European Union fisheries ministers reached an agreement Saturday on fishing quotas for 2026, shelving plans for tougher restrictions in the Mediterranean after opposition from several member states, including Spain.
The deal sets catch limits and fishing days across EU waters covering the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea with some measures extending through 2028, EU officials said.
Spain had strongly criticised a European Commission proposal to significantly cut trawling days in the Mediterranean as part of efforts to restore fish stocks to sustainable levels. Under the compromise reached in Brussels, Spanish vessels will be allowed 143 fishing days in 2026, broadly maintaining current limits rather than facing sharp reductions.
“We have concluded two intense days of discussion in Brussels. We have achieved a good result,” Spanish Agriculture Minister Luis Planas said on X, welcoming the outcome.
The European Commission had argued that reducing fishing effort in the Mediterranean was necessary to reverse long-term stock depletion, but southern EU countries warned that steep cuts would threaten livelihoods in coastal communities already under economic strain.
Balancing sustainability and livelihoods
Denmark’s Fisheries Minister Jacob Jensen, who chaired the talks, said the agreement sought to reconcile scientific advice with economic realities.
“The deal strikes a balance between the scientific advice and protecting vulnerable fish stocks, while also providing stability for the sector,” Jensen said.
Under the agreement, vessels will be able to earn additional fishing days by adopting more sustainable practices, such as using selective gear or measures that reduce seabed impact, reflecting the EU’s push to link conservation incentives to operational flexibility.
Quota adjustments
The deal includes several notable adjustments for 2026. Catch limits for Norway lobster in the Bay of Biscay will rise by more than 50 percent, reflecting improved stock assessments, while quotas for common sole in both the eastern and western Baltic Sea will be reduced to protect declining populations.
In the Baltic, fisheries have faced some of the EU’s strictest limits in recent years due to collapsing stocks caused by overfishing, pollution and climate-related changes in sea conditions.
Long-term pressures
EU fisheries policy is guided by the Common Fisheries Policy, which commits the bloc to managing fish stocks at sustainable levels based on scientific advice. However, negotiations over annual quotas often expose tensions between environmental goals and the economic interests of member states.
Mediterranean fisheries, in particular, remain under pressure, with many stocks assessed as overexploited despite years of effort controls and technical measures.
Environmental groups have repeatedly warned that easing restrictions risks undermining recovery efforts, while fishing industry representatives argue that fleets have already absorbed significant reductions.
Implementation
The agreed rules will come into force on January 1, 2026, providing fleets with regulatory certainty ahead of the new fishing year.
EU officials said the compromise reflects the bloc’s continued effort to reform fisheries management gradually while avoiding abrupt shocks to coastal economies.
