How fishing catch limits and quotas are set

Annual setting of catch limits

The EU defines common rules, through its common fisheries policy, to manage fisheries resources in a sustainable way, while contributing to the supply of food at reasonable prices.

Each year, EU countries set fishing catch limits for most commercial fish stocks. These are also called total allowable catches (TACs).

A TAC is agreed for each fish stock. This catch limit is then shared among the EU member states through national fishing quotas.

Quotas per fish stock are fixed according to historical agreements (this is called ‘relative stability’ in the legal acts). Member states are individually responsible for distributing their quota share among their national fishing fleets and for ensuring that their quotas are not overfished.

Catch limits and national quotas concern fish stocks located in EU waters or fished by EU fishing vessels in certain non-EU waters. Catch limits for fish stocks shared with other countries are subject to international agreements with those countries.

Where are EU waters located?

This map shows the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the EU's member states.

Each country holds the rights to exploit marine resources in their zone. As they are part of the EU, countries manage most resources jointly, on the basis of rules agreed under the EU's common fisheries policy, hence all EU member states’ EEZs combined make up the EU’s waters. The ocean areas beyond the EEZs are considered high seas, according to the United Nations convention on the matter.

Coastline: © EuroGeographics, © FAO (UN). EEZ: © VLIZ, Source: European Commission – Eurostat/GISCO

The role of the Council

The EU has exclusive competence for 'the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy', according to the EU treaties. Other fisheries policy areas (market policy, control and aquaculture) are a shared competence.

The ordinary legislative procedure applies to fisheries regulations, with the notable exception of setting catch limits and quotas, which is a Council prerogative.

The Council's responsibilities include:

• setting total allowable catches (TACs)
• fixing fishing effort limits
• deciding on other conservation measures necessary for the sustainability of stocks

The decision-making process explained

In practical terms, each year, the Council receives proposals from the European Commission on the catch limits for the following period. The proposals are founded on scientific advice provided by scientific advisory bodies.

The proposals are discussed and negotiated among the member states and the Commission until an agreement is reached. The Council, in its Agriculture and Fisheries configuration, reaches political agreement on the regulations. The act is then subsequently adopted by any Council configuration.

There are four regulations setting fishing opportunities that the Council can adopt:

• Baltic Sea: decision taken in October every year
• Mediterranean and Black Seas: decision taken in December every year
• Atlantic and North Seas: decision taken in December every year
• Deep sea: decision taken in December every two years