Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2026 in the Mediterranean and Black Seas

The Commission has presented a proposal for fishing opportunities in 2026 for the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, which promotes the sustainable management of fish stocks and delivers on the political commitments made in the MedFish4Ever and Sofia Declarations.

This proposal will be complemented at a later stage, based on the results of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) annual session (4-9 November 2025) and the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) advice for demersal stocks covered by the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Management Plan (MAP)- which is also expected in November.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the proposal includes the measures agreed under the various GFCM management plans in recent years, with specific measures for blackspot seabream and deep-water shrimps to be updated after this year's annual session.

In the Adriatic Sea, the proposal includes the implementation of the GFCM MAPs for demersal and small pelagic stocks. It proposes to continue implementing limits on fishing efforts for demersal stocks to reach sustainable fishing levels in 2026. The proposal also includes the implementation of the permanent phase of the small pelagics MAP that started in 2025. The GFCM is expected to adopt decisions on further implementing both Adriatic MAPs in November.

In the Black Sea, the proposal includes catch limits and quotas for sprat and turbot. The Commission proposes to maintain the 2025 catch limit for sprat. For turbot, the total allowable catches (TAC) and quotas are set in line with the provisions of the GFCM management plan.

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