EU Commission Proposes Catch Limits for 2025 Fishing Opportunities

The European Commission has published its latest proposal for catch limits for 2025, focusing on fish stocks in EU waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Kattegat, and Skagerrak.

Based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the proposal aims to balance sustainable fishing practices with the socio-economic needs of fishing communities across Europe.

The proposal introduces catch limits, or total allowable catches (TACs), for ten key fish stocks managed solely by the EU in these areas. In line with the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) approach, the Commission is setting TACs for eight stocks, allowing fishers to take maximum quantities without compromising future stock productivity. Additionally, a by-catch TAC above MSY is proposed for one stock, facilitating the continuity of mixed fisheries.

Speaking at the announcement of the EU Commission’s proposals, Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight said:

“This proposal illustrates the Commission’s commitment to ensuring our fish stocks’ sustainability in the long term, while providing fishers with more fishing opportunities where feasible. The sustainability of our fisheries and the competitiveness of our sector go hand in hand. Fishers, Member States, and the Commission must continue working together in the same direction. Thanks to our joint efforts, we can propose increases for several important fish stocks this year.”

Increased Catch Limits for Key Species

The 2025 proposal suggests increases in catch limits for five stocks, reflecting recent improvements in population assessments. Notable increases include:

• Anglerfish, megrims, and horse mackerel in Atlantic Iberian waters.
• Norway lobster in the southern Bay of Biscay and Cantabrian Sea.
• Common sole in the Bay of Biscay.

In Iberian Atlantic waters, the proposal maintains the 2024 TAC for hake at 17,445 tonnes, balancing MSY recommendations with the mixed fisheries’ need to manage incidental catches. This decision aims to protect the hake stock while supporting fishers reliant on it.

Maintained and Reduced TACs for Vulnerable Stocks

To address conservation concerns, the Commission proposes holding the 2024 TAC for plaice in the Kattegat, keeping it below ICES’s MSY range. Given the zero-catch advice for cod in this region, limits on plaice and Norway lobster are maintained at lower levels to protect cod, which is often caught incidentally.

In the Skagerrak-Kattegat and Western Baltic Sea, sole faces stricter measures. Due to low stock biomass, the proposal suspends the targeted fishery, setting a by-catch TAC at the level of recent catches to stabilise stock biomass. Additionally, roundnose grenadier TACs are proposed to be set at low levels for 2025 and 2026, aligning with the ICES advice of zero catches.

Eel Conservation: Continued Fishing Ban

The Commission’s proposal includes sustained restrictions on European eel fishing to protect this critically endangered species. Measures include a mandatory six-month closure for eel fishing and a ban on recreational eel fishing in EU marine and brackish waters in the North-East Atlantic, emphasising the EU’s commitment to reversing the species’ decline.

Awaiting Further Advice and Consultations

The proposal remains a work in progress, pending additional scientific advice for twelve stocks, including anchovy, Norway lobster, pollack, red seabream, and undulate ray in specific areas. These TACs are currently marked as “pro memoria” (pm) and will be finalised once scientific advice and negotiations with Norway and the UK conclude.

Towards Sustainable Fisheries Management

In 2024, 81% of EU TACs aligned with MSY, a significant increase from just 14% in 2009, underscoring the EU’s progress in sustainable fisheries management. Under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), EU Member States are committed to managing stocks at sustainable levels, ensuring that fish populations regenerate and maintain their economic viability for future generations.

The Commission’s proposal incorporates the landing obligation and considers exemptions for discards, aligning quotas with sustainable practices. By setting TACs that address the complexity of mixed fisheries, the EU aims to support fishing communities while safeguarding vulnerable stocks.

Next Steps

EU Member States will review the proposal on 9–10 December 2024, aiming to establish TACs for 2025, and in some cases, for 2026. The final regulation is expected to take effect from 1 January 2025. As Europe’s fisheries sector awaits the outcome, the focus remains on achieving a sustainable balance between stock conservation and economic stability for coastal communities.