After two days of intense negotiations, EU fisheries ministers finalized an agreement on fishing quotas for 2026. The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers approved both catch limits and fishing effort rules, with some measures extending until 2028. The pact covers key commercial stocks across the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean, and Black Sea, offering the sector clearer guidance and planning certainty.
Fishing effort is calculated by combining vessel size, engine power, and the number of fishing days. After careful debate, all 27 Member States reached a compromise that balances scientific recommendations with the economic needs of the fishing industry. Danish fisheries minister Jacob Jensen said the agreement provides fishermen with certainty about their 2026 quotas and strengthens long-term sustainability.
Northern waters see mixed quota adjustments
In the Atlantic and North Sea, the EU sets 24 total allowable catches independently. Some species benefit from increases: megrim rose by 12 percent in waters south of the Bay of Biscay, while Norway lobster quotas jumped 54 percent in the same area.
Other stocks faced cuts across northern waters. Standard sole quotas fell 45 percent in the Kattegat and Baltic, horse mackerel declined 5 percent in Portuguese waters, pollack dropped 13 percent, and monkfish fell 1 percent. Mackerel remains a special case. Ministers applied provisional quotas for the first half of the year, reducing them by 70 percent as consultations among North-East Atlantic coastal countries continue.
Mediterranean and Black Sea quotas remain steady
In the Western Mediterranean, policymakers kept trawler fishing effort at 2025 levels. Limits for blue and red shrimp also remained unchanged, reducing pressure on vulnerable stocks. In the Black Sea, authorities slightly lowered turbot quotas compared with last year, reflecting a cautious approach to conservation while maintaining stability for local fisheries.
