After intense negotiations, EU fisheries ministers reached a compromise on fishing quotas for 2025. The deal aims to balance conservation efforts and the needs of the fishing industry in the overfished Mediterranean Sea.
Reduced Fishing Efforts to Protect Marine Stocks
The agreement, finalized after two days of discussions in Brussels, focuses on reducing fishing efforts for trawlers in the Western Mediterranean. The goal is to protect demersal species — fish that live near the seabed — in the waters of Spain, France, and Italy. Currently, 60% of these stocks are overfished, and 80% fall below sustainability thresholds.
The European Commission initially proposed a 79% reduction in fishing days by 2025, which would have left trawlers with only 27 viable fishing days. However, the final deal sets a smaller reduction:
- 66% reduction for Spanish and French waters
- 38% reduction for Italian and French waters
Hungarian minister István Nagy, who led the talks, called the compromise challenging but necessary. French minister Fabrice Loher described the deal as crucial for the future of Mediterranean fisheries.
Incentives to Maintain 2024 Fishing Levels
The agreement includes a compensation mechanism that allows countries to maintain 2024 fishing levels if they adopt certain measures. These include:
- Improved mesh size
- Seasonal closures
- Selective fishing gear
Spain and Italy announced they would apply these measures to maintain their fishing days. Spain noted that implementing two measures would be sufficient, while Italy will evaluate compensation options.
Conservation Measures and Quota Reductions
The deal also reduces quotas for key species to promote sustainability:
- Blue and red shrimp quotas reduced by 10% in Spanish and French waters
- Blue and red shrimp quotas reduced by 6% in Italian and French waters
- Giant red shrimp quotas lowered by 6% in Italian and French zones
Mixed Reactions to the Agreement
NGOs like Oceana welcomed the focus on conservation but expressed concern over the compensation mechanism. Giulia Guadagnoli, policy advisor at Oceana, warned that additional fishing days for trawlers might undermine sustainability goals.
The compromise reflects a delicate balance between protecting fish stocks and supporting Mediterranean fishing communities.