Advisory Councils urge clear, practical EU Fisheries Control Regulation implementation to ensure sustainability, fairness, and competitiveness. Photo: European Union 2019
Advisory Councils Demand Clear, Fair Implementation of EU Fisheries Control Regulation Ahead of 2026 Deadlines
The North Western Waters Advisory Council (NWWAC), Pelagic Advisory Council (PelAC), and North Sea Advisory Council (NSAC) have issued comprehensive advice urging the European Commission and Member States to ensure the revised EU Fisheries Control Regulation is implemented with clarity, fairness, and practicality.
Following a multi-Advisory Council workshop in Brussels on 5 February 2025, attended by eight ACs and the European Commission, the Councils highlighted numerous challenges and technical complexities facing fishers, regulators, and stakeholders ahead of key implementation milestones in 2026 and 2028.
Practicality and Administrative Burden
The Councils warn that some provisions risk imposing excessive burdens on fishers. For instance, Articles 14 and 15 require electronic logbook entries after every fishing operation—a potentially onerous demand given that vessels over 12 metres may undertake multiple operations daily (e.g., demersal trawlers conduct 4 to 6, fly shooters up to 9, beam trawlers 7 to 8, scallop vessels 10 to 12, and pot/trap fishers 10 to 20). This workload could jeopardise onboard safety, increase error risk, and breach working time regulations. The ACs call for simplified, harmonised logbook standards across the EU.
Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) and Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)
The introduction of mandatory REM on vessels at high risk of non-compliance under Article 13 is supported but requires harmonised risk assessments by Member States to avoid fragmentation and maintain a level playing field. Estimated costs for REM installation on a 56-metre vessel reach €19,000 plus ongoing data handling expenses. The Councils also highlight past issues with VMS interoperability causing costly system changes and downtime, warning these must be avoided with REM. Further, the Councils welcome the development of simplified VMS systems for small-scale fleets but emphasise that tracking requirements must consider vessel size, fishery type, and gear used to prevent disproportionate burdens.
Engine Power Monitoring
The new requirement for continuous engine power monitoring raises concerns about costs, technical feasibility, and legal clarity. The Councils stress the need for detailed technical descriptions of the “black box” measuring engine power, clear criteria distinguishing steaming from fishing activities, and consideration of the administrative and financial impact on operators. They note that repairs or adjustments to monitoring equipment requiring re-certification pose operational challenges, especially in foreign ports, recommending a minimum three-week compliance period to avoid fishing suspensions.
Weighing and Sampling Procedures
The Councils welcome standardised weighing and sampling protocols but stress the importance of pragmatism. The growing list of multiannual stock plans complicates requirements like separate stowage of demersal catches, risking impracticality onboard. The revised Margin of Tolerance (MoT) rules implemented since July 2024 have proven challenging, particularly due to reliance on representative sampling prone to errors—sometimes leading to criminal proceedings for minor breaches. The ACs urge the Commission to provide clear, practical guidelines and consider the disproportionate impact on smaller vessels, whose catches must be sampled at higher rates and suffer economic losses from damaged products.
Serious Infringements and Penalties
The Councils call for harmonised enforcement of penalties, ensuring measures are proportionate and avoid punishing minor administrative errors or force majeure cases. This is critical to maintaining trust, encouraging transparent reporting, and fostering cooperation within the fishing community.
Digital Traceability and Funding Support
They highlight the importance of a level playing field in digital traceability requirements across Member States to avoid disadvantaging EU fisheries in export markets. The Councils also call for maximised, harmonised use of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) to support control compliance, urging simplification of application processes to ease access, especially for smaller operators.
Calls for Continued Dialogue and Transparency
The Advisory Councils praise the Commission’s openness but stress the need for continued stakeholder engagement, including the involvement of the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and third countries, particularly regarding REM interoperability and monitoring consistency. They recommend dedicated expert groups, timely publication of implementing acts, and consolidated regulatory texts to provide clarity and ensure smooth compliance.
NWWAC Chair Donal O’Connell said:
“This advice reflects our shared commitment to sustainable, fair, and workable fisheries control. We urge all actors to focus on clear, practicable rules that protect marine resources while supporting fishing communities and the EU’s global competitiveness.”
