(1)

Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 (1) fixes for 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. Those fishing opportunities, including certain measures functionally linked thereto, should be amended to take into account the publication of scientific advice, as well as the outcomes of regional fisheries management organisations meetings.

(2)

Regulation (EU) 2025/202 sets a provisional total allowable catch (TAC) for anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the western part of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) subarea 9 and in subarea 10 for the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2025 at the level of 7 182 tonnes, pending the publication by ICES of its scientific advice for anchovy in the western part of ICES division 9a for the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. Following the publication of that advice on 20 June 2025, the definitive TAC for anchovy in the western part of ICES subarea 9 and in subarea 10 for the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 should be set at the level advised by ICES.

(3)

On 31 October 2024, ICES published its scientific advice for Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in ICES divisions 8a and 8b for 2025. In that advice, ICES had advised that catches of that stock in that period should be no more than 3 502 tonnes. On 6 May 2025, ICES published revised scientific advice for Norway lobster in ICES divisions 8a and 8b for 2025. In that revised advice, which replaces the advice of 31 October 2024, ICES decreased its catch advice for that stock and that period to 2 601 tonnes. Regulation (EU) 2025/202 sets the TAC for Norway lobster in ICES divisions 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e for 2025 at the level of 3 502 tonnes based on the ICES advice of 31 October 2024. In accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/472 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2), read in conjunction with Article 3(5) of that Regulation, the level of the TAC for Norway lobster in ICES divisions 8a, 8b, 8d and 8e set for 2025 should therefore be amended based on the revised advice from ICES.

(4)

On 3 May 2025, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/837 (3) entered into force. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/837 amended Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) as regards the management of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in part of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Convention area, in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45oW, and the Mediterranean. In particular, it amended Annex I, points 1 and 2, to Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 by inserting derogations for the Gulf of Lion. In Regulation (EU) 2025/202, the following should therefore be amended to take those derogations into account: (i) the maximum number of French coastal artisanal fishing vessels authorised to fish actively for bluefin tuna between 8 kg/75 cm and 30 kg/115 cm in the Mediterranean; and (ii) the allocation of the French quota for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45oW, and the Mediterranean, for such vessels.

(5)

Regulation (EU) 2025/202 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

In order to maintain the reporting periods for the TACs amended by this Regulation, which apply from 1 January or 1 July 2025, the amended TACs should apply retroactively from those dates. Such retroactive application does not affect the principles of legal certainty and protection of legitimate expectations, as the quotas under those TACs have not yet been exhausted or are increased.

(7)

Given the urgency of avoiding interruptions to fishing activities, this Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,