The European Commission has adopted its proposal for 2026 fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, aiming to promote sustainable fisheries management and uphold commitments made under the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations.
The proposal outlines measures to protect fish stocks, maintain marine biodiversity and ensure long-term viability for fishing communities across the region.
It will be further refined following the outcomes of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) annual session in November and the forthcoming advice from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries regarding demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean.
As of January 2025, the western Mediterranean multiannual management plan (MAP) for demersal stocks entered its permanent phase. For 2026, the Commission proposes continuing the current sustainable fishing practices which include regulated fishing effort for trawlers and longliners, catch limits for deep-water shrimps and a compensation mechanism for trawler fleets.
In the Mediterranean, the proposal incorporates measures from existing GFCM management plans, with adjustments to blackspot seabream and deep-water shrimp quotas expected after the November session.
For the Adriatic Sea, the proposal supports ongoing implementation of the GFCM MAPs for demersal and small pelagic stocks. This includes continuing limits on fishing effort for demersal species and applying the permanent phase of the small pelagics MAP launched in 2025.
In the Black Sea, the Commission recommends maintaining the 2025 catch limit for sprat and setting turbot quotas in accordance with GFCM rules.
The Council will review and seek political agreement on the proposal during its meeting on 11-12 December. The regulation is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026.
