EU fisheries ministers concluded two days of negotiations with a final agreement on 2026 fishing quotas. The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers approved catch limits and fishing effort rules for next year. Some measures will remain in force until 2028. The agreement covers major commercial stocks in the Atlantic, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, offering clearer planning conditions for the industry.
The rules define fishing effort through vessel size, engine power, and days spent at sea. All 27 Member States reached a compromise after difficult discussions. The deal balances scientific advice with the need to protect fishing incomes. Danish fisheries minister Jacob Jensen said the agreement gives fishermen predictability for 2026. He added that the framework supports long-term sustainability for the sector.
Northern quota changes signal mixed stock health
In the Atlantic and North Sea, the EU independently manages 24 total allowable catches. Authorities raised several quotas following updated stock assessments. Megrim quotas increased by 12 percent in waters south of the Bay of Biscay. Norway lobster quotas climbed sharply, rising by 54 percent in the same area.
Several stocks faced reductions across northern waters. Standard sole quotas dropped by 45 percent in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea. Horse mackerel allowances fell by 5 percent in Portuguese waters. Regulators cut pollack quotas by 13 percent and monkfish by 1 percent. Mackerel remains unresolved. Ministers introduced provisional quotas for the first half of the year. These limits represent a 70 percent reduction while coastal state consultations continue.
Mediterranean and Black Sea measures favor stability
In the Western Mediterranean, decision-makers maintained trawler fishing effort at 2025 levels. Authorities also kept existing limits for blue and red shrimp unchanged. These decisions aim to limit further strain on vulnerable stocks. In the Black Sea, managers slightly reduced turbot quotas compared with last year. Officials adopted a cautious approach to reflect ongoing conservation concerns in the region.
