Regulation 2025/202 - Fixing for 2025 and 2026 of the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 as regards fishing opportunities for 2025 - Main contents

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

2025/202

31.1.2025

The Council is to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities, including certain conditions functionally linked to those fishing opportunities, as appropriate. Under Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), fishing opportunities are to be fixed in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy (CFP) as set out in Article 2(2) of that Regulation. Under Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fishing opportunities allocated to Member States are to ensure the relative stability of fishing activities of each Member State for each fish stock or fishery.

The total allowable catches (TACs) should therefore be established, in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, on the basis of available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socio-economic aspects, while ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors, and in the light of opinions expressed during the consultation of stakeholders.

Under Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, all stocks for which there are catch limits have been subject to the landing obligation since 1 January 2019, although certain exemptions apply. On the basis of joint recommendations by the Member States and in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the Commission has adopted delegated acts laying down details for the implementation of the landing obligation for certain fisheries.

Fishing opportunities for stocks covered by the landing obligation should take account of the fact that discarding is in principle no longer allowed. Therefore, the fishing opportunities should be based on the advice figure for total catches as provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The quantities that, by way of exemption from the landing obligation, may continue to be discarded should be deducted from that advice figure for total catches. Moreover, fishing opportunities for stocks for which ICES provides only landings advice, should be set on the basis of that advice.

Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) established a multiannual plan (‘MAP’) for the North Sea (‘the North Sea MAP’) and Regulation (EU) 2019/472 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) established a MAP for the Western Waters (‘the Western Waters MAP’). The North Sea MAP and the Western Waters MAP set out targets and measures for the long-term management of stocks covered by those MAPs. Fishing opportunities for stocks listed in Article 1(1) of those Regulations (‘target stocks’) should be fixed in accordance with the range of fishing mortality values resulting in maximum sustainable yield (MSY) (‘ranges of FMSY’), or at a lower level, and in accordance with the safeguards provided for in those Regulations. The ranges of FMSY are set out in the relevant ICES advice. Where no adequate scientific information is available, fishing opportunities for target stocks or stocks referred to in Article 1(4) of those Regulations (‘by-catch stocks’) should be fixed in accordance with the precautionary approach, as set out in those...