EU, Britain ink divisive fishing deal through 2038

BRUSSELS (CN) — The European Union and Britain have officially extended fishing access to each other’s waters until 2038, the 27-nation bloc announced Friday, locking in a 12-year extension that has sparked criticism from the U.K. fishing industry.

The deal was agreed during the first U.K.-EU summit since Brexit in May and formally adopted on Thursday, the European Commission said Friday. It means EU vessels will maintain the same fishing rights in British waters for another dozen years. The arrangement was supposed to be renegotiated annually starting in 2026, giving Britain more control over its waters.

Instead, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government agreed to maintain the status quo until 2038 — a move industry leaders are calling a betrayal of Brexit promises.

“The agreement was devastatingly bad for our sector and far worse than we had anticipated,” said Elspeth Macdonald, who leads the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation representing more than 400 vessels, speaking at the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on Thursday.

The agreement gives EU boats “full access to fish” in British waters at current levels. European vessels can catch the same amounts they’re already allowed, based on quotas that were reduced by 25% after Brexit. Crucially, the deal prevents Britain from making further cuts to EU fishing quotas or restricting access — something the country could have done through annual negotiations starting next year. British boats get the same reciprocal access to EU waters.

The arrangement covers both commercial fish stocks with set quotas and species without catch limits, where EU boats can take amounts equal to their historical averages from 2012-2016, according to officials in the document released on Friday.

Scotland’s opposition carries particular weight since its fishing fleet represents 61% of the U.K.’s vessel capacity. Key northern ports like Peterhead and Lerwick handle the bulk of landings, making them central to the U.K. seafood industry. British vessels brought in approximately 792,000 tons of fish in 2023, with a total market value of £1.1 billion (about $1.8 billion), according to government figures.

The industry has already suffered from post-Brexit export delays and new regulations that cost an estimated $100 million in EU salmon sales alone, making the latest concessions particularly painful for fishing communities that voted overwhelmingly for Brexit. The government recently committed £360 million to modernize the British fishing fleet, suggesting recognition that the industry needs help to remain competitive.

The U.K. continues to rely heavily on imports to meet domestic demand, sourcing large volumes of seafood — particularly cod — from countries including China, Norway and Iceland. “It will be the end of the fishing industry,” Brexit architect and Reform UK politician Nigel Farage posted on social media.

Conservative critics argue the 12-year commitment is three times longer than the government initially wanted. The deal can be extended beyond 2038 if both sides agree, but it automatically expires on June 30, 2038, unless renewed.

But EU fishing groups welcomed the certainty.

“A forward-looking agreement that ensures long-term sustainability and mutual benefit,” said Europêche, which represents European fishing organizations, on social media.

EU Commissioner for Fisheries Costas Kadis called it proof of “what the EU and U.K. can achieve through sustained partnership.” The fishing agreement is part of a wider “reset” of U.K.-EU relations that includes defense cooperation and reduced food safety checks.

The 12-year fishing agreement also raises questions about environmental protections, with critics warning that only 42% of commercial catch limits are set in line with sustainable scientific advice. The agreement’s emphasis on maintaining current fishing levels may limit Britain’s ability to implement future conservation measures.

Environmental initiatives sidelined

The move reflects a broader shift in European priorities as leaders pivot toward defense spending and economic competitiveness amid pressure from figures like President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who have emphasized military preparedness over environmental regulations. Environmental initiatives are increasingly being sidelined as Europe focuses on security challenges and maintaining industrial competitiveness in a more confrontational global landscape.

In a separate development Friday, the European Commission is reportedly preparing to withdraw proposed legislation aimed at preventing companies from making misleading environmental claims. The so-called Green Claims Directive, introduced in 2023, would have required businesses to substantiate assertions about their carbon footprint and environmental impact.

While a commission spokesperson declined to confirm the reports, the move follows mounting pressure from the center-right European People’s Party or EPP, which argued the legislation would create excessive administrative burdens for industry. The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, is a member of the EPP.

“We hope that negotiators can reach a deal and that the commission will eventually decide not to withdraw,” said a spokesperson of the European Environmental Bureau, Europe’s largest network of environmental citizens’ organizations, to Courthouse News.

This rightward turn extends to targeting environmental advocacy groups themselves. EPP leader Manfred Weber recently secured backing from far-right parties to create an investigative body examining EU funding of non-governmental organizations, particularly those supporting green legislation. The move, opposed by progressive parties, signals a broader campaign to scrutinize environmental groups’ influence on policymaking.