New digital certification system targets illegal fishing imports by replacing paper catch certificates and strengthening EU seafood import controls
Digital Catch Certification Comes Into Force Across EU
A new digital catch certification system for fishery products entering the European Union came into force on 10 January 2026, replacing the long-standing paper-based process and tightening controls on imports linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The system, known as CATCH, introduces a mandatory digital catch certificate for all relevant fishery products entering the EU market. The stated aim is to improve traceability, strengthen enforcement of existing rules and prevent illegally caught fish from entering EU supply chains.
According to the European Commission, the shift to a fully digital system is intended to make import controls more effective and consistent across Member States. By standardising how information is exchanged between EU operators and control authorities, CATCH is designed to reduce loopholes created by uneven national implementation of paper documentation.
The Commission argues that the new system will also create a level playing field for the EU fishing industry by ensuring imported products are held to the same regulatory standards as those landed by EU vessels. With seafood imports accounting for around 70 percent of EU consumption, and roughly 80 percent of those imports covered by the IUU Regulation, enforcement failures have long been identified as a structural weakness in EU fisheries control.
CATCH is positioned as a core element of the EU’s Ocean Pact, which links fisheries control with wider objectives on marine biodiversity protection, blue economy development and coastal community resilience. The Commission maintains that digital certification will reduce the risk of fraud while improving cooperation between Member States and between authorities and operators.
The system is also intended to reduce administrative burdens over time. As CATCH is progressively populated with data, authorities expect faster processing of import documentation and fewer delays for legitimate operators. However, its effectiveness will ultimately depend on consistent use by third countries exporting fishery products to the EU, and on enforcement by national authorities.
