1Council Regulation (EU) 2026/266 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas
32026R0266
European Union
§ Article 3
Article 3(2) and 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
§ Article 4
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
§ Article 15
Article 15(9) of Regulation (EC) No 1380/2013 shall not apply.
Maximum level of catches
France122,2Italy0Union171,3TACNot relevant
(b) Fishing opportunities for European hake (Merluccius merluccius) caught by static gear (GNS, GND and GTR) in Corsica Island, Ligurian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea and Sardinia Island (GSAs 8, 9, 10 and 11), expressed as maximum level of catches in tonnes live weight
Species:
European hake
Merluccius merluccius
Zone:
GSAs 8, 9, 10 and 11
(HKE/GF8-11)
Spain0
Analytical catch limit
§ Article 3
Article 3(2) and 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
§ Article 4
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
§ Article 15
Article 15(9) of Regulation (EC) No 1380/2013 shall not apply.
Maximum level of catches
France0,2Italy261,5Union261,7TACNot relevant
Annex
ANNEX V
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS IN THE ADRIATIC SEA
The tables in this Annex set out the fishing opportunities by stock or vessel effort groups and, where appropriate, the conditions functionally linked thereto, including the maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish small pelagics.
All fishing opportunities set out in this Annex shall be subject to the rules set out in Articles 26 to 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
References to fishing zones are references to GFCM GSAs.
For the purposes of this Annex, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names of fish stocks is provided:
Scientific nameAlpha-3 codeCommon nameEngraulis encrasicolusANEAnchovyMerluccius merlucciusHKEEuropean hakeMullus barbatusMUTRed mulletNephrops norvegicusNEPNorway lobsterParapenaeus longirostrisDPSDeep-water rose shrimpSardina pilchardusPILSardineSolea soleaSOLCommon sole
- Small pelagic stocks – GSAs 17 and 18
(a) Maximum level of catches expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Small pelagic species
(anchovy and sardine)
Zone:Union and International waters of GSAs 17 and 18
Engraulis encrasicolus
(ANE/GF1718)
Sardina pilchardus
(PIL/GF1718)
Italy14154,58062,3Croatia9542,532625,7Slovenia111189Union2380840877TACNot relevant
(b) Maximum fleet capacity of trawlers and purse seiners actively fishing for small pelagics
The provision under paragraph 28 of Recommendation GFCM/44/2021/20 shall not apply to national fleets of less than 10 purse seiners or pelagic trawlers actively fishing for small pelagic stocks, as recorded both in national and GFCM registers in 2014, as in the case of Slovenia. In such case, the capacity of the active fleet may increase by not more than 50 % in number of vessels and in terms of gross tonnage (GT), gross registered tonnage (GRT) and kW.
Member StateGearNumber of vesselskWGTCroatiaPS24977145,5218537,72ItalyPTM, OTM and PS1876465514065SloveniaPS4433,738,5
- Demersal stocks – GSAs 17 and 18
(a) Maximum allowable fishing effort (in fishing days) by types of trawls and fleet segment fishing for demersal stocks in GSAs 17 and 18 (Adriatic Sea).
Slovenia shall not exceed the effort limit of 3000 fishing days per year in accordance with paragraph 13 of Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5.
Fishing Days 2026Gear typeGeographical areaStocks concernedOverall length of vesselsEffort group codeItalyCroatiaSloveniaTrawls (OTB)GSAs 17 and 18Red mullet; European hake; deepwater rose shrimp, and Norway lobster< 12mEFF/MED3_OTB _TR125078988
≥ 12 m and
< 24 m
EFF/MED3_OTB _TR25634720939≥ 24 mEFF/MED3_OTB _TR349371880Beam trawls (TBB)GSA 17Common sole< 12mEFF/MED3_TBB _TR120000
≥ 12 m and
< 24 m
EFF/MED3_TBB _TR2374400≥ 24 mEFF/MED3_TBB _TR3372300
(b) Maximum fleet capacity of bottom trawler and beam trawl vessels authorised for fishing demersal stocks
The provisions of paragraphs 9(c) and 28 of Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5 shall not apply to national fleets operating with trawls (OTB) and fishing for less than 1000 days during the reference period mentioned in paragraph 9(c) of Recommendation GFCM/43/2019/5. The fishing capacity of the active fleet operating with trawls (OTB) shall not increase by more than 50 % with respect to the reference period.
Member StateGearNumber of vesselskWGTCroatiaOTB49579867,9913267,99ItalyOTB and TBB1363260618,3747148SloveniaOTB111813,00168,67
Annex
ANNEX VI
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS IN THE STRAIT OF SICILY
The tables in this Annex set out the fishing opportunities by stock or vessels’ effort groups and, where appropriate, the conditions functionally linked thereto, including the maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish demersal species and deep-water shrimps.
All fishing opportunities set out in this Annex shall be subject to the rules set out in Articles 26 to 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
References to fishing zones are references to GFCM GSAs.
For the purposes of this Annex, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names of fish stocks is provided:
Scientific nameAlpha-3 codeCommon nameMerluccius merlucciusHKEEuropean hakeParapenaeus longirostrisDPSDeep-water rose shrimpAristaeomorpha foliaceaARSGiant red shrimpAristeus antennatusARABlue and red shrimp
- Demersal stocks
(a) Maximum fleet capacity, expressed in number of vessels, kW and GT, of bottom trawl vessels authorised to fish demersal stocks in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16)
Member StateGearNumber of vesselskWGTCyprusOTB1265105SpainOTB1100118ItalyOTB59414417536856MaltaOTB1555622007
(b) Maximum level of fishing effort (in number of fishing days), for bottom otter-trawl vessels (OTB) targeting European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16)
Member StateGearVessel lengthEffort group codeFishing days 2026CyprusOTBT-12EFF4/MED4_OTB451ItalyOTBT-07EFF4/MED4_OTB190ItalyOTBT-10EFF4/MED4_OTB2188ItalyOTBT-11EFF4/MED4_OTB319366ItalyOTBT-12EFF4/MED4_OTB43657MaltaOTBT-11EFF4/MED4_OTB3338MaltaOTBT-12EFF4/MED4_OTB4165
(c) Maximum level of catches of deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species:
Deep-water rose shrimp
Parapenaeus longirostris
Zone:
GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16
(DPS/GF12-16)
Cyprus1Analytical catch limitItaly2020Malta5Union2026TACNot relevant
- Deep-water shrimps
(a) Maximum fleet capacity, expressed in number of vessels, kW and GT, of bottom trawl vessels authorised to fish deep-water shrimp stocks in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12, 13 14, 15 and 16)
Member StateGearNumber of vesselskWGTCyprusOTB1265105SpainOTB2440,56218,78ItalyOTB2397623222672MaltaOTB1555622007
(b) Maximum level of catches of giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea) in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Giant red shrimp
Aristaeomorpha foliacea
Zone:GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16Spain0,9Analytical catch limitItaly794,4Cyprus0Malta33,7Union829TACNot relevant
(c) Maximum level of catches of blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) in the Strait of Sicily (GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Blue and red shrimp
Aristeus antennatus
Zone:
GSAs 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16
(ARA/GF12-16)
Spain0,9Precautionary catch limitItaly91,9Cyprus0Malta7,1Union95TACNot relevant
Annex
ANNEX VII
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS IN THE IONIAN SEA AND THE LEVANT SEA
The tables in this Annex set out the maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for demersal stocks in the Ionian Sea and the Levant Sea and the maximum level of catches.
References to fishing zones are references to GFCM GSAs.
For the purposes of this Annex, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names of fish stocks is provided:
Scientific nameAlpha-3 codeCommon nameAristaeomorpha foliaceaARSGiant red shrimpAristeus antennatusARABlue and red shrimp
- Ionian Sea
(a) Maximum fleet capacity, expressed in number of vessels, kW and GT, of bottom trawl vessels authorised to fish deep-water shrimp stocks in the Ionian Sea (GSAs 19, 20 and 21)
Member StateGearNumber of vesselskWGTGreeceOTB2406928123101ItalyOTB2917238316853MaltaOTB1555622007
(b) Maximum level of catches of giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea) in the Ionian Sea (GSAs 19, 20 and 21) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Giant red shrimp
Aristaeomorpha foliacea
Zone:
GSAs 19, 20 and 21
(ARS/GF19-21)
Greece31,3Analytical catch limitItaly285,7Malta42Union359TACNot relevant
(c) Maximum level of catches of blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) in the Ionian Sea (GSAs 19, 20 and 21) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Blue and red shrimp
Aristeus antennatus
Zone:
GSAs 19, 20 and 21
(ARA/GF19-21)
Greece13,8Analytical catch limitItaly228,2Malta0Union242TACNot relevant
- Levant Sea
(a) Maximum fleet capacity, expressed in number of vessels, kW and GT, of bottom trawler vessels authorised to fish deep-water shrimp stocks in the Levant Sea (GSAs 24, 25, 26 and 27)
Member StateGearNumber of vesselskWGTCyprusOTB62048618ItalyOTB34153455542
(b) Maximum level of catches of giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea) in the Levant Sea (GSAs 24, 25, 26 and 27) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Giant red shrimp
Aristaeomorpha foliacea
Zone:
GSAs 24, 25, 26 and 27
(ARS/GF24-27)
Italy44,3Precautionary catch limitCyprus10,7Union55TACNot relevant
(c) Maximum level of catches of blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) in the Levant Sea (GSAs 24, 25, 26 and 27) expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Blue and red shrimp
Aristeus antennatus
Zone:
GSAs 24, 25, 26 and 27
(ARA/GF24-27)
Italy9,4Precautionary catch limitCyprus5,6Union15TACNot relevant
Annex
ANNEX VIII
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS IN THE ALBORAN SEA
The tables in this Annex set out the maximum number of Union fishing vessels authorised to fish for blackspot seabream in the Alboran Sea and the maximum level of catches.
References to fishing zones are references to GFCM GSAs.
For the purposes of this Annex, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names of fish stocks is provided:
Scientific nameAlpha-3 codeCommon namePagellus boraraveoSBRBlackspot seabream
(a) Maximum level of catches carried out by longliners and handliners expressed in tonnes live weight
Species
Blackspot seabream
Pagellus boraraveo
Zone:
Union waters in the Alboran Sea – GSAs 1, 2 and 3
(SBR/GF1-3)
Spain9,1Maximum level of catchesUnion9,1TACNot relevant
(b) Maximum number of longliners and handliners authorised for fishing in Alboran Sea (GSAs 1, 2 and 3)
Member StateBlackspot seabream in GSAs 1, 2 and 3Spain82
Annex
ANNEX IX
FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNION FISHING VESSELS IN THE BLACK SEA
The tables in this Annex set out TACs and quotas expressed in tonnes live weight by stock and, where appropriate, the conditions functionally linked thereto.
All fishing opportunities set out in this Annex shall be subject to the rules set out in Articles 26 to 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.
References to fishing zones are references to GFCM GSAs.
For the purposes of this Annex, the following comparative table of Latin names and common names of fish stocks is provided:
Scientific nameAlpha-3 codeCommon nameSprattus sprattusSPRSpratScophthalmus maximusTURTurbot
Species
Sprat
Sprattus sprattus
Zone:
Union waters in the Black Sea – GSA 29
(SPR/F3742C)
Bulgaria8032,50
Analytical TAC
§ Article 3
Article 3(2) and 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
§ Article 4
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
Romania3442,50Union11475TACNot relevant
No fishing activity, including transshipment, retaining on board, landing and first sale, shall be permitted from 15 April to 15 June 2026.
Species:
Turbot
Scophthalmus maximus
Zone:
Union waters in the Black Sea – GSA 29
(TUR/F3742C)
Bulgaria86,3
Analytical TAC
§ Article 3
Article 3(2) and 3(3) of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply.
§ Article 4
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 847/96 shall not apply
Romania88,3Union174,6TAC890
Metadata
- Type
- Forordning
- År
- 2026
- Ikrafttrædelsesdato
- 1. januar 1970