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REPORT (COM(2024)0183 – C10-0006/2024 – 2024/0098(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 October 2023 on certain provisions for fishing in the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean) Agreement area

A-10-2025-0150

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Željana Zovko

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal to amend Regulation (EU) No 2023/2124 on fishing in the GFCM area. It updates rules on European eel, red coral, deep-water red shrimp, blackspot seabream, common dolphinfish, turbot and elasmobranchs, and adds new GFCM recommendations. It requires traceability systems for eel, a red coral Catch Documentation Scheme, a turbot Catch Documentation Scheme, and fleet capacity limits for several stocks. It bans recreational eel fishing and sets closures for deep-water red shrimp and blackspot seabream. It deletes the International Joint Inspection and Surveillance Scheme articles and instead inserts a new section on inspections and infringements. It also deletes several articles and recitals. It sets deadlines for data reporting to the Commission and the GFCM Secretariat, and requires Member States to notify mitigation measures for seabirds and cetaceans.

Committee position. The Committee on Fisheries proposes to amend the Commission proposal by updating references to GFCM recommendations, adding traceability and reporting obligations, setting fleet capacity limits and closures, and deleting the International Joint Inspection and Surveillance Scheme articles.

Key points

  1. Recital 1 is amended to require that GFCM measures are consistent with the best scientific advice and take into account regular reviews of the socioeconomic aspects of the fishing industry.
  2. Recital 3 is amended to require strict transposition of GFCM recommendations to ensure a level playing field for Union operators vis-à-vis operators from other GFCM contracting parties.
  3. New recitals state that the Union must implement its international obligations in a timely and correct manner, and that European eel rules should be seen together with other Union regulations covering the freshwater part of the eel life cycle.
  4. New recitals list GFCM recommendations adopted in 2023 and 2024 on European eel, red coral, blackspot seabream, Adriatic demersal stocks and the Otranto Channel.
  5. A new recital states that operators may receive financial support from the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund to equip themselves with remote electronic monitoring systems.
  6. Member States must set up a traceability system for European eel landings, sales and exports, and maintain a list of authorised auction halls and first-marketing bodies.
  7. Recreational fishing of all stages of European eel is prohibited in all habitats covered by the Regulation.
  8. Member States must transmit data on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing to the Commission, and data on fattening activities by 15 December each year; the Commission transmits to the GFCM Secretariat by 31 December.
  9. Fleet capacity limits are set for fleets fishing key demersal stocks, deep-water red shrimp, blackspot seabream and common dolphinfish, based on reference years.
  10. Bottom trawlers targeting deep-water red shrimp spawning aggregations must stop fishing for 30 consecutive days between March and December.
  11. Member States must apply temporal closures of at least 60 continuous days per fleet segment for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea, from January to March.
  12. Member States must implement Catch Documentation Schemes for red coral and turbot, and report on them to the Commission and the GFCM Secretariat.

Who is affected

  • Fishing operators in the GFCM area, who must comply with new traceability, reporting and closure rules.
  • Member States, which must set up traceability systems, report data and notify measures to the Commission.
  • Recreational fishers, who face a ban on eel fishing and must be covered by licensing or registry schemes.
  • The Commission, which must transmit information to the GFCM Secretariat and adopt delegated acts.

Figures and deadlines

  • 30 consecutive days, the closure period for bottom trawlers targeting deep-water red shrimp spawning aggregations.
  • 15 December each year, deadline for Member States to communicate data on fattening activities to the Commission.
  • 31 December each year, deadline for the Commission to transmit fattening data to the GFCM Secretariat.
  • 60 continuous days per fleet segment, the minimum closure for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea.
  • 15 November of each year, deadline for Member States to communicate changes to designated landing sites for anchovy and sardine.
  • 30 November of each year, deadline for the Commission to transmit changes to designated landing sites for anchovy and sardine.
  • 15 May of each year, deadline for Member States to send a report on management measures taken in Fisheries Restricted Areas.
  • 1 January 2026, deadline for Member States to notify at least two mitigation measures for seabirds.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 43(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.