News item | 11-12-2024 | 11:42
The member states of the European Union (EU) have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for sea fisheries in 2025. The agreement makes clear how much fishermen in the EU member states are allowed to catch per fish stock.
Fisheries agreements
Every year in December, the EU makes agreements about how much fish the various member states may catch in European seas in the coming year, the so-called fishing quotas. The EU concludes separate agreements with third countries (countries outside the EU) on fishing opportunities and also on access to each other’s waters, for example.
Sole, herring and horse mackerel are important fish stocks for the Dutch fishing sector. A number of fish stocks are so healthy that fishing opportunities for next year will increase. Examples include sole, plaice and monkfish. Fishing opportunities for a number of other fish stocks are decreasing. As a result, negotiations on pelagic stocks, such as mackerel and herring, are becoming increasingly difficult. For eel, the closed period remains the same as this year.
State Secretary Jean Rummenie of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN):
“I am satisfied that an agreement was reached on time this year on the fishing opportunities for 2025. Last year, our sole fishermen were hit particularly hard by the amount of fish they were allowed to catch. Fortunately, the prospects for the coming year are more positive. I continue to attach importance to the fact that, in addition to scientific advice, the socio-economic consequences are also taken into account when determining fishing opportunities. I have also drawn attention to this in Brussels recently and will continue to do so next year. We also saw that amended scientific advice was issued at a late point in the negotiation process. I have therefore urged that the advisory process be improved.”
Sole fishing
An agreement was reached on December 6 on fish stocks that the EU shares with the UK. In this agreement it has been agreed that for the coming year there will be a 172% increase in Dutch sole fishing compared to 2024. This year the sole fishery was able to catch 60% less than the year before, which has had a major negative impact on the sector and their earning capacity. Although the new fishing opportunities do not take away the pain of last year, fortunately the fishing opportunities for next year will give sole fishing a little more space.
System of fishing quotas
Every year in December, the European fisheries ministers and the European Commission decide on the total catch quantities for the coming year. The EU’s commitment – and that of the Netherlands – is that the fishing opportunities are based on multi-annual management plans and scientific advice from ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea). This assesses how much fish can be caught from a stock without depleting it. On this basis, the so-called Total Allowable Catch (TAC) is negotiated per file. It is then determined how much of this a Member State may catch, the quota. The outcomes of the negotiations are determined by the European Council of Fisheries Ministers. The quotas for the individual fishermen are then derived from the total catch quantities using a fixed distribution key. The outcomes of the negotiations for the Netherlands are converted into national regulations. This will be published before January 1. Fishermen can then take advantage of the new fishing opportunities from the start of the new year.