PAGE CONTENTS PAGE CONTENTS EU rules to combat IUU fishing The EU is working to close the loopholes that allow operators to profit from IUU fishing activities.The EU regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (in short: the IUU Regulation) entered into force on 1 January 2010.The Commission is working actively with all stakeholders to ensure coherent application of the IUU Regulation.Only marine fishery products accompanied by catch certificates validated by the competent flag state can be imported into the EU.The EU regularly updates the IUU vessel list. It includes IUU vessels identified by regional fisheries management organisations.The IUU Regulation can take steps against states turning a blind eye to illegal fishing activities: the Commission first issues a warning (yellow card), then if the country is still not complying, it will identify the country as non-cooperating. (the so-called red card) and place it in the list of non-cooperating countries. Fisheries products from the country in question will then be banned from the EU market (see the fact sheet below).The IUU Regulation also applies to EU operators operating anywhere in the world and under any flag.CATCH is the first IT tool to streamline checks and verifications of catch certificates for fishery products entering the EU market. The use of CATCH will become compulsory for EU operators and authorities for imports of fishery products as of 10 January 2026 through the most recent revision of the IUU Regulation (see Article 4 of the revised Fisheries Control). Documents IUU RegulationIUU main implementing regulationEU IUU vessel listList of excluded products – Annex I of the IUU regulation 29 MAY 2024Overview of IUU procedures 10 FEBRUARY 2021Summary of the main provisions of the IUU Regulation including detailed description of the catch certification scheme and notification process 2 MAY 2023Frequently asked questions on the practical application of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (“IUU Regulation”) 25 MARCH 2022Frequently asked questions on the practical application of the UK IUU Regulation 19 DECEMBER 2025Frequently asked questions, what is new in the EU CATCH certification scheme after the amendment of the EU IUU regulationOther languages (2)español(1.27 MB - PDF)Downloadfrançais(1.34 MB - PDF)Download Infographics - timelines for the use of EU templatesTemplates 4 JUNE 2026Interoperability and access to CATCH 3 JUNE 2026Guidelines on how to fulfill weights in catch certificates, processing statements and non-manipulation documents NotificationsFlag State notificationList of designated ports in the EUList of competent authorities in EU countries 10 FEBRUARY 2021List of third countries requesting a catch certificate (Article 15) Additional information 11 MARCH 2024List of approved economic operators (APEO) 10 FEBRUARY 2021Pacific salmon and other anadromous species 10 FEBRUARY 2021Requirements for catches stemming from the Caspian Sea 7 JANUARY 2025IUU implementation privacy statement Related links Regional fisheries management organisations (RFMO) Publications Factsheet8 June 2021Tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing News News announcement8 June 2026EU exports of shark fins dropped in 2025In 2025, the EU exported 2.7 thousand tonnes of shark fins to countries outside the EU, worth €44.8 million. Compared with 2024, the export volume decreased by 15.2% (from 3.1 thousand tonnes), and the export value dropped by 31.3% (from €65.3 million).1 min readNews announcement5 June 2026EU fisheries: fishing sustainability improves, but challenges remainToday, the Commission published its annual communication on the state of EU fisheries, taking stock of progress towards sustainable fishing and setting the course for the upcoming cycle of fishing opportunities for 2027.3 min readNews announcement26 May 2026Commission seeks feedback on fisheries multiannual plansThe European Commission is seeking feedback on fisheries Multiannual Management Plans (MAPs) across the EU’s sea basins. The call for evidence is open for a four-week period on the Commission’s Have Your Say portal.3 min readSee all Media Euronews Ocean: How Europe-supported projects are reducing illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean.The ample fish stocks of the Western Indian Ocean provide livelihoods to coastal communities. But this hard-to-control area has become a hotspot for illegal fishing that's now endangering the marine ecosystem.Euronews Ocean: How Europe-supported projects are reducing illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean. June 2022. Euronews Ocean: How the EU stamped down on decades of illegal fishing in ThailandThe measures Thailand has now adopted to satisfy the EU range from new rules to vessel monitoring systems and a satellite-based system of tracking the movements of fishing boats.…Euronews Ocean: How the EU stamped down on decades of illegal fishing in Thailand. October 2019.
News announcement8 June 2026EU exports of shark fins dropped in 2025In 2025, the EU exported 2.7 thousand tonnes of shark fins to countries outside the EU, worth €44.8 million. Compared with 2024, the export volume decreased by 15.2% (from 3.1 thousand tonnes), and the export value dropped by 31.3% (from €65.3 million).1 min read
News announcement5 June 2026EU fisheries: fishing sustainability improves, but challenges remainToday, the Commission published its annual communication on the state of EU fisheries, taking stock of progress towards sustainable fishing and setting the course for the upcoming cycle of fishing opportunities for 2027.3 min read
News announcement26 May 2026Commission seeks feedback on fisheries multiannual plansThe European Commission is seeking feedback on fisheries Multiannual Management Plans (MAPs) across the EU’s sea basins. The call for evidence is open for a four-week period on the Commission’s Have Your Say portal.3 min read
Euronews Ocean: How Europe-supported projects are reducing illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean.The ample fish stocks of the Western Indian Ocean provide livelihoods to coastal communities. But this hard-to-control area has become a hotspot for illegal fishing that's now endangering the marine ecosystem.Euronews Ocean: How Europe-supported projects are reducing illegal fishing in the Western Indian Ocean. June 2022.
Euronews Ocean: How the EU stamped down on decades of illegal fishing in ThailandThe measures Thailand has now adopted to satisfy the EU range from new rules to vessel monitoring systems and a satellite-based system of tracking the movements of fishing boats.…Euronews Ocean: How the EU stamped down on decades of illegal fishing in Thailand. October 2019.
