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DRAFT REPORT (COM(2025)0435 – C100184/2025 – 2025/0246(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European fisheries and aquaculture statistics and repealing Regulations (EC) No 1921/2006, (EC) No 762/2008, (EC) No 216/2009, (EC) No 217/2009 and (EC) No 218/2009

PECH-PR-781323

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Sakis Arnaoutoglou

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This is the rapporteur's draft report on the Commission proposal for a regulation on European fisheries and aquaculture statistics, which would repeal five existing regulations. It adopts Parliament's first-reading position and approves an annexed statement. The draft amendments widen the regulation's scope to cover aquatic biological resources, aquaculture and socio-economic statistics, and add new definitions of aquaculture and roe. It deletes the article on ad hoc data collection and the related delegated powers, and requires Member States to use existing administrative data sources. It raises required coverage to 100% of the Union catching fleet and landings, shortens the objection deadline to six months, and lets Member States request data corrections. It adds safeguards against extra workload and costs for workers, small operators and remote regions, and requires stakeholder consultation before delegated acts.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes to adopt Parliament's first-reading position with amendments that widen the scope to aquatic resources, aquaculture and socio-economic statistics, delete ad hoc data collection, require use of existing administrative sources, raise coverage to 100%, and add safeguards against extra burden and for stakeholder consultation.

Key points

  1. Parliament adopts its first-reading position on the proposed regulation and approves a statement annexed to the resolution.
  2. The regulation would set up an integrated framework for statistics on extraction and production of aquatic biological resources by fishing and aquaculture, their placing on the market, the Union catching fleet and aquaculture establishments, including socio-economic statistics.
  3. Definitions in Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply unless otherwise provided; new definitions cover aquaculture and roe.
  4. The Commission may, upon request of a Member State, exempt it from submitting data on a variable, and shall grant the exemption where the variable falls below the threshold.
  5. Where a Member State transmits a confidentiality value, it shall also transmit a non-confidential upper-aggregate.
  6. The article on ad hoc data collection and the related delegated acts is deleted.
  7. Data must cover at least 100% of the Union catching fleet for discards, 100% of the weight of landings and 100% of the Union catching fleet; this coverage does not apply to Member States that do not object to the reuse procedure.
  8. For catches, landings and the catching fleet, the Commission (Eurostat) reuses data from Union databases or registers; objections must be substantiated and notified at least six months before the reference year.
  9. For aquaculture, Member States transmit relevant data, in particular from national databases or registers; objections follow the same six-month rule.
  10. Member States shall use specified data sources, and may also use national administrative sources, surveys and innovative methods such as remote electronic monitoring systems or remote sensors.
  11. Member States may ask the Commission (Eurostat) to correct data; the Commission may accept depending on the justification, which shall be made publicly available.
  12. The Commission shall consult stakeholders when preparing a delegated act, in addition to experts designated by each Member State.

Who is affected

  • Member States: must transmit fisheries and aquaculture data, may request exemptions and data corrections, and may object to reuse of national data.
  • Workers and small-scale operators: new data requirements must not increase workload, unpaid labour or indirect costs.
  • Remote, island and outermost regions: may receive technical, digital and logistical support.
  • The Commission (Eurostat): produces statistics from administrative data, grants exemptions and handles correction requests.

Figures and deadlines

  • 100% of the Union catching fleet, for the weight of discards.
  • 100% of the weight of landings.
  • 100% of the Union catching fleet.
  • Objection to reuse of national data must be notified no later than 6 months before the start of the reference year.
  • Objection to reuse of national aquaculture data must be notified no later than six months before the start of the reference year.
  • First quality report due 12 months from the date of entry into force of the Regulation, then every three years.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 338(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.