European Commission Imposes Fisheries Closure for Herring in Areas 6b and 6aN; United Kingdom and International Waters of 5b for Vessels Flying the Flag of Ireland

Strategic Insights -

The European Commission has issued a regulation establishing a fisheries closure for herring in areas 6b and 6aN; United Kingdom and international waters of 5b for vessels flying the flag of Ireland. This measure is a response to the exhaustion of the quota allocated for 2025, which was laid down in Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202. According to the Commission, catches of the stock of herring in these areas by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Ireland have exceeded the allocated quota for 2025. As a result, fishing activities for this stock are prohibited from 01 September 2025, with some exceptions for catches taken prior to this date.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has established a fisheries closure for herring in areas 6b and 6aN; United Kingdom and international waters of 5b for vessels flying the flag of Ireland, effective from 01 September 2025.
  • The closure is a response to the exhaustion of the quota allocated for 2025, which was laid down in Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202.
  • The regulation prohibits fishing activities for herring in these areas for vessels flying the flag of or registered in Ireland, with some exceptions for catches taken prior to 01 September 2025.
  • Transshipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing of fish and fishery products from the stock caught by those vessels prior to 01 September 2025 are authorized.
  • Unintended catches of species from the stock by those vessels must be brought and retained on board, recorded, landed, and counted against quotas in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013.

Statistics:

  • The quota allocation for herring in areas 6b and 6aN; United Kingdom and international waters of 5b for 2025 was exceeded by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Ireland.
  • The quota allocated for 2025 was laid down in Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202.
  • The regulation will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, which is 30 August 2025.

Sources:

  • COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2025/1781 of 29 August 2025 establishing a fisheries closure for herring in areas 6b and 6aN; United Kingdom and international waters of 5b for vessels flying the flag of Ireland.
  • Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 of 30 January 2025 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, and amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 as regards fishing opportunities for 2025.
  • Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy.