European Council sets 2025 fishing limits to ensure sustainability

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU fisheries ministers set 2025 TACs and fishing limits to ensure sustainability and protect ecosystems.

European Union member states’ fisheries ministers have agreed on a political understanding of fishing opportunities in the North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Black Seas for 2025. The agreement was approved on 11 Dec 2024 by agreement following two days of discussions. The agreement outlines fish catch limits, also understood as ‘total allowable catches’ (TACs), and fishing effort limits for the most significant commercial fish products. 

According to the agreement, the fishing effort points to the extent and engine power of a ship along with the number of days expended fishing. The limitations approved are in line to ensure the long-term viability of fish stocks and the preservation of marine ecosystems, while at the same time defining the influence on communities that rely on fishing.

What are the details of the agreement?

As reported by the EU council, based on two proposals, the stocks covered are those that the European Union operates either on its own, together with neighbouring non-Euroepan Union nations, or via arrangements agreed in regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs).

As far as the Atlantic and the North Sea, the arrangement surrounds 21 TACs managed autonomously by the European Union. The number of TACs arranged this year is less since the EU Council decided on several multiannual TACs in December 2023 to improve predictability and strength for the industry. For the western Mediterranean, ministers arranged to concentrate fishing measures for trawlers by 66% in French and Spanish waters and by 38% in Italian and French waters to save demersal stocks, while also assessing the socioeconomic effect on the fleets.

Fish stocks together organised by the European Union and the UK are regarded as shared resources under international regulation. In line with the European Union-United Kingdom Trade and Cooperation Agreement, both sides hold annual discussions to decide on catch limits for common stocks. Bilateral talks with Norway and trilateral talks on shared stocks between the European Union, and the UK were also completed ahead of the European Council meeting.