Richard Parks EU fisheries ministers have reached an agreement on fishing quotas for 2025. The deal balances conservation with supporting Mediterranean fishing communities. After two days of intense discussions in Brussels, ministers agreed on significant reductions in fishing efforts.
Reduced Fishing to Protect Stocks
The focus was on demersal species — fish living near the seabed — in Spanish, French, and Italian waters. Over 60% of these stocks are currently overfished. The European Commission initially proposed cutting fishing days by 79% by 2025. This would have left trawlers with only 27 days to operate.
Ministers rejected this proposal and settled on smaller reductions. Fishing days will decrease by 66% in Spanish and French waters. In Italian and French waters, the reduction will be 38%. Hungarian minister István Nagy, who led the talks, praised the compromise. French minister Fabrice Loher called the outcome vital for Mediterranean fisheries.
Incentives for Sustainable Practices
Countries can maintain 2024 fishing levels if they adopt certain measures. These include using improved mesh sizes, seasonal closures, and selective fishing gear. Spain and Italy plan to apply these measures to avoid further reductions. Spain stated that implementing two measures will be enough to keep current fishing days. Italy plans to review compensation options.
The agreement also reduces quotas for key species. Blue and red shrimp quotas will drop by 10% in Spanish and French waters. In Italian and French waters, the reduction will be 6%. Giant red shrimp quotas will also decrease by 6%.
Environmental group Oceana supported the conservation efforts but criticized the compensation mechanism. They fear extra fishing days for trawlers could undermine sustainability. Despite concerns, the deal aims to balance protecting fish stocks and preserving fishing livelihoods.