EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 5.11.2026

COM(2026) 608 final

2026/0349(NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

fixing for 2027, and in some cases also for 2028 and 2029, the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL

•Reasons for and objectives of the proposal

Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 1 on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (‘the Basic Regulation’) sets out objectives that are to be applied among others when establishing fishing opportunities, i.e. catch and fishing effort limits. The aim is to ensure that EU fisheries are ecologically as well as economically and socially sustainable. The European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulations (EU) 2018/973 2 and (EU) 2019/472 3 establishing multiannual plans (MAPs) for the North Sea and for the Western Waters (‘North Sea MAP’ and ‘Western Waters MAP’), specifying for certain stocks how to reach those objectives when fixing fishing opportunities.

The fishing opportunities are to be fixed for most stocks every year and for certain stocks every two to four years.

Some of the fishing opportunities are to be fixed autonomously by the EU, while some are to be fixed following bilateral or multilateral negotiations with non-EU countries.

This proposal aims to fix fishing opportunities for certain:

–stocks for which the fishing opportunities are fixed autonomously by the EU;

–stocks that are: (i) jointly managed with the United Kingdom (UK) in the North Sea and the North-Western Waters, including deep-sea stocks in those areas; (ii) jointly managed with Norway and the UK in the North Sea; (iii) jointly managed with Norway in the Skagerrak-Kattegat; or (iv) subject to North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) coastal States consultations;

–stocks managed by regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs); and

–stocks in waters of non-EU countries.

Approach for setting fishing opportunities

Fishing opportunities are fixed in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Basic Regulation referring to the CFP objectives and the North Sea and Western Waters MAPs.

The Commission publishes a communication each year that provides an overview of the status of relevant stocks based on scientific advice and explains its approach to proposing fishing opportunities. The most recent annual communication is entitled ‘Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2027’ (COM(2026) 271 final).

The Commission proposes fishing opportunities that are based on scientific advice as well as in accordance with the approach outlined in the annual communication and in this proposal.

Between 29 May and 30 June 2026, in response to the Commission’s request, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) provided its annual or multiannual scientific advice on a number of stocks covered by this proposal 4 .

Fishing opportunities available to the EU are allocated among Member States in accordance with Article 16(1) of the Basic Regulation on the principle of relative stability.

Fishing opportunities to be proposed later

Fishing opportunities for autonomous EU stocks for which scientific advice is not yet available are marked ‘pm’ (pro memoria) in this proposal. Once the scientific advice becomes available, this proposal will be updated by means of Commission services’ non-papers.

Equally, fishing opportunities for certain other stocks will be proposed in light of the outcome of consultations with non-EU countries that have not yet been concluded and the annual meetings of RFMOs that have not yet taken place. In relation to those consultations and annual meetings of RFMOs, the Commission proposes, and the Council adopts, positions to be expressed on behalf of the EU. For bilateral consultations with the UK on shared stocks and in the case of annual meetings of RFMOs, the Commission proposes, and the Council adopts, specifications of the multiannual EU positions 5 .

Since the consultations with non-EU countries have not yet been concluded or the annual meetings of certain RFMOs have not yet taken place, the text of relevant recitals and provisions of Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249 6  is included in this proposal in square brackets and fishing opportunities are marked ‘pm’. However, dates and cross-references are updated for the provisions.

Once the consultations with non-EU countries are concluded or the annual meetings of the RFMOs have taken place, this proposal will be updated by means of Commission services’ non-papers. 

Landing obligation

In accordance with Article 15 of the Basic Regulation, all stocks for which there are catch limits have been subject to the landing obligation since 1 January 2019. That means that all catches, including catches below the minimum conservation reference sizes, should be brought and retained on board the fishing vessels, recorded, landed and counted against the quotas where applicable. However, the Basic Regulation provides for certain exemptions from the landing obligation. Based on joint recommendations by the Member States, the Commission has adopted delegated regulations specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation for certain fisheries allowing for discards on the basis of de minimis or high survivability exemptions 7 .

Since the introduction of the landing obligation and in accordance with Article 16(2) of the Basic Regulation, fishing opportunities have to reflect the change from amount landed to amount caught, given that discarding is in principle no longer allowed.

Considering the required application of the landing obligation, the Commission proposes total allowable catches (TACs) on the basis of the ICES catch advice. The proposed EU quotas take account of discards based on established exemptions; these quantities will not be landed and counted against the quotas, and are therefore deducted from the EU quotas. Pending the calculation of those quantities, EU quotas for autonomous EU stocks are marked ‘pm’ in this proposal. Moreover, for stocks for which ICES provides landings advice, the Commission proposes TACs on the basis of that advice.

Year-to-year flexibility

Articles 3 and 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 8  provide for year-to-year flexibility for quotas for stocks with either ‘analytical assessments’ or ‘precautionary assessments’ 9 and therefore respectively subject to ‘analytical TACs’ or to ‘precautionary TACs’. In accordance with Article 2 of that Regulation, when fixing TACs the Council is to decide which stocks will not be subject to Articles 3 and 4 of that Regulation, on the basis of the biological status of stocks and commitments reached with non-EU countries.

The Commission proposes to exclude year-to-year flexibility pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 for all stocks: (i) with analytical assessments with a biomass below Blim 10 ; (ii) with precautionary assessments for which ICES recommends either zero catches or suspending the targeted fishery; or (iii) for which only by-catches or scientific fisheries will be permitted. In addition, the Commission proposes to exclude such year-to-year flexibility for stocks for which the EU and the relevant non-EU countries have not agreed on the application of such year-to-year flexibility or have excluded it on the basis of the biological status of stocks and criteria that are stricter than those outlined in points (i) to (iii).

As this proposal aims to establish TACs not only for 2027 but also, in some cases, for 2028 and 2029, this proposal also aims to exclude, for the stocks referred to the previous paragraph, landing additional quantities pursuant to Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 in those years. In addition, this proposal aims to exclude transfers pursuant to Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 to 2028 of quantities unfished in 2027, and in some cases also transfers to 2029 and 2030 of quantities unfished in 2028 and 2029.

Article 15(9) of the Basic Regulation provides for further year-to-year flexibility for quotas. However, to avoid excessive flexibility that would undermine the achievement of the CFP objectives, Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of the Basic Regulation should not apply cumulatively. Year-to-year flexibility for quotas pursuant to Article 15(9) of the Basic Regulation should in general also be excluded for stocks for which year-to-year flexibility pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 is excluded on the basis of the biological status of stocks or agreements between the EU and relevant non-EU countries.

In general, it should also be ensured that when implementing transfers pursuant to Article 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and pursuant to Article 15(9) of the Basic Regulation, the best available scientific advice or agreements between the EU and relevant non-EU countries for 2027 are taken into account.

Recreational fisheries

Recreational fisheries can have a significant impact on stocks where they take a significant part of the total catches of the stocks. For such stocks, it is therefore appropriate to take into account all activities that may have an impact on the stock, irrespective of whether or not those activities are commercial or recreational. In order to achieve the CFP objectives and, where relevant, pursuant to Article 10(4) of the North Sea MAP and Article 11 of the Western Waters MAP, the Commission proposes measures also for recreational fisheries, including from shore.

•Consistency with existing policy provisions in the policy area

The proposed measures are consistent with the objectives and rules set out in the Basic Regulation, the North Sea and Western Waters MAPs, and Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 11 (‘the Eel Regulation’).

•Consistency with other EU policies

The proposed measures are consistent with other EU policies, in particular Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council 12 (‘the Marine Strategy Framework Directive’). That Directive aims to contribute to achieving good environmental status (GES) for descriptor 3 in particular, which requires all commercially exploited fish and shellfish to be within safe biological limits.

2.LEGAL BASIS, SUBSIDIARITY AND PROPORTIONALITY

•Legal basis

The legal basis of this proposal is Article 43(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

•Subsidiarity (for non-exclusive competence)

The proposal falls under the exclusive competence of the EU as referred to in Article 3(1)(d) TFEU. The subsidiarity principle therefore does not apply.

•Proportionality

The proposal fixes fishing opportunities and allocates those to Member States in accordance with the objectives and rules set out in the Basic Regulation and the North Sea and Western Waters MAPs as well as the outcomes of certain annual meetings of RFMOs that have already taken place. As a result, the fishing opportunities should be fixed on the basis of the best available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socio-economic considerations in mixed fisheries where possible.

Pursuant to Article 16(6) and (7) and Article 17 of the Basic Regulation, Member States are to decide how the fishing opportunities available to them may be allocated to fishing vessels flying their flag in accordance with certain criteria set out in those Articles. Member States therefore have the necessary margin of discretion when distributing the allocated quotas, in line with their preferred social/economic model for using the fishing opportunities available to them.

•Choice of instrument

A regulation is considered the most appropriate instrument as it makes it possible to set requirements that apply directly to Member States and relevant economic operators. This will help ensure that the requirements are implemented in a timely and harmonised way, leading to greater legal certainty.

3.RESULTS OF EX POST EVALUATIONS, STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATIONS AND IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

•Ex post evaluations/fitness checks of existing legislation

•Stakeholder consultations

(a)Consultation methods, main sectors targeted and general profile of respondents

The Commission has consulted stakeholders, in particular through the advisory councils, on the basis of its annual communication ‘Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2027’.

(b)Summary of responses and how they were taken into account

Stakeholders’ responses to the above annual communication set out their views on the Commission’s evaluation of the state of the resources and on the appropriate management response. The Commission considered those responses when formulating this proposal.

•Collection and use of expertise

ICES expert groups and decision-making bodies have developed a framework for ICES scientific advice. That framework is based on the best available science and peer reviewed by independent experts. ICES scientific advice is issued on the basis of that framework and with a view to allow the implementation of the objectives and rules of the Basic Regulation and the North Sea and Western Waters MAPs, as requested by the Commission.

ICES scientific advice essentially depends on data:

–(i) For stocks for which comprehensive data sets are available, allowing full analytical, age-/length-structured assessments, ICES produces estimates of the sizes of the stocks and forecasts on how various exploitation scenarios will affect these stock sizes (‘catch scenarios tables’). On that basis, ICES estimates adjustments to the fishing opportunities that will bring the stock to a level that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions. For such stocks, where possible, the scientific advice sets out the range of fishing mortality values resulting in MSY (‘range of FMSY’), as defined in the MAPs 13 .

–(ii) For stocks for which less data is available, ICES does not provide catch scenarios but identifies longer-term trends in recruitment, biomass and fishing mortality. On that basis, it estimates fishing opportunities in line with MSY, based on MSY proxies.

–(iii) For other stocks for which limited data is available, when advising on the level of fishing opportunities, ICES relies on the precautionary approach to fisheries management and applies a certain methodology 14 . For such stocks for which more data is available, ICES identifies longer-term trends in recruitment, biomass and fishing mortality, but does not estimate MSY proxies. For such stocks for which the least data is available, ICES identifies trends in catches or landings.

ICES assessments for stocks under points (i) and (ii) are referred to as ‘analytical assessments’ and the advice is referred to as ‘MSY advice’. Assessments for stocks under point (iii) are referred to as ‘precautionary assessments’ and the advice is referred to as ‘precautionary advice’.

For stocks under point (i), ICES publishes advice annually. However, for stocks under points (ii) and (iii), ICES neither performs a stock assessment nor publishes advice annually. For stocks under points (ii) and (iii), ICES assesses longer-term trends. As a result, ICES considers that the assessed status of those stocks will not be subject to major changes during the advice period. For those stocks, the advice published by ICES is the best available scientific advice for the entire advice period. For the autonomous EU stocks for which ICES publishes advice that remains valid for several years, the Commission proposes to set annual TACs covering the entire advice period, i.e. a period of two to three years (‘multiannual TACs’).

One of the objectives of the CFP is to restore stocks to levels that can deliver MSY and to maintain them at those levels. This objective is incorporated expressly in Article 2(2), second subparagraph, of the Basic Regulation, which provides that this ‘shall be achieved […] by 2020 for all stocks’. The Commission therefore proposes to fix fishing opportunities for target stocks under the MAPs, and for target stocks not covered by the MAPs, based on the MSY advice.

Fishing opportunities for target stocks in the North Sea and Western Waters 15 and for which there is MSY advice are also to be set on the basis of the relevant MAPs. Those define a range of fishing mortality values resulting in MSY (‘range of FMSY’) and therefore offer a degree of flexibility under specific conditions. The Commission has asked ICES to provide scientific advice that can be used to implement the flexibility, including to assess whether the conditions for using that flexibility are met. The upper range of FMSY may be used for fixing TACs if the biomass of the stock in question is above MSY Btrigger 16 and only if, based on scientific advice or evidence, it is necessary to:

–achieve the objectives set out in the relevant MAP in the case of mixed fisheries; or

–avoid serious harm to a stock caused by intra- or inter-species stock dynamics; or

–limit high year-to-year fluctuations.

Where the stock’s biomass is below MSY Btrigger, the fishing opportunities should be fixed at a level corresponding to the fishing mortality that is reduced proportionally to take into account the decrease in the biomass.

Pursuant to Article 4(6) of the North Sea MAP and Article 4(7) of the Western Waters MAP, fishing opportunities for target stocks should be fixed to ensure that there is less than a 5% probability of the biomass falling below Blim. Where MSY advice is available, and that advice is based on full analytical, age-/length-structured assessments, ICES may indicate such probabilities, in the short-term, in its advice. To ensure that the probability is achieved, the fishing mortality of the target stock may have to be reduced accordingly or the targeted fishery may have to be suspended.

For target stocks with precautionary assessments and for which MSY advice is not available, the Commission proposes to fix fishing opportunities based on the precautionary advice, which is the best available scientific advice and which is advice in line with the precautionary approach to fisheries management.

Fishing opportunities for by-catch stocks are proposed on the basis of the MSY advice, where available. For by-catch stocks with precautionary assessments and for which MSY advice is not available, this proposal again makes use of the precautionary advice. Fishing opportunities for by-catch stocks in the North Sea and Western Waters should also be fixed on the basis of the relevant MAPs.

When fixing fishing opportunities for by-catch stocks, mixed fisheries considerations should also be taken into account pursuant to Article 5(3) of the North Sea and Western Waters MAPs and Article 16(4) of the Basic Regulation, in conjunction with Article 2(1) and (5), points (c) and (f), of that Regulation.

•Impact assessment

The scope of the fishing opportunities regulation is limited by Article 43(3) TFEU.

This proposal seeks to avoid short-term approaches in favour of long-term sustainability. It takes account of initiatives by stakeholders and advisory councils that have been positively reviewed by ICES. The Commission’s CFP reform proposal was based on an impact assessment (SEC(2011) 891) that considered that even though achievement of the MSY objective was a necessary condition for environmental, economic and social sustainability, those three objectives cannot be achieved in isolation.

•Regulatory fitness and simplification

Not applicable.

•Fundamental rights

The proposal complies with fundamental rights and in particular those recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

4.BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS

The proposal has no budgetary implications.

5.OTHER ELEMENTS

•Implementation plans and monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements

Monitoring and compliance will be ensured in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 17 , as amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 18 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

•    Detailed explanation of the specific provisions of the proposal

Autonomous EU stocks

Autonomous EU deep-sea stocks

Stocks listed in Annex 36, Table F, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

In addition, the Commission proposes fishing opportunities for certain stocks listed in Annex 36, table F, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part 34  (‘the Trade and Cooperation Agreement’). That Annex lists stocks that are only present in one Party’s waters.

Eel

ICES provides advice for the entire natural range of European eel (Anguilla anguilla), which includes the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Given the critical status of European eel, ICES:

–(i) For the past two decades has consistently advised to keep the anthropogenic mortality of European eel as close to zero as possible throughout its natural range.

–(ii) Has been advising since 2021 37 that, when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be zero catches of eel in all habitats. This concerns both recreational and commercial catches and includes catches of glass eels for restocking and aquaculture.

–(iii) On 30 May 2022 advised 38 that, despite Member States’ efforts, no overall progress had been made in achieving the 40% silver eel biomass escapement objective across the entire EU pursuant to Article 2(4) of the Eel Regulation. In addition, ICES advised that conservation efforts should be focused on measures that, by definition, have a high probability of reducing mortality and increasing escapement.

ICES advice for 2027 will be published on 6 November 2026.

A consecutive three-month closure period for eel fishing was laid down in the annual fishing opportunities regulations for the EU marine and brackish waters of the north-east Atlantic from 2018 to 2022. Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194 39 extended the closure period to 6 months for any eel fishing activity in EU marine and brackish waters of the north-east Atlantic. Furthermore, it prohibited all recreational eel fisheries in those waters. Council Regulations (EU) 2024/257 40 , (EU) 2025/202 41 and 2026/249 maintained those measures and, in order to ensure the effective protection of silver eel migrating from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, required that the coastal Member States of ICES subarea 3, i.e. Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden, should agree on effective closure periods for silver eel. Moreover, Regulation (EU) 2024/257 clarified the conditions for the application of the derogation for continued limited eel fisheries during the eel migration period.

Given the continued critical status of the European eel, the Commission proposes for 2027 to maintain the measures for eel set out in Regulation (EU) 2026/249. This proposal will be updated after ICES has published its scientific advice for European eel in the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean for 2027.

2026/0349 (NLE)

Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

fixing for 2027, and in some cases also for 2028 and 2029, the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)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. In accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 42 of the European Parliament and of the Council, fishing opportunities are to be fixed in accordance with the objectives and rules of the common fisheries policy (CFP), as set out in Article 2(2) of that Regulation. Fishing opportunities are also to be fixed in accordance with requirements of Regulations (EU) 2018/973 43 and (EU) 2019/472 44 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing multiannual plans (MAPs) for certain stocks fished in the North Sea and the Western Waters, and for fisheries exploiting those stocks. Pursuant to Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fishing opportunities allocated among the Member States are to ensure the relative stability of fishing activities of each Member State for each fish stock or fishery.

(2)The total allowable catches (TACs) should be established, in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in accordance with the best available scientific advice, based on a long-term perspective, taking into account regional specificities, and in the light of opinions expressed during the consultation of stakeholders.

(3)Pursuant to 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(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the Commission adopted Delegated Regulations (EU) 2023/2459 45 and (EU) 2023/2623 46 laying down details for the implementation of the landing obligation for certain fisheries.

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

(5)The MAPs established by Regulations (EU) 2018/973 and (EU) 2019/472 set out targets and measures for the long-term management of the stocks covered by those MAPs. Fishing opportunities for the stocks listed in Article 1(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973 and in Article 1(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472 (‘target stocks’) should be fixed in accordance with the range of fishing mortality values resulting in maximum sustainable yield (MSY) (‘ranges of FMSY’), or should be fixed at a lower level, and, where relevant, in accordance with the biomass safeguards provided for in those Regulations. The ranges of FMSY are set out in the relevant ICES advice. Fishing opportunities for target stocks for which ranges of FMSY cannot be determined, as well as for stocks referred to in Article 1(4) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973 and in Article 1(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472 (‘by-catch stocks’), should be fixed in accordance with the objectives set out in Article 2(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 or, where no adequate scientific information is available, in accordance with the precautionary approach to fisheries management, as defined in Article 4(1), point (8), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

(6)Pursuant to Article 4(6) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973 and Article 4(7) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472, fishing opportunities for target stocks should be fixed to ensure that there is less than 5 % probability of the biomass falling below the limit biomass reference point (Blim) 47 .

(7)In accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2018/973 and Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2019/472, where scientific advice indicates that the spawning stock biomass of any of the target stocks is below MSY Btrigger 48 , remedial measures are to be taken to ensure the rapid rebuilding of the stock to levels above those capable of producing MSY. In particular, the fishing opportunities should be fixed at a level corresponding to the fishing mortality that is reduced proportionally to take into account the decrease in the biomass. Where scientific advice indicates that the spawning stock biomass of any of the target stocks is below Blim, further remedial measures are to be taken to ensure the rapid rebuilding of the stock to levels above those capable of producing MSY. In particular, those remedial measures can include suspending the targeted fishery for the stock in question and the adequate reduction of fishing opportunities for those or other stocks in the fisheries.

(8)There are certain stocks for which ICES advises zero catches or low catches, or ICES forecasts that a less than 5 % probability of the biomass falling below Blim could only be achieved with low catches; could only be achieved with zero catches; or could not even be achieved with zero catches. However, if TACs for those stocks were established at those levels, the obligation to land all catches, including by-catches from those stocks in mixed fisheries, may cause one or more fishing vessels to stop fishing even if they still have quota for other species, which in turn may lead to a premature closure of certain fisheries. Pursuant to Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973, Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472 and Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in conjunction with Article 2(1) and Article 2(5), points (c) and (f), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, and in order to strike a balance between maintaining mixed fisheries, in view of the potentially severe socio-economic impacts of failing to do so, and the need to maintain stocks above levels capable of producing MSY, or where there is insufficient data about such levels, a comparable degree of conservation, taking account of the difficulty of fishing all stocks in a mixed fishery at MSY, it is appropriate to establish specific TACs for by-catches for those stocks. Those by-catch TACs should be set at levels that avoid the risk of a premature closure of fisheries that still have quota for targeted species due to fishing vessels’ lack of quota for stocks caught as by-catch, where such a premature closure could have severe socio-economic impacts in the short-term. At the same time, the by-catch TACs should also ensure the conservation of the stocks concerned, where failing to conserve stocks could have severe long-term environmental and socio-economic impacts, as well as associated short-term socio-economic impacts. Where relevant and according to scientific advice, the conservation of the stocks concerned should be ensured by: (i) supporting the rapid rebuilding of the stocks to levels above those capable of producing MSY; if the advice indicates that that is not achievable even with zero or low catches, (ii) an increase in the biomass of the stocks; and if the advice indicates that that is again not achievable, (iii) a stabilisation of the biomass. Those by-catch TACs should also be fixed at levels based on specific, reliable and verifiable evidence regarding potential premature closures, potential short-term socio-economic impacts as well as long-term environmental impacts. In order to reduce catches of the stocks for which by-catch TACs are set, fishing opportunities for the mixed fisheries in which fish from those stocks are by-caught should be set at levels that help the biomass of vulnerable stocks to rebuild to levels above those capable of producing MSY.

(9)In order to guarantee, to the extent possible, the use of fishing opportunities in mixed fisheries in accordance with Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it is appropriate to establish a pool for quota exchanges for Member States. Such a pool for quota exchanges would make unused quotas for certain by‑catches available to Member States to cover their unavoidable by-catches in certain areas in circumstances where those Member States would otherwise have no quota.

(10)There are certain stocks for which ICES advises catches above a low level. However, if TACs for those stocks were established at those levels, the obligation to land all catches, including by-catches from those stocks in mixed fisheries, may cause one or more fishing vessels to stop fishing even if they still have quota for other species, which in turn may lead to a premature closure of certain fisheries. Pursuant to Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/973, Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472 and Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, in conjunction with Article 2(1) and Article 2(5), points (c) and (f), of that Regulation, and in order to strike a balance between maintaining mixed fisheries, in view of the potentially severe socio-economic impacts of failing to do so, and the need to maintain stocks above levels capable of producing MSY, or where there is insufficient data about such levels, a comparable degree of conservation, taking account of the difficulty of fishing all stocks in a mixed fishery at MSY, it is appropriate to establish specific TACs for by-catches for those stocks. Those by-catch TACs should be set at levels that avoid the risk of a premature closure of fisheries that still have quota for targeted species due to fishing vessels’ lack of quota for stocks caught as by-catch, where such a premature closure could have severe socio-economic impacts in the short-term, while also at the same time ensuring the conservation of the stocks concerned, where failing to conserve stocks could have severe long-term environmental and socio-economic impacts, as well as associated short-term socio‑economic impacts. Those by-catch TACs should also be fixed based on specific, reliable and verifiable evidence regarding potential premature closures, potential short‑term socio-economic impacts as well as long-term environmental impacts. In order to reduce catches of the stocks for which by-catch TACs are set, fishing opportunities for the mixed fisheries in which fish from those stocks are by-caught should be set at levels that help the biomass of vulnerable stocks to rebuild to levels above those capable of producing MSY.

(11)In accordance with Article 2(2) and Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, for stocks that are not covered by Regulations (EU) 2018/973 and (EU) 2019/472, where adequate scientific information is available, fishing opportunities should be fixed in line with the FMSY value 49  and, where relevant, at levels that restore stocks above levels capable of producing MSY. Where that scientific information is not available, fishing opportunities should be fixed in line with the precautionary approach to fisheries management.

(12)For certain stocks, the ICES advice, issued with a view to allow the implementation of the objectives and rules set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, and, where applicable, also in Regulations (EU) 2018/973 and (EU) 2019/472, remains valid for several years and that advice remains the best available scientific advice for the entire advice period. In those cases, annual TACs covering the entire advice period should in principle be set (‘multiannual TACs’). If new ICES advice becomes available during that period, it should be ensured that the multiannual TACs remain consistent with the new advice, as soon as possible after the publication of such new ICES advice. Moreover, it should be ensured that the annual deductions from the advice figure for total catches, to take account of exemptions from the landing obligation, remain consistent with the available data. However, for certain stocks, and in particular for stocks showing recent significant variations in biomass or fishing mortality, it may be appropriate to continue setting annual TACs.

(13)In accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472, Spain and France should jointly ensure that, when determining their fishing opportunities for commercial fisheries for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in ICES divisions 8a and 8b (Bay of Biscay), the sum of those fishing opportunities, commercial discards, recreational landings and recreational dead discards does not exceed 3 883 tonnes, which is below the lowest value within the range of FMSY (‘MSY Flower’) for total removals for that area. In order to allow the Commission to monitor the correct application of the objectives and rules set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and in Regulation (EU) 2019/472, Spain and France should submit information regarding their respective fishing opportunities for commercial fisheries for European seabass to the Commission.

(14)Additional measures for recreational fisheries for European seabass in ICES divisions 8a and 8b should be maintained, in view of the significant impact of recreational fisheries on the fishing mortality for that stock.

(15) Sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in ICES divisions 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e (Bay of Biscay) as well as sardine and European seabass in ICES division 8c, subareas 9 and 10 and Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1 (southern Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters) are managed at national level by certain Member States having a direct management interest in the respective fisheries. According to the latest ICES advice: (i) for sardine in the Bay of Biscay and for sardine in the southern Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters the fishing mortality exceeds the FMSY value; (ii) for sardine in the Bay of Biscay the biomass is estimated to be below MSY Btrigger; and (iii) for seabass in the southern Bay of Biscay and Iberian waters the catches are estimated to exceed the precautionary advice level. In light of the nature of the Union competence in the field of conservation of marine biological resources as provided for in Article 3(d) TFEU, Member States may be temporarily empowered to adopt conservation measures. In order to achieve the objectives set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and, for seabass, also in Regulation (EU) 2019/472, it is appropriate to empower the Member States concerned to continue setting the fishing opportunities for each of those stocks in 2027, provided that the Member States concerned jointly ensure that the sum of their respective fishing opportunities for each of those stocks, and where relevant also commercial discards, recreational landings and recreational (dead) discards, does not exceed the FMSY value provided by ICES, or, where applicable, the precautionary advice value provided by ICES. In order to allow the Commission to monitor the correct application of those objectives and rules, the Member States concerned should submit to the Commission their respective fishing opportunities for those stocks, by an agreed date. The Commission, if it finds that these conditions are not complied with, may take any action it deems appropriate, including proposing an amendment to this Regulation.

(16)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after publication by ICES of its scientific advice for European eel for 2027.] [In May 2022, ICES noted that, despite Member States’ efforts for the recovery of European eel (Anguilla anguilla), no overall progress had been made in achieving the 40 % silver eel biomass escapement objective across the entire Union, as required by Article 2(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 50 , and that no clear patterns for mortality were observed. In November 2026, ICES advised once again that, when the precautionary approach is applied, there should be zero catches of European eel in all habitats and at all life stages, throughout its natural range, which includes the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean. That concerns both recreational and commercial catches and includes catches of glass eels for restocking and aquaculture.]

(17)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after publication by ICES of its scientific advice for European eel for 2027.] [Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194 51  extended to six months the closure period for any commercial eel fishing activity in Union marine and brackish waters of the north-east Atlantic. It also prohibited all recreational eel fisheries in those waters. It was considered that a six month closure period would better protect the stock than the Union and national measures that had been implemented until 2022. It was also considered that the extended closure period would further the achievement of the escapement objective of at least 40 % of silver eels. Council Regulations (EU) 2024/257 52 , (EU) 2025/202 53 and (EU) 2026/249 54 maintained those measures while clarifying the criteria for setting the closure period and the possible derogation for continued limited eel fisheries during the eel migration period. Given the continued critical status of the European eel, it is appropriate to maintain those measures in 2027.]

(18)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after publication by ICES of its scientific advice for European eel for 2027.] [Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007, restocking of glass eel is a conservation measure chosen by certain Member States in their eel management plans. In order to enable those Member States to continue implementing that measure, glass eel catches in Union marine and brackish waters of the north-east Atlantic at the appropriate time of the year and possibly during their main migration period may be required. Therefore, Member States may allow further glass eel fishing exclusively for restocking for an additional 50 days during the main migration period of glass eel.]

(19)In its advice for certain stocks of elasmobranchs (namely skates, sharks and rays) for 2027, ICES recommends zero catches, due to the poor conservation status of elasmobranchs and given that even limited fishing activity could give rise to a serious conservation risk. Therefore, the fishing for such species should be prohibited. In addition, pursuant to Article 15(4), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the landing obligation does not apply to species for which fishing is prohibited. When accidentally caught, those species should not be harmed and should be promptly released. Discarding of such elasmobranchs is not considered to raise their fishing mortality significantly and supports the conservation of those stocks as they have high survival rates when discarded.

(20)At its 15th meeting held in Campo Grande, Brazil, from 23 to 29 March 2026, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) added: (i) pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus); (ii) bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus); and (iii) common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus); as well as (iv) scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) and (v) great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) to the protected species listed in Appendices I and II to that Convention 55 . As the Union is a party to the CMS, those measures should be implemented in Union law by prohibiting Union fishing vessels in all waters and third country fishing vessels in Union waters, to fish for, retain on board, tranship or land those species.

(21)In order to maximise the use of fishing opportunities, it is appropriate to allow for the implementation of a flexible arrangement between certain TAC areas where the same biological stock is concerned.

(22)Articles 3 and 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 56 provide for year-to-year flexibility for quotas for stocks subject to both precautionary TACs and analytical TACs. Pursuant to Article 2 of that Regulation, when fixing TACs, the Council is to decide to which stocks Articles 3 and 4 of that Regulation are not to apply, on the basis of the biological status of stocks and commitments reached with third countries. Moreover, Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 provides for further year‑to‑year flexibility for all stocks that are subject to the landing obligation. In order to avoid excessive flexibility that would undermine the achievement of the objectives of the CFP, year-to-year flexibility for quotas pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should not apply cumulatively. Year-to-year flexibility under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should, where relevant, be excluded on the basis of the biological status of the stock and of commitments reached with third countries.

(23)Where a stock is fished by one Member State only, it is appropriate to empower that Member State to fix a TAC for that stock, in accordance with Articles 2(1) and 43(3) of TFEU. Such empowerment is appropriate, provided that, when determining the TAC level, the Member State complies with the objectives and rules set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and in Regulations (EU) 2018/973 and (EU) 2019/472. In order to allow the Commission to monitor the correct application of those objectives and rules, Member States should submit information regarding the TACs to the Commission. In addition, the Commission may request that the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) assess those TACs, and in the event that the STECF assesses those TACs as not being in compliance with the objectives and rules set out in Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and in Regulations (EU) 2018/973 and (EU) 2019/472, Member States should amend the TACs on the basis of the STECF advice.

(24)It is necessary to establish the fishing effort limitations for sole in the Western Channel (ICES division 7e) in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) 2019/472.

(25)It is necessary to establish the fishing effort ceilings for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in part of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Convention area, specifically in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45°W, in accordance with Articles 6, 11, 13 and 16 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 of the European Parliament and of the Council 57 .

(26)The use of fishing opportunities available to Union fishing vessels set out in this Regulation is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 58 , and in particular to Articles 33 and 34 of that Regulation, concerning the recording of catches and fishing effort, and the notification of data on the exhaustion of fishing opportunities. It is therefore necessary to specify the codes to be used by Member States when sending data to the Commission on catches and fishing effort for stocks subject to this Regulation.

(27)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the NEAFC annual meeting.] [At its 2025 annual meeting, the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) did not adopt a recommendation setting the TAC for beaked redfish (Sebastes mentella) in international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 2 for 2026. Pending the possible adoption of a NEAFC recommendation for that stock, the TAC for beaked redfish in ICES subareas 1 and 2 should be provisionally set at zero.]

(28)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the NEAFC annual meeting.] [At its 2025 annual meeting, NEAFC also did not adopt a recommendation for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in ICES subareas 1 and 2 for 2026. The Union quota for Greenland halibut in international waters of ICES subareas 1 and 2 for 2026 should therefore be set at 1 711 tonnes. That level corresponds to 9,25 % of the level recommended by ICES advice in its advice for 2023 (18 494 tonnes), which constitutes the best available scientific advice for that stock.]

(29)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the NEAFC annual meeting.] [Mackerel (Scomber scombrus), blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) and Atlanto‑Scandian herring (Clupea harengus) in the North-East Atlantic are subject to coastal States consultations on the fisheries management for those stocks, and are stocks that are also managed by NEAFC. The Union participates in coastal States consultations for 2026 on the basis of the positions endorsed by the Council on 13 October 2025. Regarding Atlanto-Scandian herring and blue whiting, the outcome of the consultations was documented in agreed records signed on 21 and 23 October 2025 respectively. At its annual meeting in 2025, NEAFC adopted a recommendation on conservation and management measures for 2026 for Atlanto-Scandian herring but not for blue whiting. It is therefore appropriate to set the TAC for Atlanto-Scandian herring based on the relevant NEAFC recommendation and the TAC for blue whiting in the north-east Atlantic for 2026 at the level of fishing opportunities agreed in the relevant coastal States Agreed Record.]

(30)At its 48th annual meeting in 2026, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) adopted fishing opportunities for certain stocks in the NAFO Convention area for 2027, including for the first time for Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). It also maintained for 2027 the existing measures that are functionally linked to the fishing opportunities of shortfin squid (Illex illecebrosus) in NAFO subareas 3 and 4 and yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea) in NAFO divisions 3LNO, aimed at minimising the levels of by-catches of non-target species and without which the fishing opportunities for those stocks would have to be reduced to protect the non-target species. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.

(31)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the ICCAT annual meeting.] [At its 2025 annual meeting, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) maintained existing measures for certain stocks in the ICCAT Convention area for 2026. In addition, ICCAT increased the TAC level for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and decreased the retention allowance for shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the southern Atlantic for 2026 compared to 2025. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.]

(32)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the ICCAT annual meeting.] [The Union quotas for stocks in the ICCAT Convention area for 2027 were adjusted during the 2026 ICCAT annual meeting, in accordance with several ICCAT recommendations under which the Union may, upon request, carry over a set percentage of its unused quota of fishing opportunities from either 2025 to 2027 or from 2026 to 2027. Pending such possible adjustments to Union quotas, quotas for individual Member States should be established on the basis of the total Union quota for 2027 as agreed by the ICCAT before any such adjustments.]

(33)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the CCAMLR annual meeting.] [At its 2025 annual meeting, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) adopted catch limits for stocks in the CCAMLR Convention area for the period from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.]

(34)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the pending decisions by the IOTC and Member States]. At its 2026 annual meeting, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) established the following measures in its Area of Competence for 2027: (i) it adopted a new TAC for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), while maintaining the Union catch limit for that stock; (ii) it adopted a new TAC for skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), and reviewed the phased reduction of the catch limits for that stock by 2028[, which after the annual meeting resulted in revised catch limits for 2027]; as well as (iii) it adopted for the first time catch limits for swordfish (Xiphias gladius). Those measures should be implemented in Union law. The Union quota for swordfish in the IOTC Area of Competence for 2027 should be allocated to the Member States concerned based on [X].

(35)The annual meeting of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO) is scheduled for 1 to 5 March 2027. Consequently, existing measures in the SPRFMO Convention area that are functionally linked to the TACs should be temporarily maintained until the annual meeting takes place and the 2027 TACs are established.

(36)At its 2026 annual meeting, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) maintained for 2027 the existing measures applicable in the IATTC Convention area. Those measures should be implemented in Union law for 2027.

(37)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the CCSBT annual meeting.] [At its 2023 annual meeting, the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT) adopted the TAC for Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) for a three‑year period from 2024 to 2026. That measure should be implemented in Union law for 2026.]

(38)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the SEAFO annual meeting.] [At its 2025 annual meeting, the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO) maintained for 2026 the existing TACs in the SEAFO Convention area. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.]

(39)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the WCPFC annual meeting.] [At its 2025 annual meeting, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) maintained for 2026 the measures adopted for 2025. In addition, the WCPFC adopted a by-catch limit for Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) for the WCPFC Convention area. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.]

(40)At its 2026 annual meeting, the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) established the following measures in the SIOFA Agreement Area: (i) it maintained existing measures; (ii) it revised the existing fishing opportunities and management measures for toothfishes (Dissostichus spp.) in Del Cano and in Williams Ridge areas; and (iii) it established fishing opportunities and management measures for toothfishes in the South Indian Ridge area. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.

(41) At its annual meeting in April 2026, the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC) established catch limits for chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) available to all NPFC Contracting Parties for trawlers and purse seiners for 2027. In addition, the NPFC established an additional amount of those stocks that the Union may fish during the same period. It also established associated effort limits. Moreover, the NPFC established measures functionally linked to those catch limits and to that additional amount, without which those catch limits for all NPFC Contracting Parties would have to be reduced to protect the non-target species. Those catch limits, effort limits and functionally linked measures should be implemented in Union law.

(42)Under Article 498(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part 59 (the ‘Trade and Cooperation Agreement’), the Union and the United Kingdom are to hold annual consultations to agree, by 10 December of each year, the TACs for the following year for the stocks listed in Annex 35 to that Agreement. If such TACs are not agreed on by 10 December, the Parties are to immediately resume consultations with the continued aim of agreeing on the TACs, as required by Article 499(1) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

(43)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations between the Union and the United Kingdom.] [In 2025, the Union and the United Kingdom held bilateral consultations on the setting of a large number of TACs for 2026 for stocks listed in Annex 35 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Those consultations were conducted pursuant to Article 498(2), (4) and (6) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and the Union participated in those consultations on the basis of the Union position endorsed by the Council on 21 October 2025, and in accordance with Commission services’ non-papers endorsed by the Council on 21, 23 and 31 October and 11 and 25 November 2025. The outcome of the consultations was documented in a written record signed on 10 December 2025. The relevant fishing opportunities should therefore be fixed at the levels set out in that written record, and the other measures functionally linked to the fishing opportunities also set out in that written record should be implemented in Union law.]

(44)The Union and the United Kingdom agreed on a reciprocal access from 1 January 2026 until 31 December 2030, to target 560 tonnes of northern albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the exclusive economic zones of the Member States and the United Kingdom. That agreement excludes access to areas referred to in Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. That measure should be implemented in Union law.

(45)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations between the Union and the United Kingdom.] [According to the relevant ICES advice for 2026, recreational catches of pollack in ICES subareas 6 and 7 comprise a significant share of total catches. The Union and the United Kingdom therefore agreed to establish limits for recreational catches of pollack in those areas. That measure should be implemented in Union law.]

(46)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations between the Union and the United Kingdom.] [The Union and the United Kingdom agreed to continue the seasonal closures for sandeel fisheries with certain towed gear in ICES divisions 2a, 3a and ICES subarea 4 to allow for the protection of spawning grounds and limitation of juvenile catches. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.]

(47)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations between the Union and Norway.] [In 2025, the Union, the United Kingdom and Norway held trilateral consultations on six shared and jointly managed stocks occurring within the areas under their respective jurisdiction. Those consultations were conducted between 27 October and 4 December 2025, on the basis of the Union position endorsed by the Council on 21 October 2025, and in accordance with the Commission services’ non-papers endorsed by the Council on the 23 and 27 October 2025. The outcome of the consultations was documented in an agreed record, signed on 5 December 2025. The relevant fishing opportunities should be set at the level agreed with the United Kingdom and Norway, together with the other provisions of the agreed record.]

(48)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations between the Union and Norway.] [The Union, the United Kingdom and Norway agreed to maintain the existing accompanying measures for the Northern Shelf cod. In addition, they agreed to introduce remedial measures in order to reduce fishing mortality, and increase the protection of juvenile cod. Those include two new closures for cod in Union waters of ICES division 4b, two extended closures in Union waters of division 3a and 2, updates to the Real Time Closure (RTC) regimes from 1 January to 31 March 2026 in Eastern Channel (ICES division 7d), Southern North Sea (ICES division 4c) and central North Sea (ICES division 4b and 3), and restrictions on targeting cod in the Southern and central North Sea (ICES divisions 4c and 4b), through a limitation on the total of cod catch in those two divisions. Those measures should be implemented in Union law.]

(49)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations between the Union and Norway.] [The Union held bilateral consultations with Norway on the management of seven shared stocks in the Skagerrak area: cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), herring (Clupea harengus), Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). Those consultations were held with a view to agreeing on the management of those stocks and fishing opportunities for 2026, as well as on exchange of quotas and access arrangements for six jointly managed stocks in the North Sea. Those consultations were successfully concluded on 16 and 18 December 2025 and the outcome was documented in three agreed records. The bilateral agreement on fisheries arrangements in the Skagerrak and Kattegat for 2026 and the protocol of fisheries consultations between Norway and the European Union on behalf of Sweden for 2026 were signed on 16 December 2025. The agreement on exchanges of quota and access to waters for North Sea jointly managed stocks was signed on 18 December 2025. The relevant fishing opportunities should be set at the level agreed with Norway, and the other provisions of those agreed records should also be implemented in Union law.]

(50)[The recital and the relevant provisions will be updated after the conclusion of consultations: (i) between the Union on one side, and Greenland and Denmark on the other side; and (ii) between the Union and Norway.] [In accordance with the procedure provided for in the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, of the other part 60 , and the implementing Protocol thereto 61 , the Parties agreed at the Joint Committee meeting held on 19 and 20 November 2025 on the level of fishing opportunities available for the Union in Greenland waters for 2026. The relevant fishing opportunities should therefore be fixed at the level set out in the signed minutes of the Joint Committee meeting, and taking into account the transfers from the Union to Norway in the agreed records signed on 16 December 2025.]

(51)The Treaty of 9 February 1920 relating to Spitsbergen (Svalbard) (the ‘1920 Treaty of Paris’) grants equal and non-discriminatory access to resources around Svalbard for all Parties to that Treaty, including with respect to fishing. The Union’s position concerning that access has been outlined in several notes verbales to Norway, with the most recent being dated 26 February 2021, 28 June 2021, 1 August 2022, 26 October 2023, 8 July 2025 and 8 April 2026. As regards the fishing opportunities for snow crabs (Chionoecetes spp.) around Svalbard, it is appropriate to limit the number of fishing vessels that are authorised to conduct such fishing activities, ensuring that the exploitation of snow crabs around Svalbard is consistent with non-discriminatory management rules set by Norway, which holds sovereignty and jurisdiction in the area in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1920 Treaty of Paris. The allocation of such fishing opportunities among Member States is limited to 2027. In the Union, the primary responsibility for ensuring compliance with applicable law lies with flag Member States.

(52)[The recital and the relevant provisions on stocks in the north-east Arctic will be updated once the relevant information becomes available.] [As regards the fishing opportunities for cod in the north-east Arctic, it is appropriate to set the Union quota for cod in Svalbard waters and international waters of ICES subarea 1 and division 2b for 2025 on the basis of the reference TAC for that stock for 2026 and the Union’s historical share for that stock. That Union quota should be allocated to the Member States in accordance with Council Decision 87/277/EEC 62 , subject to the adaptations necessary due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union as set out in Annex 36, table E, to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.]

(53)[The recital and the relevant provisions on fishing opportunities in Union waters to fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela will be updated once the relevant information becomes available.] [In accordance with the Union’s Declaration addressed to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on the granting of fishing opportunities in Union waters to fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of French Guiana, approved on behalf of the Union by Council Decision (EU) 2015/1565 63 , it is necessary to fix the maximum number of fishing authorisations for snapper available to Venezuela in Union waters for 2026.]

(54)In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to authorise individual Member States to manage fishing effort allocations in accordance with a kilowatt per day system, to grant additional days at sea for the permanent cessation of fishing activities and for enhanced scientific observer coverage and to establish spreadsheet formats for the collection and transmission of information on transfers of days at sea between fishing vessels flying the flag of a Member State. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council 64 .

(55)To ensure continuous application and prevent legal uncertainty during the period between the end of the year and the date of entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for the subsequent year, the provisions of this Regulation concerning prohibitions and closed seasons should continue to apply at the beginning of 2028, 2029 or 2030 until the entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for 2028, 2029 or 2030.

(56)For reasons of urgency and to provide legal certainty as soon as possible, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication.

(57)To avoid the interruption of fishing activities and safeguard the livelihood of fishers, this Regulation should apply retroactively with effect from 1 January 2027.

(58)Moreover, certain international measures that create or restrict fishing opportunities for the Union were adopted by the relevant regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) at the end of 2026 and became applicable before the entry into force of this Regulation. In order to reflect this situation, the provisions of this Regulation that implement such measures in Union law should therefore apply retroactively with effect from 1 December 2026. In particular, as the fishing season in the CCAMLR Convention area runs from 1 December to 30 November, and as certain fishing opportunities or prohibitions in the CCAMLR Convention area are laid down for a period starting from 1 December, the relevant provisions of this Regulation should apply from that date. In addition, the fishing season for toothfishes in the SIOFA Agreement Area runs from 1 December to 30 November, and as the TACs for that group of species are established for a period starting from 1 December, the TACs should apply from that date. Such retroactive application does not affect the principle of legitimate expectation as it is forbidden for fishing vessels flying the flag of the Contracting Party to fish in the CCAMLR Convention area and the SIOFA Agreement Area without authorisation,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

TITLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1
Subject matter

1.    This Regulation fixes fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters.

2.    The fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 include:

(a)    catch limits for the year 2027 and, where specified in this Regulation, also for 2028 and 2029;

(b)    fishing effort limits for the year 2027, except the fishing effort limits set out in Annex II, for the period from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2028;

(c)    fishing opportunities for the period from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027 for certain stocks in the CCAMLR Convention area and for certain stocks in the SIOFA Agreement Area.

Article 2
Scope

1.    This Regulation applies to the following fishing vessels:

(a)    Union fishing vessels; and

(b)    third country fishing vessels in Union waters.

2.    This Regulation also applies to:

(a)    certain recreational fisheries expressly referred to in the relevant provisions of this Regulation; and

(b)    commercial fisheries from shore.

Article 3
Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply. In addition, the following definitions apply:

(a)    ‘third country fishing vessel’ means a fishing vessel flying the flag of, and registered in, a third country;

(b)    ‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources in the context of recreation, tourism or sport;

(c)    ‘international waters’ means waters outside the sovereignty or jurisdiction of any State;

(d)    ‘total allowable catch’ (TAC) means:

(i)    in fisheries subject to the exemption from the landing obligation referred to in Article 15(4) to (7) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the quantity of fish that may be landed from each stock each year;

(ii)    in all other fisheries, the quantity of fish that may be caught from each stock each year;

(e)    ‘quota’ means a proportion of a TAC that is allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;

(f)    ‘analytical assessment’ means a quantitative evaluation of trends in a given stock, based on data about the stock’s biology and exploitation, including based on proxies, which scientific review has indicated to be of sufficient quality to provide scientific advice;

(g)    ‘analytical TAC’ means a TAC for which an analytical assessment is available;

(h)    ‘precautionary TAC’ means a TAC for which an analytical assessment is not available but rather an assessment based on the precautionary approach is available or no assessment is available;

(i)    ‘mesh size’ means the mesh size of fishing nets as defined in Article 6, point (34), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council 65 ;

(j)    ‘Union fishing fleet register’ means the register maintained by the Commission pursuant to Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(k)    ‘fishing logbook’ means the logbook referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(l)    ‘instrumented buoy’ means a buoy clearly marked with a unique reference number allowing identification of its owner and equipped with a satellite tracking system to monitor its position;

(m)    ‘operational buoy’ means any instrumented buoy, previously activated, switched on and deployed at sea on a drifting fish aggregating device (FAD) or log, which transmits positions and other available information such as echo‑sounder estimates.

Article 4
Fishing zones

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following fishing zone definitions apply:

(a)    ‘ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) zones’ means the geographical areas specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 66 ;

(b)    ‘Skagerrak’ means the geographical area bounded on the west by a line drawn from the Hanstholm lighthouse to the Lindesnes lighthouse and on the south by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast;

(c)    ‘Kattegat’ means the geographical area bounded on the north by a line drawn from the Skagen lighthouse to the Tistlarna lighthouse and from that point to the nearest point on the Swedish coast and on the south by a line drawn from Hasenøre to Gnibens Spids, from Korshage to Spodsbjerg and from Gilbjerg Hoved to Kullen;

(d)    ‘functional unit 16 of ICES subarea 7’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

–53°30ʹN 15°00ʹW,

–53°30ʹN 11°00ʹW,

–51°30ʹN 11°00ʹW,

–51°30ʹN 13°00ʹW,

–51°00ʹN 13°00ʹW,

–51°00ʹN 15°00ʹW;

(e)    ‘functional unit 25 of ICES division 8c’ means the geographical sea area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

–43°00ʹN 9°00ʹW,

43°00ʹN 10°00ʹW,

44°00ʹN 10°00ʹW,

44°00ʹN 9°00ʹW,

44°30ʹN 9°00ʹW,

44°30ʹN 8°00ʹW,

43°30ʹN 8°00ʹW;

(f)    ‘functional unit 26 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

43°00ʹN 8°00ʹW,

43°00ʹN 10°00ʹW,

42°00ʹN 10°00ʹW,

42 00ʹN 8°00ʹW;

(g)    ‘functional unit 27 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

42°00ʹN 8°00ʹW,

42°00ʹN 10°00ʹW,

38°30ʹN 10°00ʹW,

38°30ʹN 9°00ʹW,

40°00ʹN 9°00ʹW,

40°00ʹN 8°00ʹW;

(h)    ‘functional unit 30 of ICES division 9a’ means the geographical area under the jurisdiction of Spain in the Gulf of Cádiz and in the adjacent waters of ICES division 9a;

(i)    ‘functional unit 31 of ICES division 8c’ means the geographical sea area bounded by rhumb lines sequentially joining the following positions:

43°30ʹN 8°00ʹW,

44°30ʹN 8°00ʹW,

44°30ʹN 2°00ʹW,

43°00ʹN 2°00ʹW,

43°00ʹN 6°00ʹW,

43°30ʹN 6°00ʹW;

(j)    ‘Gulf of Cádiz’ means the geographical area of ICES division 9a east of longitude 7° 23ʹ 48″ W;

(k)    ‘CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the Convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources 67 ;

(l)    ‘CECAF (Committee for Eastern Central Atlantic Fisheries) areas’ means the geographical areas specified in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 68 ;

(m)    ‘IATTC (Inter‑American Tropical Tuna Commission) Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter‑American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica (Antigua Convention) 69 ;

(n)    ‘ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 70 ;

(o)    ‘Adriatic’ means the waters of the Adriatic Sea north of a line running from the Albanian northern frontier on the east coast of the Adriatic Sea due west to Cape Gargano at 41°49'N and 16°12'E on the coast of Italy.

(p)    ‘IOTC (Indian Ocean Tuna Commission) Area of Competence’ means the geographical area defined in the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission 71 ;

(q)    ‘NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) Convention Area’ and ‘NAFO areas’ means the geographical areas defined in the Convention on future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-West Atlantic Fisheries 72 ;

(r)    ‘NAFO Regulatory Area’ means the part of the NAFO Convention Area which is beyond national jurisdiction 73 ;

(s)    ‘NEAFC (North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission) Convention area’ means the geographical areas defined in the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in North-East Atlantic fisheries;

(t)    ‘NEAFC Regulatory Area’ means the waters of the NEAFC Convention Area that lie beyond the waters under the fisheries jurisdiction of the NEAFC Contracting Parties;

(u)    ‘NPFC Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean 74 ;

(v)    ‘SEAFO (South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation) Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South‑East Atlantic Ocean 75 ;

(w)    ‘SIOFA (Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement) Agreement Area’ means the geographical area defined in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement 76 ;

(x)    ‘SPRFMO (South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation) Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean 77 ;

(y)    ‘WCPFC (Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) Convention area’ means the geographical area defined in the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean 78 ;

(z)    ‘high seas of the Bering Sea’ means the geographical area of the high seas of the Bering Sea beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial seas of the coastal States of the Bering Sea is measured;

(aa)    ‘overlap area between IATTC and WCPFC Convention areas’ means the geographical area defined by the following limits:

longitude 150° W,

longitude 130° W,

latitude 4° S,

latitude 50° S.

TITLE II
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS

Chapter I
General provisions

Article 5
TACs and allocations

1.    The TACs for Union fishing vessels in Union waters and certain non-Union waters, their allocation among Member States and, where appropriate, the conditions functionally linked thereto are set out in Annex I.

2.    Union fishing vessels may be authorised by the coastal State concerned to fish in waters under the jurisdiction of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Norway and in the fishing zone around Jan Mayen subject to the TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation and subject to the conditions provided for in Article 25 of this Regulation, in Part A of Annex V to this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council 79  and in delegated acts adopted by the Commission on the basis of that Regulation.

3.    Union fishing vessels may be authorised by the United Kingdom to fish in waters under its jurisdiction subject to the TACs in Annex I to this Regulation, the conditions provided for in Article 25 of this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 and in delegated acts adopted by the Commission on the basis of that Regulation.

Article 6
TACs to be determined by Member States

1.    The TACs set out in Annex I to this Regulation shall, where specified in that Annex, be determined by the Member State concerned.

2.    The TACs to be determined by a Member State referred to in paragraph 1 shall:

(a)    be consistent with the objectives and rules set out in Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2018/973 and (EU) 2019/472, in particular the objective of sustainable exploitation of the stock; and

(b)    result in an exploitation of the stock that is:

(i)    if an analytical assessment is available, in line with maximum sustainable yield (MSY), with as high a probability as possible; or

(ii)    if an analytical assessment is unavailable or incomplete, consistent with the precautionary approach to fisheries management.

3.    By 15 March, each Member State concerned shall submit the following information to the Commission:

(a)    the TACs that it has determined;

(b)    the data that it has collected, assessed and used as a basis for the determination of the TACs; and

(c)    details as to how the determined TACs comply with paragraph 2.

4.    For the TAC for black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo) in CECAF area 34.1.2, Portugal shall submit the information referred to in paragraph 3 for that TAC for 2027 by 15 March 2027 and for that TAC for 2028 by 15 March 2028.

5.    Where appropriate, the Commission may request advice from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF), in which the STECF:

(a)    assesses the information submitted by Member States referred to in paragraph 3, points (b) and (c); and

(b)    assesses whether the TACs determined by Member States comply with paragraph 2.

6.    If, according to the advice of STECF, the information submitted by Member States is insufficient, the Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission updated information, together with justifications for the updated information in relation to the STECF advice, no later than one month after the publication of the STECF advice.

7.    If, according to the advice of STECF, the TACs determined by Member States do not comply with paragraph 2, the Member States concerned shall submit to the Commission updated TACs together with justifications for those updated TACs in relation to the STECF advice as well as, where relevant, together with updated information referred to in paragraph 6, no later than one month after the publication of that advice.

Article 7
Conditions for landing catches and by‑catches

1.    Catches that are not subject to the landing obligation under Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall be retained on board or landed only if they:

(a)    have been taken by fishing vessels flying the flag of a Member State that has a quota and that quota has not been exhausted; or

(b)    make up a share of a Union quota that has not been allocated among Member States and that has not been exhausted.

2.    For the purposes of the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quotas, as provided for in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the stocks of non‑target species within safe biological limits referred to in that Article are identified in Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 8
Quota exchange mechanism for TACs for unavoidable by-catches

1.    The quota exchange mechanism set out in paragraphs 2 to 5 applies to the TACs identified in Annex IA.

2.    6 % of each quota from the TACs for cod (Gadus morhua) in the Celtic Sea (COD/7XAD34), cod in the West of Scotland (COD/5BE6A), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in the Irish Sea (WHG/07A.) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) in ICES divisions 7h, 7j and 7k (PLE/7HJK.), and 3 % of each quota from the TAC for whiting in the West of Scotland (WHG/56-14), allocated to each Member State, shall be made available for a pool for quota exchanges (the ‘pool’), which shall open on 1 January. Member States without a quota shall have exclusive access to the pool until 31 March.

3.    The quantities drawn from the pool may not be exchanged or transferred to the following year. After 31 March, any unused quantities shall be returned to the Member States that initially contributed to the pool.

4.    Member States without a quota shall provide in return quotas for stocks listed in Part C of Annex IA unless the Member State without a quota and the Member State contributing to the pool agree otherwise.

5.    The quotas provided in return as referred to in paragraph 4 shall be of equivalent commercial value, determined on the basis of a market exchange rate or other mutually acceptable exchange rates. In the absence of alternatives, the equivalent commercial value shall be determined on the basis of average Union prices from the previous year, as provided by the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products.

6.    Where the quota exchange mechanism set out in paragraphs 2 to 5 does not allow Member States to cover their unavoidable by-catches to a similar extent, Member States shall endeavour to agree on quota exchanges pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, ensuring that quotas exchanged are of equivalent commercial value.

[Articles 9, 10, 13, 16 to 19, 21 of this Regulation will be updated after the conclusion of the consultations between the Union and the United Kingdom, as well as between the Union, United Kingdom and Norway.]

[Article 9
Fishing effort limits in ICES division 7e

1.    For the period referred to in Article 1(2), point (b), of this Regulation, fishing effort limitations for sole (Solea solea) in ICES division 7e (the Western Channel) are set out in Annex II.

2.    At the request of a Member State in accordance with point 7.4 of Annex II, the Commission may adopt an implementing act by which it allocates to that Member State a number of days at sea in addition to those referred to in point 5 of Annex II, on which it may authorise a fishing vessel under its flag to be present in ICES division 7e when carrying on board any regulated gear. The Commission shall adopt that implementing act in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 60(2) of this Regulation.

3.    At the request of a Member State, the Commission may adopt an implementing act by which it allocates to that Member State a maximum of three days at sea between 1 February 2027 and 31 January 2028, in addition to those referred to in point 5 of Annex II, on which a fishing vessel may be present in ICES division 7e on the basis of an enhanced programme of scientific observer coverage, as referred to in point 8.1 of Annex II. The Commission shall make such an allocation on the basis of the description submitted by that Member State in accordance with point 8.3 of Annex II and following consultation with the STECF. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 60(2) of this Regulation.]

[Article 10
Measures on European seabass fisheries
in ICES divisions 4b, 4c and 6a and ICES subarea 7

1.    It shall be prohibited for Union fishing vessels, as well as for any commercial fisheries from shore, to fish for European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in ICES divisions 4b and 4c and in ICES subarea 7 or to retain on board, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area.

2.    The prohibition set out in paragraph 1 shall not apply to by-catches of European seabass in shore-based commercial netting activities. This exemption applies to historic numbers of beach nets set at pre-2017 levels. Shore-based commercial netting activities shall not target European seabass and only unavoidable by-catches of European seabass may be landed.

3.    By way of derogation from paragraph 1, in January 2027 and from 1 April to 31 December 2027, Union fishing vessels in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 7d, 7e, 7f and 7h may fish for, retain on board, tranship, relocate or land European seabass caught in that area with the following gear and within the following limits:

(a)    using demersal trawls 80 , for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 10,0 tonnes per fishing vessel and per year and 20 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by the fishing vessel concerned per fishing trip;

(b)    using seines 81 , for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 10,0 tonnes per fishing vessel and per year and 20 % of the weight of the total catches of marine organisms on board caught by the fishing vessel concerned per fishing trip;

(c)    using hooks and lines 82 , not exceeding 8,0 tonnes per fishing vessel and per year;

(d)    using fixed gillnets 83 , for unavoidable by-catches not exceeding 5,4 tonnes per fishing vessel and per year.

The derogations set out in the first subparagraph, point (c), shall apply to Union fishing vessels that have recorded catches of European seabass using hooks and lines over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2016.

The derogations set out in the first subparagraph, point (d), shall apply to Union fishing vessels that have recorded catches of European seabass using fixed gillnets over the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 September 2016.

In the case of a replacement of a Union fishing vessel, Member States may allow the derogations to apply to another Union fishing vessel provided that the number of Union fishing vessels subject to each of the derogations and their overall fishing capacity do not increase.

4.    The catch limits set out in paragraph 3 shall not be transferable between fishing vessels.

5.    In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES divisions 4b, 4c, 6a and 7a to 7k:

(a)    from 1 February to 31 March 2027:

(i)    only ‘catch and release’ fishing with a rod or a handline for European seabass shall be allowed; and

(ii)    it shall be prohibited to retain, relocate, tranship or land European seabass caught in that area;

(b)    in January 2027 and from 1 April to 31 December 2027:

(i)    not more than three specimens of European seabass may be caught and retained per fisher per day;

(ii)    the minimum size of European seabass retained shall be 42 cm; and

(iii)    fixed nets shall not be used to catch or retain European seabass.

6.    Paragraph 5 shall apply without affecting more stringent national measures on recreational fisheries.]

Article 11
Measures for European seabass fisheries in the ICES divisions 8a and 8b

1.    Spain and France shall determine the fishing opportunities for commercial fisheries for European seabass in ICES divisions 8a and 8b for 2027. When determining those fishing opportunities, Spain and France shall jointly ensure that the sum of their respective fishing opportunities, commercial discards, recreational landings and recreational dead discards does not exceed 3 883 tonnes.

2.    By 15 March, Spain and France shall inform the Commission of the fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 and how those fishing opportunities comply with the limit set out in that paragraph.

3.    In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES divisions 8a and 8b:

(a)    a maximum of two specimen of European seabass may be caught and retained per fisher per day; and

(b)    fixed nets shall not be used to catch or retain European seabass.

4.    Paragraph 3 shall apply without prejudice to more stringent national measures on recreational fisheries.

Article 12
Measures for seabass in Iberian waters and sardine in the Bay of Biscay and in Iberian waters

1.    The concerned Member States shall determine fishing opportunities for commercial fisheries, and where relevant also for recreational fisheries, for 2027 for the following stocks:

(a)    Spain, France and Portugal shall determine fishing opportunities for European seabass in ICES division 8c, ICES subareas 9 and 10 and Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1.

(b)        Spain and France shall determine fishing opportunities for sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in ICES divisions 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e.

(c)     Spain, France and Portugal shall determine fishing opportunities for sardine in ICES division 8c, ICES subareas 9 and 10 and Union waters of CECAF 34.1.1.

When determining such fishing opportunities, the concerned Member States shall jointly ensure that the sum of their respective fishing opportunities, and where relevant also commercial discards, recreational landings and recreational (dead) discards, are consistent with the objectives and rules set out in Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013 and (EU) 2019/472. In addition, that sum shall, according to the best available scientific advice, for the stocks referred to in points (b) and (c) not exceed the FMSY value provided by ICES, and, for the stock referred to in point (a), not exceed the precautionary advice value provided by ICES.

2.    By 15 March, the concerned Member States shall inform the Commission of the fishing opportunities referred to in paragraph 1 and how those fishing opportunities comply with the limits set out in that paragraph.

[Article 13
Measures on recreational fisheries for pollack in ICES areas 6 and 7

1.    In recreational fisheries, including from shore, in ICES subareas 6 and 7, a maximum of three specimens of pollack (Pollachius pollachius) may be caught and retained per fisher per day.

2.    Paragraph 1 shall apply without affecting more stringent national measures on recreational fishing.]

[Article 14 will be updated after publication by ICES of its scientific advice for European eel for 2027.]

[Article 14
Measures on European eel fisheries in Union waters of ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9

1.    This Article applies to Union marine and brackish waters of ICES subareas 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and to adjacent Union brackish waters, including estuaries, coastal lagoons and transitional waters.

2.    This Article does not apply to commercial fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations with or without a fishing vessel, provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 and that the STECF has confirmed to the Commission and the Member States concerned that such scientific investigations are justified on scientific grounds.

3.    Commercial fishing activities for European eel (Anguilla anguilla) at all life stages for a period of at least six months between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2028 shall be prohibited. In addition, Members States and fishers shall undertake all reasonable efforts to minimise and where possible eliminate incidental catch of European eel. When accidentally caught, specimens of European eel shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released. To that effect, the Member State concerned, either individually or jointly, shall determine one or more closure periods subject to the following conditions:

(a)    where appropriate, the closure period or periods may differ between Member States or within one Member State from one fishing area to another in order to take account of the geographical and temporal migration pattern of European eel at its different life stages;

(b)    the closure period or periods shall last for a consecutive or non-consecutive time span of at least six months, which shall apply to all fishers concerned in the relevant fishing area;

(c)    the closure period or periods shall be consistent with the conservation objectives set out in Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007, and with national management plans established pursuant to Article 2 of that Regulation; and

(d)    the closure period or periods shall cover the main migration period or periods, including the respective peak, of European eel at the respective life stage in the Member State concerned.

4.    By way of derogation from paragraph 3, point (d), for European eel of an overall length of 12 cm or more, the Member State concerned may allow fishing activities for up to a total of 30 consecutive or non-consecutive days, which shall apply to all fishers concerned in the relevant fishing area, during the main migration period. In that case, the Member States concerned shall determine an additional closure of an equivalent period of time during the main migration period or, subsidiarily, just before or after it. In cases where a Member State allows fishing on non-consecutive days, the fishing gear shall be taken out of the water during any period between of those non-consecutive days of fishing activities.

5.    By way of derogation from paragraph 3, point (d), the Member State concerned may allow fishing for European eel of an overall length of 12 cm or more when migrating from Union waters to their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea (‘downstream migration’) for up to a total of 50 consecutive or non-consecutive days. That derogation applies to all fishers concerned in the relevant fishing area, during the main migration period, under the following cumulative conditions:

(a)    the fishing activity shall only be allowed when the only access available to the European eel to marine waters necessarily passes through non-Union brackish waters;

(b)    the catches taken in ICES subdivisions 22 to 32 shall meet the minimum conservation reference size of 35 cm, in accordance with Part A of Annex VIII to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241;

(c)    any European eel that is sexually mature and is caught shall not be harmed, shall be transported without undue delay and shall be immediately released to nearby Union marine waters at a place designated by the Member State concerned, which would allow it to continue downstream migration;

(d)    any incidentally caught European eel that is not sexually mature shall not be harmed and shall be immediately released back into the water; and

(e)    the fishing activity shall be undertaken with the involvement of a national scientific body.

6.    For European eel of an overall length of 12 cm or more in ICES subarea 3, the closure period or periods referred to in paragraph 3 and the derogation thereof referred to in paragraph 4 shall be agreed by all the Member States concerned so as to ensure an effective protection of European eel on its migration from the Baltic Sea into the North Sea. In the absence of such an agreement by 1 April 2027, the closure period shall be 15 September 2027 to 15 March 2028 in Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden, and without the possibility of the derogation referred to in paragraph 4.

7.    By way of derogation from paragraph 3, point (d), for European eel of an overall length of less than 12 cm, the Member States concerned may allow fishing activities for up to a total of 30 consecutive or non-consecutive days, which shall apply to all fishers concerned in the relevant fishing area, during the main migration period. In addition, the Member States concerned may allow fishing exclusively for restocking for up to an additional 50 days during the main migration period. In both cases, the Member States concerned shall determine an additional closure of an equivalent period of time during the main migration period or, subsidiarily, just before or after it. In cases where a Member State allows fishing on non-consecutive days, the fishing gear shall be taken out of the water during any period between of those non-consecutive days of fishing activities.

8.    Recreational fisheries of European eel at all life stages shall be prohibited.

9.    The Member States concerned, either individually or jointly, shall inform the Commission:

(a)    by 1 May, of the closure period or periods determined in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7, together with the supporting information justifying the chosen period or periods;

(b)    within two weeks of their adoption, of national measures relating to the closure period or periods that were determined in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7;

(c)    within eight weeks before the start of the closure period or periods determined in accordance with paragraphs 3 to 7, of the fishing activities held in accordance with paragraph 5, namely of:

(i)    the place or places and date or dates of the fishing activities;

(ii)    the expected number and type of operators, and the national scientific body involved; and

(iii)    the designated place or places for release; and

(d)    within a maximum of eight weeks from the end of the fishing activities held in accordance with paragraph 5, of:

(i)    the number and type of operators;

(ii)    the number of sexually mature European eels caught during those fishing activities;

(iii)    the number of European eels that are not sexually mature caught during those fishing activities; and

(iv)    the number of sexually mature European eels that were tagged.]

Article 15
Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities

1.    The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States set out in this Regulation shall be without affecting:

(a)    exchanges pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(b)    deductions and additions pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(c)    reallocations pursuant to Articles 12 and 47 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403;

(d)    additional landings allowed under Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(e)    quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(f)    deductions and adjustments pursuant to Articles 105, 106, 107 and 107a of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009; and

(g)    quota transfers and exchanges pursuant to Articles 26 and 55 of this Regulation.

2.    Stocks subject to precautionary or analytical TACs for the purposes of the year‑to‑year management of TACs and quotas provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96 are identified in Annex I to this Regulation.

3.    Except where otherwise specified in Annex I to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to a precautionary TAC, and Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC.

4.    Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year‑to‑year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

[Article 16
Closed fishing seasons for sandeels

Commercial fishing for sandeels (Ammodytes spp.) with demersal trawl, seine or similar towed gears with a mesh size of less than 16 mm shall be prohibited in ICES divisions 2a and 3a and in ICES subarea 4 from 1 January to 31 March 2027 and from 1 August to 31 December 2027.]

[Article 17
Remedial measures for cod in the North Sea

1.    The areas closed to fishing, except with pelagic gear (purse seines and trawls), and the periods during which the closures apply are set out in Annex IV.

2.    Fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines with a minimum mesh size of 70 mm in ICES divisions 4a and 4b or 90 mm in ICES division 3a, and longlines 84  shall be prohibited from fishing in Union waters of ICES division 4a, north of latitude 58°30′00″N and south of latitude 61°30′00″N, and in Union waters of ICES divisions 3a.20 (Skagerrak), 4a and 4b, north of latitude 57°00′00″N and east of longitude 5°00′00″E.

3.    By way of derogation from paragraph 2, fishing vessels referred to in that paragraph may fish in the areas referred to in that paragraph provided that they fulfil at least one of the following criteria:

(a)    their cod catches do not account for more than 5 % of their total catches per fishing trip; fishing vessels whose cod catches did not exceed 5 % of their total catches in 2017 to 2019 are presumed to comply with this criterion provided that they continue to use the same gear that they used in that period; this presumption may be rebutted;

(b)    a regulated and highly selective bottom trawl or seine is used, resulting, according to a scientific study, in at least a 30 % reduction in cod catches compared to fishing vessels fishing with the baseline mesh size for towed gears, as specified in Part B, point 1.1, of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241; such studies may be evaluated by the STECF and in the case of a negative evaluation, the gears concerned shall no longer be considered valid for use in the areas referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article;

(c)    for fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 100 mm (TR1), the following highly selective gears are used:

(i)    belly trawls with a minimum belly mesh size of 600 mm;

(ii)    raised fishing line (0,6 m); or

(iii)    horizontal separating panel with large mesh escape panel;

(d)    for fishing vessels fishing with bottom trawls and seines with mesh sizes equal to or larger than 70 mm in ICES division 4a and 90 mm in ICES division 3a, and less than 100 mm (TR2), the following highly selective gears are used:

(i)    horizontal sorting grid with maximum 50 mm bar spacing separating flatfish and roundfish, with an unblocked fish outlet for roundfish;

(ii)    seltra panel with 300 mm square mesh size; or

(iii)    sorting grid with maximum 35 mm bar spacing, with an unblocked fish outlet;

(e)    fishing vessels are subject to a national cod avoidance plan to sustain cod catches in line with the fishing mortality corresponding to the fishing opportunities fixed, based on scientific advice levels, through spatial or technical measures, or a combination thereof; such plans shall be assessed no later than two months following their implementation, by the STECF in the case of Member States or by the relevant national scientific body in the case of third countries, and, where deemed necessary, further revised if such assessments find that the objective of the national cod avoidance plan will not be met.

4.    Member States shall enhance the monitoring and surveillance of fishing vessels referred to in paragraph 2 in order to ensure compliance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 3.

5.    This Article does not apply to fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.]

[Article 18
Real-time closures of certain fisheries in the North Sea and Skagerrak

1.    From 1 January to 31 March 2027, in the Eastern Channel (ICES division 7d), Southern North Sea (ICES division 4c) and central North Sea (ICES division 4b), if the quantity of cod in the sample exceeds 25 % as compared to the total of cod, haddock, saithe and whiting, the catch trigger level, as referred to in Article 4(2) of Commission Regulation (EU) 724/2010 85 , shall be 7,5 % by weight of juveniles as compared to the total of those four species in a haul.

2.    When the closed area is based on one sample and lying outside the waters up to 12 miles from the baseline of the coastal Member State, as referred to in Article 7(2), point (c), of Commission Regulation (EU) 724/2010, the size of the closures shall be from 50 nm2 up to 225 nm2, except in Skagerrak (ICES division 3a), Eastern Channel (ICES division 7d) and Southern North Sea (ICES division 4c) where the size of the closures shall be from 50 nm2 up to 100 nm2.]

[Article 19
Technical measures for the Celtic Sea, the West of Scotland, the Irish Sea, and the Channel

1.    The following shall apply to fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN) and seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) in ICES divisions 7g, the part of 7h north of latitude 49° 30′ North and the part of 7j north of latitude 49° 30′ North and east of longitude 11° West:

(a)    unless points (b) or (c) apply, fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls or seines shall use gear with one of the following mesh sizes:

(i)    110 mm cod-end with 120 mm square mesh panel; or

(ii)    120 mm cod-end;

(b)     where catches comprise more than 30 % of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) and by way of derogation from the provisions laid down in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 494/2002, fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls or seines shall use 80 mm cod-end and one of the following gears:

(i)    300 mm square mesh panel;

(ii)    seltra 300 mm square mesh sorting box; or

(iii)    Nordmøre sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm or a similar Netgrid selectivity device.

(iv)    any alternative fishing gear proven to be at least equally selective for cod, haddock and whiting, according to an assessment made by the STECF. Such gear shall comply with the requirements of Article 15(4) and shall be approved by the Commission.

(c)    where catches comprise more than 55 % of anglerfish (Lophiidae), hake (Merluccius merluccius) or megrim (Lepidorhombus spp.) combined, fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls or seines shall use one of the following gears:

(i)    100 mm cod-end with a 100 mm square mesh panel; or

(ii)    100 mm T90 cod-end and extension.

2.    The following shall apply to fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN) or seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) in ICES divisions 6a and 5b, within Union waters, east of 12°W (West of Scotland) in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) fisheries:

(a)    fishing vessels shall use a square mesh panel (positioning retained) of at least 300 mm for vessels deploying a cod-end mesh size less than 100 mm; for vessels below 12 m in length overall or with engine power of 200 kW or less, the panel overall length may be 2 m and the panel mesh size may be 200 mm;

(b)    fishing vessels with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster shall use a square mesh panel (positioning retained) of at least 160 mm for vessels deploying a cod-end mesh size of 100-119 mm.

3.    The following shall apply to fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN) or seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) in ICES division 7a (Irish Sea):

(a)    unless point (b) applies, fishing vessels fishing with otter trawls or seines with a cod-end mesh size equal to or larger than 70 mm and smaller than 100 mm and with catches comprising more than 30 % of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) shall use one of the following gears:

(i)    300 mm square mesh panel; fishing vessels below 12 metres in length overall may use a 200 mm square mesh panel;

(ii)    seltra 300 mm square mesh sorting box; or

(iii)    Nordmøre sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm or a similar Netgrid selectivity device.

(iv)        any alternative fishing gear proven to be at least equally selective for cod, haddock and whiting, according to an assessment made by the STECF. Such gear shall comply with the requirements of Article 15(4) and shall be approved by the Commission.

(b)    fishing vessels equal to or greater than 12 metres in length overall operating with otter trawls or seines with catches comprising more than 10 % of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), cod (Gadus morhua) and skates and rays (Rajiformes) combined, shall use 120 mm cod-end.

4.    The following shall apply in ICES division 7e (Western Channel): 

(a)    fishing vessels operating with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN) and seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) with catches comprising more than 25 % cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) or saithe (Pollachius virens) combined, shall use 100 mm cod-end;

(b)    fishing vessels operating with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN), beam trawls (TBB), and seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) with catches comprising more than 30 % sole or plaice combined and, in the case of otter trawls or seines with additional catches comprising less than 25 % cod, haddock, whiting or saithe combined, shall use 90 mm cod-end.

The associated conditions set out in the third column of the table under point 1.2 of Part B of Annex VI to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 shall continue to apply.

5.    In ICES division 7d (Eastern Channel), fishing vessels fishing with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN), beam trawls (TBB), and seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) with catches comprising more than 30 % sole or plaice combined, shall use 90 mm cod-end.

The associated conditions set out in the third column of the table under point 1.2 of Part B of Annex VI to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 shall continue to apply.

6.    The catch percentages in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article shall be calculated as the proportion by live weight of all marine biological resources landed after each fishing trip, in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 and Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

7.     It shall be prohibited for fishing vessels to fish with bottom otter trawls (OTB, OTT, OTP, PTB, PTT, TBN) and seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SX, SV) in the following zones:

(a)    in ICES divisions 7b and 7c; and

(b)    in ICES divisions from 7f to 7k.

This prohibition shall not apply to fishing vessels where:

(a)    they use a cod-end mesh size of at least 100 mm, without prejudice to the cod-end mesh size specified in point (b) of point 1.3 of part B of this Annex in the area specified under point 1.3 of part B of this Annex; or

(b)    their by-catches of cod do not exceed 1,5 %, as assessed by the STECF, when fishing outside the areas referred to in paragraph 1.

8.    For the purpose of this Article, the following definitions apply:

(a)    ‘seltra 300 mm square mesh sorting box’ means a selectivity device which:

(i)    consists of a top panel of at least 300 mm mesh size (square mesh), placed in a four‑panel box section, in the straight section of a cod end;

(ii)    is at least 3 metres long;

(iii)    is positioned no more than 4 metres from the cod line; and

(iv)    is the full width of the top sheet of the box section of the trawl (i.e. from selvedge to selvedge);

(b)    ‘Nordmøre sorting grid’ means a selectivity device which:

(i)    consists of a rigid grid with a maximum bar spacing of 35 mm; and

(ii)    is fitted with a square mesh panel of 120 mm mesh size, positioned between 9 and 12 metres from the codline;    

(c)    ‘Netgrid device’ means a selectivity device consisting of a four-panel section inserted into a two-panel trawl with an inclined sheet of diamond mesh netting with a mesh size of at least 200 mm leading to an escape hole in the top of the trawl.

Article 20
Remedial measures for cod in the Kattegat

1.    Union fishing vessels fishing in the Kattegat with bottom trawls and seines 86  with minimum mesh size of 70 mm shall use one of the following selective gears:

(a)    sorting grid with maximum 35 mm bar spacing, with an unblocked fish outlet;

(b)    sorting grid with maximum 50 mm bar spacing separating flatfish and roundfish, with an unblocked fish outlet for roundfish;

(c)    seltra panel with 300 mm square‑mesh size;

(d)    highly selective gear, the technical attributes of which shall result, according to a scientific study assessed by the STECF, for fishing vessels exclusively carrying on board such a gear, in a proportion of cod catches of less than 1,5 % of total catches.

2.    Union fishing vessels participating in a project run by a Member State and having functioning equipment for fully documented fisheries may use a gear that complies with the requirements set in Part B of Annex V, to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, except for the gears that comply with the alternative requirement set in the second sentence of the footnotes in point 1.1 of that Part. By 31 March, the Member State concerned shall communicate a list of such vessels to the Commission.

3.    This Article does not apply to fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

[Article 21
Technical measures for red seabream in ICES subareas 6, 7 and 8

1.    A minimum conservation reference size of 36 cm shall apply for the catches of red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in ICES subareas 6, 7 and 8.

2.    A minimum conservation reference size of 40 cm shall apply for the recreational catches of red seabream in ICES subareas 6 and 7.

3.    From 1 January to 30 June 2027, all fishing for red seabream in ICES subareas 6, 7 and 8 shall be prohibited to fishing vessels flying the French flag.

4.    From 1 February to 30 September 2027, fishing with bottom set longlines (LLS) and bottom trawls (OTB) shall be prohibited in the western area of the Cantabrian Sea, opposite to Asturias and Galicia.

5.    Recreational fisheries for red seabream shall be prohibited within the following geographical areas: Area RF 1 (Cariño/Celeiro), Area RF 2 (Ribadeo), Area RF 3 (Navia), Area RF 4 (Ensenada Canero), Area RF 5 (Ensenada de Cabrera/Ría San Martín de la Arena), Area RF 6 (Ría de Treto), Area RF 7 (Bilbao/Plentzia) and Area RF 8 (Bermeo/Mundaka).]

Article 22
Technical measures for Northern prawn in the Skagerrak

1.    If the proportion of juveniles of Northern prawn (Pandalus borealis), as referred to in Article 5(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2201 87 , is more than 30 % of the overall catch of that species, control authorities may recommend a real‑time closure on the basis of one sample, as referred to in that Article.

2.    Trawlers targeting Northern prawn with a size selective Nordmøre grid, as referred to in Article 6(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2201, shall be subject to the closed area, as referred to in that Article.

3.    The closed area, as referred to in Article 7(b) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2201, shall not exceed 100 square nautical miles.

4.    The area, as referred to in Article 8(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2201, shall be closed for 21 days after which it shall automatically cease to apply at midnight UTC.

5.    Demersal trawls with a mesh size of at least 32 mm targeting Northern prawn, which are equipped with a Nordmøre sorting grid with a maximum bar spacing of 19 mm and without a fish retention device, as referred to in Article 11 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2201, shall be subject to the closed area, as referred to in Article 6(1) of that Regulation.

Article 23
Prohibited species

1.    Union fishing vessels shall not fish for, retain on board, tranship or land the following species:

(a)    pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus), bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) and common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) in all waters;

(b)    starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subarea 4 and division 7d, United Kingdom waters of division 2a and Union waters of division 3a;

(c)    splendid alfonsino (Beryx splendens) in NAFO subarea 6;

(d)    sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) in all waters other than the Mediterranean;

(e)    common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subareas 4, 6, 7 and 8, United Kingdom waters of division 2a and subarea 5 and Union waters of subareas 3, 9 and 10;

(f)    great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps) in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subarea 4, United Kingdom waters of division 2a and international waters of subareas 1 and 14;

(g)    tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subareas 4, United Kingdom waters of division 2a, United Kingdom and international waters of subarea 5, United Kingdom, Union and international waters of subareas 6 to 8, and international waters of subareas 12 and 14;

(h)    orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in United Kingdom, Union and international waters of ICES subareas 1 to 10, 12 and 14;

(i)    porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all waters;

(j)    thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a;

(k)    undulate ray (Raja undulata) in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subarea 6 and Union waters of ICES subarea 10;

(l)    whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all waters;

(m)    common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in the Mediterranean;

(n)    scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) and great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) in all waters; and

(o)    deep-sea species listed in Part D of Annex IA in Union, United Kingdom and international waters of ICES zones 1, 2 (except United Kingdom waters of division 2a), 5 to 10, 12 and 14, and CECAF areas 34.1.1, 34.1.2 and 34.2, as well as in Union and United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a and subarea 4, where specified in that Annex.

2.    When accidentally caught, specimens of the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.

Article 24
Data transmission

When Member States submit by electronic means to the Commission or the body designated by it data relating to catches and fishing effort pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, they shall use the stock codes set out in the Annexes to this Regulation.

Chapter II
Fishing authorisations in third country waters

Article 25
Fishing authorisations

1.    The maximum numbers of fishing authorisations for Union fishing vessels in third-country waters, where applicable, are set out in Part A of Annex V.

2.    Where, in accordance with Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, a Member State, after notifying the Commission, transfers quota to another Member State in the fishing areas set out in Part A of Annex V to this Regulation, the transfer shall be accompanied, where relevant, by an appropriate transfer of fishing authorisations. The total number of authorisations for each fishing area, as set out in Part A of Annex V to this Regulation, shall not be exceeded. That transfer of fishing authorisations shall be notified by the transferring Member State to the Commission at the time of the notification to the Commission of the quota transfer.

Chapter III
Fishing opportunities managed
by regional fisheries management organisations

Section 1
General provisions

Article 26
Quota transfers or exchanges

1.    Where the rules of a regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) permit quota transfers or exchanges between the Contracting Parties to that RFMO, a Member State (the ‘Member State concerned’) may discuss an outline of the quota transfer or exchange with a Contracting Party to that RFMO and establish a possible outline of an intended quota transfer or exchange, as appropriate. The Member State concerned shall notify the Commission of that outline.

2.    On being notified in accordance with paragraph 1, the Commission may endorse the outline of the intended quota transfer or exchange. If the Commission endorses that outline, it shall express, without undue delay, the consent to be bound by the intended quota transfer or exchange. It shall notify the secretariat of the relevant RFMO of the transfer or exchange in accordance with the rules of that RFMO.

3.    The Commission shall inform the Member States of any agreed quota transfer or exchange.

4.    The fishing opportunities received or transferred by the Member State concerned under the quota transfer or exchange shall be deemed to be quotas added to, or deducted from, its allocation as of the moment when the transfer or exchange takes effect under the terms of the agreement with the relevant Contracting Party to the RFMO or in accordance with the rules of the relevant RFMO, as appropriate. Such transfers or exchanges shall not affect the distribution key for allocating fishing opportunities among Member States in accordance with the principle of relative stability of fishing activities.

[Sections 2 to 4, 8 to 9 and 11 in Title II, Chapter III of this Regulation will be updated after the annual meetings of the RFMOs.]

[Section 2
NEAFC Convention area

Article 27
Management measures for mackerel

1.    Union fishing vessels shall not tranship mackerel that was caught in directed fisheries by fishing vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation in the NEAFC Regulatory Area in 2027 after the catches of those vessels have exceeded 1 495 tonnes collectively.

2.    Union fishing vessels shall not provide refuelling or other support services to vessels that have on board mackerel that was caught in directed fisheries by fishing vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation in the NEAFC Regulatory Area in 2027 after the catches of those vessels have exceeded 1 495 tonnes collectively.

3.    In Union waters and ports, landings, transhipments and the provision of other port services shall be prohibited for vessels that have on board mackerel that was caught in directed fisheries by fishing vessels flying the flag of the Russian Federation in the NEAFC Regulatory Area in 2027 after the catches of those vessels have exceeded 1 495 tonnes collectively.]

[Section 3
ICCAT Convention area

Article 28
Fishing, farming and fattening capacity limitations

1.    The number of Union bait boats and trolling boats authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the eastern Atlantic shall be limited as set out in point 1 of Annex VI.

2.    The number of Union coastal artisanal fishing vessels authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 2 of Annex VI.

3.    The number of Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna in the Adriatic Sea for farming purposes authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm shall be limited as set out in point 3 of Annex VI.

4.    The number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for, retain on board, tranship, transport or land bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 4 of Annex VI.

5.    The number of traps engaged in bluefin tuna fishery in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 5 of Annex VI.

6.    The number of authorised farms to operate for bluefin tuna and the maximum input of wild-caught bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shall be limited as set out in point 6 of Annex VI.

7.    The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for northern albacore (Thunnus alalunga) as a target species in accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 of the European Parliament and of the Council 88  shall be limited as set out in point 7 of Annex VI to this Regulation.

8.    The maximum number of Union fishing vessels of at least 20 m length fishing for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the ICCAT Convention area shall be limited as set out in point 8 of Annex VI.

Article 29
Recreational fisheries

Where appropriate, Member States shall allocate a specific share from their allocated quotas to recreational fisheries, as set out in Annex ID.

Article 30
Prohibitions relating to thresher sharks and shortfin mako

1.    In addition to the prohibitions established in Articles 32 to 36 of Regulation (EU) 2017/2107, direct fishing for species of thresher sharks of the Alopias genus shall be prohibited. That prohibition shall be without affecting the prohibition to fish for, retain on board, tranship or land pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus), bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) and common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) set out in Article 23(1), point (a) of this Regulation.

2.    It shall be prohibited to retain on board, tranship or land any part or whole carcass of shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Atlantic Ocean, north of 5°N, caught in fisheries in the ICCAT Convention area.

Article 31
FADs for tropical tunas

1.    It shall be prohibited to use FADs in the ICCAT Convention area from 17 March to 30 April.

2.    From 2 March to 16 March, Member States shall ensure that their fishing vessels do not deploy FADs.]

[Section 4
CCAMLR Convention area

Article 32
Exploratory fisheries notifications for toothfish for the 2027-2028 fishing season

1.    Member States may participate in, or authorise their fishing vessels to participate in, longline exploratory fisheries for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations (FAO) subareas 48.6, 88.1 and 88.2 and FAO divisions 58.4.1, 58.4.2 and 58.4.3a outside areas of national jurisdiction in the period from 1 December 2027 to 30 November 2028, in accordance with Article 7(2) to (7) of Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 89 .

2.    By way of derogation from the deadlines set out in Article 7(5) and (6) of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004, Member States intending to participate in, or authorise their fishing vessels to participate in, exploratory fisheries as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall notify the CCAMLR Secretariat no later than 1 June 2027.

Article 33
Toothfish fishery during the 2026-2027 fishing season

1.    In addition to the special requirements for exploratory fisheries set out in Article 7a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004, fishing for toothfish in the period from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027 shall be limited to the Member States, subareas and number of fishing vessels set out in Table A in Annex VII of this Regulation. For that fishery, the TACs, and by‑catch limits set out in Table B in that Annex shall apply.

2.    Direct fishing for shark species for purposes other than scientific research shall be prohibited. Any by-catch of shark, especially juveniles and gravid females, taken accidentally in the toothfish fishery shall be released alive.

3.    Where applicable, fishing for toothfish in any small-scale research unit (SSRU) shall cease when the reported catch reaches the specified TAC, and the SSRU shall be closed to fishing for the remainder of the fishing season.

4.    Fishing shall take place over a geographical and bathymetric range as large as possible, so as to obtain the information necessary to determine fishery potential and avoid an overconcentration of catch and fishing effort. However, fishing in FAO subareas 48.6, 88.1 and 88.2 shall be prohibited in depths shallower than 550 m.

Article 34
Krill fishery during the 2027-2028 fishing season

1.    For the purposes of Article 5a of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004, Member States intending to fish for krill (Euphausia superba) in the CCAMLR Convention area during the period from 1 December 2027 to 30 November 2028 shall notify the Commission thereof by 1 May 2027, using the form in Part B of the Appendix to Annex VII of this Regulation.

2.    By way of derogation from the deadlines set out in Article 7(5) and (6) of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004, and on the basis of the information provided by the Member States concerned, the Commission shall submit the notifications to the CCAMLR Secretariat by 30 May 2027.

3.    The notification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall include the information provided for in Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 for each fishing vessel to be authorised to participate in the krill fishery.

4.    A Member State intending to fish for krill in the CCAMLR Convention area shall notify the Commission thereof only in respect of authorised fishing vessels that, at the time of the notification:

(a)    are flying its flag; or

(b)    are flying the flag of another CCAMLR member and are expected to be flying the flag of that Member State at the time the fishery takes place.

5.    Where an authorised fishing vessel notified to the CCAMLR Secretariat in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 is prevented from participating in a krill fishery due to legitimate operational reasons or force majeure, the Member State concerned may authorise its replacement by another fishing vessel. In such a case, the Member State concerned shall immediately inform the CCAMLR Secretariat, with the Commission in copy, providing:

(a)    full details of the intended replacement fishing vessel or vessels, including the information provided for in Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 601/2004; and

(b)    a comprehensive account of the reasons justifying the replacement and any relevant supporting evidence or references.]

Section 5
IOTC Area of Competence

Article 35
Limitation of fishing capacity
of fishing vessels

1.    The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for tropical tunas in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 1 of Annex VIII.

2.    The maximum number of Union fishing vessels fishing for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the IOTC Area of Competence and the corresponding capacity in gross tonnage shall be as set out in point 2 of Annex VIII.

3.    Member States may reallocate fishing vessels assigned to one of the fisheries referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 to the other fishery, provided that they can demonstrate to the Commission that such change does not lead to an increase of fishing effort in respect of the fish stocks concerned.

4.    Where a transfer of capacity to the fleet of a Member State is proposed, that Member State shall ensure that fishing vessels to be transferred are on the IOTC record of authorised fishing vessels or on the record of fishing vessels of other RFMOs managing tuna fisheries. Fishing vessels that appear on any RFMO’s list of vessels that have engaged in illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activities may not be transferred.

5.    Member States may increase their fishing capacity beyond the ceilings referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 only within the limits set out in the development plans submitted to the IOTC.

Article 36
Drifting FADs and supply vessels

1.    Drifting FADs shall be equipped with instrumented buoys. The use of any other buoys, such as radio buoys, shall be prohibited.

2.    A purse seine fishing vessel shall follow no more than 250 operational buoys at any time.

3.    No more than 400 instrumented buoys shall be acquired annually for each purse seine fishing vessel.

4.    No more than three supply vessels shall operate in support of not fewer than 12 purse seine fishing vessels, all flying the flag of a Member State. This paragraph shall not apply to Member States using only one supply vessel.

5.    A single purse seine fishing vessel shall not be supported by more than one supply vessel flying the flag of a Member State at any time.

6.    The Union shall not register new or additional supply vessels in the IOTC record of authorised fishing vessels.

Section 6
SPRFMO Convention area

Article 37
Pelagic fisheries

1.    Only those Member States that have actively exercised pelagic fisheries activities in the SPRFMO Convention area in 2007, 2008 or 2009 may fish for pelagic stocks in that area in accordance with the TACs set out in Annex IH.

2.    The Member States referred to in paragraph 1 may use the fishing opportunities set out in Annex IH only if they send the following information to the Commission by the fifteenth day of the following month, so that the Commission can communicate it to the SPRFMO Secretariat:

(a)    a list of vessels actively fishing or engaged in transhipment in the SPRFMO Convention area; and

(b)    monthly catch reports.

Section 7
IATTC Convention area

Article 38
Purse seine fisheries

1.    Purse seine fishing vessels shall not fish for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) or skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis):

(a)    either from 00:00 hours on 6 August 2027 to 24:00 hours on 8 October 2027 or from 00:00 hours on 9 November 2027 to 24:00 hours on 11 January 2028 in the IATTC Convention area; and

(b)    from 00.00 hours on 9 October 2027 to 24.00 hours on 8 November 2027 in the area defined by the following limits:

longitude 96° W;

longitude 110° W;

latitude 4° N; and

latitude 3° S.

2.    For each of the fishing vessels referred to in paragraph 1 and flying the flag of a Member State, that flag Member State shall inform the Commission before 15 June 2027 which of the closure periods referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), the fishing vessel has selected.

3.    Purse seine fishing vessels fishing for tuna in the IATTC Convention area shall retain on board and then tranship or land all yellowfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna that they catch.

4.    Paragraph 3 shall not apply:

(a)    where the fish is considered unfit for human consumption for reasons other than size; or

(b)    during the final set of a trip, when there may be insufficient well space remaining to accommodate all the tuna caught in that set.

5.    For each of the purse seine fishing vessels fishing in the IATTC Convention area and flying the flag of a Member State, that flag Member State shall transmit to the Commission by 1 February data on annual catches of bigeye tuna in the IATTC Convention area in the previous year. The Commission shall compile and promptly transmit that information to the IATTC Secretariat.

6.    The closure periods referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), shall be extended for Union purse seine fishing vessels, on the basis of their catches of bigeye tuna in the IATTC Convention area during the previous year, as follows:

(a)    for fishing vessels that caught between 1 200 tonnes and 1 499 tonnes, the closure period is extended by 10 days;

(b)    for fishing vessels that caught between 1 500 tonnes and 1 799 tonnes, the closure period is extended by 13 days;

(c)    for fishing vessels that caught between 1 800 tonnes and 2 099 tonnes, the closure period is extended by 16 days;

(d)    for fishing vessels that caught between 2 100 tonnes and 2 399 tonnes, the closure period is extended by 19 days; and

(e)    for fishing vessels that caught 2 400 tonnes or more, the closure period is extended by 22 days.

7.    The extensions of the closure periods referred to in paragraph 6 shall apply as follows:

(a)    for the closure period starting on 00:00 hours on 6 August 2027, the additional days are added before the start of that closure period; and

(b)    for the closure period starting on 00:00 hours on 9 November 2027, the additional days are added after the end of that closure period.

8.    For each of the fishing vessels concerned, the relevant flag Member State shall inform the Commission of the extensions of the closure periods when informing the Commission of the selected closure periods pursuant to paragraph 2.

Article 39
Drifting FADs

1.    A purse seine fishing vessel shall have no more than the number of FADs set out in the table below active at any time in the IATTC Convention area. A FAD shall be considered active when it is deployed at sea, starts transmitting its location and is being tracked by the fishing vessel, its owner or operator. A FAD shall be activated only on board a purse seine vessel.

2.    During the 15 days before the start of the closure period selected in accordance with Article 38(1), point (a), of this Regulation a purse seine fishing vessel shall, in the IATTC Convention area:

(a)    refrain from deploying FADs; and

(b)    recover the same number of FADs as initially deployed.

Article 40
Catch limits for bigeye tuna in longline fisheries

The total annual catches of bigeye tuna in the IATTC Convention area by each Member State’s longline fishing vessels are set out in Annex IL.

[Section 8
SEAFO Convention area

Article 41
Prohibition of directed fishing for deep‑water sharks

Directed fishing for the following deep‑water sharks in the SEAFO Convention area shall be prohibited:

(a)    ghost catshark (Apristurus manis);

(b)    blurred smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus bigelowi);

(c)    shorttail lanternshark (Etmopterus brachyurus);

(d)    great lanternshark (Etmopterus princeps);

(e)    smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus);

(f)    skates (Rajidae);

(g)    velvet dogfish (Scymnodon squamulosus);

(h)    sharks of the Selachimorpha super‑order;

(i)    picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias).]

[Section 9
WCPFC Convention area

Article 42
Measures for bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna
and South Pacific albacore fisheries

1.    Member States shall ensure that no more than 403 fishing days are allocated to purse seine fishing vessels fishing for bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the high seas areas between 20° N and 20° S of the WCPFC Convention area.

2.    Union fishing vessels shall not target South Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in the WCPFC Convention area south of 20° S.

3.    The maximum number of Union purse seine fishing vessels authorised to fish for tropical tuna in the high seas areas between 20° N and 20° S of the WCPFC Convention area shall not exceed the limits set out in Annex IX, Table 2.

Article 43
Management of fishing with FADs

1.    In the part of the WCPFC Convention area located between 20° N and 20° S, purse seine fishing vessels, tender vessels, and any other vessels operating in support of purse seine fishing vessels, shall not deploy, service or set nets on FADs between 00.00 hours on 1 July 2027 and 24.00 hours on 15 August 2027.

2.    In addition to the prohibition set out in paragraph 1, it shall be prohibited to set nets on FADs on the high seas of the WCPFC Convention area located between 20° N and 20° S for one additional month, from 00.00 hours on 1 April 2027 to 24.00 hours on 30 April 2027, or from 00.00 hours on 1 May 2027 to 24.00 hours on 31 May 2027, or from 00.00 hours on 1 November 2027 to 24.00 hours on 30 November 2027, or from 00.00 hours on 1 December 2027 to 24.00 hours on 31 December 2027.

3.    The Member States concerned shall jointly determine which of the closure periods referred to in paragraph 2 shall apply to purse seine fishing vessels flying their flag. The Member States shall jointly inform the Commission by 15 February 2027 of the closure period selected. The Commission shall notify the secretariat of the WCPFC of the joint closure period selected by Member States concerned before 1 March 2027.

4.    Each Member State shall ensure that none of its purse seine fishing vessels deploy at sea, at any time, more than 350 FADs with activated instrumented buoys. Buoys shall be activated exclusively on board a purse seine fishing vessel.

Article 44
Maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish

The maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in areas of the WCPFC Convention area south of 20° S shall be as set out in Annex IX.

Article 45
Catch limits for swordfish in longline fisheries south of 20° S

Member States shall ensure that catches of swordfish south of 20° S by longliners in 2027 do not exceed the limit set out in Table 2 of Annex IG. They shall also ensure that this does not result in a shift of the fishing effort for swordfish to the area north of 20° S.]

Section 10
Bering Sea

Article 46
Prohibition on fishing for pollock in the high seas of the Bering Sea

It shall be prohibited to fish for pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in the high seas of the Bering Sea.

Section 11
SIOFA Agreement Area

Article 47
Limits to bottom fishing

Member States shall ensure that fishing vessels flying their flag that fish in the SIOFA Agreement Area:

(a)    limit their annual bottom fishing effort to the levels set out in Annex X;

(b)    do not engage in bottom fishing except using demersal longlines;

(c)    do not fish in the benthic fishery closures of Gulden Draak, Rusky, Fools-Flat, East Broken Ridge, Mid-Indian Ridge, Atlantis Bank, Bridle, Banana and Middle of What, as defined in Annex IK;

(d)    do not fish in the benthic fishery closures of Walter’s Shoal, Coral and Magneto, as defined in Annex IK, except with demersal longlines and on condition of having a scientific observer on board at all times while fishing in those areas; and

(e)    do not fish using demersal longlines in subarea 5, as defined in Annex IK.

Article 48
Toothfish fishery measures

Member States shall ensure that fishing vessels flying their flag that fish for toothfish (Dissostichus spp.) in the SIOFA Agreement Area:

(a)    do not fish in depths shallower than 500 metres;

(b)    have at least one scientific observer on board at all times with a target of observing 25 % of hooks hauled per line over the duration of the fishing deployment; and

(c)    tag and release toothfish specimens at a rate of at least five fish per tonne of green weight caught; once 30 or more toothfish have been caught a minimum overlap statistic of at least 60 % shall apply for tag release.

Article 49
Prohibition of directed fishing for deep-water sharks

Directed fishing for the following deep-water sharks in the SIOFA Agreement Area shall be prohibited:

(a)    Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis), except in the context of the by-catch allowance as set out in Annex IK;

(b)    birdbeak dogfish (Deania calceus);

(c)    gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus);

(d)    kitefin shark (Dalatias licha);

(e)    Bach’s catshark (Bythaelurus bachi);

(f)    dark-mouth chimaera (Chimaera buccanigella);

(g)    Falkor chimaera (Chimaera didierae);

(h)    seafarer’s ghostshark (Chimaera willwatchi);

(i)    longnose velvet dogfish (Centroselachus crepidater);

(j)    largespine velvet dogfish (Scymnodon macracanthus);

(k)    velvet dogfish (Zameus squamulosus);

(l)    whitecheek lanternshark (Etmopterus alphus);

(m)    smallbelly catshark (Apristurus indicus);

(n)    Pacific longnose chimaera (Harriotta raleighana);

(o)    narrowhead catshark (Bythaelurus tenuicephalus);

(p)    frilled shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus);

(q)    bigeyed six-gill shark (Hexanchus nakamurai);

(r)    smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus pusillus);

(s)    southern sleeper shark (Somniosus antarcticus);

(t)    goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni);

(u)    blue-eye lanternshark (Etmopterus viator);

(v)    blurred smooth lanternshark (Etmopterus bigelowi);

(w)    leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus);

(x)    little gulper shark (Centrophorus uyato);

(y)    shortspine spurdog (Squalus mitsukurii);

(z)    longsnout dogfish (Deania quadrispinosa);

(aa)    arrowhead dogfish (Deania profundorum);

(ab)    Cristina’s skate (Bathyraja tunae);

(ac)    paddlenose chimaera (Rhinochimaera africana);

(ad)    dusky snout catshark (Bythaelurus naylori).

Section 12
NPFC Convention area

Article 50
Chub mackerel and blue mackerel fishery

1.    For Union fishing vessels fishing in the NPFC Convention area, flag Member States shall transmit the following aggregated data to the Commission by the following dates:

(a)    monthly catches under the catch limits for chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) for all NPFC Contracting Parties for trawlers and purse seiners respectively, as set out in Annex IM, when utilisation of those catch limits is below 60 %, by the seventh day of the following month; and

(b)    weekly catches of chub mackerel and blue mackerel under the catch limits referred to in point (a) when utilisation of those catch limits is above 60 % and below 95 %, by Tuesday of the following week.

The Commission shall compile and promptly transmit that data to the NPFC Executive Secretary.

2.    Within two days of the issue date of notifications of the NPFC Executive Secretary that the utilisation of the catch limits referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), has reached 95 %, the Commission shall close the fisheries under those catch limits.

3.    The Commission shall compile and transmit annual catches of chub mackerel and blue mackerel in the NPFC Convention area to the NPFC Executive Secretary by the end of February of the following year.

4.    This Article shall apply in addition to the reporting obligations on catches set out in Article 33 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

Article 51
Prohibition of fishing for sharks

1.    Union fishing vessels fishing in the NPFC Convention area shall not fish for, retain on board, tranship or land sharks in the NPFC Convention area.

2.    When accidentally caught, specimens of the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.

Article 52
Prohibition of fishing for anadromous fish

1.    Union fishing vessels fishing in the NPFC Convention area shall not fish for, retain on board, tranship or land Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), Cherry salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) and Steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

2.    When accidentally caught, specimens of the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.

TITLE III
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIRD-COUNTRY
FISHING VESSELS IN UNION WATERS

Article 53
Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway or of the Faroe Islands

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Norway or of the Faroe Islands may be authorised by the Commission to fish in Union waters subject to the TACs set out in Annex I and subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Title III of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 and delegated acts adopted by the Commission on the basis of that Regulation.

Article 54
Fishing vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom,
registered in the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey,
the Bailiwick of Jersey or the Isle of Man,
and licensed by a United Kingdom fisheries administration

Fishing vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom, registered in the United Kingdom, the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Bailiwick of Jersey or the Isle of Man, and licensed by a fisheries administration of the United Kingdom may be authorised by the Commission to fish in Union waters subject to the TACs set out in Annex I, and subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 and delegated acts adopted by the Commission on the basis of that Regulation.

Article 55
Quota transfers or exchanges with the United Kingdom

1.    Any quota transfer or exchange between the Union and the United Kingdom shall take place in accordance with this Article.

2.    A Member State intending to transfer or exchange quotas with the United Kingdom shall discuss with the United Kingdom an outline of the quota transfer or exchange. The Member State concerned shall notify the Commission of that outline.

3.    If the Commission endorses an outline of the quota transfer or exchange referred to in paragraph 2 notified by the Member State concerned, it shall express, without undue delay, its consent to be bound by such quota transfer or exchange. The Commission shall notify the Member States and the United Kingdom of the agreed quota transfer or exchange.

4.    The fishing opportunities received from or transferred to the United Kingdom under the agreed quota transfer or exchange shall be deemed to be quotas added to, or deducted from, the allocation of the Member State concerned as of the moment when the quota transfer or exchange has been notified in accordance with paragraph 3. Such transfers or exchanges shall not affect the distribution key for allocating fishing opportunities among Member States in accordance with the principle of relative stability of fishing activities.

Article 56
Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela

Fishing vessels flying the flag of Venezuela shall be subject to the conditions provided for in this Regulation and in Title III of Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 and delegated acts adopted by the Commission on the basis of that Regulation.

Article 57
Fishing authorisations

The maximum number of fishing authorisations for third-country fishing vessels operating in Union waters shall be as set out in Part B of Annex V.

Article 58
Conditions for landing catches and by‑catches

The conditions laid down in Article 7 shall apply to the catches and by‑catches of third-country fishing vessels fishing under the fishing authorisations referred to in Article 57 of this Regulation, mutatis mutandis.

Article 59
Prohibited species

1.    Third-country fishing vessels shall not fish for, retain on board, tranship or land the following species in Union waters:

(a)    pelagic thresher shark (Alopias pelagicus), bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus) and common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus) in all Union waters;

(b)    sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus) in all Union waters;

(c)    starry ray (Amblyraja radiata) in Union waters of ICES divisions 3a and 7d, and Union waters of ICES subarea 4;

(d)    common skate (Dipturus batis) complex (Dipturus cf. flossada and Dipturus cf. intermedia) in Union waters of ICES subareas 3, 4 and 6 to 10;

(e)    tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) when taken with longlines in Union waters of ICES subareas 4, 6, 7 and 8;

(f)    orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) in Union waters of ICES subareas 3, 4 and 6 to 10;

(g)    porbeagle (Lamna nasus) in all Union waters;

(h)    thornback ray (Raja clavata) in Union waters of ICES division 3a;

(i)    undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of ICES subareas 6 and 10;

(j)    common guitarfish (Rhinobatos rhinobatos) in Union waters of the Mediterranean;

(k)    whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in all Union waters;

(l)    scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) and great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) in all Union waters; or

(m)    deep-sea species listed in Part D of Annex IA in Union waters of ICES subareas 6 to 10 and CECAF areas 34.1.1, 34.1.2 and 34.2, as well as in Union waters of ICES subarea 4, where specified in that Annex.

2.    When accidentally caught, specimens of the species referred to in paragraph 1 shall not be harmed and shall be promptly released.

TITLE IV
FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 60
Committee procedure

1.    The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture established by Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

2.    Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 61
Entry into force and application

1.    This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2.    This Regulation shall apply from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027.

However:

(a)    Articles 17 to 22; Article 30; Articles 47, points (b) to (e), 48 and 49; Title II, Chapter III, Section 12; Annex IA, Part B, Tables 116 to 118, footnotes 1 shall apply from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027 or until the date on which a Union act laying down corresponding measures becomes applicable, whichever is earlier;

(b)    Article 14(1) to (8) shall apply from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028;

(c)    Article 14(9) shall apply from 1 January 2027 to 31 March 2028;

(d)    Article 26 shall apply from 1 January 2027 to 31 January 2028;

(e)    Article 33 and Annex VII shall apply from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027;

(f)    Article 38(1), point (a), shall apply from 1 January 2027 to 11 January 2028;

(g)    Annexes IA to IJ, and IL shall also apply in 2028 and 2029, where specified in those Annexes;

(h)    Table 1 in Annex IC shall apply from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028, and footnote 2 in that Table shall apply from 15 April 2028 to 30 June 2028 or until the date on which a Union act concerning the closure period for cod in NAFO divisions 2J3KL becomes applicable, whichever is the earlier;

(i)    Annex IK shall apply from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2027, where specified in that Annex;

(j)    Annex II shall apply from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2028;

(k)    catch and effort limits fixed by this Regulation for the year 2027 and, where specified in this Regulation, also in 2028 and in 2029, shall continue to apply in 2028, and where relevant in 2029 and in 2030, exclusively for the purposes of:

(i)    exchanges pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(ii)    deductions and additions pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(iii)    quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013; and

(iv)    deductions and adjustments pursuant to Articles 105, 106, 107 and 107a of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

3.    By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, Articles 9, 10, 13 to 14, 16 to 23, 30, 41, 46, 47, 49, 51, 52 and 59 shall continue to apply from the day after the application end dates set out in that paragraph until the entry into force of the Regulation fixing the fishing opportunities for 2028. The previous sentence shall not apply where the application of the provisions referred to in paragraph 2 ends as a result of start of application of the legal acts referred to therein.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

(1)    Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1380/oj ).

(2)    Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008 (OJ L 179, 16.7.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/973/oj ).

(3)    Regulation (EU) 2019/472 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 establishing a multiannual plan for stocks fished in the Western Waters and adjacent waters, and for fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/1139 and (EU) 2018/973, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007 and (EC) No 1300/2008 (OJ L 83, 25.3.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/472/oj ).

(4)     https://www.ices.dk/advice/Pages/Latest-Advice.aspx

(5)    Council Decision (EU) 2021/1875 of 22 October 2021 concerning the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union in the annual consultations with the United Kingdom to agree on total allowable catches (OJ L 378, 26.10.2021, p. 6, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1875/oj ).    Council Decision (EU) 2023/2900 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/865 (OJ L, 2023/2900, 29.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2900/oj ).    Council Decision (EU) 2023/2807 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/868 (OJ L, 2023/2807, 15.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2807/oj ). Council Decision (EU) 2023/2812 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/867 (OJ L, 2023/2812, 15.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2812/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2901 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/860 (OJ L, 2023/2901, 29.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2901/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2826 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/859 (OJ L, 2023/2826, 29.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2826/oj ).`    Council Decision (EU) 2024/366 of 16 January 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and the meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/812 (OJ L, 2024/366, 19.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/366/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2823 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the South-East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/861 (OJ L, 2023/2823, 15.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2823/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2810 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/862 (OJ L, 2023/2810, 15.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2810/oj ). Council Decision (EU) 2023/2828 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the annual Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/866 (OJ L, 2023/2828, 15.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2828/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2888 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/858 (OJ L, 2023/2888, 21.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2888/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2801 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/863 (OJ L, 2023/2801, 19.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2801/oj ). Council Decision (EU) 2024/395 of 16 January 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Extended Commission of the Convention for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/824 (OJ L, 2024/395, 24.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/395/oj ).Council Decision (EU) 2023/2826 of 11 December 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation and repealing Decision (EU) 2019/859 (OJ L, 2023/2826, 29.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/2826/oj ). Council Decision (EU) 2022/392 of 3 March 2022 concerning the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the North Pacific Fisheries Commission (OJ L 79, 9.3.2022, p. 31, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/392/oj ).

(6)    Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026, 2027 and 2028 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) 2025/202 (OJ L, 2026/249, 30.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/249/oj ).

(7)    Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2459 of 22 August 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying details of the landing obligation for certain fisheries in the North Sea for the period 2024-2027 (OJ L, 2023/2459, 06.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2459/oj ).Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2623 of 22 August 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/472 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying details of the landing obligation for certain fisheries in Western Waters for the period 2024-2027 (OJ L, 2023/2623, 22.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2623/oj ).

(8)    Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1996/847/oj ).

(9)    Definitions are provided below.

(10)    ‘Blim’ is the spawning stock biomass reference point below which there may be reduced reproductive capacity.

(11)    Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel (OJ L 248, 22.9.2007, p. 17, ELI: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2007/1100/oj ).

(12)    Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) (OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/56/oj ).

(13)    Range of fishing mortality values resulting in MSY in the long term with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions without significantly affecting the reproduction process for the stock in question.

(14)    See in particular the document ICES approach to advice on fishing opportunities;    
https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.pub.30712466  

(15)    Stocks listed in Articles 1(1) of the North Sea and the Western Waters MAP.

(16)    ‘MSY Btrigger’ is the biomass level below which management action is to be taken to allow a stock to rebuild above the level capable of producing MSY in the long term.

(17)    Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1224/oj ).

(18)    Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, and amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006 and (EC) No 1005/2008 and Regulations (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2017/2403 and (EU) 2019/473 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards fisheries control (OJ L, 2023/2842, 20.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2842/oj ).

(19)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30931949       https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932156  

(20)    ‘FMSY point value’ is the value of the estimated fishing mortality that with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions gives the long-term MSY.

(21)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932111  

(22)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932120  

(23)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932261  

(24)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932273  

(25)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.27692238  

(26)    ‘FMSY value’ is the value of the estimated fishing mortality that with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions gives the long-term MSY.

(27)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.27692337  

(28)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.27202533

(29)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.27202533

(30)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932423

(31)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932408  

(32)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932396  

(33)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.30932396  

(34)    Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2021/689(1)/oj ).

(35)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.25019615.v1   https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.25019618.v1

(36)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.25019621.v1

(37)    Latest advice for 2026: https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.27203028  

(38)     https://doi.org/10.17895/ices.advice.19902958  

(39)    Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194 of 30 January 2023 fixing for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, as well as fixing for 2023 and 2024 such fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea fish stocks (OJ L 28, 31.1.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/194/oj ).

(40)    Council Regulation (EU) 2024/257 of 10 January 2024 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 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) 2023/194 (OJ L, 2024/257, 11.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/257/oj ).

(41)    Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 of 30 January 2025 fixing for 2025 and 2026 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 (OJ L, 2025/202, 31.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/202/oj ).

(42)    Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1380/oj ).

(43)    Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 establishing a multiannual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, specifying details of the implementation of the landing obligation in the North Sea and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 676/2007 and (EC) No 1342/2008 (OJ L 179, 16.7.2018, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/973/oj ).

(44)    Regulation (EU) 2019/472 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 establishing a multiannual plan for stocks fished in the Western Waters and adjacent waters, and for fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/1139 and (EU) 2018/973, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007 and (EC) No 1300/2008 (OJ L 83, 25.3.2019, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/472/oj ).

(45)    Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2459 of 22 August 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/973 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying details of the landing obligation for certain fisheries in the North Sea for the period 2024‑2027 (OJ L, 2023/2459, 6.11.2023, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2459/oj ).

(46)    Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2623 of 22 August 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/472 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying details of the landing obligation for certain fisheries in Western Waters for the period 2024‑2027 (OJ L, 2023/2623, 22.11.2023, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2623/oj ).

(47)    Blim is the biomass below which there may be reduced reproductive capacity.

(48)    MSY Btrigger is the biomass level below which management action is to be taken to allow a stock to rebuild above the level capable of producing MSY in the long term.

(49)    ‘FMSY value’ is the value of the estimated fishing mortality that with a given fishing pattern and under current average environmental conditions gives the long-term MSY.

(50)    Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel (OJ L 248, 22.9.2007, p. 17, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2007/1100/oj ).

(51)    Council Regulation (EU) 2023/194 of 30 January 2023 fixing for 2023 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, as well as fixing for 2023 and 2024 such fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea fish stocks (OJ L 28, 31.1.2023, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/194/oj ).

(52)    Council Regulation (EU) 2024/257 of 10 January 2024 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 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) 2023/194 (OJ L, 2024/257, 11.1.2024, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/257/oj ).

(53)    Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 of 30 January 2025 fixing for 2025 and 2026 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 (OJ L, 2025/202, 31.1.2025, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/202/oj ).

(54)    Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026, 2027 and 2028 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) 2025/202 (OJ L, 2026/249, 30.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/249/oj ).

(55)     https://www.cms.int/news/2026006-amendments-appendices-convention  

(56)    Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1996/847/oj ).

(57)    Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 establishing a multiannual management plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, amending Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EU) 2017/2107, and (EU) 2019/833 and repealing Regulation (EU) 2016/1627 (OJ L 238, 27.9.2023, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2053/oj ).

(58)    Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1224/oj ).

(59)    OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2021/689(1)/oj .

(60)    Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, of the other part (OJ L 175, 18.5.2021, p. 3, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2021/793/oj ).

(61)    Protocol on the implementation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Government of Greenland and the Government of Denmark, of the other part (2025–2030) (OJ L, 2024/3203, 30.12.2024, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/prot/2024/3203/oj ).

(62)    Council Decision 87/277/EEC of 18 May 1987 on the allocation of the catch possibilities for cod in the Spitsbergen and Bear Island area and in Division 3M as defined in the NAFO Convention (OJ L 135, 23.5.1987, p. 29, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1987/277/oj ).

(63)     Council Decision (EU) 2015/1565 of 14 September 2015 on the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Declaration on the granting of fishing opportunities in EU waters to fishing vessels flying the flag of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the exclusive economic zone off the coast of French Guiana (OJ L 244, 19.9.2015, p. 55, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2015/1565/oj ).

(64)    Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/182/oj ).

(65)    Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005, (OJ L 198, 25.7.2019, p. 105, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1241/oj ).

(66)    Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 70, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/218/oj ).

(67)    OJ L 252, 5.9.1981, p. 27, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/1981/691/oj . The Union approved the CCAMLR Convention by Council Decision 81/691/EEC of 4 September 1981 on the conclusion of the Convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources (OJ L 252, 5.9.1981, p. 26, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1981/691/oj ).

(68)    Regulation (EC) No 216/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the North Atlantic (OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/216/oj ).

(69)    OJ L 224, 16.8.2006, p. 24, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2005/26/oj . The Union approved the Convention for the Strengthening of IATTC by Council Decision 2006/539/EC of 22 May 2006 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community of the Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica (OJ L 224, 16.8.2006, p. 22, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2006/539/oj ).

(70)    OJ L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 34, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/1986/238(1)/oj . The Union acceded to the ICCAT by Council Decision 86/238/EEC of 9 June 1986 on the accession of the Community to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, as amended by the Protocol annexed to the Final Act of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the States Parties to the Convention signed in Paris on 10 July 1984 (OJ L 162, 18.6.1986, p. 33, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1986/238/oj ).

(71)    OJ L 236, 5.10.1995, p. 25, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/1995/399/oj . The Union acceded to the IOTC by Council Decision 95/399/EC of 18 September 1995 on the accession of the Community to the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (OJ L 236, 5.10.1995, p. 24, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1995/399/oj ).

(72)    OJ L 378, 30.12.1978, p. 2, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/1978/3179/oj . The Union acceded the NAFO Convention by Council Regulation (EEC) No 3179/78 of 28 December 1978 concerning the conclusion by the European Economic Community of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (OJ L 378, 30.12.1978, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1978/3179/oj ).

(73)    OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/1981/608/oj . The Union approved the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in North-East Atlantic fisheries by Council Decision 81/608/EEC of 13 July 1981 concerning the conclusion of the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries (OJ L 227, 12.8.1981, p. 21, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1981/608/oj ).

(74)    OJ L 55, 28.2.2022, p. 14. The Union acceded to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean by Council Decision (EU) 2022/314 of 15 February 2022 on the accession of the European Union to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fisheries Resources in the North Pacific Ocean (OJ L 55, 28.2.2022, p. 12, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2022/314/oj ).

(75)    OJ L 234, 31.8.2002, p. 40, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2001/319/oj . The Union approved the SEAFO Convention by Council Decision 2002/738/EC of 22 July 2002 on the conclusion by the European Community of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the South-East Atlantic Ocean (OJ L 234, 31.8.2002, p. 39, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2002/738/oj ).

(76)    OJ L 196, 18.7.2006, p. 15, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2006/496/oj .The Union approved the SIOFA by Council Decision 2008/780/EC of 29 September 2008 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (OJ L 268, 9.10.2008, p. 27, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2008/780/oj ).

(77)    OJ L 67, 6.3.2012, p. 3, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2012/130/oj . The Union approved the SPRFMO Convention by Council Decision 2012/130/EU of 3 October 2011 on the approval, on behalf of the European Union, of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean (OJ L 67, 6.3.2012, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2012/130(1)/oj ).

(78)    OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, p. 3, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/2005/75/oj . The Union acceded to the WCPFC by Council Decision 2005/75/EC of 26 April 2004 on the accession of the Community to the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (OJ L 32, 4.2.2005, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2005/75(1)/oj ).

(79)    Regulation (EU) 2017/2403 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2017 on the sustainable management of external fishing fleets, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 (OJ L 347, 28.12.2017, p. 81, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/2403/oj ).

(80)    All types of demersal trawls (OTB, OTT, PTB, TBB, TBN, TBS and TB).

(81)    All types of seines (SSC, SDN, SPR, SV, SB and SX).

(82)    All long lines or pole and line or rod and line fisheries (LHP, LHM, LLD, LL, LTL, LX and LLS).

(83)    All fixed gillnets and traps (GTR, GNS, GNC, FYK, FPN and FIX).

(84)    Gear codes: OTB, OTT, OT, TBN, TBS, TB, TX, PTB, SDN, SSC, SX, LL, LLS.

(85)    Commission Regulation (EU) No 724/2010 of 12 August 2010 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of real-time closures of certain fisheries in the North Sea and Skagerrak (OJ L 213, 13.8.2010, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2010/724/oj ).

(86)    Gear codes: OTB, OTT, OT, TBN, TBS, TB, TX, PTB, SDN, SSC, SX.

(87)    Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2201 of 1 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council with detailed rules for the implementation of real-time closures for Northern prawn fisheries in the Skagerrak (OJ L 332, 23.12.2019, p. 3, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/2201/oj ).

(88)    Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2017 laying down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Convention area of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), and amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EC) No 1984/2003 and (EC) No 520/2007 (OJ L 315, 30.11.2017, p. 1, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/2107/oj ).

(89)    Council Regulation (EC) No 601/2004 of 22 March 2004 laying down certain control measures applicable to fishing activities in the area covered by the Convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 3943/90, (EC) No 66/98 and (EC) No 1721/1999 (OJ L 97, 1.4.2004, p. 16, ELI:  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/601/oj ).