Regulation 2025/669 - Amendment of Regulation (EU) 2025/202 fixing for 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters - Main contents

Official Journal

of the European Union

EN

L series

2025/669

1.4.2025

Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 (1) fixes for 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters. Those fishing opportunities, including certain measures functionally linked thereto, should be amended to take into account the publication of scientific advice, as well as the outcomes of consultations with third countries and regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) meetings.

On 6 March 2025, the Union and the United Kingdom conducted bilateral consultations pursuant to Article 498(2), (4) and (6) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (2), on the level of the total allowable catches (TACs) for sandeel and associated by-catches (Ammodytes spp.) in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subarea 4, United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a, and Union waters of ICES division 3a. The Union participated in those consultations on the basis of the Union position endorsed by the Council on 4 March 2025. The outcome of those consultations was documented in a written record signed on 12 March 2025. The relevant TACs should therefore be set at the level agreed with the United Kingdom.

Fishing effort limits for Union fishing vessels fishing for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in part of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Convention area, in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45°W, and in the Mediterranean, and maximum input and capacity for Union farms of bluefin tuna in that area, are based on information provided in the annual plans referred to in Articles 11, 13 and 15 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053 of the European Parliament and of the Council (3). Pursuant to Article 16(1) of that Regulation, Member States are to submit those plans to the Commission by 31 January of each year. Those plans are then compiled by the Commission and form the basis for the establishment of a Union annual plan, which is transmitted to the ICCAT Secretariat for discussion and approval by ICCAT, as required by Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053. On 5 March 2025, the Union annual plan for 2025 was approved by ICCAT. The Union fishing effort limits and Union maximum farming input and capacity for 2025 should therefore be amended in line with that annual plan.

In accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2053, certain Member States included in their annual fishing plans submitted to the Commission requests to carry over 5 % of their annual quota of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45°W, and the Mediterranean, from 2024 to 2025. On the basis of those requests, the Commission integrated a request for carry-over of the EU quota for that stock from 2024 to 2025 in the Union annual plan for 2025. Following the approval of the Union annual plan, the quotas of the relevant Member States for bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean, east of 45°W, and the Mediterranean, for 2025, should therefore be amended accordingly.

In accordance with Articles 8a, 17b and 18b of Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 of the European Parliament and of...