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Summaries of EU Legislation

    Fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (2024)

     

    SUMMARY OF:

    Regulation (EU) 2024/259 fixing for 2024 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 2024.
    • It lists the definitions and the fishing zones that apply for the purposes of the regulation.

    KEY POINTS

    Scope

    The regulation applies to the European Union (EU) fishing vessels operating in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that make use of 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;
    • European hake and deep-water rose shrimp in the Strait of Sicily;
    • giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimp in the Strait of Sicily, the Ionian Sea and the Levant Sea;
    • blackspot seabream in the Alboran 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 2024;
    • fishing effort limits for 2024.

    Total allowable catches

    Total allowable catches (TACs), set out in the annexes, are determined annually by EU Member States based on proposals from the European Commission.

    • TACs refer to the maximum quantity of fish from each stock that can be caught during the respective year.
    • TACs are set according to the principle of sustainable use of the various stocks in line with the maximum sustainable yield*.
    • TACs are based on the best available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socioeconomic aspects while ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors.
    • 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);
      • the recommendations of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean regarding European eel, red coral, dolphinfish, small pelagic species and demersal stocks in the Adriatic Sea, European hake, deep-water rose shrimp and giant red shrimp and blue and red shrimps in the Strait of Sicily, deep-water shrimps in the Ionian Sea and the Levant Sea, blackspot seabream in the Alboran sea, and sprat and turbot in the Black Sea.

    FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

    It applies from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.

    BACKGROUND

    For further information, see:

    KEY TERMS

    Recreational fisheries. Non-commercial fishing activities, such as recreation, tourism or sport, exploiting marine biological resources.
    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 that live on or close to the seabed.

    MAIN DOCUMENT

    Council Regulation (EU) 2024/259 of 10 January 2024 fixing for 2024 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (OJ L, 2024/259, 11.01.2024).

    Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2024/259 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

    RELATED DOCUMENTS

    Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area (recast) (OJ L, 2023/2124, 12.10.2023).

    Council Regulation (EU) 2022/110 of 27 January 2022 fixing for 2022 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (OJ L 21, 31.1.2022, pp. 165–186).

    See consolidated version.

    Regulation (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 establishing a multiannual plan for the fisheries exploiting demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea and amending Regulation (EU) No 508/2014 (OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, pp. 1–17).

    See consolidated version.

    Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, pp. 22–61).

    See consolidated version.

    Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC) No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006 (OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, pp. 1–50).

    See consolidated version.

    Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, pp. 3–5).

    See consolidated version.

    last update 12.07.2024

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