Fisheries Directorate

EU Exit negotiations 

As you will have seen in the news, the UK has been granted an extension to Article 50 until October 31 2019 at the latest. The EU has agreed that the extension can be terminated if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified. 

This ultimately means the UK will not be leaving the EU on Friday 12 April. Therefore, your fishing rights and responsibilities will remain the same. You must continue to comply with the law and the conditions of your licence, including the discard ban. 

Businesses that export fish or fishery products to the EU, or fishermen that land their catch directly into EU ports, can continue to trade with the EU as they do now. On the 12 April there will be no new requirement for additional documentation, including Catch Certificates, Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and landing documents. Any export documents already created using the digital Fish Exports service (i.e. Catch Certificates), in anticipation of the UK leaving the EU on 12 April without a deal, will not be required for export. 

During the extension, the UK will continue to hold full membership rights, and is committed to fulfilling its obligations as a member state. 

If the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified by both parties at any other point before 31 October, the withdrawal will take place on the first day of the following month. At that point the UK will enter the implementation period until 31st December 2020. 

You will still need to prepare for EU exit. Please use the guidance below to find out what is required.

Information for Isle of Man Vessel Owners in the event of a no deal Brexit – If you intend to make a direct landing into an EU country

Isle of Man Buyer and Sellers: If you currently export fish to the EU, you'll need to use the new digital services to create catch certificates and other export documents. Register today to prepare for a no deal Brexit.

The UK have produced guidance on Exporting and importing fish if there’s no Brexit deal.

Fishing and marketing of seafood if there’s no Brexit deal

Forms and guidance notes for the export of live bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods intended for human consumption in the event of a no deal exit are available. 

Partnership pack: preparing for changes at the UK border after a no deal EU exit. This partnership pack is designed to help you support businesses preparing for day one in the event of a no deal exit.

The UK government have prepared guidance for business to prepare for EU exit.

Technical Notices on Brexit, including fisheries matters, are on the Brexit Technical Notices webpage (under the Fourth Tranche).

The Department for Enterprise has issued a checklist for businesses in preparation for the outcome of Brexit negotiations next year.

Fishing industry encouraged to get ready for EU catch certificates in the event of a no deal. Updated guidance from the UK is also available

Seafish.org has has compiled a guide for the UK seafood industry on preparing your business for EU exit

The UK have produced guidance on exporting animals, animal products, fish and fishery products to the EU after EU Exit.

MMO Press Release: Fishermen urged to be Brexit ready by registering with the IMO

The Isle of Man Government has launched an online Brexit checklist for Isle of Man food manufacturers