The European Commission has published its proposed 2025 catch limits for ten fish stocks in the EU waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Kattegat and Skagerrak.
Limits for eight stocks are in line with the scientifically advised maximum sustainable yield, whilst one is above to allow mixed fisheries to continue. A six-month ban on eel fishing will remain in place.
“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,” said Maroš Šefčovič, executive vice-president for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight.
“The sustainability of our fisheries and the competitiveness of our sector go hand in hand.”
Limits for five stocks have been increased, namely anglerfish, megrims and horse mackerel in Atlantic Iberian waters, Norway lobster in the southern Bay of Biscay and Cantabrian Sea, and common sole in the Bay of Biscay.
For hake in Atlantic Iberian waters, the commission proposes to maintain the 2024 TAC of 17,445 tonnes, which is between the MSY point value of 15,105 tonnes and the upper limit of the MSY range of 20,404 tonnes.
Limits for plaice in the Kattegat also remain at the 2024 TAC, which falls below the lower limit of the MSY range provided by ICES.
For sole in the Skagerrak-Kattegat and the Western Baltic Sea, the commission proposes suspending the targeted fishery and setting a by-catch TAC for fisheries targeting Norway lobster at the level of recent catches.
The commission proposes a low multiannual by-catch TAC for 2025 and 2026 for roundnose grenadier for fisheries targeting Northern prawn at the level of recent landings.
Given the critical status of the European eel population, the commission proposes to maintain existing measures for protecting the stock which include a six-month closure and a ban on all recreational eel fishing in EU marine and brackish waters of the North-East Atlantic.
Twelve stocks managed solely by the EU are still awaiting scientific advice. These are anchovy in the Bay of Biscay and in Atlantic Iberian waters; cod in the Kattegat; Norway lobster in the Skagerrak-Kattegat, in the Bay of Biscay and in Atlantic Iberian waters; pollack in the Bay of Biscay, in the Cantabrian Sea and in Atlantic Iberian waters; red seabream in Atlantic Iberian waters; and undulate ray in the Bay of Biscay and in Atlantic Iberian waters.
The regulation should come into force on 1 January 2025.
