![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/The-EU-s-quota-is-significantly-larger-than-the-UK-s-for-2023-1712708.jpg?r=1671707383514\")
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A Brexiteer has criticised ministers for giving the EU huge fishing quotas for 2023. There are concerns fleets from the continent will be allowed to overfish vulnerable stocks, depleting British fishing levels.<\/p>\n
In 2023, boats from the continent will be allowed to catch over 350,000 tonnes, worth around £880million.<\/p>\n
Senior Tory MP Sir John Redwood said: “The UK is still licensing far more fishing in our waters by foreign boats than by UK ones.<\/p>\n
“They should ban supertrawlers which are all foreign-owned to help restore our fishing stocks.<\/p>\n
“They should help build a bigger fleet of suitable UK vessels that do less damage.”<\/p>\n
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The fishing deal for the next 12 months was finalised between London and Brussels this week.<\/p>\n
The agreement means British boats will be allowed to catch 110,000 tonnes of extra fish than if the UK saw still a member of the bloc.<\/p>\n
In total 140,000 tonnes can be caught in 2023, worth £280million. However, the figure is far smaller than the amount EU fleets can catch.<\/p>\n
Environmental campaigners have long warned supertrawler fishing boats – which are largely used by the EU – destroy the natural seafloor habitat, killing bottom-dwelling plants and animals.<\/p>\n
The boats, which are over 100 metres in length operate by dragging giant nets behind them, picking up hundreds of tonnes of fish every day.<\/p>\n
Campaigners have warned the quotas agreed between the UK and EU for next year means that some species will be caught in dangerous amounts.<\/p>\n
DON’T MISS:<\/strong> Scientific guidelines are released every year setting out advised sustainable levels for fishing different stocks.<\/p>\n While quotas for some fish have been reduced this year to be in line with the guidelines, other stocks will continue to be allowed to be overfished.<\/p>\n “Overfishing is decimating fish populations in UK and European Union waters,” said Vera Coelho, senior director of advocacy at Oceana in Europe.<\/p>\n “Cod numbers in the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and off the west of Scotland have plummeted over the years and are at risk of collapse if urgent action isn’t taken.”<\/p>\n The Government said catch levels have been set in line with the level advised by scientists “wherever possible”.<\/p>\n UK fisheries minister Mark Spencer said earlier this week: “Our agreement with the EU secures valuable fishing opportunities for the UK fishing industry while cementing our joint commitment to manage fisheries sustainably.<\/p>\n “These decisions are based on the latest scientific advice to help protect key fish stocks with the long-term health of the marine environment at the forefront of our minds.”<\/p>\n The EU’s environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said the agreement would “advance the sustainable use of shared marine living resources”.<\/p>\n
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