4th Report - Brexit and Northern Ireland: fisheries

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government's response sets out its approach to fisheries after Brexit, including seeking increased fishing opportunities through negotiation, while stating that Northern Ireland fisheries policy and future funding decisions are for a future Northern Ireland Executive.

• On quota, it will "seek to secure increased fishing opportunities" through annual exchanges, and is "open to considering" multi-annual agreements "in due course". It does "not intend to change the method for allocating existing quota".
• On the Voisinage Arrangement, it has "continued to honour the agreement" but will "not be able to accept this unequal application indefinitely". It will "keep the situation under review" and "continue to explore possible solutions".
• On Lough Foyle, discussions with the Irish Government are "progressing" "with a view to concluding a management agreement". On giving the Loughs Agency more powers, it says it would "examine any transfer of powers" "carefully and in consultation with others".
• On funding and crewing, decisions on replacement arrangements will be taken during Spending Review 19. The government is "considering its response" to the Migration Advisory Committee report and will publish an immigration White Paper "later this year".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error