After an agreement between the EU and Great Britain on jointly managed fish stocks, environmentalists criticized what they saw as excessive catches for cod, herring and whiting. In addition, the environmental protection organization Oceana complained on Tuesday that too high by-catch quantities were permitted for certain stocks of these species. As a result, these stocks could not recover properly.

According to the EU Commission, the agreement affects more than 74 stocks and gives EU fishermen safe fishing opportunities of more than 350,000 tons, which are estimated to be worth around one billion euros. With a view to its fishing industry, the British government speaks of catch volumes of 140,000 tonnes for 2023, worth more than 280 million pounds (around 320 million euros).

Both sides say that the deal will contribute to sustainable fishing. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture said: "The agreement on the catch amounts represents a balanced compromise and creates planning security for the affected German and European fishermen in good time."

In the past few weeks, there had already been agreements on fishing catches. Since the UK left the EU, negotiations have been more difficult than before. Now the EU not only has to come to an agreement with Norway, but also with London in separate talks. In the course of Brexit, there were several disputes about fishing rights. Negotiations on EU fishermen's access to British territorial waters were one of the trickiest points of contention in the exit negotiations.