COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2025/2454 of 1 December 2025 fixing the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Baltic Sea for 2026 and amending Regulation (EU) 2025/202 as regards certain fishing opportunities in other waters ANNEX TACs, QUOTAS AND FUNCTIONALLY LINKED MEASURES

Article 1

Subject matter

This Regulation fixes the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2026.

Article 2

Scope

1. This Regulation applies to Union fishing vessels operating in the Baltic Sea.

1. This Regulation also applies to recreational fisheries in the Baltic Sea, 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 (8);

(2)

‘total allowable catch (TAC)’ means:

(a)

in fisheries subject to the exemption from the landing obligation referred to 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 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, allocations and functionally linked measures

The TACs, quotas and, where appropriate, measures functionally linked thereto, are set out in the Annex.

Article 5

Special provisions on the 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 under Article 16(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(b)

deductions and reallocations made under Article 37 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(c)

additional landings allowed under Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(d)

quantities withheld in compliance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 and transferred under Article 15(9) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013;

(e)

deductions made under Articles 105, 106 and 107 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

1. Stocks subject to precautionary TACs 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.

1. 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.

1. Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply where a Member State uses the year-to-year flexibility under 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.

1. The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 shall not apply to 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 (9);

(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)

without prejudice to the closure periods set out in Article 8(1)(a) and Article 9(1), Union fishing vessels that fish in subdivision 25 for pelagic stocks for direct human consumption, using gear 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.

1. 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.

1. The prohibition laid down in paragraph 3 shall not apply to 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 gear 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.

1. Masters of Union fishing vessels referred to in paragraph 2, point (b) or (c), and paragraph 4, point (b), (c) or (d), shall ensure that their fishing activities can be monitored at any time by the competent authorities of the relevant Member State.

Article 8

Closures to protect herring spawning in subdivisions 25, 26, 27, 28.2, 29, 30, 31 and 32

1. It shall be prohibited to fish for pelagic species using pelagic trawl in coastal areas up to four nautical miles measured from the baselines, where the water depth is less than 20 metres according to the coordinates on the official sea chart issued by the competent national authority during the following periods and in respect to the following subdivisions:

(a)

from 16 March to 15 June in subdivisions 25 and 26;

(b)

from 1 April to 30 June in subdivisions 27 and 28.2;

(c)

from 1 May to 31 July in subdivisions 29 to 32.

1. The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 shall not apply to 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.

Article 9

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 24o 00′ E in subdivision 32.

1. The prohibition laid down in paragraph 1 shall not apply to 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 10

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.

1. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, incidental by-catches of cod in recreational fisheries for other species in subdivisions 27 to 32 may be retained.

Article 11

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.

1. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, recreational fisheries of salmon shall be allowed under the following cumulative conditions:

(a)

no other salmon than one specimen of adipose fin-clipped salmon may be caught and retained per recreational fisher per day;

(b)

after catching and retaining 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.

1. Also by way of derogation from paragraph 1, recreational fisheries of salmon north of latitude 59o 30′ N shall be allowed from 1 May to 31 August in areas within four nautical miles measured from the baselines.

1. This Article is without prejudice to more stringent national measures adopted in accordance with Articles 19 and 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

Article 12

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.

1. Fishing with longlines for sea trout or salmon beyond four nautical miles measured from the baselines in subdivisions 22 to 31 shall be prohibited.

1. This Article is without prejudice to more stringent national measures adopted in accordance with Articles 19 and 20 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013.

Article 13

Data transmission

When Member States send data on quantities of stocks caught or landed to the Commission under 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 14

Amendment of Regulation (EU) 2025/202

Regulation (EU) 2025/202 is amended as follows:

(1)

in Annex IA, Part B, 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

2025

2026

Analytical TAC

Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply

Denmark

299,722

(10)

(11)

(12)

299,722

(13)

(11)

(12)

Germany

0,057

(10)

(11)

(12)

0,057

(13)

(11)

(12)

Netherlands

0,221

(10)

(11)

(12)

0,221

(13)

(11)

(12)

Union

300

(10)

(11)

(12)

300

(13)

(11)

(12)

United Kingdom

100

(10)

(11)

100

(13)

(11)

TAC

400

(10)

400

(13)

;

(2)

in Annex ID, Table 9 is replaced by the following:

‘Table 9

Species:

Mediterranean Albacore

Zone:

Mediterranean Sea

Thunnus alalunga

(ALB/MED)

Greece

385,31

Analytical TAC

Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply

Spain

99,47

France

14,45

Croatia

6,74

Italy

1 128,26

Cyprus

416,07

Malta

39,68

Union

2 089,98

(17)

TAC

2 500,00

(14)

(15)

(16)

Article 15

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 2026.

By way of derogation from the second paragraph:

(a)

Article 14, point (1), shall apply from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026;

(b)

Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.

Germany

435

(2)

Finland

0

(2)

Poland

103

(2)

Sweden

140

(2)

Union

788

(2)

TAC

788

(2)

Table 3

Species:

Herring

Zone:

Union waters of subdivisions 25-27, 28.2, 29 and 32

Clupea harengus

(HER/3D-R30)

Denmark

2 122

Analytical TAC

Germany

563

Estonia

10 837

Finland

21 154

Latvia

2 674

Lithuania

2 816

Poland

24 033

Sweden

32 264

Union

96 463

TAC

Not relevant

Table 4

Species:

Herring

Zone:

Subdivision 28.1

Clupea harengus

(HER/03D.RG)

Estonia

15 870

Analytical TAC

Article 6 of this Regulation applies.

Latvia

18 497

Union

34 367

TAC

34 367

Table 5

Species:

Cod

Zone:

Union waters of subdivisions 25-32

Gadus morhua

(COD/3DX32.)

Denmark

99

(3)

Precautionary TAC

Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.

Germany

39

(3)

Estonia

10

(3)

Finland

8

(3)

Latvia

37

(3)

Lithuania

24

(3)

Poland

113

(3)

Sweden

100

(3)

Union

430

(3)

TAC

Not relevant

Table 6

Species:

Cod

Zone:

Subdivisions 22-24

Gadus morhua

(COD/3BC+24)

Denmark

116

(4)

Precautionary TAC

Article 6 of this Regulation applies.

Germany

873

Poland

1 646

Sweden

593

Union

10 973

TAC

10 973

Table 8

Species:

Atlantic salmon

Zone:

Union waters of subdivisions 22-31

Salmo salar

(SAL/3BCD-F)

Denmark

5 292

(5)

(6)

Analytical TAC

Article 3(2) and (3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.

Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 does not apply.

Germany

589

(5)

(6)

Estonia

538

(5)

(6)

(7)

Finland

6 599

(5)

(6)

Latvia

3 366

(5)

(6)

Lithuania

396

(5)

(6)

Poland

1 605

(5)

(6)

Sweden

7 152

(5)

(6)

Union

25 537

(5)

(6)

TAC

Not relevant

Table 9

Species:

Atlantic salmon

Zone:

Union waters of subdivision 32

Salmo salar

(SAL/3D32.)

Estonia

1 049

(8)

Precautionary TAC

Finland

9 183

(8)

Union

10 232

(8)

TAC

Not relevant

Table 10

Species:

Sprat

Zone:

Union waters of subdivisions 22-32

Sprattus sprattus

(SPR/3BCD-C)

Denmark

19 923

Analytical TAC

Article 6 of this Regulation applies.

Germany

12 622

Estonia

23 135

Finland

10 429

Latvia

27 942

Lithuania

10 108

Poland

59 300

Sweden

38 516

Union

201 975

TAC

Not relevant

(1) This quota may be fished only from 1 January to 31 October 2026.

(2) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to herring provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, 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 competent authorities of the relevant Member State.

(3) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to cod provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

(4) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to cod provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

(5) Expressed by number of individual fish.

(6) Exclusively for by-catches. No directed fisheries are permitted under this quota.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, fishing operations conducted for the exclusive purpose of scientific investigations may be directed to salmon provided that those investigations are carried out in full compliance with the conditions set out in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, fishing this quota is permitted for Union fishing vessels north of latitude 59o 30′ N in areas within four nautical miles measured from the baselines from 1 May to 31 August.

(7) Special condition: no more than 450 specimens of this quota may be fished in Union waters of subdivision 32 (SAL/3D32).

(8) Expressed by number of individual fish.

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/2454/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)