EU publishes first annual fisheries data on catches and fishing effort, promoting transparency in sustainable fish stock management
The European Union has, for the first time, published comprehensive data on Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and fishing days at sea (effort regime) for 2023.
These key measures, part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), are designed to achieve sustainable fish stock management. The new statistics provide transparency on how fish stocks are allocated, caught, and regulated across EU waters and beyond. The data will be updated annually to reflect the previous year’s activities.
Total Allowable Catches (TACs): Monitoring EU Quotas
TACs are catch limits applied to various commercially important fish species. These limits are based on scientific assessments and agreed upon at different governance levels depending on whether stocks are shared with non-EU countries, managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), or handled exclusively within the EU.
Each TAC is specific to a species or a group of species in a defined geographical area. For instance, haddock caught in Union waters of ICES area 3a (Skagerrak and Kattegat) is counted towards that area’s quota uptake. In some regions, quotas for mackerel, cod, and herring reflect the EU’s agreements with third-party countries like the UK, Norway, and Iceland under post-Brexit fisheries arrangementsw data also highlights how quotas can be adapted through international quota exchanges. For example, a quota swap between the EU and the UK may allow EU vessels to gain access to extra pelagic quotas in UK waters while granting reciprocal access to British vessels.
Quota consumption is tracked as the percentage of fish caught and landed against the allocated or adapted quota. If this consumption reaches the quota limit, fishing activities in that area are halted, a status marked in the statistics as a “fishery stop date.”
Fishing Effort: Limiting Days at Sea
The effort regime regulates how often vessels can fish in specific areas by controlling the number of fishing days or kilowatt-days allocated to different fleet segments. This is particularly important for managing demersal stocks in areas with overexploited fish populations.
Effort limits vary depending on the type of vessel and the gear used (e.g., trawlers, seine nets). In some high-pressure regions, such as parts of the North Sea and Celtic Sea, stricter controls on fishing days are in place to protect species like cod, whiting, and sole.
EU member states are required to submit detailed reports on their catches and fishing effort to ensure regulatory compliance. These reports also help the EU fulfil its commitments under international agreements with RFMOs and non-EU partners.
The statistics cover not only TACs and quota consumption but also adapted quota levels after bilateral quota transfers. This provides a more accurate picture of the total fishing activity in shared waters. If quotas are exceeded, member states face sanctions, including early closures of fisheries.
The new data initiative complements Eurostat’s fisheries statistics and aims to support better stock management across the EU. The European Commission emphasises that making these statistics publicly available will increase transparency and accountability in fisheries management.
Key Takeaways
- TACs regulate how much fish can be caught, based on scientific advice and international agreements.
- Fishing effort controls limit how often vessels can operate at sea to protect stocks.
- The data shows quota uptake, adapted quotas, and any closures that occurred due to overfishing.
- These measures reflect the EU’s commitment to ensuring sustainable fisheries under the Common Fisheries Policy.
The full dataset is available on the European Commission’s fishing quotas webpage and will be updated each year to provide stakeholders with up-to-date information on fisheries management across the EU.
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