British politicians earlier this week praised the results of the EU-UK 2023 fishing quota negotiations, saying the UK will be able to catch 30,000 more tonnes of fish than if the island nation had remained within the European bloc.
The UK fishing industry will be allowed to catch 140,000 tonnes of fish in 2023, instead of 110,000 tonnes if Brexit had not happened, Fisheries minister Mark Spencer said on Tuesday.
The figure was presented as a political win by pro-Brexit figures such as Daily Mail journalist Andrew Pierce, who tweeted that it was a “positive benefit” of leaving the EU. It also made the front page of the Daily Telegraph.
Yet the reality is more nuanced, scientists say.
While it’s true that the 2020 Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and the UK gave Britain access to more of the fish swimming in its waters, quotas have increased across Europe because fish stocks have been better managed in the past decade, Michel Kaiser, professor of fisheries conservation at Heriot Watt University, told The National.
The amount of fish that the UK can catch in 2023 has actually remained the same or similar to previous years. The tonnage was also 140,000 in 2022. In 2021, it was slightly higher, at 150,000 tonnes, and in 2020, a bit lower, at 130,000 tonnes.
So why are politicians latching on to it now?
And how does the UK negotiate fishing tonnages in shared waters with its neighbours?
Why are fishing quotas important?
The UK fisheries industry contributes 0.1 per cent of the country's GDP, but it was one of the main sticking points in Brexit negotiations.
The industry grabs the UK public’s imagination because it’s part of the country’s historical heritage.
“There’s a love-hate relationship in the media for the fishing industry,” said Professor Kaiser. “On the one hand, they’re seen as the last hunter-gatherers, fishing on the high seas in harsh conditions to bring fish home to eat. On the other hand, green organisations are also focusing on the less positive aspects of fishing and its environmental impact.”
Today, the UK does not actually consume most of the fish that it catches. Before Brexit, more than two-thirds of UK fisheries' production was exported to the EU market, while local consumption was imported from non-EU partners such as Iceland and Norway.
The kind of fish traditionally favoured in the UK, such as cod and haddock are now found further north because of historic overfishing and climate change reasons, said Professor Kaiser.
The UK is a net importer of fish.
What did the EU and the UK negotiate?
Before Brexit, fish was regarded as a shared resource across Europe. The quota for each species was allocated to countries based on their historical track record of catching those fish.
“It might seem bizarre but you have to appreciate history here,” said Professor Kaiser.
“For example the Dutch fishing industry really developed the Dover sole fishery, so they got a higher allocation than other countries even though those fish lived in UK or French waters.”
EU countries caught 12 per cent of their fish in UK waters. This figure varied significantly among countries, ranging from less than 1 per cent for Spain to 33 per cent for Denmark, 38 per cent for Ireland and 43 per cent for Belgium, according to the EU Commission.
Conversely, the UK caught 10 per cent of its total catches in the bloc’s exclusive economic zone.
After Brexit, the UK claimed the right to the fish that live in its waters and negotiated to increase its fishing opportunities progressively by 25 per cent between 2021 and 2026.
After that, the UK can theoretically ban EU ships from fishing in its waters, though that’s unlikely, because the EU would probably implement stiff retaliatory measures. “Sometimes, it’s in the interest of UK fishermen to fish in other countries’ waters, so there is still the facility for the mutual sharing of stocks,” said Professor Kaiser.
How do the EU and the UK calculate how much fish they can catch?
The EU and the UK receive scientific advice every year or biannually from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), a scientific advisory body based in Denmark and funded by its 20 member countries including the UK.
Scientists from the UK and Europe continue to collaborate. “Fish don’t respect borders, so our approach to understanding fish stock has to be regional and hence very collaborative,” said Professor Kaiser.
This scientific advice informs quota variations on both sides each year.
The EU and the UK are not bound by ICES recommendations. They also take into account socio-economic needs of fishermen.
The EU and the UK on Tuesday agreed on catch levels for 2023 for 69 fish stocks.
The EU’s quota for 2023 is 350,000 tonnes of fish.
Is the UK catching more fish thanks to Brexit?
Yes and no.
Brexit has enabled the UK to gradually catch more of its fish while EU countries’ quotas in its waters diminish.
But quotas have gone up for all countries because of better stock management, said Professor Kaiser.
“Irrespective of whether it’s the UK, France, or Belgium — everybody will have benefited from that but in different ways depending on how much share of each particular fish stock they can have,” he said.
What do conservationists think?
The Financial Times reported that for 2023, the UK and the EU set 52 per cent of the shared fisheries’ catch limits above scientific guidance. It's a slight improvement to 2022, when that figure reached 65 per cent.
Charles Clover, executive director of the Blue Marine Foundation, an ocean conservation charity, told The Financial Times that both parties involved in the negotiations are greenlighting overfishing.
“We were assured repeatedly that this would not happen after Brexit. Well, wake up everyone, it is happening,” he said.
Professor Kaiser disagreed.
Unlike traditional farming on land, it’s very difficult to be perfectly selective while fishing, he said. “When you set your quotas, you need to acknowledge you’ll catch some of the other species even if you’d rather not because of issues of sustainability,” he said.
“The problem is that if you don’t adjust the quota to allow for that complexity, you’ll make fishing economically unviable for fishermen and almost force them to operate in an illegal way because there’s a limit to how selective they can be.”
What other countries does the UK negotiate fishing quotas with?
In total the UK has secured fishing opportunities worth £756 million for 2023 ($913 million), equivalent to 660,000 tonnes of fish.
In addition to the £282 million ($340 million) fishing agreement with the EU, the UK secured a deal with North-East Atlantic coastal states, which include the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Russia worth £256 million ($309 million).
The UK also struck a trilateral deal with the EU and Norway on six North Sea fish stocks, including cod, haddock and herring worth £213 million ($257 million) to the UK fishing industry.
In a separate deal with Norway, the UK will be allowed to catch fish worth £5 million ($6 million) in 2023, including 30,000 tonnes of whitefish stocks, and 20,000 tonnes of herring.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Inside%20Out%202
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
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%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
BAD%20BOYS%3A%20RIDE%20OR%20DIE
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About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
The Kites
Romain Gary
Penguin Modern Classics
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
The Saudi Cup race card
1 The Jockey Club Local Handicap (TB) 1,800m (Dirt) $500,000
2 The Riyadh Dirt Sprint (TB) 1,200m (D) $1.500,000
3 The 1351 Turf Sprint 1,351m (Turf) $1,000,000
4 The Saudi Derby (TB) 1600m (D) $800,000
5 The Neom Turf Cup (TB) 2,100m (T) $1,000,000
6 The Obaiya Arabian Classic (PB) 2,000m (D) $1,900,000
7 The Red Sea Turf Handicap (TB) 3,000m (T) $2,500,000
8 The Saudi Cup (TB) 1,800m (D) $20,000,000
Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Canada
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
BMW%20M4%20Competition
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Takestep%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohamed%20Khashaba%2C%20Mohamed%20Abdallah%2C%20Mohamed%20Adel%20Wafiq%20and%20Ayman%20Taha%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20health%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2011%20full%20time%20and%2022%20part%20time%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20pre-Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
