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Summaries of EU Legislation

Conservation of fisheries resources and protection of marine ecosystems

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 — the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

  • It sets out rules on how, where, when, which and how many fish can be caught in EU waters in order to conserve the species and protect marine ecosystems.
  • It repeals Regulation (EC) No 812/2004, 894/97, 850/98, 2549/2000, 254/2002 and 2187/2005.

KEY POINTS

Objectives

In line with the reformed EU Common Fisheries Policy, the rules are designed to:

  • ensure fishing levels correspond to the maximum sustainable yield1, to reduce unwanted catches and eliminate discards, and also to contribute to the achievement of good environmental status;
  • contribute to the protection of juveniles and spawning aggregations of marine species through the use of selective fishing gear and measures for the avoidance of unwanted catches;
  • minimise the impacts of fishing gear on marine ecosystems and in particular on sensitive species and habitats, including where appropriate by using incentives and other measures.

Main features

The regulation includes a number of important features such as:

  • simplifying the procedure for regional cooperation with the aim of creating regionalised rules for different fishing zones;
  • banning or restricting certain types of fishing methods including the phasing out of electric pulse fishing;
  • banning or restricting certain types of fishing gear, including mesh sizes;
  • setting out a list of banned species;
  • establishing a result-based approach. With the introduction of selectivity performance indicators2, the aim is to provide a quantified benchmark to be able to measure the effectiveness of technical measures;
  • introducing closed areas and closed seasons for fishing.

Scientific research

In order not to hinder scientific research or direct restocking and transplantation, the rules do not apply to operations conducted for these purposes.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since .

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

KEY TERMS

  1. Maximum sustainable yield: maximum level at which fish stocks can be routinely exploited without long-term depletion.
  2. Selectivity performance indicator: reference tool to monitor the progress over time towards the achievement of the Common Fisheries Policy objective of minimising unwanted catches.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005 (OJ L 198, , pp. 105-201)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

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