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Economy

This fact was correct when it was updated on 24 Sep 2020

What are EU fishing quotas?

As part of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), limits are placed on how much fish can be caught in EU (and some non-EU) waters. This is to prevent overfishing and ensure that fish stocks are maintained. Each year, following negotiations among member states, the total catch allowed for each species in terms of their weight or number is agreed based on scientific evidence about the sustainability of stocks. This total is then apportioned to member states in quotas, and member states decide how to assign their quota domestically among their fleet. Member states may also exchange quota between them according to their particular fishing interests.

Find out more – read our Fisheries and Brexit report.

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