This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Document 32020R0123
Fishing opportunities in EU and non-EU waters (2020)
This summary has been archived and will not be updated, because the summarised document is no longer in force or does not reflect the current situation.
- Date of last review:
- 03/06/2020
- Initial creation date:
- 03/07/2020
- Summary code:
-
- 02.99.00.00 Archived summaries
- EUROVOC descriptor:
- Directory code:
- Summarised document(s):
- Author:
- Publications Office of the European Union
- Responsible entity(ies):
- Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Fishing opportunities in EU and non-EU waters (2020)
SUMMARY OF:
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATIONS?
The regulations set yearly total allowable catches (TACs)* and quotas* by fish stocks, as well as fishing effort levels in the different fishing areas in line with the objectives of the EU’s common fisheries policy — environmental and socioeconomic sustainability — to the benefit of the fish stocks, fishing sector and EU citizens.
KEY POINTS
The regulations apply to EU fishing vessels and non-EU vessels in EU waters and some recreational fisheries*.
Regulation (EU) 2020/123 sets 2020 catch limits for the main commercial fish stocks in the Atlantic, the North Sea and some other international fisheries in which EU vessels participate. The limits generally apply for the 2020 calendar year, but some extend into 2021 or apply for slightly different periods. The regulation includes rules on:
- TACs and allocations among EU countries;
- Conditions for landing catches and by-catches, including which species may be retained on board or landed, aiming to continue to reduce unwanted catches through the landing obligation (i.e. the prohibition to discard certain stocks at sea) for all stocks under catch limit;
- Quota-exchange mechanism for TACs for unavoidable by-catches*;
- Slightly increased by-catch levels for seabass in the Northern areas and additional flexibility in their management;
- Measures on European eel fisheries in EU waters;
- Special provisions on allocations of fishing opportunities to EU countries, such as exchanges and quota transfers;
- Remedial measures for cod and whiting in the Celtic Sea, North Sea and Kattegat, with the aim of improving the selectivity of fishing gears and reducing by-catches;
- Prohibited species;
- Closed fishing seasons;
- Recreational fisheries;
- Sharks: retaining on board, transshipping* or landing is generally prohibited, and if caught accidentally must be promptly released.
The regulation also covers
- Fishing authorisations in non-EU waters;
- Fishing opportunities for non-EU vessels in EU waters.
Regulation (EU) 2019/2236 fixes for 2020 the fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for the following fish stocks.The rules include:
- A fishing effort regime in the Western Mediterranean applying to Spain, France and Italy;
- A closure period for European eel in the entire Mediterranean Sea;
- Catch and effort limits for small pelagic stocks and an effort limit for demersal stocks in the Adriatic Sea;
- An autonomous quota for sprat in the Black Sea applying to Bulgaria and Romania;
- A TAC for turbot in the Black Sea, as well as closure periods and a fishing effort regime.
Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 fixes fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2020 and amends some fishing opportunities in other waters fixed by Regulation (EU) 2019/124. It covers:
- TACs and national quotas for the ten most commercially important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea and how much European fishermen will be able to fish and under what conditions;
- Decreased fishing opportunities for the majority of fish stocks;
- Moderately increased TACs only for herring in the Gulf of Riga;
- TACs maintained for salmon in the Gulf of Finland;
- particularly significant cuts for cod, with a 60% decrease in the Western part of the Baltic Sea, and a TAC for by-catches only in the Eastern part;
- Additional remedial measures on cod stocks, including stricter limits for recreational fisheries (normally a bag limit of five specimens per fisherman per day) and longer closure periods in some geographical subdivisions.
WHEN DO THE REGULATIONS APPLY?
They apply from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 with some minor exceptions.
BACKGROUND
For more information, see:
- The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (European Commission)
- Management of the EU’s fish stocks (Council of the European Union)
- Managing fisheries (European Commission)
- Fishing quotas (European Commission).
KEY TERMS
MAIN DOCUMENTS
Council Regulation (EU) 2020/123 of 27 January 2020 fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters (OJ L 25, 30.1.2020, pp. 1-156)
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2020/123 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Council Regulation (EU) 2019/2236 of 16 December 2019 fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas (OJ L 336, 30.12.2019, pp. 14-25)
Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1838 of 30 October 2019 fixing for 2020 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/124 as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters (OJ L 281, 31.10.2019, pp. 1-14)
See consolidated version.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the State of Play of the Common Fisheries Policy and Consultation on the Fishing Opportunities for 2020 (COM(2019) 274 final, 7.6.2019)
Council Regulation (EU) 2019/124 of 30 January 2019 fixing for 2019 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters (OJ L 29, 31.1.2019, pp. 1-166)
See consolidated version.
last update 03.06.2020