The European Commission has pressed the United Kingdom to rethink its plan for new fishing bans across 42 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in English waters.
Fisheries Commissioner Costas Kadis confirmed that he had raised the matter directly with London and welcomed an extended consultation deadline of 29 September, after concerns were voiced by EU fishing bodies.
Kadis said the Commission was “closely monitoring” the UK’s proposals and would ensure the rights of European fleets were defended under the post-Brexit Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). He also promised that Brussels would table alternative proposals from industry groups in talks with Britain.
Industry Warnings
The move follows a joint warning from the North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC) and the North Sea Advisory Council (NSAC), which represent fishers in affected EU countries.
In a July letter, they described the UK’s consultation as “cynical,” accusing London of launching it during the summer holidays and overloading stakeholders with thousands of pages of technical documents.
The councils said the proposed restrictions—mainly bans on bottom-towed gears, with some closures to static nets, pots and lines—would shut EU fleets out of traditional fishing grounds and displace effort into other areas, raising safety risks and damaging marine stocks.
Economic and Food Security Fears
The groups estimate that at least 87 Spanish, 122 French, 55 Belgian and 85 Dutch vessels would be directly hit. They warned that Europe’s fishing capacity could be permanently lost, with serious knock-on effects for food production and sovereignty.
“Wild blue foods will play a strategic role in Europe’s food system,” the councils argued, urging the Commission to act.
A Test of Post-Brexit Rules
While the UK has the right to set its own conservation rules, the Commission insists these must align with the TCA. Kadis said Brussels will convene a technical meeting with UK officials before the consultation closes and will continue to defend EU fleets “while upholding our environmental obligations”.
The outcome of this process is set to be a fresh test of post-Brexit fisheries relations, with the EU and UK trying to balance conservation aims against access to vital fishing grounds.