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DRAFT REPORT (COM(2026)0198 – C100122/2026 – 2026/0111(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation into Union law of the latest measures adopted by regional fisheries management organisations

PECH-PR-796153

Committee on Fisheries · Rapporteur: Thomas Bajada

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This is the rapporteur's draft report on the Commission proposal to bring the latest measures of regional fisheries management organisations into Union law. It adopts a first-reading position and tables 23 amendments to four regulations. The amendments update dates and definitions, add a recital on Parliament being informed about Union positions in these organisations, and delete provisions already transposed into Union law. They also set rules on support vessel numbers, bycatch limits, landings of marlin and spearfish, electronic monitoring, port operations, satellite buoys and shark handling.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes to adopt Parliament's first-reading position with 23 amendments. The approach is strict transposition, legal certainty and practical implementation: reflecting international measures fully, correcting references, removing provisions already transposed, and adding a recital on parliamentary scrutiny.

Key points

  1. Parliament adopts its first-reading position on the proposal to implement the latest measures of regional fisheries management organisations into Union law.
  2. A new recital states that Parliament should be fully informed at all stages of procedures on Union positions in these organisations, and that the Commission should keep its competent committee informed.
  3. Member States must not increase the number of support vessels flying their flag above the number recorded in 2019, replacing the June 2023 reference.
  4. Union vessels of 20 metres or more in length overall not authorised to fish for tropical tunas may retain bycatch of tropical tunas up to a maximum per trip onboard limit of 5% by species.
  5. When a Member State has exhausted its quota, landings of blue marlin, white marlin and roundscale spearfish dead when brought alongside may be retained, if they are not sold and the Member State notifies the Commission.
  6. In the NAFO regulation, "discrepancies" is replaced by "potential non-compliance", and electronic monitoring system approvals, vessel monitoring plan content and sensor information are amended.
  7. Information Member States must provide is transmitted to the Commission or the European Fisheries Control Agency, which ensures it reaches the NAFO Executive Secretary without delay.
  8. Landing or transhipment may start before the estimated time of arrival with permission from the competent authorities of the port Member State or Contracting Party.
  9. Definitions of activation, deactivation and reactivation of satellite buoys are amended to state who bears communication service costs and whether the buoy transmits.
  10. A provision empowering the Commission to set a buoy data format is deleted, as the format is set in an annex and the Commission can already amend annexes.
  11. Provisions on releasing and hauling sharks in longline fisheries are deleted because they were already transposed into Union law.
  12. Definitions of "biodegradable" and "abandoned DFAD" are amended, retention of mako sharks is prohibited, and shark safe-handling and live-release standards and headings are added.

Who is affected

  • EU fishing vessels and their masters, who must follow the amended rules on bycatch, landings, port operations and gear.
  • Member States, which must report to the Commission or the European Fisheries Control Agency and notify use of the marlin landing exception.
  • The Commission, which must keep Parliament's competent committee informed and receive Member State information.
  • Vessel owners and managers, who bear satellite buoy communication service costs after activation or reactivation.

Figures and deadlines

  • "5% by species" — maximum per trip onboard bycatch limit for tropical tunas.
  • "2019" — year recorded for the number of support vessels a Member State may not increase.
  • "20 metres" — length overall threshold for Union vessels covered by the tropical tuna bycatch rule.

Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article xx of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and Article 294(3) of that Treaty.