European Union leaders at the Council have approved a fishing deal with the United Kingdom for 2026 that sets out fishing opportunities for shared stocks under the EU UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The decision was taken on 10 December and covers 95 total allowable catches for fish stocks jointly managed by the EU and the UK, securing access rights for EU vessels in the Atlantic and the North Sea for the coming year. The agreement is based on scientific advice and aims to provide stability and certainty for fishers and the wider industry. Under the deal, the EU and the UK agreed fishing opportunities for the 2026 season informed by the latest scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. For stocks where scientific recommendations advised zero catches, the parties established specific catch limits for by caught species to avoid unintended closures of healthy fisheries. These arrangements are designed to support the sustainable management goals em...