EU fisheries ministers finalized two days of negotiations, agreeing on fishing quotas for 2026. The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers set catch limits and fishing effort rules, with some measures extending through 2028. The plan addresses key commercial stocks in the Atlantic, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, giving the fishing sector clearer guidance for the coming years.
The agreement defines fishing effort by combining vessel size, engine power, and total days at sea. After detailed discussions, all 27 Member States reached a compromise that balances scientific advice with economic needs. Danish fisheries minister Jacob Jensen emphasized that the deal provides fishermen with certainty for 2026 and promotes sustainable conditions for the future.
Northern Seas See Quota Increases and Cuts
The EU independently manages 24 total allowable catches in the Atlantic and North Sea. Regulators raised quotas for species such as megrim, increasing it by 12 percent in waters south of the Bay of Biscay. Norway lobster quotas grew by 54 percent in the same region, reflecting stronger stock levels.
Other species faced reductions. Standard sole quotas dropped 45 percent in the Kattegat and Baltic, while horse mackerel fell 5 percent in Portuguese waters. Pollack quotas decreased by 13 percent, and monkfish by 1 percent. Mackerel remains unresolved, with ministers setting provisional quotas for the first half of the year at a 70 percent reduction while talks among North-East Atlantic coastal states continue.
Southern Waters Maintain Stability
In the Western Mediterranean, officials kept trawler fishing effort at 2025 levels. They also maintained limits for blue and red shrimp to avoid overexploitation. In the Black Sea, managers slightly reduced turbot quotas compared with last year, showing a cautious approach to protect stocks in the region.
