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European Union

European Commission Imposes Fisheries Closure for Northern Albacore in UK Waters

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The European Commission has issued a regulation prohibiting fishing activities for Northern albacore in United Kingdom waters for vessels flying the flag of or registered in a Member State of the European Union. This decision is based on the Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy. According to the Commission, catches of the Northern albacore stock have exhausted the catch limit in UK waters for 2025, necessitating the prohibition of certain fishing activities for that stock. The regulation takes effect from the date set out in the annex, with the specific date being 23 September 2025.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Commission has issued a regulation (COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2025/1925) establishing a fisheries closure for Northern albacore in UK waters for vessels flying the flag of or registered in a Member State of the European Union.
  • Catches of the Northern albacore stock have exhausted the catch limit in UK waters for 2025, prompting the prohibition of fishing activities for that stock.
  • The regulation applies to vessels flying the flag of or registered in a Member State of the European Union, with specific prohibitions on retaining, relocating, transhipping, or landing fish from the Northern albacore stock caught by those vessels after the date set out in the annex.
  • The annex specifies the date of 23 September 2025 as the commencement date for the fisheries closure.
  • Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202, dated 30 January 2025, laid down fishing opportunities for 2025, including those for the Northern albacore stock.
  • The regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States, entering into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Statistics:

  • 23 September 2025: Date set out in the annex for the start of the fisheries closure.
  • 30 January 2025: Date on which Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 was adopted, laying down fishing opportunities for 2025.
  • 18 September 2025: Date on which the regulation was adopted and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
  • Northern albacore stock: Fisheries closure applies to this stock in UK waters for vessels flying the flag of or registered in a Member State of the European Union.

Sources:

  • COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2025/1925 of 18 September 2025 establishing a fisheries closure for Northern albacore in United Kingdom waters for vessels flying the flag of or registered in a Member State of the European Union
  • 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
  • OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1224/oj (Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy)

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