Twelve sustainability measures for fishers to add fishing days under the compensation mechanism

In a step towards sustainable fisheries management, EU fisheries ministers have reached an agreement on fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. The agreement, which was finalised yesterday, aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable exploitation of demersal stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea.

In the western Mediterranean, ministers have agreed to continue reducing fishing effort for trawlers to combat the ongoing problem of fishing mortality. To support the sector's transition to more sustainable practices, an expanded compensation mechanism has been put in place. 

This mechanism will reward fishermen and fisherwomen for implementing conservation measures, such as reducing bycatch and protecting vulnerable species, with additional fishing days. 

The compensation measures agreed are eligible for European funding to support the sector's investments in sustainable fisheries. 

Twelve sustainability measures have been outlined, which will provide significant extra fishing days if implemented. These measures are cumulative but can never exceed the fishing days for 2024:

• If the vessel removes the otter-twin trawl gears (OTT), a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 24%. If the vessel is implementing this measure before 1 May 2025, the allocation of fishing days may be increased by 35%. If the total of vessels represents more than 40% of the fleet of the Member State concerned, the Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 40%;
• If the vessel uses a trawl net with 45 mm square mesh in codend, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 9.3%. If the vessel is implementing this measure before 1 May 2025, the allocation of fishing days may be increased by 18.6%. If the total of vessels represents more than 40% of the fleet of the Member State concerned, the Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 25%. If the measure applies to all vessels of the Member State concerned, the Member State may increase the allocation of the fishing days by 30%;
• If the vessel uses a trawl net with 50 mm square mesh in codend, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 15.4%. If the vessel is implementing this measure before 1 May 2025, the allocation of fishing days may be increased by 30.8%. If the total of vessels represents more than 40% of the fleet of the Member State concerned, the Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 40%. If the measure applies to all vessels of the Member State concerned, the Member State may increase the allocation of the fishing days by 50%;
• If the vessel is concerned by a closure period prohibiting fishing activities for trawlers between depths 100 m to 500 m for at least six continuous weeks between May and September, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 10%. 
• If the vessel is concerned by a closure period prohibiting fishing activity for trawlers in GSAs 8-9-10-11 for at least four continuous weeks between May and October, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 15%. If the vessel is concerned by a closure period prohibiting fishing activity for trawlers in GSAs 1-2-5-6-7 for at least four continuous weeks between May and October, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 15%;
• If the vessel is concerned by a national closure area covering at least 5% of their fishing grounds between depths 100m and 500m, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 4%
• If the vessel is concerned by a temporary closure area allowing for the reduction by of at least 20% catches of spawners of hake, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 13%;
• If the vessel is concerned by a temporary closure area allowing for the reduction of at least 25% catches of juveniles of all demersal species or by at least 20% catches of spawners of all demersal species, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 3% ;
• If the vessel is concerned by a permanent closure for fishing activity with trawlers at a depth below 800 m, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 3%;
• If the vessel uses a trawl with flying, mid-waters doors, low-contact otter boards or other doors which reduce the contact of the doors and the gear with the seabed, to preserve the essential fish habitats of the demersal species a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 3%;
• If the vessel uses a regulated highly selective gear, the technical specifications of which results in, according to a study by STECF, a reduction of at least 25% of catches of juveniles of all demersal species or at least 20% of spawners of all demersal species compared to 2020, such as a sorting grid with 20mm spacing, a Member State may increase the allocation of fishing days by 3%;

The political agreement reached yesterday by Ministers on the 2025 Mediterranean and Black Seas fishing opportunities Regulation is expected to be adopted by the Council in January 2025.