Two fishing closure regulations have been implemented by the European Commission due to quota exhaustion:
1. Belgian Plaice Fishing Closure:
- Affects Belgian vessels fishing for plaice in EU waters areas 7h, 7j and 7k
- Complete ban on targeted plaice fishing from December 19, 2024
- Catches made before closure date can still be processed and landed
- Any unintended plaice catches must be recorded and counted against quotas
2. Spanish Undulate Ray Fishing Closure:
- Affects Spanish vessels fishing for undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of zone 9
- Prohibits all fishing activities related to undulate ray from December 19, 2024
- Bans searching, shooting, setting or hauling fishing gear for this species
- Pre-closure catches can be processed and landed
- Unintended catches must be recorded and can be landed under existing regulations
Both regulations maintain provisions for handling catches made before the closure dates and establish protocols for managing unintended catches after the closure.
Review of each of legal acts published today:
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/95 of 13 January 2025 establishing a fisheries closure for plaice in areas 7h, 7j and 7k for vessels flying the flag of Belgium
This Commission Regulation establishes a fisheries closure for plaice in specific areas of EU waters (7h, 7j and 7k) for Belgian vessels due to quota exhaustion. The regulation implements fishing restrictions after Belgium has reached its allocated fishing quota for plaice in these areas for 2024.The regulation consists of three main articles that outline the quota exhaustion declaration, specific prohibitions, and entry into force provisions. It includes an annex specifying the exact details of the closure, including the affected species, areas, and closing date.Key provisions include:
– Complete prohibition of targeted fishing for plaice by Belgian vessels in the specified areas from December 19, 2024
– Permission to process and land catches taken prior to the closure date
– Requirement to record and count unintended catches against quotas
– Authorization to handle (transship, retain, process) fish caught before the closure date
– Obligation to bring and retain on board any unintended catches of plaice, which must be recorded and counted against quotas
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/90 of 10 January 2025 establishing a fisheries closure for undulate ray in Union waters of 9 for vessels flying the flag of Spain
This Commission Regulation establishes a fisheries closure for undulate ray (Raja undulata) in Union waters of zone 9 specifically for vessels flying the flag of Spain. The regulation is enacted because Spain has exhausted its allocated fishing quota for undulate ray in this area for 2024.The regulation consists of three main articles that outline the quota exhaustion declaration, specific prohibitions, and entry into force provisions. It includes an annex specifying the exact details of the closure including the species, zone, and closing date of December 19, 2024.Key provisions include:
– A complete prohibition on fishing for undulate ray by Spanish vessels in the specified zone
– A ban on searching for fish, shooting, setting, or hauling fishing gear for this species
– Permission to process and land catches taken prior to the closure date
– Requirement to record and count any unintended catches against quotas
– Authorization to retain and land unintended catches in accordance with existing regulations
