Synopsis report of data provided by Member States according to article 118(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009.
Date: 2023-08-07
Institutions: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Subjects: EU Member State, EU waters, authorised catch, data transmission, fishing controls, fishing fleet, fishing licence, information network, maritime surveillance

Synopsis Report of data 
provided by Member States 
according to article 118(1) of 
Council Regulation (EC) No. 
1224/2009 

 June – 2021 

Fisheries 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 
Unit D4 Fisheries Control and Inspections 

E-mail:  MARE-D4@ec.europa.eu  

European Commission 
B-1049 Brussels 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Synopsis Report of data 
provided by Member States 
according to article 118(1) of 
Council Regulation (EC) No. 
1224/2009 

2021 

Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 

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Synopsis Report of data provided by Member States according to article 118(1) of 
Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 

 
 
CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 

1. 

FLEET DATA ...................................................................................................... 2 

1.1.  Number of fishing licences and fishing authorisations ...................................... 2 
1.2.  Number of vessels equipped with electronic tracking and reporting tools ............ 4 
Number of vessels equipped with electronic tracking tools (VMS & AIS) ....................... 4 
Number of vessels equipped with e-logbooks .......................................................... 6 
1.3.  Monitoring of catches for vessels <10m ........................................................ 7 

2.  CONTROL AND MONITORING RESOURCES ............................................................ 10 

2.1.  Number of persons performing fisheries inspections ....................................... 10 
2.2.  Structural resources for control and monitoring ............................................. 11 
Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) ....................................................................... 11 
Number  of  patrol  vessels  and  surveillance  aircraft  and  time  spent  for  fisheries 

inspection ............................................................................................... 11 

3.  DATA ON INSPECTIONS ..................................................................................... 13 

3.1.  Number of inspections .............................................................................. 13 
Number of inspection reports .............................................................................. 13 
Number of inspections by location........................................................................ 13 
3.2.  Surveillance reports.................................................................................. 15 
3.3.  Engine power verifications ......................................................................... 16 

4.  DATA ON INFRINGEMENTS ................................................................................. 17 

4.1.  Number of suspected infringements reported ................................................ 17 
4.2.  Number of suspected serious infringements reported ..................................... 19 
4.3.  Application of the points system ................................................................. 21 
4.4.  Number of suspected infringements by inspection location .............................. 22 
4.5.  Number of suspected infringements by Control Regulation article ..................... 26 
Title III: General conditions for access to waters and resources ................................ 27 
Title IV: Control of Fisheries ............................................................................... 28 
Title XX: Control of marketing ............................................................................. 35 

5. 

IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS 2015-2019 ............................. 38 

5.1.  Principal challenges in implementation of the Control Regulation 2015-2019 ...... 38 
5.2.  Principal achievements in implementation of the Control Regulation 2015-2019 .. 39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1 Table showing fishing licence and fishing authorisation data, by Member State ................ 3 
Table 2 Table summarising the numbers of vessels equipped with VMS, reported by length of vessel 
and year ................................................................................................................. 4 
Table 3 Total number of vessels <12m equipped with VMS, reported by Member State and year ... 5 
Table 4 Table showing the number of vessels equipped with e-logbook, reported by length of vessel 
and year ................................................................................................................. 6 
Table 5 Total number of vessels 10-12m equipped with an e-logbook, reported by Member State 
and year ................................................................................................................. 7 
Table 6 Table showing monitoring of catches for vessels <10m ................................................ 8 
Table 7 Table showing the number of persons performing fisheries inspections in 2015 and in 2019
 ........................................................................................................................... 10 
Table 8 Table showing Member State control resources ........................................................ 12 
Table 9 Table showing the numbers of inspection reports issued at EU level, by year, from 2015 to 
2019..................................................................................................................... 13 
Table  10  Table  showing  the  total  number  of  inspection  reports  issued  and  total  number  of 
inspections by inspection location, by Member State 2015-2019. .................................... 14 
Table 11 Table showing the numbers of surveillance reports entered into the electronic database 15 
Table  12  Table  showing  the  number  of  engine  power  verifications  performed  by  Member  State 
(2015-2019) .......................................................................................................... 16 
Table  13  Table  reporting  the  number  of  suspected  infringements  reported by  Member  States,  by 
year (2015-2019) ................................................................................................... 17 
Table  14  Table  indicating  the  percentage  of  inspection  reports  issued  by  Member  States  that 
identified at least one suspected infringement (2015-2019) ........................................... 18 
Table  15  Table  showing  the  number  of  serious  infringements  identified  in  inspection  reports  by 
Member State (2015-2019) ...................................................................................... 20 
Table 16 Table showing the number of suspected serious infringements identified, by year (2015-
2019) ................................................................................................................... 21 
Table  17  Table  summarising  the  numbers  of  serious  infringements  and penalty  points applied  by 
Member States (2015-2019) ..................................................................................... 21 
Table  18  Table  showing  the  percentage  of  inspections  identifying  at  least  one  suspected 
infringement, by location and year (2015-2019) ........................................................... 23 
Table  19  Table  showing  the  percentage  of  inspections  identifying  at  least  one  suspected 
infringement, by location and Member State (2015-2019).............................................. 23 
Table 20 Table showing total number of inspections and total number of inspections identifying at 
least one suspected infringement, by inspection location ............................................... 25 
Table  21  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Title  III  of  the  Control  Regulation, 
aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) .......................................................... 27 
Table  22  Table  showing  the number  of  infringements  under  Title  III  of the Control  Regulation by 
Member State across 2015-2019. .............................................................................. 28 
Table  23  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Title  IV  of  the  Control  Regulation, 
aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) .......................................................... 29 
Table  24  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Chapter  I  of  Title  IV    of  the  Control 
Regulation, “Control of the use of fishing opportunities”, aggregated at the EU level by year 
(2015-2019) .......................................................................................................... 29 
Table 25 Table showing the number of infringements under Chapter II of Title IV, "Control of fleet 
management", aggregated at EU level and year (2015-2019) ......................................... 30 
Table  26  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Chapter  III  of  Title  IV  (Control 
Regulation), “Control of multi-annual plans”, aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019)
 ........................................................................................................................... 30 
Table 27 Table showing the number of infringements under Chapter IV of Title IV  of the Control 
Regulation, “Control of technical measures”, aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019)
 ........................................................................................................................... 31 
Table  28  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under Chapter V  of  Title  IV    of  the Control 
Regulation,  “Control  of  recreational  fisheries”,  aggregated  at  the  EU  level  by  year  (2015-
2019) ................................................................................................................... 31 
Table  29  Table  showing  the  total    number  of  suspected  infringements  under  Title  IV  of  Control 
Regulation, reported by Member State (2015-2019) ..................................................... 32 
Table  30  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Title  XX  (Control  Regulation), 
aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) .......................................................... 35 
Table 31 Table showing the number of infringements under Title XX of Control Regulation, reported 
by Member State (2015-2019) .................................................................................. 36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1 Graph showing the number of fishing licences and fishing authorisations in the EU 2015-
2019....................................................................................................................... 2 
Figure 2 Pie chart showing the numbers of inspections by location at EU level 2015-2019........... 14 
Figure 3 Pie Chart showing the numbers of infringements under each Title of the Control Regulation
 ........................................................................................................................... 26 

 
 
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION  

This  synopsis  report  presents  the  key  descriptive  data  summarising  Member  State 
implementation  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1224/20091  (hereafter  ‘the  Control 
Regulation’) during the years 2015-2019.  

In accordance with Article 118.1 of the Control Regulation, Member States must transmit 
a report to the European Commission on its application every five years. This was done in 
the form of a response to a questionnaire that was sent to Member States in December 
20192.  The  questions  were  those  established  in  Annex  XXXVII  of  the  Commission 
Implementing Regulation 404/20113, which covers the minimum information required to 
form the basis for the 5-yearly report on the application of the Control Regulation. 

The data presented here are Member State reported data which has  been collated from 
their  responses  to  the  questionnaire4.  The  quantitative  descriptive  statistics  are 
presented  at  EU  level.  Where  appropriate,  the  breakdown  by  Member  State  is  also 
presented.  Data  from  one  Member  State  is  absent  from  the  report  as  consent  for 
publication was withheld5.  

Significant  effort  was  invested  in  designing  the  questionnaire  to  ensure  that  the  data 
requests  were  clear  and the  responses  would  record  comparable information.  However, 
Member States sometimes interpreted the request differently or had recorded some data 
in different ways that were similar but not exactly the same as those requested. As much 
as  possible,  the  report 
indicates  those  occasions  when  there  were  different 
interpretations  and every effort is made to explain these cases. In order to supplement 
the  data  reported  in  the  questionnaire,  data  from  additional  sources,  such  as  the 
publically  available  fleet  register6,  have  been  used.  When  this  is  the  case,  it  is  clearly 
indicated.  

The report is divided into five sections. The first section summarises the reported data on 
the  numbers  of  fishing  licences  and  authorisations  as  well  the  numbers  of  vessels 
equipped with electronic tracking and reporting tools. The next section presents the data 
on  the  resources  for  control  and  inspection  that  Member  States  reported.  The  third 
section  then  presents  key  figures  on  the  number  of  inspections  reported  by  Member 
States.  Section  four  reports  the  numbers  of  suspected  infringements  identified.  Finally, 
section  five  summarises  the  responses  to  a  number  of  qualitative  questions  on  the 
challenges  and  achievements  in  the  implementation  of  the  Control  Regulation  in  the 
period 2015-2019. 

1  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1224/2009  of  20  November 2009  establishing  a  Community  control  system  for 
ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, 
(EC) No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) 
No  388/2006,  (EC)  No  509/2007,  (EC)  No  676/2007,  (EC)  No  1098/2007,  (EC)  No  1300/2008,  (EC)  No 
1342/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006, OJ L 
343, 22.12.2009, p. 1–50. 

2  A 

copy  of 

the  questionnaire 

(along  with  Member  State 

responses) 

is  available  here: 

https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/be3aa2c6-c65e-4c06-bd62-7967611bf2d2/library/2c118750-ade5-4f46-
b899-ccacf6ba361c 

3  Commission  Implementing  Regulation  (EU)  No 404/2011 of  8 April 2011  laying down  detailed rules  for  the 
implementation  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 1224/2009  establishing  a  Community  control  system  for 
ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy. 

4  The  Commission received  the  UK response  in  four  excel  files  from  England,  Scotland,  Northern  Ireland  and 

Wales. The UK total presented here is an aggregation of the responses of all four.  

5 Slovenia. 
6 Fleet Register (europa.eu) 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
1.  FLEET DATA 

1.1.  Number of fishing licences and fishing authorisations 

According to Title III of the Control Regulation, in order to be allowed to conduct fisheries 
activities  in  the  European  Union  (EU),  masters  of  vessels  must  have  a  valid  fishing 
licence7  and  may  be  required  to  hold  a  valid  fishing  authorisation8.  Figure  1  (below) 
presents the numbers  of fishing licences  and fishing authorisations  reported by Member 
States in the years 2015-2019.  

Figure 1 Graph showing the number of fishing licences and fishing authorisations in the EU 2015-2019 

120000

100000

80000

60000

40000

20000

0

95650

93072

91927

90029

91105

30424

35137

33836

38325

38573

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Valid fishing licences

Valid fishing authorisations

Member  States  report  issuing  95,650  valid  fishing licences in  2015,  with  slightly fewer, 
91,105,  reported  in  2019.  Across  the  five  years,  Member  States  report  1,519  fishing 
licences  being  temporarily  suspended9  and  1,128  fishing  licences  being  permanently 
withdrawn10. 

As  summarised  in  table  1  (below),  the  number  of  fishing  licences  issued  varies  by 
Member State  and  year,  ranging from  5311  to  21,42512.  Six  Member  States  account  for 
75%  of  all  licences  issued13.  While  most  Member  States  issued  equivalent  numbers  or 
slightly  fewer  licences  in  2019  than  in  2015,  seven  Member  States  issued  higher 
numbers14. Member States report that licences may be valid for one year, several years 
or indefinite.  

The  total  number  of  valid  fishing  authorisations  reported  by  Member  States  increased 
during  the  period  2015-2019,  from  30,424  in  2015  to  38,573  in  2019.  In  total,  they 

7 Article 6, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
8 The conditions under which vessels must hold a valid fishing authorisation in addition to the fishing licence are 

set out in Article 7, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 

9 12 Member States reported licence suspensions (BE, CY, DK, FR, EL, IT, LT, MT, NL, PL, RO, UK) with two 

(MT, EL)  accounting for 80 % of total suspensions.  

10 5 Member States (CY, EL, PL, LV, RO) reported permanently withdrawing licences. 
11 LT (2018). For presentation purposes, only data from 2015 and 2019 are presented in the table. 
12 PT (2015). 
13 FR, HR, ES, IT, EL, PT – based on 2019 comparison. 
14 The following MS reported higher numbers of licences in 2019. The total in brackets is the difference between 

2015 and 2019. BG (281), EE (287), FI (59), IE (42), NL (10), RO (48), UK (52). 

2 

 
 
 
 
                                                
report  154  fishing  authorisations  being  temporarily  suspended15  and  187  being 
permanently withdrawn16 between 2015-2019. 

The  number  of  fishing  authorisations  issued  ranges  from  1017    to  9,05918.  While  most 
Member  States  follow  the  trend  towards  increasing  numbers  of  fishing  authorisations, 
eight Member States issued fewer in 2019 than in 201519. Member States report that the 
duration of fishing authorisations may vary from the length of the project (in the case of 
scientific  research)  to  one  year  and  fishing  vessels  may  hold  more  than  one 
authorisation.  

Table 1 Table showing fishing licence and fishing authorisation data, by Member State 

s
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a
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2754 

Portugal  21425 
15352 
Greece 
12298 
Italy 
10626 
Spain 
6876 
France 
6823 
Croatia 
3198 
Finland 
2933 
Malta 
United 
Kingdom 
Denmark  2348 
1838 
Ireland 
Estonia 
1551 
Bulgaria  1517 
Germany  1443 
1312 
Sweden 
Poland 
875 
Nether-
lands 
789 
Cyprus 
Latvia 
422 
Romania  227 
Lithuania  141 
Belgium  79 
Total 

823 

i

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)
9
1
0
2
(

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V
20349 
14082 
11994 
10063 
6004 
6640 
3257 
2688 

2806 

2059 
1880 
1838 
1798 
1308 
1079 
827 

833 

780 
412 
275 
63 
70 

0 
726 
104 
0 
115 
0 
0 
490 

5 

1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 

2 

59 
0 
2 
6 
8 

95650  91105  1519 

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0 

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1376 
2752 
42 
1476 
5237 
743 
10 
898 

)
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2
(

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V
a
1203 
3030 
2277 
9059 
4645 
756 
165 
973 

2117 

2110 

5361 
534 
1937 
1554 
3262 
987 
735 

3653 
501 
2124 
1436 
3080 
1223 
677 

681 

705 

)
9
1
0
2
(

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0 
0 
0 
0 
141 
0 
0 
0 

0 

7 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

3 

0 
818 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
46 

0 

66 
119 
79 
0 
0 
1128 

77 
83 
156 
209 
227 
275 
10 
28 
361 
252 
30424  38573  154 

1 
0 
2 
0 
0 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
46 

0 

0 
62 
79 
0 
0 
187 

15  5  Member  States  (CY,  DK,  FR,  NL,  RO)  reported  temporarily  suspending  fishing  authorisations.  Some 

Member States indicated that data was unavailable. Therefore the real total may be higher.  

16  3  Member  States  (LV,  PL,  RO)  reported  permanently  withdrawing  fishing  authorisations.  Some  Member 

States indicated that data was unavailable. Therefore the real total may be higher. 

17 LT (2015) 
18 ES (2019) 
19  The  following  MS  reported  fewer  fishing  authorisations  in  2019.  The  total  in  brackets  is  the  difference 
between 2015 and 2019. BG (118), DK (1708); FR (592), DE (182), IE (33), PL (58), PT (173), UK (7). 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
1.2.  Number  of  vessels  equipped  with  electronic  tracking  and  reporting 

tools 

Number of vessels equipped with electronic tracking tools (VMS & AIS) 

The Control Regulation requires vessels, in accordance with their length, to be equipped 
with  electronic  tracking  systems  such  as  a  Vessel  Monitoring  System  (VMS)  and 
Automatic  Identification  System  (AIS).  Fishing  vessels  above  12m  in  length20  are 
required  to  be  equipped  with  VMS21,  although  some  vessels  between  12m  and  15m  in 
length may be exempted from this obligation22.  Vessels over 15m in length must also be 
equipped with AIS23.   

Table 2  (below)  summarises  the  data  on  fishing  vessels  with  VMS  reported  by  Member 
States. They report  that active fishing vessels >15m are  equipped with VMS and AIS24.  
The total number of vessels >15m in some Member States is reported as higher as they 
stated  this  number  includes  all  vessels  registered  in  the  fleet  register,  meaning  it 
includes  non-active  vessels  as  well  as  vessels  which  are  exclusively  used  for  the 
exploitation of aquaculture, rather than only active fishing vessels.  

Turning  to  vessels  12-15m  in  length,  the  reported  data  indicate  an  increase  in  VMS 
coverage among this segment. In 2015, Member States reported a total of 1633 vessels 
12-15m  being  equipped  with  VMS.  This  increased  to  1686  in  201925.    With  a  declining 
total  number  of  vessels  reported,  this  equates  to  an  increase  from  36  %  to  40  %  of 
vessels 12-15m. 

Table 2 Table summarising the numbers of vessels equipped with VMS, reported by length of vessel and 
year 

Fishing vessels 
>15m 

Fishing 
vessels 
>15m with 
VMS 

Fishing 
vessels 
>15m 
AIS 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m with 
VMS 

2015 

2019  2015  2019  2019 

2015  2019  2015  2019 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Finland 

75 
60 
358 
21 
255 
33 
54 

66 
58 
252 
22 
245 
32 
49 

75 
58 
358 
15 
254 
33 
54 

66 
55 
252 
21 
245 
32 
49 

66 
57 
204 
21 
245 
32 
49 

3 
35 
272 
23 
126 
14 
23 

1 
36 
193 
21 
96 
9 
18 

3 
33 
199 
17 
121 
5 
1 

1 
34 
169 
21 
92 
3 
2 

20 Length Overall (LOA). 
21 Article 9 Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009. 
22 Those vessels 12-15m that (a) operate exclusively  within the territorial seas of the flag member state; or (b) 
never  spend  more  than  24  hours  at  sea  from  the  time  of  departure  to  the  return  port  (Article  9.5  Council 
Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009). 

23 Article 10 Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009. 
24  Data  for  AIS  is  only  provided here  for  2019.  Some  Member  States  were  unable to  extract  data  for  previous 
years. When the Competent Fishing Authorities could not provide the data, the table uses information from 
the  Fleet  Register,  available  online  at:  Fleet  Register  (europa.eu).  This  was  the  case  for  PL  and  ES.  LV 
report that all vessels>15m are equipped with AIS. 

25 In few instances, Member States reported higher numbers of vessels with VMS than total number of vessels. 
This was explained as being because a vessel was removed from the register during the year. The number of 
vessels with VMS that was reported was the total that were equipped with VMS during the year, including 
vessels that were removed from the fleet. When this was the case, for presentation purposes the table reports 
the same number of vessels with VMS as the total number of vessels reported. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Fishing vessels 
>15m 

Fishing 
vessels 
>15m with 
VMS 

Fishing 
vessels 
>15m 
AIS 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m with 
VMS 

2015 

2019  2015  2019  2019 

2015  2019  2015  2019 

597 
241 
519 
214 

710 
255 
552 
191 
1619 
73 
41 
49 

676 
241 
538 
214 
1447 
64 
35 
49 
457 
126 
448 
5 
1727 
91 

France26 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland27 
Italy  
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Malta 
Netherlands  453 
142 
Poland 
478 
Portugal 
3 
Romania 
1875 
Spain 
108 
Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 
Total 
/ = data unavailable or not reported for this year. 

616 
684 
241 
255 
532 
543 
/  
214 
1593  1433  1433 
73 
41 
49 
352 
142 
400 
3 
1862  1718  1691 
108 

66 
35 
49 
309 
97 
399 
5 

64 
35 
49 
353 
126 
384 
5 

7408  7622  7202  6917 

8035 

566 

630 

630 

91 

91 

220 
37 
324 
73 
2001 
1 
1 
15 
28 
50 
261 
11 
736 
60 

219 
205 
15 
30 
265 
269 
67 
/  
1947  93 
0  
0 
0 
1 
15 
14 
21 
30 
50 
36 
58 
252 
11 
23 
177 
686 
60 
54 

192 
12 
245 
57 
201 
0  
0 
14 
22 
36 
82 
23 
167 
54 

566 

497 

270 

259 

270 

259 

4584  4247  1633  1686 

Finally, Member  States  report that vessels  <12m are also equipped with VMS, although 
not currently required by the Control Regulation. Table 3 (below) shows that 10 Member 
States reported 523 vessels <12m being equipped with VMS in 2015, while this  rose to 
1,030 by 2019. The total number of vessels <12m equipped with VMS is expected to be 
higher than the total presented here, as some Member States reported that they did not 
yet record this information.  

Table 3 Total number of vessels <12m equipped with VMS, reported by Member State and year 

Number of fishing vessels <12m with VMS 
2017 
2015 
266 
148 
274 
132 
80 
82 
52 
57 
252 
40 
37 
27 
10 
20 
9 
9 
9 
7 
1 
1 

2016 
259 
155 
80 
56 
196 
5 
12 
9 
8 
1 

France 
Greece 
Bulgaria 
Spain 
Croatia 
Malta 
Denmark 
United Kingdom 
Portugal 
Italy  
Total number of vessels <12m 
equipped with VMS 
Total number of vessels <12m 

2018 
272 
262 
77 
48 
242 
27 
10 
9 
10 
2 

2019 
245 
266 
82 
49 
296 
47 
9 
22 
10 
4 

523 

781 

990 

959 

1030 

70993  69828  69219  68252  67533 

26  Data  for  FR  on  vessels  >15m    and  vessels  >15m  with  VMS  (2015,  2019)  and  total  vessels  12-15m  (2015, 

2019) and total vessels 12-15m with VMS (2015, 2019) come from fleet register. 

27 Data for Ireland for 2015 was not reported but Member State authorities state that data was consistent across 

the years. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Number of vessels equipped with e-logbooks 

Title IV of the Control Regulation holds provisions regarding control of fisheries, including 
measures regarding the control of catches and fishing effort. For this purpose, all vessels 
>10m  are  required  to  have  a  fishing  logbook28.  For  vessels  >12m,  this  must  be  an 
electronic  logbook  (e-logbook),  although  exemptions  may  apply29.    Vessels  between 
10m-12m may be equipped with an electronic logbook.  

The  data  in  table  4  presents  the  total  number  of  vessels  >12m  with  an  e-logbook. 
Member States report that active fishing vessels >15m are equipped with an e-logbook. 
As  with VMS,  some  Member  States  explain  that the  total  number  of  vessels  reported  is 
higher  than  the  total  equipped  with  an  e-logbook  because  the  overall  total  includes  all 
vessels  registered  in  their  fleet  register.  Therefore,  this  total  includes  inactive  vessels 
and/or vessels that are part of the aquaculture fleet, rather than only those active fishing 
vessels.  

As for vessels 12-15m, in 2015, Member States reported a total of 1,362 vessels 12-15m 
being equipped with an e-logbook. This increased to 1,712 in 201930. This equates to an 
increase in e-logbook coverage from 30 % of vessels 12-15m to 40 % of vessels 12-15m 
in 2019.  

Table  4  Table  showing  the  number  of  vessels  equipped with e-logbook,  reported  by length  of  vessel  and 
year 

Fishing vessels 
>15m 

Fishing 
vessels 
>15m with e-
logbook 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m with e-
logbook 

2015 

2019 

2015  2019  2015 

2019  2015  2019 

Belgium 
Bulgaria31 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Finland 
France32 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland 
Italy  
Latvia 

75 
57 
358 
21 
255 
33 
54 
710 
255 
552 
191 
1619 
73 

66 
55 
252 
22 
245 
32 
49 
676 
241 
538 
214 
1447 
64 

75 
60 
352 
15 
254 
33 
54 
686 
255 
543 
/  
1050 
/  

66 
58 
252 
21 
245 
32 
49 
569 
241 
530 
192 
1320 
64 

3 
35 
272 
23 
126 
14 
23 
220 
37 
324 
73 
2001 
1 

1 
36 
193 
21 
96 
9 
18 
205 
30 
269 
67 
1947 
0 

0 
35 
199 
10 
121 
8 
0 
147 
22 
265 
/  
63 
 / 

0 
36 
169 
9 
92 
4 
1 
151 
18 
245 
18 
463 
0 

28 Article 14 Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009. 
29 Article 15, Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009. Article 15.4 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 
provides and exemption for vessels 12-15m that: (a) operate exclusively within the territorial seas of the flag 
Member State; or (b) never spend more than 24 hours at sea from the time of departure to return to port. 
30 In few instances, Member States reported higher numbers of vessels  with e-logbooks than vessels. This was 
explained as being because a vessel was removed from the register during the year. The number of vessels 
using  e-logbook being reported is the total during the year, therefore including vessels that were removed. 
When the case, for presentation purposes the table reports the same number of vessels with e-logbook as the 
total number of vessels reported. 

31 BG report that the e-logbook was not operational in the period 2015-2019. 
32 Data for FR on vessels >15m with e-logbook (2019) and total vessels 12-15m (2015, 2019) come from fleet 

register. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Fishing vessels 
>15m 

Fishing 
vessels 
>15m with e-
logbook 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m 

Fishing 
vessels 12-
15m with e-
logbook 

2015 

2019 

2015  2019  2015 

2019  2015  2019 

41 
49 
453 
142 
478 
3 
1875 
108 

Lithuania 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Spain 
Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 
Total 
/ = data unavailable or not reported for this year. 

35 
49 
457 
126 
448 
5 
1727 
91 

7408 

8035 

566 

630 

41 
49 
312 
142 
398 
3 
1795 
108 

630 

35 
49 
334 
126 
399 
5 
1639 
91 

566 

1 
15 
28 
50 
261 
11 
736 
60 

270 

6855  6883  4584 

1 
14 
30 
36 
252 
23 
686 
54 

259 

0 
15 
19 
50 
52 
11 
85 
60 

0 
14 
24 
36 
82 
23 
87 
54 

200 

186 

4247  1362  1712 

Finally, although not currently required by the Control Regulation, some Member States 
report that vessels 10-12m are also equipped with an e-logbook. Table 5 (below) shows 
that  seven  Member  States  reported  117  vessels  10-12m  being  equipped  with  an  e-
logbook in 2015, while this rose to 521 reported by 10 Member States in 2019. 

Table 5 Total number of vessels 10-12m equipped with an e-logbook, reported by Member State and year 

Number of fishing vessels  10-12m with e-logbook 

Greece 
Croatia 
Denmark 
Spain 
Netherlands 
France 
Italy   
Portugal 
Estonia 
Sweden 
Total 

2015 
42 
40 
19 
12 
2 
1 
1 
0  
0 
0 
117 

2016 
51 
202 
12 
12 
2 
3 
0 
0  
0 
0 
282 

2017 
99 
202 
10 
12 
4 
2 
12 
2 
3 
0 
346 

2018 
90 
184 
10 
11 
4 
4 
28 
9 
1 
0 
341 

2019 
92 
225 
9 
11 
5 
1 
166 
10 
1 
1 
521 

1.3.  Monitoring of catches for vessels <10m 

Monitoring  of  catches  for  vessels  below  <10m  shall  be  carried  out  through  sampling 
plans,  unless  vessels  submit  logbooks  or  control  is  carried  out  through  sales  note 
monitoring33. Member States reported the numbers of vessels <10m subject to sampling 
plans  and  sales  note  monitoring.  They  also  reported  the  number  of  vessels  <10m  that 
were equipped with paper or e-logbooks. These are reported in table 6.   

The  most  frequently  used  method  is  sampling  plans,  while  Member  States  report 
comparable numbers  of vessels <10m being subject to sales note monitoring and being 
equipped with a paper logbook. Around twice as many vessels are reported as subject to 
sampling plans than either sales notes or paper logbooks. The number of vessels <10m 
equipped with an e-logbook increased from 95 in 2015 to 450 in 2019. 

33 Article 16 Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table 6 Table showing monitoring of catches for vessels <10m 

Vessels <10m34 

Sales notes 

Sampling plans 

Paper logbook 

E-logbook 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

Bulgaria 
Croatia35 
Cyprus 
Denmark 
Estonia36 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland 
Italy37  
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Malta 
Nether-
lands 
Poland 
Portugal38 
Romania 
Spain 

1810 
6681 
703 
1835 
1392 
2936 
5061 
1065 
13976 
1508 
7707 
616 
92 
762 

306 

541 
3340  
113 
6388 

1688 
6712 
695 
1616 
1613 
3036 
4258 
960 
12886 
1418 
7656 
598 
93 
766 

309 

532 
3083  
129 
5968 

0 
0 
540 
1042 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
756 
 0 
/ 
0 
/ 

306 

0 
3340  
0 
5613 

0 
0 
536 
1047 
0 
0 
0 
465 
0 
805 
 0 
0 
0 
665 

309 

0 
3083  
0 
5268 

0 
6681  
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
13976 
0 
7707 
/  
0 
490 

0 

0 
0 
0 
5353 

0 
6712  
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
12886 
0 
7656 
0 
0 
491 

0 

0 
0 
0 
5153 

1417 
107 
1 
268 
976 
2936 
2503 
741 
0 
20 
97 
/  
92 
490 

306 

541 
15 
113 
109 

1306 
24 
1 
185 
1106 
3036 
3236 
573 
0 
25 
54 
598 
93 
491 

0 

533 
21 
129 
204 

0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
90 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

3 

0 
0 
1 
0 

0 
71 
0 
0 
45 
0 
0 
0 
174 
0 
154 
0 
0 
0 

6 

0 
0 
0 
0 

34 As with other vessel-length categories, the total number of vessels reported may also include inactive vessels that are not accounted for in the other columns. Some vessels may also 

be subject to multiple monitoring tools. 

35 Croatia reports that no vessels are subject to sampling plan but all are subject to catch reports. 
36 Estonia reports that all vessels, irrespective of their size are required to report their catches. 
37 Italy report that all vessels are subject to sampling plan, except in certain fisheries which are required to fill in paper log books. Therefore, the number reported in the column indicates 

all vessels. The total number of vessels reported in the questionnaire were the total number sampled each year is (681).  

38  Portugal report  that  Vessels  under  10m  are included in the risk analysis.   All  sales  notes  are registered  in  the  database  since  the  first  sale is  mandatory  in auction.  Therefore,  the 

number reported in the column for sales note monitoring indicates all vessels. 

8 

 
 
 
 
                                                
Vessels <10m34 

Sales notes 

Sampling plans 

Paper logbook 

E-logbook 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

2015 

2019 

764 

936 

Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 
Total 
/ = data unavailable or not reported for this year. 

58540 

55830 

4112 

4133 

0 

0 

3919 

3945 

632 

0 

539 

0 

108 

10 

84 

10 

0 

0 

0 

0 

12176 

13040 

21132 

19750 

10850 

10403 

95 

450 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.  CONTROL AND MONITORING RESOURCES 

2.1.  Number of persons performing fisheries inspections 

Table 7 presents the numbers of persons authorised to perform inspections39 reported by 
Member  State.  The  data  show  that  the  numbers  of  persons  authorised  to  perform 
inspections  has  increased  during  the  period  2015  –  2019.  In  2015,  there  were  12,750 
persons and this rose to 14,385 in 2019. Member States report 631 inspection offices in 
2015 and 623 inspection offices in 2019.  

It  is  important  to  note  that  the  range  of  persons  authorised  to  carry  out  fisheries 
inspections  varies  by  Member  State. In  addition to  dedicated fisheries  inspectors,  some 
Member States  may also authorise  some members of the police  force, the coast guard, 
the  armed  forces,  customs  and  tax  officials  or  environmental  officers  to  carry  out 
fisheries  inspections.  Also,  there  may  be  regional  and  local  officials  who  carry  out 
fisheries inspection, on top of national figures reported below. The numbers reported in 
the  table  below  reflect  these  differences  and  therefore  may  not  allow  for  direct 
comparisons40. 

Table 7 Table showing the number of persons performing fisheries inspections in 2015 and in 2019 

Number of persons authorised 
to perform inspections 

Number of inspection 
offices 

Italy 
Greece 
France 
Portugal 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Ireland 
Denmark 
Spain 
Germany 
Malta 
Poland 
Bulgaria 
Netherlands 
Latvia 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Lithuania 
Estonia 
Romania 

2015 

450041 
4383 
1423 
878 
546 
179 
134 
126 
124 
109 
50 
48 
44 
32 
31 
28 
26 
22 
21 
20 

2019 

2015 

2019 

5781 
4504 
1449 
643 
527 
221 
162 
124 
168 
118 
65 
46 
49 
40 
30 
294 
28 
22 
21 
15 

106 
184 
90 
56 
30 
24 
7 
7 
22 
19 
2 
17 
4 
11 
6 
17 
4 
2 
15 
2 

106 
184 
90 
56 
23 
24 
7 
7 
22 
20 
2 
15 
4 
11 
6 
17 
6 
1 
15 
1 

39    "Inspection"  means  any  check  that  is  carried  out  by  officials  regarding  compliance  with  the  rules  of  the 
Common Fisheries Policy and that is noted in inspection reports within the meaning of  Article 76 Control 
Regulation and Article 115.1 of the Control Implementing Regulation. "Official" means a person authorised 
by a national authority to carry out inspections.  

40  Analysis  of  the  data  reported  by  Member  States  regarding  full  time  and  part-time  inspectors,  reveal  that 
Member  States  reported  a  ratio  of  around  one  full-time  inspector  to  every  three  part-time  inspectors.  In 
addition to the coastal Member States reported in the table. 

41 Based on estimation 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Number of persons authorised 
to perform inspections 

Number of inspection 
offices 

Finland 
Belgium 
Total 

2015 

18 
8 
12750 

2019 

63 
15 
14385 

2015 

2019 

5 
1 
631 

5 
1 
623 

2.2.  Structural resources for control and monitoring  

Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) 

The  Control  Regulation  requires  Member  States  to have  a  “Fisheries  Monitoring  Centre” 
(FMC). This is described as an operational centre equipped with computer hardware and 
software  enabling  automatic  data 
reception,  processing  and  electronic  data 
transmission42. All Member States report having such an FMC in place43. They ensure that 
it  is  operational  24/7  through  a  combination  of  shift-work  and  remote  access.  Some 
Member States report using a system of alerts for when vessels do not send positions for 
within the prescribed frequency as well as when malfunctions or operation failures occur. 

Number of patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft and time spent for fisheries 
inspection 

Table 8 presents the number of patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft used for fisheries 
inspection  as  well  as  the  time  dedicated  to  this  task.  For  patrol  vessels,  the  numbers 
reveal that vessels increased slightly from 1147 in 2015 to 1256 in 2019. The number of 
vessels  used  for  fisheries  control  in  each  Member  State  ranges  from  one44  to  41945.  A 
total of 99,613 patrol days at sea were dedicated to fisheries inspection over the period 
2015-2019.  The  annual  patrol  days  at  sea  increased  by  around  14  %  from  2015  – 
201946.   

Member  States  report  the  use  of  72  aircraft  for  fisheries  inspection  in  the  years  2015, 
rising to 76 in 2019. The number of aircraft available in each Member State ranges from 
0 to 2447. They report that a total of 27,227 hours were dedicated to fisheries control and 
surveillance in this 5 year period.  

The patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft reported by Member States frequently refer to 
all  vessels  which  may  be  used  for  fisheries  inspection  including  multi-purpose  vessels 
under the control of the police, border guard and coastguard. Not all vessels are engaged 
in fisheries control all the time. Therefore, the figure is reflective of a total capacity and 
the numbers may not be directly comparable.  

In addition the use of other technologies,  like the use of drones has increased. In 2015 
Member States  reported  8  drones  were used  for  fisheries  control  and surveillance.  This 
increased to 39 by 2019. 

42 Article 4.15, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.  
43 Some Member States report having multiple FMCs that include regional and national FMCs. 
44 NL 
45 IT 
46 From 19,179 hours in 2015 to 21,827 hours in 2019 
47 FR 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table 8 Table showing Member State control resources 

Aircraft 
(2015) 

10 
5 
23 

Patrol 
days at 
sea 
(2015-
2019) 
4805 
8086 
5844 
36346  7 
0 
270 
3 
479 
12968  7 
0  
1836 
0 
9580 
1 
576 

6787 

2 

Patrol 
vessels 
(2015) 

Patrol 
vessels 
(2019) 

11 

419 
226 
184 
164 
38 
30 
24 
13 
19 
16 

386 
214 
184 
148 
38 
30 
25 
22 
21 
16 

Italy 
Portugal 
France 
Greece 
Finland 
Sweden 
Spain 
Poland 
Germany 
Estonia 
United 
Kingdom 
8 
Ireland 
8 
Romania 
7 
Cyprus 
6 
Croatia 
5 
Bulgaria 
5 
Latvia 
3 
Malta 
3 
Lithuania 
3 
Denmark 
3 
Belgium 
Netherlands  1 
Total 
/ = data unavailable or not reported. 

1147 

14 

4980 
9 
151 
6 
781 
8 
/ 
52 
156 
13 
172 
5 
180 
5 
164 
4 
4330 
3 
260 
3 
1 
862 
1256  99613  72  

2 
0 
0 
0 
0  
0 
1 
6 
0 
1 
4 

Aircraft 
(2019) 

12 
5 
24 
6 
0 
3 
4 
0  
0  
1 

2 

2 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
1 
9 
2 
1 
3 
76 

Drones 
(2019) 

Surveill-
ance 
hours 
(2015-
19) 
199,05  0 
6 
1820 
0 
2076 
0 
565 
1 
19 
0 
9551 
0 
3634 
4 
0  
0 
0 
10 
45 

4280 

0 

3995 
0 
0 
207 
66 
0 
129 
76 
18 
200 
347 
27227  39 

0 
0 
0 
6 
0  
5 
0 
0 
7 
0 
0 

Inspection 
offices 
(2019) 

231 
56 
90 
184 
5 
23 
20 
15 
20 
15 

24 

7 
1 
6 
17 
4 
6 
2 
1 
7 
1 
11 
746 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.  DATA ON INSPECTIONS 

3.1.  Number of inspections 

Number of inspection reports  

Table  9  presents  the  total  number  of  inspection  reports48  recorded  by  Member  States 
over  the  reporting  period49.  The  number  of  inspection  reports  that  Member  States 
reported  increased  between  2015  and  2019.  However,  the  significant  increase  from 
2016-2017  is  largely  explained  by  the  absence  of  data  from  one  Member  State  for  the 
years  2015  and  201650.  Without  this  absence  of  data,  the  numbers  would  be  relatively 
stable.  

Table 9 Table showing the numbers of inspection reports issued at EU level, by year, from 2015 to 2019 

Total number of 
inspection reports 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Total 

78978 

78078 

96215 

98786 

94155 

446212 

Number of inspections by location 

In addition to the numbers of inspection reports, Member States were asked to report the 
number of inspections performed at sea, in port/landing, of transports and of markets51. 
Figure  2  shows  the  numbers  of  inspections  in  those  locations  as  a  percentage  of  all 
inspections for the whole period 2015-2019. Table 10 reports the data on inspections by 
Member State. 

The  largest  number  of  inspections  were  performed  at  port/landing  (241,583).  Two 
Member  States  account  for  nearly  1/3  of  reported  inspections  at  port/landing52. 
Inspections of markets53 (133,166) were the next most frequently performed, with three 
quarters  of  these  reported  in  four  states54.  A  total  of  108,547  inspections  at  sea  were 
reported  and  six  Member  States  reported  68 %  %  of  the total55.  Finally,  inspections  of 
transports were the least frequent (18,989). Around 63 % of these were reported by four 
Member States56.  

48 Article 76, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
49 Member States reported both the number reports issued and the number of inspection reports entered into the 
electronic  database.  The  data  presented  in  this  table  includes  the  higher  figure  of  the  two  which  Member 
States reported.   

50 EL. 
51  Inspection  at  sea  -  Annex  XXVII  -  Module  1;  inspection  at  port/landing  -  Annex  XXVII  -  Module  3; 
inspection of markets - Annex XXVII - Module 4; inspection of transports - Annex XXVII - Module 5 of 
the Control Implementing Regulation - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 
2011  laying  down  detailed  rules  for  the  implementation  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 1224/2009 
establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries 
Policy.  For  presentation  purposes,  these  four  principal  sites  are  reported.  Member  States  also  report  118 
inspections of auxiliary vessels and 10 inspections of transhipments.  

52 EL (20%), ES (12%). 
53  In addition to  the  coastal  Member  States,  HU  reported  carrying  out  a  total  of  430  inspections  of  markets to 

ensure traceability rules (Article 58, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009).  

54 IT (29%), UK (22 %), FR (16 %), ES (10 %). 
55 EL (15%), FR (12 %), ES (11%), IT (11.%), PT 10 %), DE (10 %).  
56 ES (17%), FR (16%), PT (14%), UK (16%). 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Figure 2 Pie chart showing the numbers of inspections by location at EU level 2015-2019 

4%

22%

48%

26%

Port/landing

Market

Sea

Transport

Table 10 Table showing the total number of inspection reports issued and total number of inspections by 
inspection location, by Member State 2015-2019. 

Total inspection 
reports57 (2015-
2019) 

Total number of inspections58 (2015-2019) 
reported:  

Issued 

91321 
Italy 
51439 
France 
48486 
Greece 
35594 
UK 
Malta 
23205 
Denmark  21039 
56832 
Spain 
18996 
Ireland 
Poland 
18544 
Bulgaria  15378 
14033 
Croatia 

Entered 
into 
database 
91321 
51439 
5617 
38497 
0 
20837 
56832 
12015 
18544 
15378 
14033 

At Sea 

In 
Port/landing 

Of 
Markets 

Of 
Transports 

12332 
12859 
16436 
4521 
420 
2714 
12037 
5134 
2911 
354 
6403 

19891 
12119 
48968 
17991 
17055 
13315 
29797 
9498 
13812 
14936 
1489 

39050 
21265 
3427 
29261 
551 
4808 
13717 
059 
935 
4471 
4088 

3456 
2965 
418 
3127 
1 
202 
3268 
868 
886 
193 
143 

57 For some Member States the numbers of inspections entered into the database is not the same as the number of 
inspection reports issued. Some Member States explained that the number of inspection reports issued was 
higher than the number of reports entered  into the database because the database was not functional in the 
beginning of the time period.  Some Member States reported that the reason why the number of  inspection 
reports issued totalled fewer than the number of inspection reports entered into the database was because t 
the  number  of  inspection  reports  entered  into  the  database  included  administrative  inspections  for  which 
there was no report issued.  

58  Member  States reported  the number  of  inspections  at  these  four  principal  locations.  Member  States reported 
that they  carry  out  additional inspections  including administrative  cross-checks,  which are not  under these 
four  categories.  Therefore,  their  total  may  not  add  up  to  the  total  number  of  inspections  in  each  year.  In 
addition, some Member States mentioned that multiple vessels may be covered in one inspection. 

59  IE  report  the  number  of  inspection  of  auction  halls.  As  there  are  0  auction  halls  in  IE  the  number  of 
inspections is reported as 0. Other inspections related to market may be performed by inspectors in the role 
of health and food safety.  

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Total inspection 
reports57 (2015-
2019) 

Total number of inspections58 (2015-2019) 
reported:  

Issued 

Entered 
into 
database 
5278 
5688 

4224 

4413 

5937 
5688 

Sweden 
Latvia 
Nether-
lands 
Estonia 
4069 
3517 
Cyprus 
Romania  3495 
Germany  3384 
Lithuania  1876 
Belgium  772 
501 
Finland 
/  
Portugal 
Total 
428519  367887 
/ = data unavailable or not reported. 

4069 
1025 
2107 
6880 
1536 
772 
501 
11294 

At Sea 

In 
Port/landing 

Of 
Markets 

Of 
Transports 

1292 
683 

3642 
4736 

1590 

1309 

1118 
3961 
218 
10273 
629 
472 
1894 
10296 
108547  241583 

2615 
3229 
1975 
15085 
1168 
275 
582 
8096 

802 
256 

1396 

173 
13 

118 

747 
1385 
1121 
2562 
25 
11 
153 
2705 
13273660  18989 

28 
227 
181 
1 
87 
4 
5 
2625 

3.2.  Surveillance reports 

Surveillance  reports  may  follow from  sightings and  detection  at  sea61.  In  total,  Member 
States reported 70,389 surveillance reports being entered into their electronic databases. 
As  not  all  sightings  at  sea  may  lead  to  a  surveillance  report  and  there  are  practices  in 
converting sighting at sea into surveillance reports or inspection reports may mean that 
the total sightings at seas recorded differs from the surveillance reports. When this is the 
case, the difference is reported below. These differences may make direct comparisons in 
the numbers more difficult. 

Table 11 Table showing the numbers of surveillance reports entered into the electronic database 

BE 
1578 
IT 
14247  5688  0 

BG 
0 
LV 

HR 
522 
LT 

CY 
1962 
MT 
0 

EE 

DK 
3518  0 
NL 
065 

PL 
066 

FI 
175 
PT 
389 

DE 

FR 
1384  760263 
RO 
129 

ES 
66467 

IE 

EL 
6664  0 
SE 
068 

UK 
3439069 

60  In addition to  the  coastal  Member  States,  HU  reported  carrying  out  a  total  of  430  inspections  of  markets to 
ensure  traceability  rules  (Article  58,  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1224/2009).  This  brings  the  total  to 
133,166. 

61 Article 71 Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
62  37  Sighting  at  sea  reports  created.  Due  to  technical  issues,  only  2019  data  was  reported  as  present  in  the 

database. 

63 5304 sighting at sea reports created. Multiple surveillance reports may come from one sighting at sea report. 
64 670 sighting at sea reports created. 
65 1165 sighting at sea reports created. 
66 78 sighting at sea reports created. 
67 13,264 sighting at sea reports created. 
68 8,127 sighting at sea reports created. 
69 18,241 sighting at sea reports created.  

15 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
3.3.  Engine power verifications 

Member  States  reported  the  number  of  engine  power  verifications70  carried  out  2015-
2019, which is displayed in Table 12.  Member States conducted  a total of 4,560 engine 
power  verifications  in  the  period  2015-2019.  While  the  questionnaire  sent  to  Member 
States requested engine power verifications as set out in article 41 in Council Regulation 
(EC)  No  1224/2009,  some  Member  States  also  reported  other  actions  such  as  engine 
power  certifications  and  documentary  checks.  Therefore,  the  numbers  reported  below 
may not always be directly comparable. 

Table  12  Table  showing  the  number  of  engine  power  verifications  performed  by  Member  State  (2015-
2019) 

IT 
3265 
IE 
3 

BG 
354 
DK 
2 

UK 
247 
PL 
2 

NL 
219 
SE 
2 

DE 
175 
LV 
1 

RO 
171 
EE 
0 

CY 
41 
FI 
0 

ES 
23 
FR 
0 

HR 
19 
EL 
0 

PT 
14 
LT 
0 
Total  4560 

BE 
7 
MT 
0 

70 Article 41 Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
4.  DATA ON INFRINGEMENTS  

4.1.  Number of suspected infringements reported 

Member States reported around 69,000 suspected infringements of provisions of the Control 
Regulation that were identified in inspection reports across the reporting period. The numbers 
of infringements remain relatively stable at around 12-14,000 infringements per year71.    

Table  13  Table  reporting  the  number  of  suspected  infringements  reported  by  Member  States,  by  year 
(2015-2019) 

Austria 
Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Czechia 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Hungary 
Ireland 
Italy  
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Luxembourg 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Slovakia 
Spain 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Total number of 
suspected 
infringements 
reported by Member 
States 

2015 
75 
27 
52 
680 
171 
 0 
188 
78 
34 
784 
24 
2112 
0 
70 
6344 
9 
13 
 0 
257 
134 
250 
 / 
71 
0 
1160 
238 
1790 

2016 
89 
32 
54 
767 
175 
0  
172 
54 
11 
641 
25 
1555 
0 
42 
6344 
8 
13 
0  
209 
155 
210 
482 
21 
0 
1210 
200 
1624 

2017 
67 
33 
86 
777 
180 
0  
184 
117 
22 
687 
20 
1711 
0 
54 
5221 
12 
4 
0  
72 
118 
184 
419 
10 
0 
1001 
156 
1581 

2018 
99 
19 
102 
818 
532 
0  
194 
51 
18 
630 
22 
1294 
0 
100 
6287 
25 
26 
0  
22 
127 
141 
406 
8 
0 
939 
171 
1759 

2019 
51 
30 
60 
434 
359 
0  
218 
61 
12 
561 
29 
1001 
0 
60 
7525 
28 
14 
0  
33 
138 
156 
524 
35 
29 
949 
169 
1770 

Total 
381 
141 
354 
3476 
1417 
0 
956 
361 
97 
3303 
120 
7673 
0 
326 
31721 
82 
70 
0 
593 
672 
941 
1831 
145 
29 
5259 
934 
8524 

14561 

14093 

12716 

13790 

14246  69406 

Table  14  reports  the  percentage  of  inspection  reports  that  identified  at  least  one 
suspected infringement (2015-2019). The table compares the Member State data on the 
number  of  inspection  reports  and  the  number  of  inspection  reports  identifying  at  least 

71 This is a similar pattern to the number of inspection reports, once the absence of EL reporting in the beginning 
period is accounted for. The figure reported here includes infringements not only in coastal Member States 
but  also  in  landlocked  Member  States,  who  reported  infringements  in  traceability  (Art.58,  Council 
Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009). 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
one  suspected  infringement.  These  data  are  then  used  to  calculate  an  indicator  of  the 
percentage of inspection reports that identified at least one suspected infringement72.  

Member  States  report  45,876  inspection  reports  that  identified  at  least  one  suspected 
infringement. When  compared  with the total  number  of inspection  reports73,  the  results 
show  that,  at  EU  level,  13%  of  inspection  reports  identified  at  least  one  suspected 
infringement74.  

Table 14 Table indicating the percentage of inspection reports issued by Member States that identified at 
least one suspected infringement (2015-2019) 

Total number of 
inspection reports 
(2015-2019) 

Italy  
France 
United Kingdom 
Denmark 
Spain 
Poland 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Portugal 
Sweden 
Netherlands 
Estonia 
Cyprus 
Germany 
Lithuania 
Belgium 
Romania 
Finland 
Total / EU average 

91321 
51439 
38497 
21039 
56832 
18544 
15378 
14033 
983775 
5937 
4413 
4069 
351776 
6880 
1876 
772 
62577 
501 
345510 

Total number 
of inspection 
reports that 
identified at 
least one 
suspected 
infringement 
(2015-2019) 
16233 
3303 
8258 
956 
8844 
901 
338 
2425 
1831 
370 
637 
363 
1089 
53 
70 
141 
7 
57 
45876 

% inspection 
reports that 
identified at 
least one 
suspected 
infringement 
(2015-2019) 

18 
6 
22 
5 
16 
5 
2 
17 
19 
6  
14 
9 
31 
1 
4 
18 
1 
11 
13 

72  EL  IE  MT  LV  could  not  provide  the  necessary  data  to  calculate  this  ratio.  Data  was  not  reported  and  /  or 
unavailable.  As  reported  in  section  3,  Member  States  sometimes  reported  a  different  total  of  inspection 
reports issued and number of inspection reports entered into the electronic database. When this was the case, 
the higher figure is used as the baseline (DE, ES, UK). 

73 As the total is used to calculate a percentage of inspection reports that identified a suspected infringement, the 
total reported here  is  of  Member  States  that reported  complete  data. The  figure  therefore  does  not include 
inspection reports from EL, IE, MT and LV.  

74 Analysis of the data show that this is stable at around 13 % across the years 20015-2019, with a peak of 14 % 

in 2018. 

75 Data from 2016-2019. 
76  This  is  based  on  the  number  of  inspection  reports  issued.  CY  also  report  5176  inspections  without  and 

inspection report being issued.  

77 This is number for 2019 only. As data on the number of inspection reports identifying suspected infringements 

are provided only for 2019, the total inspection reports in that year are used as baseline. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
4.2.  Number of suspected serious infringements reported 

Table  15  reports  the  percentage  of  inspection  reports  that  identified  at  least  one 
suspected  serious  infringement78  (2015-2019)79.  As  above,  the  table  compares  the 
Member  State  data  on  the  number  of  inspection  reports  and  the  number  of  inspection 
reports identifying at least one suspected serious infringement. These data are then used 
to  calculate  an  indicator  of  the  percentage  of  inspection  reports  that  identified  at  least 
one suspected serious infringement80. 

Member  States  report  a  total  of  19,675  inspection  reports  that  identified  at  least  one 
suspected  serious  infringement.  When  compared  with  the  total  number  of  inspection 
reports,  the  results  show  that  at  EU  level  about  6  %  of  inspection  reports  issued 
identified at least one suspected serious infringement81. 

Table  16  presents the  total  number  of  suspected  serious  infringements  identified 2015-
2019.  It  shows  that  the  total  number  of  suspected  serious  infringements  reported  by 
Member States increased from around 3,000 in 2015 to 3,500 in 2019. The year 2018, 
saw the highest number of suspected serious infringements reported (4,164). 

The  practice  of  assessing  and  categorising  serious  infringements  differs  in  Member 
States82.  In  some  instances,  whether  an infringement is  to  be  categorised  as  serious  is 
not  confirmed  or  reported  as  such  in  an  inspection  report  but  is  done  at  a  later  stage. 
Therefore,  some  Member  States  reported  all  suspected  infringements  reported  in 
inspection  reports  as  potentially  serious  or  could  not  report  a  number  of  suspected 
serious infringements from inspection report data.  

These differences may make direct comparison more difficult and produce a higher total 
number  of  suspected  serious 
infringements  than  would  be  confirmed  serious 
infringements.  The  number  of  serious  infringements  that  were  confirmed  as  serious 
during  the  period  2015-2019  was  collected  as  part  of  the  study  into  the  systems  for 
sanctioning  infringements  of  the  Common  Fisheries  Policy.  It  is  provided  here  for 
additional context83.  

78 Article 90, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
79 Some Member States commented on the difficulty  of extracting the number of inspection reports identifying 
suspected  serious  infringements  as  the  option  of  recording  and  searching  specifically  for  serious 
infringements was unavailable. BG IE MT PT could not provide the necessary data to calculate this ratio. As 
reported  in  section  3,  Member  States  sometimes reported a  different  total  of  inspection reports  issued and  
inspection reports that were entered into the electronic database. When this was the case (DE, ES, UK), the 
higher figure is used as the baseline. 

80 EL, IE, MT, LV, PT could not provide the necessary data to calculate this ratio. Data was not reported and / or 
unavailable.  As  reported  in  section  3,  Member  States  sometimes  reported  a  different  total  of  inspection 
reports issued and number of inspection reports entered into the electronic database. When this was the case, 
the higher figure is used as the baseline (DE, ES, UK). 

81  The  total  number  of  inspections  used  for  comparison  excludes  those  Member  States  for  which  there  was 

incomplete data (i.e. EL, IE, LV, PT, MT). 

82 As reported by the study into Member State systems for sanctioning infringements of the Common Fisheries 
Policy,  available  at:  https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/dfb452c8-c4df-11eb-a925-
01aa75ed71a1 

83 See footnote 82 for link. For EL SE and UK, data is unavailable. 

19 

 
 
 
                                                
Table 15 Table showing the number of serious infringements identified in inspection reports by Member 
State (2015-2019) 

Total 
number of 
inspection 
reports 
(2015-
2019) 

772 
Belgium 
15378 
Bulgaria 
14033 
Croatia 
3517 
Cyprus 
21039 
Denmark 
4069 
Estonia 
501 
Finland 
51439 
France 
6880 
Germany 
5617 
Greece 
91321 
Italy  
Ireland88 
9498 
5688 
Latvia 
1876 
Lithuania 
5579 
Malta 
Netherlands  4413 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Spain 
Sweden 
United 
Kingdom 
Total / EU 
average 
/ = data unavailable or not reported. 

18544 
11294 
3495 
56832 
5937 

376219 

38497 

Total number 
of inspection 
reports that 
identified at 
least one 
suspected 
serious 
infringement 
(2015-2019) 
130 
15 
622 
19 
956 
68 
16 
84687 
97 
/ 
1802 
/ 
/ 
2 
/ 
37 
2 
/ 
0 
7043 
35 

7985 

19675 

% inspection 
reports 
issued that 
identified at 
least one 
suspected 
serious 
infringement 
(2015-2019) 
17 
0.1 
4 
184 
5 
2 
3 
2 
3 
/  
2 
/ 
/ 
0 
/ 
1 
0 
/ 
0 
12 
1 

21 

6 

Total number 
of confirmed 
serious 
infringements 
(2015-2019) 

Total number 
of suspected 
serious 
infringements 
identified in 
inspection 
reports 
(2015-2019) 

130 
22 
718 
46685 
95686 
68 
16 
846 
97 
626 
2471 
/ 
19 
7 
/ 
45 
2 
45290 
0 
1923 
37 

8142 

69 
22 
528 
30 
895 
68 
17 
846 
12 
/ 
661 
16 
19 
4 
1589 
38 
2 
452 
0 
305391 
/ 
/ 

17043 

6747 

84  This  is  based  on  the  number  of  inspection  reports  issued.  CY  also  report  5176  inspections  without  and 

inspection report being issued. 

85 Contains not only inspection reports but those detected by cross-checks and electronic inspections. 
86  DK  report  that  the  data  on  serious  infringements  is  derived  from  inspections  reports  where  it  is  not 
differentiated between serious or not serious infringements. This is done when the infringement is registered 
in the register of infringements. 

87  This  figure  is  for  the  years  2018  and  2019  only,  therefore  the  calculation  on  the  percentage  of  reports 

identifying serious infringements only uses the inspection reports from those years. 

88 IE report that in order to categorise as a serious infringement they required a body to determine the offence as 
serious under the regulations. Therefore offences could, not at that time be categorised in these sections.  
89  The  study  reports  that  classification  of  ‘serious  infringement’  is  not  clearly  set  out  under  the  Maltese  legal 

framework. The data indicates 15 cases of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

90 Data on total confirmed serious infringements from the study on sanctioning was used for the 5-year report. 
91 ES reports additional infringements that are categorised as serious infringements in their law. 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table 16 Table showing the number of suspected serious infringements identified, by year (2015-2019) 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Total 

Total number of 
suspected serious 
infringements reported 
by Member States 

2992 

3086 

2824 

4164 

3506 

1704392 

4.3.  Application of the points system 

Member  States  were  asked  to  report  on  their  implementation  of  the  point  system  for 
licence  holders  and  masters  of  fishing  vessels93.  In  total,  by  2019,  all  but  one  Member 
State94  reported  having  a  legislative  framework  establishing  a  point  system  for  licence 
holders and masters, in line with EU legislation  at the end of the reporting period 2015-
2019. 

Member  States  report  a  total  of  2,664  occasions  that  points  were  applied  to  licence 
holders  across  the  reporting  period95.  Four  Member  States  have  either  never  applied 
points  to licence  holders  or  not  been  able to  report the  data96.  Member  States  report  a 
total of 2,234 occasions that points were applied to masters across the reporting period. 
Four Member States have either never applied points to masters or have not been able to 
report the data97. The total number is slightly below that reported for licence holders.  

Several  Member  States  commented  on  the  difficulties  with  making  the  point  system 
work98.  Some  of  the  difficulties  mentioned  included  the  lengthy  proceedings  from 
detection  of  the  infringement  to  sanction,  the  high  thresholds  before  a  licence  can  be 
withdrawn,  lack  of  appropriate  administrative  and  institutional  structures  and  high 
thresholds  for  evidence  demanded  by  courts.  Some  Member  States  have  responded  to 
these  challenges  by  reforming  structures  and  practices  and  issuing  training  and 
guidelines for practitioners.  

Table 17 Table summarising the numbers of serious infringements and penalty points applied by Member 
States (2015-2019) 

Suspected Serious 
Infringements 
identified in 
inspection reports 
(2015-2019) 
2471 
1923 
956 
846 
718 
626 
466 
452 
8142 
130 

Occasions that 
penalty points 
were applied to 
licence holder 
(2015-2019) 
1866 
233 
99 
233 
0 
0 
30 
7 
44 
4 

Occasions that 
penalty points 
were applied to 
Master (2015-
2019) 
1595 
72 
45 
260 
0 
0 
30 
11 
38 
5 

Italy 
Spain 
Denmark 
France 
Croatia 
Greece 
Cyprus 
Portugal 
United Kingdom 
Belgium 

92 The total includes infringements identified by PT and LV that are not broken down by year. 
93 Article 92, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
94 IE 
95 Reported by 18 Member States. 
96 IE, EL, LT, HR. 
97 IE, HR, EL, RO.  
98 The practical difficulties in part explain why not all Member States have applied points, even when they have 

the legal framework in place.  

21 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Suspected Serious 
Infringements 
identified in 
inspection reports 
(2015-2019) 
97 
68 
45 
37 
22 
19 
16 
7 
2 
0 
/ 
17043 

Germany 
Estonia 
Netherlands 
Sweden 
Bulgaria 
Latvia 
Finland 
Lithuania 
Poland 
Romania 
Malta 
Total 
/ = data unavailable or not reported. 

Occasions that 
penalty points 
were applied to 
licence holder 
(2015-2019) 
2 
9 
45 
51 
3 
16 
3 
0 
1 
11 
7 
2664 

Occasions that 
penalty points 
were applied to 
Master (2015-
2019) 
8 
40 
37 
59 
3 
14 
3 
2 
2 
0 
10 
2234 

4.4. 

 Number of suspected infringements by inspection location 

In addition to the number of inspection reports identifying infringements, the data allow 
similar  ratios to be  calculated by inspection location99.  The Member  State reported data 
on the total number of inspections at sea, at port/landing, of markets and of transports is 
compared  to  the  number  of  inspections  at  these  locations  that  identified  at  least  one 
suspected  infringement.  This  provides  an  indicator  of  the  percentage  of  inspections  at 
these locations that identified at least one suspected infringement100.  

These  data  are  reported  below  in  table  18  and  19.  As  can  be  seen  in  table  18,  on 
average, around one in ten inspections  at each site identifies  a suspected infringement. 
This  figure  remains  stable  across  the  years.  Table  20  provides  the  raw  data  to  give 
additional context to interpret the percentage. Some Member States  reported that their 
recording  of  an inspection may  include  visits  to  multiple vessels  and/  or  sites,  while  on 
other  occasions  it  was  a  single  vessel  and/  or  site.  Therefore,  higher  percentages  may 
also reflect the fact that the inspection covered multiple vessels and / or sites. 

A  total  of 10,504  inspections  at sea  identified suspected  infringements.  This  represents 
11 % of all inspections  at sea101. Member States report a total of 18,148 inspections  at 
port/landing  with  suspected  infringements.  This  is  equal  to  9  %  of  all  inspections  at 
port/landing102.  Member  States  report  15,102  inspections  of  markets  having  identified 
infringements.  This  equates  to  12  %  of  all  inspections  of  market  for  the  period  2015-

99  Inspection  at  sea  -  Annex  XXVII  -  Module  1;  inspection  at  port/landing  -  Annex  XXVII  -  Module  3; 
inspection of markets - Annex XXVII - Module 4; inspection of transports - Annex XXVII - Module 5 of 
the Control Implementing Regulation - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 
2011  laying  down  detailed  rules  for  the  implementation  of  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No 1224/2009 
establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries 
Policy. 

100 EL did not provide adequate data to be included in this calculation. 
101  This is  based  on  a  total  of  92,111  inspections  at  sea reported  by  Member  States  that  also  reported  data  on 
infringements identified in those inspections. EL inspections are excluded from total as no data on number 
of inspections identifying suspected infringements was available. 

102  A  total  of  192,615  inspections  at  port/landing  were  reported  by  Member  States  that  also  reported  data  on 
infringements identified in those inspections. EL inspections are excluded from total as no data on number 
of inspections identifying suspected infringements was available. 

22 

 
 
 
 
                                                
2019103.  In  total,  1,876  inspections  of  transports  with  suspected  infringements  were 
reported across 2015-2019. This is equivalent to 10 % of all inspections of transports104.  

Table 18 Table showing the percentage of inspections identifying at least one suspected infringement, by 
location and year (2015-2019) 

Percentage of inspections that identified at least one suspected 
infringement 

(average 
2015-
2019) 

Inspections 
at sea 
Inspections 
in port / 
landing 
Inspections 
of markets 
Inspections 
of transports 

11 

9 

12 

10 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

13 

10 

12 

8 

11 

9 

11 

13 

11 

9 

11 

9 

11 

10 

12 

11 

11 

9 

13 

10 

Table 19 Table showing the percentage of inspections identifying at least one suspected infringement, by 
location and Member State (2015-2019) 

Percentage of inspections identifying suspected infringements 

At sea 

In port/landing 

of markets 

of transports 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Cyprus 
Germany 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Spain 
Finland 
France 
Croatia 
Ireland 
Italy 
Lithuania 
Latvia 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Sweden 

13 
9 
0.1105 
6 
5 
17 
24 
3 
13 
25 
1 
12 
4 
1 
7 
16 
5 
5 
1 
2 

15 
1 
3 
2 
5 
6 
13 
6 
7 
4 
3 
5 
3 
1 
1 
16 
6 
8 
7 
10 

36 
2 
1 
40 
2 
2 
13 
1 
4 
19 
/  
23 
0 
6 
17 
12 
2 
14 
0.2 
42 

100 
21 
3 
100 
5 
11 
16 
0 
3 
18 
0  
21 
0 
0 
0 
15 
0.1 
11 
1 
1 

103 This is based on a total of 129,309 inspections at market reported by Member States that also reported data on 
infringements identified in those inspections. EL excluded as no data on number of inspections identifying 
suspected infringements was available. 

104 This is based on a total of 18,571 inspections at transport reported by Member States that also reported data 
on  infringements  identified  in  those  inspections.  EL  excluded  as  no  data  on  number  of  inspections 
identifying suspected infringements was available. 

105 The total reported for inspections  at sea include both professional licenses with or without the use of a vessel 

and amateur licenses using a boat and/or amateur licenses fishing with a spear-gun. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Percentage of inspections identifying suspected infringements 

At sea 

In port/landing 

of markets 

of transports 

United Kingdom 
EU average 
/ = data unavailable or not reported. 

18 
11 

46 
9 

1 
12 

12 
10 

24 

 
 
 
Table 20 Table showing total number of inspections and total number of inspections identifying at least one suspected infringement, by inspection location 

No. of inspections 

At sea 

In port/ 
landing 

472 
354 
3961 
10273 
2714 
1118 
16436 
12037 
1894 
12859 
6403 
5134 
12332 
629 
683 
420 
1590 
2911 
10296 
218 
1292 
4521 
108547  241583 

275 
14936 
3229 
15085 
13315 
2615 
48968 
29797 
582 
12119 
1489 
9498 
19891 
1168 
4736 
17055 
1309 
13812 
8096 
1975 
3642 
17991 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Cyprus 
Germany 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Greece 
Spain 
Finland 
France 
Croatia 
Ireland 
Italy 
Lithuania 
Latvia 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Total EU 
/ = data unavailable. 

of markets 

of transports 

At sea 

In port/ 
landing 

of markets 

of transports 

No. of inspections identifying at least one suspected 
infringement 

11 
4471 
1385 
2562 
4808 
747 
3427 
13717 
153 
21265 
4088 
0 
39050 
25 
256 
551 
1396 
935 
2705 
1121 
802 
29261 
132736 

4 
193 
227 
1 
202 
28 
418 
3268 
5 
2965 
143 
868 
3456 
87 
13 
1 
118 
886 
2625 
181 
173 
3127 
18989 

63 
32 
4 
602 
128 
188 
/ 
2864 
58 
1670 
1570 
48 
1483 
24 
5 
29 
251 
147 
509 
2 
25 
802 
10504  18148 

40 
180 
85 
235 
724 
154 
/ 
3878 
37 
888 
53 
278 
1055 
36 
33 
106 
208 
768 
658 
138 
345 
8249 

4 
83 
7 
1019 
95 
18 
/ 
1768 
2 
803 
769 
0 
9151 
0 
14 
96 
160 
20 
379 
2 
339 
373 
15102 

7 
40 
6 
1 
9 
3 
/ 
530 
0 
82 
25 
0 
709 
0 
0 
0 
18 
1 
284 
1 
1 
159 
1876 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.5. 

 Number of suspected infringements by Control Regulation article 

Member  States  reported  the  total  number  of  suspected  infringements  grouped  under 
three Titles of the Control Regulation: Title III, Title IV and Title XX. These cover different 
aspects of fisheries control. 

Title III concerns the general conditions for  access to waters and resources. In order to 
be allowed to conduct fisheries activities masters of vessels have to comply with certain 
administrative and technological standards.   

Title IV  deals  with control  of  fisheries.  Different chapters  touch  on control  of the use  of 
fishing opportunities, control of fleet management, control of multi-annual plans, control 
of technical measures and control of recreational fisheries. 

Title  XX  deals  with  control  of  marketing.  The  control  of  marketing  focuses  on  the 
following  items:  Origin,  weight,  labelling,  landing  declarations,  sales  notes,  take-over 
declarations, transportation documents, production batches and traceability. 

Comparing the numbers of infringements under each of these titles  in figure 7 (below), 
we see that the majority of suspected infringements reported by Member States (2015-
2019) concern Title IV, followed by infringements under Title XX and then infringements 
under Title III.  

Figure 3 Pie Chart showing the numbers of infringements under each Title of the Control Regulation 

10%

35%

Title III: General conditions
for access to waters and
resources.

Title IV: Control of fisheries.

55%

Title XX: Control of
marketing.

The  three  most  frequently  reported  infringements  were:  (1)  traceability  infringements 
(Article  58),  with  28  %  of  all  infringements106;  (2)  Vessel  fishing  logbook  and  landing 
declaration  infringements  (Article  14-16)107,  with  22  %  of  all  suspected  infringements; 
and  (3)  Provisions  on  control  contained  in  Multiannual  plans  (National  Control  Action 
Plans)  (Article  46)  with  20  %  of  all  infringements108.  Those  three  stand  out,  with 
infringements  among  the  other  categories  ranging  between  0  –  5  %  of  all  suspected 
infringements. 

106  This is  based  on a  total  of  13,653  suspected  infringements reported  out  of  a  total  of  49,067 total  suspected 

infringements that were reported broken down by infringement category. 

107  This is  based  on a  total  of  10,837  suspected  infringements reported  out  of  a  total  of  49,067 total  suspected 

infringements that were reported broken down by infringement category. 

108    This  is  based  on  a  total  10,046  suspected  infringements  reported  out  of  a  total  of  49,067  total  suspected 

infringements that were reported broken down by infringement category. 

26 

 
 
 
 
                                                
Title III: General conditions for access to waters and resources 

Table  21  reports  the  total  number  of  suspected  infringements  under  Title  III  of  the 
Control  Regulation,  reported  by  Member  States  over  the  reporting  period  (2015-2019). 
Infringements  related  to  fishing  licences109  were  the  most  frequently  reported  (1,954), 
followed by infringements regarding Vessel Monitoring System110 (VMS) (1,235). Fishing 
authorisation111  infringements  decreased  slightly  across  the  5  years,  while  marking  of 
fishing gear112 increased.  

Table  21  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Title  III  of  the  Control  Regulation, 
aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Infringement 
category 
Fishing licence 
(Article 6) 
Fishing 
authorisation 
(Article 7) 
Marking of fishing 
gear (Article 8) 
Vessel Monitoring 
System (Article 
9) 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

Total 

265 

434 

403 

424 

428 

1954 

216 

158 

166 

167 

105 

187 

156 

213 

164 

259 

807 

984 

283 

269 

195 

289 

199 

1235 

Table  22  presents  the  total  number  of  suspected  infringements  under  Title  III  of  the 
Control Regulation, reported by each Member State over the years 2015-2019. The data 
reveal variations between Member States in the number of infringements reported under 
the four infringement categories. For example, one Member State reports over two thirds 
of  the  infringements  related  to  fishing  licences113,  three    Member  States  report  almost 
half  of the infringements  of fishing authorisations114, while infringements under marking 
of  fishing  gear  in  three  Member  States115  sum  almost  50  %  of  the  total.  Finally,  three 
Member States116 account for 59 % of the total VMS infringements. 

109  Article  6,  Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  1224/2009.  The  data  reported  by  Portugal  under  fishing  licences 
includes  infringements  for  fishing  authorisation  (CR.  Art 7).  Some  Member  States also report  that  fishing 
licence infringements include recreational fishing.  

110 Article 9, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
111 Article 7, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
112 Article 8, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
113 HR. 
114 FR; IE; RO. 
115 EL; IT; ES. With PT this increases to 65 %, however PT could not precisely separate infringements in this 

category with others, so their total may contain additional infringements.  

116 EL; IT; ES. With PT this increases to 82 %, however PT could not precisely separate infringements in this 

category with others, so their total may contain additional infringements. 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table  22  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Title  III  of  the  Control  Regulation  by 
Member State across 2015-2019. 

Infringement category 

Fishing 
licence 
(art.6) 

Fishing 
authorisation 
(art.7) 

Marking  of 
fishing 
gear  (art. 
8) 

VMS 
infringements 
detected 
concerning EU 
fishing vessels 
(art. 9) 

Belgium 
Bulgaria 
Croatia 
Cyprus 
Denmark 
Estonia 
Finland 
France 
Germany 
Greece 
Ireland 
Italy  
Latvia 
Lithuania 
Malta 
Netherlands 
Poland 
Portugal 
Romania 
Spain 
Sweden 
United Kingdom 
Total  

0 
111 
1325 
12 
17 
82 
2 
52 
5 
93 
15 
48 
3 
3 
4 
5 
2 
82117 
0 
85 
3 
5 
1954 

0 
48 
75 
11 
40 
2 
0 
157 
5 
78 
123 
34 
0 
6 
51 
2 
5 
0 
121 
41 
3 
5 
807 

Title IV: Control of Fisheries 

0 
3 
62 
12 
41 
18 
6 
67 
28 
166 
2 
215 
0 
6 
13 
36 
41 
178118 
0 
86 
0 
4 
984 

0 
16 
13 
35 
4 
1 
2 
86 
4 
339 
4 
234 
2 
4 
13 
2 
3 
295119 
0 
153 
3 
22 
1235 

Infringements under Title IV are subdivided under five chapters. These are the following: 

  Chapter I: Control of the use of fishing opportunities 

  Chapter II: Control of fleet management 

  Chapter III: Control of multi-annual plans 

  Chapter IV - Control of technical measures 

  Chapter V - Control of recreational fisheries 

117 Data includes both suspected infringements on licences (Article 6) and authorisations (Article 7). 
118  Data includes  suspected  infringements  on  “Marking  of  fishing gear”  (Article  8),  “Where gear not notified” 

(Article 27), “Stowage of gear” (Article 47) and “Retrieval of lost gear” (Article 48). 

119 Data includes suspected infringements on “VMS infringements concerning EU vessels” (Article 9),  “Vessel 
logbook and landing declaration” (Article 14-16), “Prior notification” (Article 17) and “Prior notification in 
another Member State” (Article 18).  

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table  23  presents  the  total  number  of  suspected  infringements  reported  by  Member 
States  across  these  five  chapters  and  the  total  number  reported  in  each  year  (2015-
2019).  The  data  reveal  that  the  highest  number  of  infringements  concern  Chapter  I: 
Control of the use of fishing opportunities (13,983 infringements). Member States report 
10,171  suspected  infringements  concerning  Chapter  III  ‘Control  of  multi-annual  plans’. 
They  report  fewer  infringements  related  to  Chapter  IV  ‘Control  of  technical  measures’ 
(2457),  Chapter V ‘Control of recreational fisheries’ (187) and Chapter II ‘Control of fleet 
management’ (154). 

Table  23  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Title  IV  of  the  Control  Regulation, 
aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Chapter I: Control of the use of 
fishing opportunities 
Chapter II: Control of fleet 
management   
Chapter III: Control of multi-annual 
plans 
Chapter IV - Control of technical 
measures 
Chapter V - Control of recreational 
fisheries 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Total 

2625 

3173 

2850  2797  2538  13983 

40 

44 

22 

16 

32 

154 

2128 

1844 

1965  2203  2031  10171 

333 

364 

526 

948 

566  2457 

41 

48 

32 

33 

33 

187 

Chapter I: Control of the use of fishing opportunities 

Vessel  fishing  logbook  and  landing  declaration  infringements  constitute  the  majority  of 
suspected infringements reported by Member States under chapter I.  A total of  10,837 
landing  declaration120  and  1,100 
logbook  and 
infringements  of  vessel 
infringements  of  fishing  vessels  not  subject  to  logbook  or  landing  declaration 
requirements121  were reported. The latter increased significantly across the years 2015-
2019. 

fishing 

Table  24  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Chapter  I  of  Title  IV    of  the  Control 
Regulation, “Control of the use of fishing opportunities”, aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Vessel fishing logbook and landing 
declaration (CR art. 14-16, 23 &24) 
Fishing vessels not subject to logbook 
or landing declaration requirements 
(CR art. 16 & 25) 
Prior Notification (CR art. 17) 
Prior Notification in another MS (CR 
art. 18) 
Transhipment operation in ports or 
places (CR art.20) 
Fishing effort reports (CR art. 26) 
Where gear not notified (CR art. 27) 
Total 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Total 

2144 

2607  2153  2093  1840  10837 

68 

163 

325 

271 

273 

1100 

171 

168 

173 

140 

154 

806 

12 

11 

8 

14 

10 

23 

1 

1 

2 

33 

11 

60 

182 
37 
2625  3173  2850  2797  2538  13983 

1005 
142 

201 
12 

246 
12 

128 
38 

248 
43 

120 Article 14-16, 23 & 24, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
121 Article 16 & 25, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Chapter II: Control of fleet management   

Ten Member States122 report a total of 154 suspected infringements of fishing capacity123 
in the period 2015-2019. 

Table  25  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Chapter  II  of  Title  IV,  "Control  of  fleet 
management", aggregated at EU level and year (2015-2019) 

Infringement category 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Total 

Fishing capacity (art. 38) 

40 

44 

22 

16 

32 

154 

Chapter III: Control of multi-annual plans 

Under  chapter  III,  suspected  infringements  of  provisions  on  control  contained  in  multi-
annual  plans124  is  the  most  prevalent  category,  with  infringements  reported  by  five 
Member States. The total of 10,055 represents 99% of infringements under chapter III. 
Of those 10,555 suspected infringements, 98 % are reported by two Member States125. 

Table 26 Table showing the number of infringements under Chapter III of Title IV (Control Regulation), 
“Control of multi-annual plans”, aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Infringement category 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Total 

Designated ports (art. 43) 
Separate stowage of demersal catches 
subject to Multi-annual Plans (art. 44) 
Provisions on control contained in 
Multi-annual plans (National Control 
Action Plans) (art.46) 
Total 

21 

5 

9 

4 

17 

2 

10 

7 

29 

13 

86 

31 

2103 

1831 

1946 

2186 

1989  10055 

2128 

1844 

1965 

2203 

2031  10171 

Chapter IV: Control of technical measures 

Member  States  reported  a  total  of  2,457  suspected  infringements  under  the  control  of 
technical  measures,  during  the  period  2015-2019.  The  most  common  infringements 
relate to control of fishing restricted areas by EU and third country vessels126. A total of 
11  Member  States127  report  a  total  of  1,540  infringements  in  this  category.  The  next 
most frequent were infringements of real time closure of fisheries128 with 521 suspected 
infringements.  

122 HR, CY, DK, FR, EL, IT, LT, MT, PT, ES 
123 Article 38, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
124 Article 46, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
125 UK and IT. 
126 Article 50, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
127 HR CY DK FR IT LV MT NL PL PT ES. 
128 Article 53, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table  27  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Chapter  IV  of  Title  IV    of  the  Control 
Regulation, “Control of technical measures”, aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Infringement category 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Total 

Stowage of gear (art. 47) 
Retrieval of lost gear (art. 48) 
Catch composition (art. 49) 
Control of fishing restricted areas (EU 
and third country vessels) (art. 50) 
Real time closure of fisheries (art. 53)  85 
Total 

14 
15 
49 

170 

333 

5 
5 
53 

26 
25 
39 

39 
39 
31 

13 
9 
34 

97 
93 
206 

224 

340 

376 

430  1540 

77 
364 

96 
526 

183 
668 

521 

80 
566  2457 

Chapter V: Control of recreational fisheries 

Seven  Member  States129  report  a  total  of  187  suspected  infringements  for  illegal 
marketing  of  catches  for  recreational  fisheries130.  Around  75  %  of  infringements  are 
reported by Italy.   

Table  28  Table  showing  the  number  of  infringements  under  Chapter  V  of  Title  IV    of  the  Control 
Regulation, “Control of recreational fisheries”, aggregated at the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Infringement category 

2015 

2016 

2017  2018  2019 

Total 

Illegal marketing of catches for 
recreational fisheries  (art.55) 

41 

48 

32 

33 

33 

187 

129 HR, CY, FR, DE, EL, IT, LT 
130 Article 55, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table 29 Table showing the total  number of suspected infringements under Title IV of Control Regulation, reported by Member State (2015-2019) 

BE  BG  HR 

CY  DK  EE  FI 

FR 

DE  EL 

IE 

IT 

LV  LT  MT  NL  PL  PT  RO  ES 

SE  UK 

Total 

Logbook and 
landing 
declaration  
(art. 14-16, 
23 &24) 
Fishing 
vessels not 
subject to 
logbook or 
landing 
declaration 
(art. 16 & 
25) 
Prior 
Notification 
(art. 17) 
Prior 
Notification 
(another MS)  
(art. 18) 
Transhipment 
(ports or 
places) 
(art.20) 
Fishing effort 
reports(art. 
26) 
Gear not 
notified (art. 
27) 
Fishing 
capacity (art. 

34 

7 

597 

181 

367 

1 

1035 

653 

301 

292 

164 

515 

28 

31 

171 

150 

565 

0131 

0 

190 

225 

5330 

10837 

0 

1 

0 

2 

138 

104 

0 

0 

169 

0 

117 

0 

0 

48 

115 

13 

51 

18 

0 

6 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

394 

0 

177 

0 

0 

1100 

35 

9 

3 

14 

14 

157 

0132 

0 

30 

22 

266 

806 

12 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

44 

0 

1 

0 

0 

2 

4 

0 

0 

3 

1 

4 

0 

5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

449 

0 

0 

0 

0 

5 

4 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0133 

0 

17 

0 

0 

33 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

74 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

89 

0 

0 

0 

0 

49 

0 

0 

0 

1 

7 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

50 

149 

0134 

0 

5 

0 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

81 

5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

60 

309 

1005 

5 

0 

142 

154 

131 See footnote 119. 
132 See footnote 119. 
133 See footnote 119. 
134 The data reported corresponds to suspected infringements of “Fishing effort reports” (Article 26), “Separate stowage of demersal catches subject to Multi-annual plans” (Article 44), 

“Provisions on control contained in Multi-annual plans” (Article 46), “Real time closure of fisheries” (Article 53). 

32 

 
 
  
                                                
BE  BG  HR 

CY  DK  EE  FI 

FR 

DE  EL 

IE 

IT 

LV  LT  MT  NL  PL  PT  RO  ES 

SE  UK 

Total 

0 

3 

0 

38) 
Designated 
ports (art. 
43) 
Stowage 
demersal 
catches 
subject to 
MAPS (art. 
44) 
Control 
provisions in 
National 
Control 
Action Plans 
(art.46) 
Stowage of 
gear (art. 47)  0 
Retrieval of 
lost gear 
(art. 48) 
Catch 
Composition 
(art. 49) 
Control of 
fishing 
restricted 
areas (EU 
and third 
country 
vessels) (art. 
50) 
Real time 
closure of 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

4 

3 

0 

0 

0 

2 

9 

30 

0 

5 

0 

0 

1 

1 

0 

26 

0 

4 

0 

1 

86 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

16 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0135 

0 

0 

0 

12 

31 

0 

0 

0 

8 

0 

6 

0 

40 

59 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

14 

22 

2 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

335 

29 

26 

0 

33 

6 

0 

0 

12 

0 

0 

96 

250 

0 

0 

0 

1 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

1965 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

33 

0 

0 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0136 

0137 

0 

0 

22 

86 

0138 

0 

86 

0 

0 

0 

19 

8 

0 

0 

84 

0 

0 

0 

0 

599 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

14 

10 

2 

0 

2 

0 

209 

0139 

0 

0 

219 

218 

0 

0 

7976 

10055 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

97 

93 

206 

1540 

521 

135 See footnote 134. 
136 See footnote 134. 
137 See footnote 118.  
138 See footnote 118. 
139 See footnote 134. 

33 

 
 
  
                                                
BE  BG  HR 

CY  DK  EE  FI 

FR 

DE  EL 

IE 

IT 

LV  LT  MT  NL  PL  PT  RO  ES 

SE  UK 

Total 

fisheries(art. 
53) 
Illegal 
marketing of 
catches for 
recreational 
fisheries (art. 
55) 
Total 

0 

0 
0 
51  96  1136  442  532  48  1257  1513  437  408  173  3402  38  40  246  194  881  639  0 

143 

16 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7 

4 

1 

0 

0 

9 

0 

0 
0 
1274  247  13899  26953 

187 

34 

 
 
  
 
 
 
Title XX: Control of marketing  

Member  States  report  a  total  of  17,147  suspected  infringements  under  Title  XX  of  the 
Control  Regulation.  The  most frequently  reported infringement  are under  traceability140. 
A  total  of  16  Member  States,  included  land-locked  states,  reported  13,653  suspected 
infringements  of  traceability  requirements141.  This  equates  to  around  80  %  all 
infringements under Control of marketing.  

Table 30 Table showing the number of infringements under Title XX (Control Regulation), aggregated at 
the EU level by year (2015-2019) 

Infringement category 

2015  2016  2017  2018  2019  Total 

Common marketing standards 
(art.57) 
Traceability (art. 58) 
First sale (art. 59) 
Weighing (art.60) 
Weighing after transport  (art. 61) 
Completion and submission of sales 
notes (art. 62) 
Takeover declaration (art. 66) 
Completion and submission of 
transport documents (art. 68) 
Common organisation of markets and 
fisheries and aquaculture products 
(art. 69) 
Monitoring of price and intervention 
arrangements (art. 70) 
Duties of the operator (art. 75) 
Total 

193 

199 

123 

157 

149 

821 

2606 
77 
18 
1 

2553  2733  3058  2703  13653 
192 
160 
77 
24 
0  
 0 

168 
60 
0  

741 
224 
2 

144 
45 
1 

156 

247 

252 

244 

214 

1113 

24 

54 

0 

0 

25 

33 

0 

0 

15 

51 

0 

0 

69 

51 

0 

0 

56 

93 

1 

0 

189 

282 

1 

0 

18 
3147  3265  3377  3872  3486  17147 

121 

24 

13 

24 

42 

140 Article 58, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
141 Around 80 % of the infringements were reported by IT. 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                
Table 31 Table showing the number of infringements under Title XX of Control Regulation, reported by Member State (2015-2019) 

T
A

E
B

G
B

R
H

Y
C

Z
C

K
D

E
E

I
F

R
F

E
D

L
E

U
H

E
I

T
I

V
L

T
L

U
L

T
M

L
N

L
P

T
P

O
R

K
S

S
E

E
S

K
U

l
a
t
o
T

0 
38
1 

0 

0 

0 

Common 
marketing 
standards 
(art.57) 
Traceability 
(art. 58) 
First Sale  
(art. 59) 
Weighing 
(art.60) 
Weighing 
after 
transport 
(art. 61) 
Completion 
and 
submission of 
sales notes 
(art. 62) 
Take over 
declaration 
(art. 66) 
Completion 
and 
submission of 
transport 
documents 
(art. 68) 
Common 
Organisation 
of Markets in 
Fisheries and 
Aquaculture 
products  (CR  0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

15 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

65 
108
2 

284 

3 

28 

46 
12
0 

23 

0 

0 

0 

0 

42 

1 

6 

1 

0 

35 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

342  60 

106  0 

141  600  242  0 

0 

43 

134  0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 
1071
3 

0 

29 

0 

25 

3 

3 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

47 

128  0 

52 

24 

1 

0 

0 

19 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

0 

0 

29 

254  0 

286  0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

11 

0 

0 

0 

1 

821 
1365
3 

741 

224 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

2 

0 

83 

11 

84 

0 

7 

23 

520  142  90 

0 

0 

0 

91 

2 

27 

0 

0 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

0 

1 

2 

142  0 

0 

0 

0 

36 

0 

4 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

31 

1113 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

189 

2 

40 

0 

8 

0 

4 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

180 

0 

0 

0 

0 

22 

1 

0 

1 

0 

1 

1 

21 

282 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

36 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
art. 69) 
Monitoring of 
price and 
intervention 
arrangement
s  (CR art. 
70) 
Duties of the 
Operator (CR 
art. 75) 

Total 

T
A

E
B

G
B

R
H

Y
C

Z
C

K
D

E
E

I
F

R
F

E
D

L
E

U
H

E
I

T
I

V
L

T
L

U
L

T
M

L
N

L
P

T
P

O
R

K
S

S
E

E
S

K
U

l
a
t
o
T

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 
38
1 

3 

22 

3 
12
6 

30 
148
1 

14 
32
3 

0 

0 

20 

0 

1 

0 

8 

9 

0 
1104
9 

0 

0 

33 

31 

0 

0 

80 

62 

523  901  794  355  0 

100  194  9 

286  32 

29 

255  18 

53 

0 

0 

0 

29 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

7 

0 

0 

121 
1714
7 

37 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.  IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES AND ACHIEVEMENTS 2015-

2019 

In  addition  to  providing  quantitative  data,  Member  States  were  asked  to  report 
qualitative  information  on  the  state  of  implementation  of  various  other  aspects  of  the 
Control Regulation142. Member States mostly report similar challenges and achievements 
in  implementation  these  elements  in  in  the  period  2015-2019.  These  are  summarised 
below  in  the  main  challenges  and  achievements  in  the  implementation  of  the  Control 
Regulation in 2015-2019. 

5.1.  Principal  challenges  in  implementation  of  the  Control  Regulation 

2015-2019 

The  most  frequently  reported  challenge  relates  to  ensuring  the  traceability143  of 
fisheries products. A total of 13 Member States144 identified attempts to move to a digital 
system  for  ensuring traceability  of  fisheries  products145  as  their  biggest  challenge.  Only 
eight  Member  States146  report  using  digital  systems  by  2019.  Additional  challenges  in 
implementing  traceability  checks  were  coordination  challenges  because  in  many 
instances, multiple departments or agencies, including fisheries inspectors, but also those 
agencies  or  departments  with  competence  in  food  safety  and  public  health  are  tasked 
with carrying out traceability checks on fisheries products147. 

The  next  most  frequently  reported  challenge  in  implementation  was  the  control  of  the 
discard  ban  / implementation  of the  landing  obligation148.  Member  States  report  that 
practical difficulties due to the inadequacy of conventional tools as well as the complexity 
of  rules  as  the  main  sources  of  the  challenges.  In  particular,  as  illegal  discards  do  not 
occur during the presence of inspectors it is noted as difficult to identify infringements. 

Eight Member States identified issues around weighing and catch registration149 as a 
significant challenge to implement during the period 2015-2019.  

Six  Member  States  reported  a  broad  category  of  the  electronic  submission  of 
documents  and  automated  validation  of  crosschecks  of  fisheries  related 
information as among the most challenging to implement and control150. Member States 
report  a  number  of  difficulties  that  still  need  to  be  overcome  in  order  for  it  to  work 

142 These included descriptions of the implementation of some articles, like traceability (art.58) or the application 
of  the  points  system  (art.92)  as  well  as  the  challenges  and  achievements  in  implementing  the  Control 
Regulation  2015-2019.  Where  possible  these  answers  have  been  incorporated  into  the  previous  sections. 
Section  5  summarises  the  responses  to  all  these  questions  in  the  analysis  of  the  principal  challenges  and 
achievements that Member States reported facing when implementing the Control Regulation (2015-2019). 
The 
at: 
https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/be3aa2c6-c65e-4c06-bd62-7967611bf2d2/library/2c118750-ade5-4f46-
b899-ccacf6ba361c 

and  Member 

responses 

questions 

available 

State 

full 

list 

of 

is 

143 Article 58 Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
144 CY FI ES DK FI ES IE IT LV PL RO LT SE. 
145 Article 58, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
146 BG HR CY EE LV LT SE CZ. The number may be more as the question did not specifically ask for this to be 

reported. 

147 AT DK EE LT HU. 
148 10 Member States report that ensuring control of this rule, set out in  Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, was most 
difficult to control 2015-2019 (BE DK FR DE IE LT IT NL RO SE). 

149  BG  DK  EE  IT  IE  LV  PT  SE  identified  different  issues  around  weighing  as  challenging.  These  include 

challenges relating to art. 14, and article 60/61 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 

150 CY BG HR FR LV MT. This included general challenges but also specifically related to articles 9 and 10 as 
well as 14 and 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 (setting out the obligation to install electronic 
reporting and tracking hardware) as well as articles 78 and article 93 (electronic database of inspections and 
national register of infringements). 

38 

 
 
 
                                                
efficiently. These include a lack of a common procedures, which make sharing equivalent 
data complicated, and technical difficulties in establishing an electronic system. 

Six  Member States  identified  the  verification of  engine  power151  as  among  the rules 
most challenging to implement and control in the period 2015-2019. Common difficulties 
that were expressed included the lack of in-house expertise and the technical complexity 
of the issue.  

Other  reported  implementation  challenges  include  the  implementation  of  the  points 
system  for  serious infringements152. While Member States  report good cooperation and 
mutual  assistance,  including  the  receiving  and  sending  requests  with  each  other153,  
some  difficulties  in  cooperation  with  third  countries  are  reported154.  Finally, 
Member  States  identified  a  lack  of  administrative  resources  to  deal  with  the 
complexity of rules as a major challenge155.  

5.2.  Principal  achievements  in  implementation  of  the  Control  Regulation 

2015-2019 

In  total,  17  Member  States  reported  that  implementing  and  /  or  improving  digital 
and  electronic  data  management  systems  for  reporting  or  control  purposes  as 
their  most  important  achievement156.  Some  examples  include  the  implementation  or 
improvement  of  national  databases  of  infringements157;  the  implementation  of  digital 
traceability  systems158  or  the  introduction  or  upgrading  of  electronic  systems  for 
exchange  or  cross-checking  of  data159.  While  Member  States  also  reported  that  this 
required  substantial  resources  and  faced  a  number  of  challenges  before  improvements 
could be achieved, they also highlighted the added value of electronic systems.  

15  Member  States160  reported  administrative  restructuring  or  improving  existing 
practices to increase the effectiveness  of control and inspection as  a key achievement. 
Examples  include  implementing  risk  based  control  and  inspection  measures,  improving 
coordination  between  departments  and  agencies  involved  in  fisheries  control  and 
inspection,  upgrading  hardware  available  to  the  administration  (e.g.  cameras,  mobile 
phones,  drones)  as  well  as  hiring  more  staff  and  introducing  more  training  for  current 
staff.  

Finally,  six  Member  States  reported  implementing  measures  to  improve  the 
functioning of  their  sanctioning  systems  as  a  key  achievement  in  the  period 2015-
2019161.  Improvements  that  are  reported  include  the  passing  of  legislation  to  support 
their  sanctioning  system  and  the  adoption  of  specific  criteria  for  determining  serious 
infringements. 

151 CY DK UK PL LT IE. 
152 Article 92, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
153 Article 117, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
154 CY. 
155 PT, CY, FI. 
156 AT BE BG HR CY DK EE EL ES IE IT LV LT UK FR DE SE. 
157 Article 93, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
158 Article 58, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
159 Article 109, Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009. 
160 CY DK EE FI EL HU IE IT LV PT RO UK FR DE SE. 
161 HR FI ES IT LT DE. 

39 

 
 
 
 
                                                
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40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
K
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ISBN 978-92-76-38676-6 
doi:10.2771/075189