After two days of intensive negotiations, EU fisheries ministers finalized quotas for 2026. The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers approved catch limits and fishing effort for the next year, with some measures extending to 2028. The agreement covers key commercial stocks in the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, giving the sector a clearer framework for planning and operations.
The rules define fishing effort based on vessel size, engine power, and the number of days at sea. The 27 Member States reached a compromise balancing scientific guidance with economic sustainability. Danish fisheries minister Jacob Jensen said the deal provides fishermen with certainty for 2026 and lays the foundation for a sustainable future for EU fisheries.
Northern Waters See a Mix of Increases and Cuts
In the Atlantic and North Sea, the EU manages 24 total allowable catches independently. Regulators raised quotas for some species following stock assessments. Megrim increased by 12 percent in waters south of the Bay of Biscay, while Norway lobster surged by 54 percent in the same area.
Other species faced reductions. Standard sole quotas fell 45 percent in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea. Horse mackerel dropped 5 percent in Portuguese waters. Pollack quotas declined by 13 percent, and monkfish limits fell by 1 percent. Mackerel remains provisional, with ministers applying a 70 percent cut for the first half of the year pending further negotiations among North-East Atlantic coastal states.
Southern Seas Maintain Steady Limits
In the Western Mediterranean, authorities kept trawler fishing effort at 2025 levels. Existing quotas for blue and red shrimp also remain unchanged, aiming to preserve sensitive stocks. In the Black Sea, managers slightly lowered turbot quotas compared with last year, taking a cautious approach to protect the region’s fish populations.
