European Union Amends Regulation to Enhance Cooperation and Conservation in Fisheries Management

Strategic Insights -

The European Union has adopted a new regulation aimed at strengthening cooperation and conservation in fisheries management. The amended Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 introduces new definitions and procedures to improve the identification and management of countries allowing non-sustainable fishing practices. The regulation emphasizes the importance of regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and the need for countries to engage in good faith consultations to address fishery management concerns.

Key Takeaways:

  • The amended regulation introduces a new definition of "failure to cooperate" in fisheries management, including refusal to consult, unjustified unilateral breaking-off of consultations, and withholding of relevant information.
  • Countries allowing non-sustainable fishing practices can be identified if they fail to adopt, implement, or enforce necessary fishery management measures, including control measures within RFMOs.
  • The Commission shall raise concerns with the compliance body of an RFMO prior to notifying the country concerned, with a view to remedying the situation.
  • The country concerned shall be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notification and provide relevant information.
  • The Commission shall engage in consultations with the country concerned without delay, and shall promote cooperation bilaterally and multilaterally to address fishery management issues.

Statistics:

  • The European Union has adopted a new regulation aimed at strengthening cooperation and conservation in fisheries management.
  • The regulation introduces a new definition of "failure to cooperate" in fisheries management.
  • The regulation requires countries allowing non-sustainable fishing practices to adopt, implement, or enforce necessary fishery management measures.
  • The Commission shall notify the country concerned of the intention to identify it as a country allowing non-sustainable fishing.
  • The country concerned shall be given a reasonable opportunity to respond to the notification and provide relevant information.

Sources:

  • (1) OJ C, C/2025/1191, 21.3.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1191/oj
  • (2) Position of the European Parliament of 9 July 2025
  • (3) United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (OJ L 179, 23.6.1998, p. 3, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/convention/1998/392/oj)
  • (4) Agreement for the implementing of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling stocks and highly migratory fish stocks (OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 17, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/1998/414/oj)
  • (5) Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing (OJ L 316, 14.11.2012, p. 34, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/1026/oj)