History of the North Sea claimed no more than narrow coastal waters. In the last few decades things have changed. The countries bordering the North Sea all claim the twelve nautical miles (22 km) of territorial waters within which they have, for example, exclusive fishing rights. Iceland, however, as a result of the Cod Wars has exclusive fishing rights for from its coast, into parts of the North Sea. The Common Fisheries Policy of the EU exists to coordinate fishing rights and assist with disputes between EU states and the EU border state of Norway. After the discovery of mineral resources in the North Sea,
Fishing industry in England Fishing industry in England The fishing industry in England covers the fish processing industry and fishing trawler companies that fish around England. Important English seafishing ports include: The fishing industry in England was once much larger than it is today. As a response to declining stocks Common Fisheries Policy imposed quotas on the amount of catch than can be brought ashore this prevented a collapse in the industry and Cod has since been reclassified as sustainable Updated statistics from the UK's Marine Management Organisation on the UK fishing sector show that UK vessels landed 724 thousand tonnes of sea fish