Fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (2021)

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2021/90 fixing for 2021 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It sets the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for 2021.
It lists the definitions and the fishing zones that apply for the purposes of the regulation.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The regulation applies to European Union (EU) fishing vessels operating in the Mediterranean and Black Seas exploiting the following stocks:

European eel, red coral and common dolphinfish in the Mediterranean Sea;
blue and red shrimp, deep-water rose shrimp, giant red shrimp, European hake, Norway lobster and red mullet in the western Mediterranean Sea;
anchovy, sardine, European hake, Norway lobster, common sole, deep-water rose shrimp and red mullet in the Adriatic Sea;
giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily, in the Ionian Sea and in the Levant Sea;
blackspot seabream in the Alborean Sea;
sprat and turbot in the Black Sea.

It also applies to recreational fisheries* where these are expressly referred to in the regulation.

The fishing opportunities covered by the regulation include:

catch limits for the year 2021;
fishing effort limits for the year 2021.

Total allowable catches

Total allowable catches (TACs) set out the maximum quantity of fish of different species that can be caught during the respective year.
The set limits follow the principle of sustainable exploitation of the various stocks in line with maximum sustainable yield*.
The TACs are based on the best available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socioeconomic aspects whilst ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors.
The TAC for each individual species is divided into quotas — proportions of the TAC assigned to the EU, Member States or non-EU countries.
The catch and effort limits are in line with:
- the multiannual management plan for demersal stocks* in the western Mediterranean Sea, adopted under Regulation (EU) 2019/1022 (see summary) and
- the decisions of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) regarding eel, red coral, dolphinfish, small pelagic species and demersal stocks in the Adriatic, giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp stocks in the Ionian Sea, Levant Sea and the Strait of Sicily, and the GFCM turbot multiannual management plan for the Black Sea.
They are decided by the EU Member States on a proposal from the European Commission.
They are set out in the annexes to the regulation.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2021.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Agrifish Council: Ministers decide fishing opportunities for 2021 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

Recreational fisheries: non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as recreation, tourism or sport.

Maximum sustainable yield: the largest yield (catch) that can be taken from the stock of a species over an indefinite period, i.e. without endangering its survival.

Demersal stocks: stocks of fish species which live on or close to the sea bed.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Regulation (EU) 2021/90 of 28 January 2021 fixing for 2021 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (OJ L 31, 29.1.2021, pp. 1-19)

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