CELEX ID: 32024R2903

--- ENGLISH ---

Document:
Official Journal 
of the European Union
EN
L series
2024/2903
19.11.2024
COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2024/2903
of 18 November 2024
fixing the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2025 and amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in particular Article 43(3) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
The Council is to adopt measures on the fixing and allocation of fishing opportunities, including certain conditions functionally linked to these fishing opportunities, as appropriate. Under Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
(
1
)
, fishing opportunities are to be fixed in accordance with the objectives of the common fisheries policy (CFP) as set out in Article 2(2) of that Regulation. Under Article 16(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, fishing opportunities are to be allocated between Member States in such a way as to ensure the relative stability of fishing activities of each Member State for each stock or fishery.
(2)
The total allowable catches (TACs) should therefore be established, in accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, on the basis of the available scientific advice, taking into account biological and socio-economic implications while ensuring fair treatment between fishing sectors and taking into account the opinions expressed during consultations with stakeholders.
(3)
Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
(
2
)
 establishes a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and for the fisheries exploiting those stocks. In accordance with Article 3(1) of that Regulation, that plan aims to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the CFP listed in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013. In particular, the plan seeks to ensure that the exploitation of living marine biological resources restores and maintains populations of harvested species above levels that can produce the maximum sustainable yield (MSY). The plan also aims to contribute to ensuring that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term and are managed in a way that is consistent with the objectives of achieving economic, social, and employment benefits, and contributing to the availability of food supplies. Those objectives, as further specified in Article 2(5), points (c) and (f), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, include providing conditions for a viable and competitive fishing, capture and processing industry and land-based fishing related activities, as well as contributing to a fair standard of living for those who depend on fishing activities, bearing in mind coastal fisheries and socio-economic aspects.
(4)
On 31 May 2024, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) published its annual stock advice for Baltic stocks for 2025. According to ICES, the vast majority of the fisheries in the Baltic Sea have at least some degree of mixing between stocks. That mixing concerns both stocks managed by a TAC and stocks not managed by a TAC. The most important degree of mixing occurs among pelagic species and demersal species.
(5)
For 2025, ICES advises zero catches of western Baltic herring, eastern Baltic cod and salmon in ICES subdivisions 22 to 31. Moreover, ICES recommends low catch levels for western Baltic cod for 2025. Therefore, if the TACs for those stocks were established at the levels advised by ICES, the obligation to land all catches, including by-catches from those stocks in mixed fisheries, would lead to the phenomenon of choke species. Cod is by-caught in all fisheries, western herring is by-caught in the targeted sprat fisheries, and salmon can be by-caught in many fisheries. A choke situation would particularly affect vessels fishing for flatfish and sprat, potentially forcing them to cease fishing operations in 2025 and leading to a premature closure of those fisheries. Based on the data from the European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products, the first-sale value of the plaice and sprat fisheries that is allowed to be caught within the limits of the TACs and expected to be caught in the relevant respective area is estimated at EUR 19 900 000 and EUR 400 000, respectively. Many fisheries, in particular small-scale coastal fisheries for species not managed by a TAC, would also need to cease fishing operations in 2025. In order to strike a balance between maintaining fisheries, in view of the potentially severe socio-economic implications of failing to do so and of the need to achieve a good biological status for those stocks, and taking account of the difficulty of fishing all stocks in a mixed fishery at MSY, it is appropriate to maintain the TACs exclusively for unavoidable by-catches for western Baltic herring, eastern Baltic cod, western Baltic cod, and main basin salmon.
(6)
As regards the eastern Baltic cod stock, ICES advises zero catches for that stock in 2025 for the 6th consecutive year. Moreover, ICES downgraded its assessment to category 3 precautionary assessment due to limited data and inconsistencies in certain model estimates. However, ICES remains confident about the biomass trends of the eastern Baltic cod stock, which have shown a slight increase. The spawning stock biomass nevertheless remains well below the conservation reference point (B
lim
), below which there may be reduced reproductive capacity. In accordance with Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 and Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it is therefore appropriate to maintain the suspension of the targeted fishery and other functionally linked remedial measures and to extend the prohibition of recreational fisheries to the entire management area, with an exception for incidental by-catches in ICES subdivisions 27 to 32. In accordance with Article 2(1) and Article 2(5), points (c) and (f), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the fishing opportunities for unavoidable by-catches should also be set at a low level in order to avoid the socio-economic consequences that would result from setting the fishing opportunities at zero.
(7)
As regards the western Baltic cod stock, ICES downgraded its advice last year to precautionary advice due to continued uncertainties in the advice and recommended extremely low catch levels for 2024 and 2025. Moreover, ICES estimated in 2021 that the stock fell below B
lim
 15 years ago and has remained below B
lim
 ever since, reaching a historic low in 2022. In accordance with Article 3(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 and Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it is therefore appropriate to maintain the suspension of the targeted fishery and other functionally linked remedial measures. In accordance with Article 2(1) and Article 2(5), points (c) and (f), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the fishing opportunities for unavoidable by-catches should also be set at a low level to avoid the socio-economic consequences that would result from setting the fishing opportunities at zero.
(8)
As regards salmon in ICES subdivisions 22 to 31, ICES has maintained its zero-catch advice, while considering for 2025 the possibility of continued targeted commercial and recreational coastal summer fisheries again to the area north of latitude 59
o
 30′ N (ICES subdivisions 29 North to 31) compared to ICES subdivision 31 in 2024. ICES, however, reduced its catch advice because the post-smolt survival of salmon declined to a historic low in 2021 and is uncertain for 2022, resulting in an increased uncertainty of the stock development forecast. Moreover, the spawning run has decreased substantially since 2021 and in 2023 it was the lowest in the time series for the most productive salmon river by far. In addition, there is also post-release mortality of wild salmon in recreational fisheries for adipose fin-clipped salmon. In accordance with Article 16(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it is therefore appropriate to adjust the fishing area and the level of fishing opportunities compared to 2024 in line with the ICES advice, and to maintain the functionally linked remedial measures.
(9)
On 10 October 2024, ICES withdrew its advice for salmon in the Gulf of Finland and stated that its advice issued in 2023 for the fishing year 2024 is consequently the best available scientific advice. The fishing opportunities are therefore fixed accordingly.
(10)
In order to ensure the full use of coastal fishing opportunities for salmon in ICES subdivision 32, it is appropriate to maintain the limited inter-area flexibility for salmon between ICES subdivisions 22 to 31 and ICES subdivision 32 that was introduced in 2019.
(11)
Prohibiting fishing for sea trout beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines and limiting by-catches of sea trout to 3 % of the combined catch of sea trout and salmon has contributed to a substantial reduction in the previously high levels of misreporting of catches in the salmon fishery, in particular as regards catches of sea trout. It is therefore appropriate to maintain the existing restrictions in order to continue ensuring low levels of misreporting.
(12)
Measures on recreational fisheries of cod and salmon and measures for the conservation of sea trout and salmon stocks should be without prejudice to more stringent national measures under Articles 19 and 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
(13)
As regards herring in the Gulf of Bothnia, ICES estimates that the biomass has increased but remains below the conservation reference point (B
trigger
), below which appropriate remedial measures are to be taken to ensure the rapid return of the stock at levels above those capable of producing MSY. Moreover, ICES notes that the number and the size of older individuals in the population is unlikely to increase if the fishing opportunities were set at the F
MSY
 point value. ICES finally notes that the stock is likely vulnerable to loss of genetic diversity. In accordance with Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139, it is appropriate to set the fishing opportunities accordingly.
(14)
As regards western Baltic herring, ICES advises zero catches for that stock for the 7th consecutive year. ICES also revised the estimates of the spawning stock biomass downward for previous years and estimates the biomass to still be only 60 % of B
lim
 in 2024, even if it has continously increased since 2020. Furthermore, recruitment remains at historically low levels and the biomass is not expected to recover above B
lim
 in 2026. In those circumstances, it is appropriate, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/1139, to maintain the suspension of the targeted fisheries. In accordance with Article 2(1) and Article 2(5), points (c) and (f), of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the fishing opportunities for unavoidable by-catches should also be set at a low level in order to avoid the socio-economic consequences that would result from setting the fishing opportunities at zero.
(15)
As regards central Baltic herring, ICES estimates that the stock has been below B
lim
 most of the last 30 years. For 2024, ICES estimates that, due to increased weight-at-age and strong recruitment in 2022, the stock has increased above B
lim
 but is still far below B
trigger
. The catch advice is for an increase compared with 2024, but ICES underlines that the recruitment estimates for 2023 and 2024 are uncertain. Moreover, the probability that the stock will remain below B
trigger
 in 2026 is still 55 % even with no fishing at all and despite the estimated positive forecast. In accordance with Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139, it is therefore appropriate to set the fishing opportunities accordingly.
(16)
As regards herring in the Gulf of Riga, ICES estimates that the biomass is above B
trigger
 and the fishing pressure at F
MSY
. In accordance with Article 4(3) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139, it is therefore appropriate to set the fishing opportunities accordingly.
(17)
As regards plaice, according to ICES, cod is by-caught in the plaice fisheries. Moreover, the discard rate of plaice has increased substantially in recent years. In accordance with Article 4(4) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1139, it is therefore appropriate to take those factors into account and to set the fishing opportunities for plaice accordingly.
(18)
As regards sprat, ICES estimates that, while the biomass is still above B
trigger
, it has decreased substantially due to historically low recruitment since 2021. Moreover, ICES underlines that the forecast is based on a recruitment estimate that is optimistic and uncertain. In addition, none of the catch scenarios within the F
MSY
 ranges ensures that the probability of the stock biomass falling below B
lim
 in 2026 is less than 5 %. In those circumstances, it is appropriate, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/1139, to fix the fishing opportunities in the lower F
MSY
 range and to set a spawning closure for fisheries using active gear in as an additional remedial measure functionally linked to the fishing opportunities.
(19)
The use of the fishing opportunities set out in this Regulation is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 
(
3
)
, and in particular Article 33 thereof on the recording of catches and fishing effort and Article 34 thereof on the transmission of data on the exhaustion of fishing opportunities to the Commission. This Regulation should therefore specify the codes relating to landings of stocks subject to this Regulation that Member States are to use when sending data to the Commission.
(20)
Articles 3 and 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 
(
4
)
 provide for year-to-year flexibility for quotas for stocks subject to precautionary and analytical TACs. Under Article 2 of that Regulation, the Council is, when fixing the TACs, to decide the stocks to which Articles 3 and 4 are not to apply, in particular on the basis of their biological status. Moreover, Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 provides for further year-to-year flexibility for all stocks that are subject to the landing obligation. In order to avoid excessive flexibility that would undermine the achievement of the objectives of the CFP, year-to-year flexibility for quotas pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should not apply cumulatively. In addition, year-to-year flexibility under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should, where relevant, be excluded on the basis of the biological status of stocks.
(21)
The biomass of the eastern Baltic cod, western Baltic cod and western Baltic herring stocks is below B
lim
. For all these stocks, only by-catch and scientific fisheries are permitted in 2025. Therefore, and given the relatively low resilience of the Baltic Sea ecosystem, the Member States that have a quota share of the relevant TACs have undertaken not to apply the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 to those stocks in 2025 so that catches in 2025 do not exceed the relevant TACs. Furthermore, south of latitude 59
o
 30′ N, the biomass of almost all salmon river stocks is below the limit reference point for smolt production (R
lim
) and only by-catch and scientific fisheries are permitted in 2025. The relevant Member States have therefore made a similar commitment regarding year-to-year flexibility in relation to main-basin salmon catches in 2025.
(22)
The Union and the United Kingdom held bilateral consultations on 16 and 17 October 2024 on the TAC for Norway pout in ICES division 3a (Skagerrak-Kattegat), United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES subarea 4 and United Kingdom waters of ICES division 2a (North Sea) for the period from 1 November 2024 until 31 October 2025. Those consultations were held pursuant to Article 498(2) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part (TCA) 
(
5
)
. The Union participated in those consultations on the basis of specifications to the Union position endorsed by the Council on 15 October 2024, pursuant to Article 2 of Council Decision (EU) 2021/1875 
(
6
)
. The Union and the United Kingdom agreed on a TAC based on the ICES advice for Norway pout in in ICES subarea 4 and division 3a for that period published on 11 October 2024. The outcome of the consultation was documented in the Written Record, which was signed by the Heads of Delegation of the Union and the United Kingdom on 21 October 2024. The TAC for the period from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025 should therefore be fixed at the level set out in that Written Record.
(23)
Regulation (EU) 2024/257 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(24)
To avoid the interruption of fishing activities, the provisions of this Regulation relating to the Baltic Sea should apply from 1 January 2025. However, this Regulation should apply to Norway pout in the Skagerrak-Kattegat and in the North Sea, for purposes of clarity, from 1 November 2024 until 31 October 2025 because that is the fishing season for Norway pout. For reasons of urgency, this Regulation should enter into force immediately following its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union
,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1
Subject matter
This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2025 and amends certain fishing opportunities in other waters fixed by Regulation (EU) 2024/257.
Article 2
Scope
This Regulation applies to Union fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea.
It also applies to recreational fisheries where they are expressly referred to in the relevant provisions.
Article 3
Definitions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions laid down in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 apply.
In addition, the following definitions apply:
(1)
‘subdivision’ means an International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) subdivision of the Baltic Sea as defined in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
(
7
)
;
(2)
‘total allowable catch (TAC)’ means:
(a)
in fisheries subject to the exemption from the landing obligation as laid down in Article 15(4) to (7) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, the quantity of fish that may be landed from each stock each year;
(b)
in all other fisheries, the quantity of fish that may be caught from each stock each year;
(3)
‘quota’ means a proportion of the TAC allocated to the Union, a Member State or a third country;
(4)
‘recreational fisheries’ means non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources such as for recreation, tourism or sport;
(5)
‘analytical assessment’ means a quantitative evaluation of trends in a given stock, based on data about the stock’s biology and exploitation, including based on proxies, which scientific review has indicated to be of sufficient quality to provide scientific advice;
(6)
‘analytical TAC’ means a TAC for which an analytical assessment is available;
(7)
‘precautionary TAC’ means a TAC for which an analytical assessment is not available and for which either an assessment based on the precautionary approach is available or no assessment is available.
CHAPTER II
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES
Article 4
TACs and allocations
The TACs, quotas and, where appropriate, measures functionally linked thereto are set out in the Annex.
Article 5
Special provisions on allocation of fishing opportunities
1.   The allocation of fishing opportunities among Member States set out in this Regulation shall be without prejudice to:
(a)
exchanges made pursuant to Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
(b)
deductions and reallocations made pursuant to Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;
(c)
additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
(d)
quantities withheld in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 or transferred under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;
(e)
deductions made pursuant to Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
2.   Stocks subject to precautionary or analytical TACs for the purposes of the year-to-year management of TACs and quotas provided for in Regulation (EC) No 847/96 are identified in the Annex to this Regulation.
3.   Except where otherwise specified in the Annex to this Regulation, Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall apply to stocks subject to a precautionary TAC, and Article 3(2) and (3) and Article 4 of that Regulation shall apply to stocks subject to an analytical TAC.
4.   Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year-to-year flexibility provided for in Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 6
Conditions for landing of catches and by-catches
The stocks of non-target species within safe biological limits referred to in Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 to which the derogation from the obligation to count catches against the relevant quotas applies are identified in the relevant TAC tables in the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 7
Closures to protect cod spawning
1.   It shall be prohibited to fish with any type of fishing gear in subdivisions 25 and 26 from 1 May to 31 August.
2.   The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 shall not apply in the following cases:
(a)
fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
(
8
)
;
(b)
Union fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length overall that fish with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets, with bottom set lines, longlines, drifting lines, handlines and jigging equipment or similar passive gear, in areas where the water depth is less than 20 metres according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities;
(c)
Union fishing vessels that fish in subdivision 25 for pelagic stocks for direct human consumption, using gears with a mesh size of 45 mm or less, in areas where the water depth is less than 50 metres according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities, and whose landings are sorted.
3.   It shall be prohibited to fish with any type of fishing gear in subdivisions 22 and 23 from 15 January to 31 March and in subdivision 24 from 15 May to 15 August.
4.   The prohibition laid down in paragraph 3 shall not apply in the following cases:
(a)
fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241;
(b)
Union fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length overall that fish with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets, with bottom set lines, longlines, drifting lines, handlines and jigging equipment or similar passive gear, in areas where the water depth is less than 20 metres according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities;
(c)
Union fishing vessels that fish in subdivision 24 for pelagic stocks for direct human consumption, using gears with a mesh size of 45 mm or less, in areas where the water depth is less than 40 metres according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities, and whose landings are sorted;
(d)
Union fishing vessels that fish with dredges for bivalve molluscs in subdivision 22, in areas where the water depth is less than 20 metres according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authorities.
5.   Masters of Union fishing vessels referred to in paragraph 2, points (b) or (c), and paragraph 4, points (b), (c) or (d), shall ensure that their fishing activities can be monitored at any time by the control authorities of the competent Member State.
Article 8
Closures to protect sprat spawning in subdivisions 25, 26, 27, 28.2, 29 and 32
1.   It shall be prohibited from 1 May to 31 July for Union fishing vessels to fish for pelagic stocks with active gear in areas beyond 12 nautical miles measured from the baselines in subdivisions 25, 26, 27, 28.2, 29 and west of 24
o
 00′ E in subdivision 32.
2.   The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 shall not apply in the following cases:
(a)
fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations, provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241;
(b)
Union fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length overall that fish with gillnets, entangling nets or trammel nets, with bottom set lines, longlines, drifting lines, handlines and jigging equipment or similar passive gear.
Article 9
Measures on recreational fisheries of cod in subdivisions 22 to 32
1.   Recreational fisheries of cod shall be prohibited in subdivisions 22 to 32. Any specimen of cod caught accidentally shall be immediately released back into the sea.
2.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1, incidental bycatches of cod in recreational fisheries for other species in subdivisions 27 to 32 may be retained.
Article 10
Measures on recreational fisheries of salmon in subdivisions 22 to 31
1.   Recreational fisheries of salmon shall be prohibited in subdivisions 22 to 31. Any specimen of salmon caught accidentally shall be immediately released back into the sea.
2.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, recreational fisheries of salmon shall be allowed under the following cumulative conditions:
(a)
no more than one specimen of adipose fin-clipped salmon may be caught and retained per recreational fisher per day;
(b)
after catching the first adipose fin-clipped salmon, the recreational fisher shall stop the fishing of salmon for the remainder of the day;
(c)
all specimens of any fish species retained shall be landed whole.
3.   By way of further derogation from paragraph 1, recreational fisheries of salmon north of latitude 59
o
 30′ N shall be allowed from 1 May to 31 August in areas within four nautical miles measured from the baselines.
4.   This Article is without prejudice to more stringent national measures under Articles 19 and 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 11
Measures for the conservation of the sea trout and salmon stocks in subdivisions 22 to 32
1.   Union fishing vessels shall not fish for sea trout beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines in subdivisions 22 to 32. When fishing for salmon beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines in subdivision 32, by-catches of sea trout shall not exceed 3 % of the total catch of salmon and sea trout on board at any moment or landed after each fishing trip.
2.   Fishing with longlines for sea trout or salmon beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines in subdivisions 22 to 31 shall be prohibited.
3.   This Article is without prejudice to more stringent national measures under Articles 19 and 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.
Article 12
Data transmission
When Member States send data relating to quantities of stocks caught or landed to the Commission pursuant to Articles 33 and 34 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, they shall use the stock codes set out in the Annex to this Regulation.
CHAPTER III
FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 13
Amendment of Regulation (EU) 2024/257
In Annex IA, Part B, of Regulation (EU) 2024/257, Table 122 is replaced by the following:
‘Table 122
Species:
Norway pout and associated by-catches
Zone:
3a; United Kingdom and Union waters of 4; United Kingdom waters of 2a
Trisopterus esmarkii
(NOP/2A3A4.)
Year
2024
2025
Analytical TAC
Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Denmark
8 226
(1)(3)
299,722
(5)(6)
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Germany
2
(1)(2)(3)
0,057
(2)(5)(6)
Netherlands
6
(1)(2)(3)
0,221
(2)(5)(6)
Union
8 234
(1)(3)
300,000
(5)(6)
United Kingdom
2 058
(2)(3)
100
(2)(5)(6)
TAC
10 292
400
(1)
Up to 5 % of the quota may consist of by-catches of haddock and whiting (OT2/*2A3A4). By-catches of haddock and whiting counted against the quota pursuant to this provision and by-catches of species counted against the quota pursuant to Article 15(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 shall, together, not exceed 9 % of the quota.
(2)
Quota may be fished in United Kingdom and Union waters of ICES zones 2a, 3a and 4 only.
(3)
May only be fished from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024.
(5)
Exclusively for by-catches. No direct fisheries for Norway pout are permitted under this quota.
(6)
May only be fished from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025.’
Article 14
Entry into force and application
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union
.
It shall apply from 1 January to 31 December 2025. However, Article 13 shall apply from 1 November 2024 until 31 October 2025.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 18 November 2024.
For the Council
The President
NAGY I.
(
1
)
  Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (
OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1380/oj).
(
2
)
  Regulation (EU) 2016/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 establishing a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 (
OJ L 191, 15.7.2016, p. 1
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/1139/oj).
(
3
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union 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
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1224/oj).
(
4
)
  Council Regulation (EC) No 847/96 of 6 May 1996 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (
OJ L 115, 9.5.1996, p. 3
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/1996/847/oj).
(
5
)
  
            
OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2021/689(1)/oj.
(
6
)
  Council Decision (EU) 2021/1875 of 22 October 2021 concerning the position to be adopted on behalf of the Union in the annual consultations with the United Kingdom to agree on total allowable catches (
OJ L 378, 26.10.2021, p. 6
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/1875/oj).
(
7
)
  Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in the north-east Atlantic (
OJ L 87, 31.3.2009, p. 70
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/218/oj).
(
8
)
  Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1967/2006, (EC) No 1224/2009 and Regulations (EU) No 1380/2013, (EU) 2016/1139, (EU) 2018/973, (EU) 2019/472 and (EU) 2019/1022 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 894/97, (EC) No 850/98, (EC) No 2549/2000, (EC) No 254/2002, (EC) No 812/2004 and (EC) No 2187/2005 (
OJ L 198, 25.7.2019, p. 105
, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1241/oj).
ANNEX
TACs APPLICABLE TO UNION FISHING VESSELS IN AREAS WHERE TACs EXIST BY SPECIES AND BY AREA
The following tables set out the TACs and quotas (in tonnes live weight, except where otherwise specified) by stock and measures functionally linked thereto.
The references to fishing zones are references to ICES zones.
Fish stocks are referred to according to the alphabetical order of the scientific names of the species.
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following comparative table of scientific names and common names is provided:
Scientific name
Alpha-3 code
Common name
Clupea harengus
HER
Herring
Gadus morhua
COD
Cod
Pleuronectes platessa
PLE
Plaice
Salmo salar
SAL
Atlantic salmon
Sprattus sprattus
SPR
Sprat
Table 1
Species:
Herring
Zone:
Subdivisions 30-31
Clupea harengus
(HER/30/31.)
Finland
54 476
Analytical TAC
Sweden
11 970
Union
66 446
TAC
66 446
Table 2
Species:
Herring
Zone:
Subdivisions 22-24
Clupea harengus
(HER/3BC+24)
Denmark
110
(1)
Analytical TAC
Germany
435
(1)
Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Finland
0
(1)
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Poland
103
(1)
Sweden
140
(1)
Union
788
(1)
TAC
788
(1)
(1)
Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to herring provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing this quota is permitted for Union fishing vessels of less than 12 meters length overall fishing with gillnets, entangling nets, handlines, pound nets or jigging equipment. Masters of those fishing vessels shall ensure that their fishing activity can be monitored at any time by the control authorities of the competent Member State.
Table 3
Species:
Herring
Zone:
Union waters of subdivisions 25-27, 28.2, 29 and 32
Clupea harengus
(HER/3D-R30)
Denmark
1 845
Analytical TAC
Germany
489
Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Estonia
9 424
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Finland
18 395
Latvia
2 326
Lithuania
2 449
Poland
20 898
Sweden
28 055
Union
83 881
TAC
Not relevant
Table 4
Species:
Herring
Zone:
Subdivision 28.1
Clupea harengus
(HER/03D.RG)
Estonia
19 227
Analytical TAC
Latvia
22 408
Article 6 of this Regulation applies.
Union
41 635
TAC
41 635
Table 5
Species:
Cod
Zone:
Union waters of subdivisions 25-32
Gadus morhua
(COD/3DX32.)
Denmark
99
(1)
Precautionary TAC
Germany
39
(1)
Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Estonia
10
(1)
Finland
8
(1)
Latvia
37
(1)
Lithuania
24
(1)
Poland
113
(1)
Sweden
100
(1)
Union
430
(1)
TAC
Not relevant
(1)
Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to cod provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
Table 6
Species:
Cod
Zone:
Subdivisions 22-24
Gadus morhua
(COD/3BC+24)
Denmark
116
(1)
Precautionary TAC
Germany
57
(1)
Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Estonia
3
(1)
Finland
2
(1)
Latvia
10
(1)
Lithuania
6
(1)
Poland
31
(1)
Sweden
41
(1)
Union
266
(1)
TAC
266
(1)
(1)
Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to cod provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
Table 7
Species:
Plaice
Zone:
Union waters of subdivisions 22-32
Pleuronectes platessa
(PLE/3BCD-C)
Denmark
8 105
Analytical TAC
Germany
900
Article 6 of this Regulation applies.
Poland
1 697
Sweden
611
Union
11 313
TAC
11 313
Table 8
Species:
Atlantic salmon
Zone:
Union waters of subdivisions 22-31
Salmo salar
(SAL/3BCD-F)
Denmark
7 209
(1)(2)
Analytical TAC
Germany
802
(1)(2)
Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Estonia
733
(1)(2)(3)
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.
Finland
8 989
(1)(2)
Latvia
4 585
(1)(2)
Lithuania
539
(1)(2)
Poland
2 187
(1)(2)
Sweden
9 743
(1)(2)
Union
34 787
(1)(2)
TAC
Not relevant
(1)
Expressed by number of individual fish.
(2)
Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to salmon provided that those investigations are carried out in compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.
By way of derogation from the first paragraph, fishing this quota is permitted for Union fishing vessels north of latitude 59
o
 30′ N in areas within four nautical miles measured from the baselines during the period from 1 May to 31 August.
(3)
Special condition: no more than 450 specimens of this quota may be fished in Union waters of subdivision 32 (SAL/*3D32).
Table 9
Species:
Atlantic salmon
Zone:
Union waters of subdivision 32
Salmo salar
(SAL/3D32.)
Estonia
1 040
(1)
Precautionary TAC
Finland
9 104
(1)
Union
10 144
(1)
TAC
Not relevant
(1)
Expressed by number of individual fish.
Table 10
Species:
Sprat
Zone:
Union waters of subdivisions 22-32
Sprattus sprattus
(SPR/3BCD-C)
Denmark
13 761
Analytical TAC
Germany
8 718
Article 6 of this Regulation applies.
Estonia
15 979
Finland
7 203
Latvia
19 299
Lithuania
6 981
Poland
40 957
Sweden
26 602
Union
139 500
TAC
Not relevant
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2903/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)

Summary:
Fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea (2025)
SUMMARY OF:
Regulation (EU) 2024/2903 fixing the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2025
WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?
Regulation (EU) 2024/2903 fixes the 2025 
total allowable catches
 (TACs) applicable to 
European Union
 (EU) fishing vessels fishing for certain fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, to improve their sustainability or help at-risk stocks to recover.
The 
regulation
 sets out restrictions on some species for recreational fisheries
1
.
KEY POINTS
Total allowable catches and allocations
TACs for various fish species from the Baltic Sea in 2025 are listed in the Annex to the regulation.
The set limits follow the principle of sustainable exploitation in line with the maximum sustainable yield
2
 and the 
multiannual management plan for Baltic Sea fisheries
 (Regulation (EU) 
2016/1139
).
They are based on the best available scientific advice from the 
International Council on the Exploration of the Seas
 and take into account biological and socioeconomic factors.
The limits are decided by the EU 
Member States
 based on a 
European Commission
 proposal.
The TAC for each individual species is divided into quotas – proportions of the TAC assigned to Member States.
Species quotas
TACs for 2025 are summarised as follows.
Cod
 (
Gadus morhua
):
due to low biomass levels, the regulation sets TACs for by-catches
3
 only, in order to allow for the recovery of the stocks; 
fhe catch limits for the two cod stocks (eastern Baltic and western Baltic) are reduced by 
28 %
 and 
22 %
 respectively, compared to 2024 levels;
recreational cod fishing in the entire area is banned, but the regulation takes into account incidental by-catches;
fishing in some areas is prohibited at certain times to protect cod spawning.
Herring
 (
Clupea harengus
):
catch limits for central Baltic herring are increased by 
108 %
 on the basis of an increase of the maximum sustainable yield due to a positive scientific forecast of the stock's biomass;
catch limits for herring in the Gulf of Riga and herring in the Gulf of Bothnia are increased by 
10 %
 and 
21 %
, respectively;
due to low biomass levels of western Baltic herring, the regulation retains the 2024 TAC for unavoidable by-catches.
Plaice
 (
Pleuronectes platessa
):
while plaice stocks are healthy, cod is an unavoidable by-catch in plaice fisheries, so the TAC level remains the same as in 2024.
Sprat
 (
Sprattus sprattus
):
the TAC is reduced by 
31 %
, in order to prevent a decline below sustainable levels.
Salmon 
(
Salmo salar
):
the TAC is decreased by 
36 %
 but is maintained for salmon in the Gulf of Finland;
the restrictions on recreational salmon fishing are maintained.
Amendment to Regulation (EU) 2024/257 
The regulation also amends Regulation (EU) 
2024/257
 (see 
summary
) in relation to an agreement with the United Kingdom on fishing opportunities for Norway pout in the Skagerrak-Kattegat and in the North Sea.
FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?
The regulation applies from 
1 January 2025
. However, the provisions relating to Norway pout in the Skagerrak-Kattegat and in the North Sea apply from 
1 November 2024
 until 
31 October 2025
.
BACKGROUND
For further information, see:
Agreement reached on 2025 fishing opportunities for the Baltic Sea
 (European Commission).
KEY TERMS
Recreational fisheries.
 Non-commercial fishing activities exploiting marine biological resources.
Maximum sustainable yield.
 The largest yield (catch) that can be taken from the stock of a species over an indefinite period without endangering its survival.
By-catch.
 Unwanted fish and marine species caught unintentionally.
MAIN DOCUMENT
Council Regulation (EU) 
2024/2903
 of 
18 November 2024
 fixing the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2025 and amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters (OJ L, 2024/2903, 
19.11.2024
).
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Council Regulation (EU) 
2024/257
 of 
10 January 2024
 fixing for 2024, 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/194 (OJ L, 2024/257, 
11.1.2024
).
Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2024/257 have been incorporated into the original text. This 
consolidated version
 is of documentary value only.
Regulation (EU) 
2016/1139
 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
6 July 2016
 establishing a multiannual plan for the stocks of cod, herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea and the fisheries exploiting those stocks, amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2187/2005 and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1098/2007 (OJ L 191, 
15.7.2016
, pp. 1–15).
See 
consolidated version
.
Regulation (EU) No 
1380/2013
 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
11 December 2013
 on the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC (OJ L 354, 
28.12.2013
, pp. 22–61).
See 
consolidated version
.
Council Regulation (EC) No 
1224/2009
 of 
20 November 2009
 establishing a Union 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
, pp. 1–50).
See 
consolidated version
.
Council Regulation (EC) No 
847/96
 of 
6 May 1996
 introducing additional conditions for year-to-year management of TACs and quotas (OJ L 115, 
9.5.1996
, pp. 3–5).
See 
consolidated version
.
last update 
18.3.2025

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