Almost all important stocks and fisheries are managed by means of multiannual plans, which contain goals for fish stock management. Some plans

• contain a detailed and tailor-made roadmap for achieving objectives (e.g. MSY)
• include fishing effort restrictions
• contain specific control rules and technical measures

Multiannual plans also contain measures for implementing the landing obligation, safeguards for remedial action and review clauses.

Regionalisation allows EU countries to submit, through joint recommendations, detailed measures under specific management instruments.

The common fisheries policy (CFP) foresees regionalisation for a number of instruments

• multiannual plans
• discard plans
• establishment of fish stock recovery areas
• conservation measures for compliance with EU environmental laws
• technical measures

In order to ensure that joint recommendations reflect the stakeholders’ views, EU countries first consult the relevant Advisory Councils.

Regulations establishing multiannual plans

Cod, herring and sprat stocks in the Baltic Sea

Demersal stocks in the North Sea

Demersal stocks in western Mediterranean Sea

Stocks fished in western waters

Other legislation

Regulation: establishing specific conditions for fishing in the north-east Atlantic

Regulation: conservation of fish stocks in non-sustainable fishing

Regulation: establishing measures for the recovery of European eel

Regulation: multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean

Regulation laying down conservation and enforcement measures applicable in the Regulatory Area of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation

First report on the implementation of the Multiannual Plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks

Advisory Councils

European Council: multi-annual management plans