterday the EU released its latest figures on a subject related to a major series of reports which the Facts4EU think-tank is producing on behalf of the UK Fisheries Campaign (UKFC). Within a series of EU data releases centred on aquaculture were links to data on the catches of the EU’s fishing fleet.
These reveal that of the seven main fishing areas, over 70% of the EU’s total catch came from the ‘Northeast Atlantic’ – the area encompassing the UK’s highly lucrative waters. Despite this notable statistic the UK’s valuable waters – and the EU’s one-sided fishing deal bound up in the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement – was not mentioned once.
The nearest the EU can bring itself to mentioning the UK’s highly lucrative fishing waters is the following :-
“As a general rule, fishing vessels registered in the EU fishing fleet register have equal access to all the EU waters and resources that are managed under the CFP.”
The EU’s passing reference to the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy) is no doubt intended to encompass the fisheries agreement forced on the UK as part of the UK’s exit arrangements in 2019/2020
Menu: ‘The Fish Course’
Intro: “Remember how our fishermen were thrown overboard when we left the EU?”
Part I: “In the 5th year of Brexit, EU fishermen continue taking vast quantities of British fish.”
Part II: UKFC CAMPAIGN LAUNCH – “Announcing the launch of the UK Fisheries Campaign!”
Part III: “‘Us’ versus ‘Them’ – and here’s how we win. The tide is turning against ‘the Blob’.”
Part IV: Weekend summary and next week lookahead
Part V: Beware the Spanish Armada
Part VI: Systematic pollution of UK waters by EU fishing fleet, say UK fishermen
Part VII: Mass deaths of UK mammals, seabirds, & aquatic life caused by EU fishing vessels
Coming: More gripping stories in this must-read series from the UK Fisheries Campaign
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With negotiations set to extend EU’s access to UK waters for 5 more years, Spain is the one to watch
Negotiations are due to begin for the next agreement with the EU over its access to UK waters. The current agreement was negotiated in advance of the main agreements with the EU for exiting the bloc, as a precondition for a trade agreement. That agreement is due to run out at the end of June next year.
It has already been leaked in Brussels that the EU plans to use fishing once again as a precondition for other talks, specifically Sir Keir Starmer’s desire to draw the UK back in to the EU’s defence plans. With this in mind, it seems appropriate to look at the EU countries likely to prove most difficult about this. As ever, ‘follow the money’ can be a useful maxim.
UKFC has analysed the latest figures from the EU for its fishing industry and these show some interesting differences between the EU27. Putting aside those countries with no fishing fleet and those with very little, here are the EU countries with most to win or lose.
Summary
The Top 10 EU countries by value of fishery products landed
© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2025 – click to enlarge
[Source: EU Commission (Eurostat), latest data (2023).]
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The UKFC – For a sea-change in the fortunes of our fishermen and our coastal communities
Other information about EU fisheries and its fleet
There are many ways of assessing a fishing fleet: by value caught (above), by fleet tonnage, by number of vessels, by numbers employed, and even by engine power. We show some of these below.
Summary
Total catches
- % of total catch from Northeast Atlantic (incl UK waters) : 72%
- % of total catch from Mediterranean and Black Sea : 10%
- Other five major sea areas : 18%
Total fleet tonnage
- Spain : 24.8%
- France : 12.4%
- Italy : 11.5%
Numbers of vessels
- Italy : 17.4% (but many very small boats)
- Greece : 17.2%
- Spain : 12.1%
Numbers employed
- Spain : 23,800
- Italy : 16,200
- Greece : 13,500
- France : 12,000
- Portugal : 8,800
EU27 total employed in fishing, aquaculture, and fish production : 157,000
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Observations
With the negotiations for EU access to UK waters starting, the UK Fisheries Campaign is mobilising, seeking both political and public support. We urge all members of the public to sign up as Supporters, and if you can afford a small annual membership fee this will help the Campaign to be much more effective. Let’s please ensure our fishermen are never again sold down the river as they were last time.
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Main image: Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025