EU fisheries ministers wrapped up two days of talks with an agreement on fishing quotas for 2026. The Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers approved catch limits and fishing effort rules for next year, with some measures extending through 2028. The deal covers the most important commercial fish stocks in the Atlantic, the North Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea, giving the sector a clearer regulatory outlook.
The agreement defines fishing effort by combining vessel size, engine power, and the number of days spent at sea. After intensive negotiations, all 27 Member States settled on a compromise that reflects scientific advice while preserving the economic viability of fishing communities. Danish fisheries minister Jacob Jensen said the outcome gives fishermen certainty about their opportunities in 2026 and supports stable conditions for a sustainable fisheries sector in the years ahead.
Quota shifts reflect stock conditions in northern waters
In the Atlantic and North Sea, the EU manages 24 total allowable catches on its own authority. Regulators increased quotas for several species, including megrim, which rose by 12 percent in waters south of the Bay of Biscay. Norway lobster saw an even stronger increase of 54 percent in the same area, reflecting improved stock assessments.
Other species faced tighter limits across northern waters. Standard sole quotas fell by 45 percent in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea, while horse mackerel allowances dropped by 5 percent in Portuguese waters. Authorities also reduced pollack quotas by 13 percent and monkfish by 1 percent. Mackerel remains unresolved, as ministers set only provisional quotas for the first half of the year, cutting them by 70 percent while talks continue among North-East Atlantic coastal countries.
Southern seas follow a more cautious approach
In the Western Mediterranean, policymakers chose continuity by keeping trawler fishing effort at 2025 levels. They also maintained existing limits for blue and red shrimp, aiming to avoid additional pressure on already sensitive stocks. In the Black Sea, managers slightly reduced turbot quotas compared with last year, reflecting a more cautious approach to stock management in the region.
