Overview
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
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.
Law
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
Reports
First report on the implementation of the multiannual plans for the North Sea and 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
News
A new system introducing a digital catch certificate for all fishery products entering the European Union came into force on 10 January 2026. This will support global efforts to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, help protect marine biodiversity
The European Commission is deeply concerned about the recent arrangement on mackerel fishing quotas reached by the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands on 15 December 2025. This arrangement was signed without prior consultation with the European Union.
The EU and Norway concluded negotiations on the management of shared stocks in the Skagerrak and Kattegat, quota exchanges, and reciprocal access to waters.