EU measures against unsustainable fishing by non-EU countries
- Common Fisheries Policy
Summary
The European Union (EU) has amended Regulation 1026/2012 to clarify the conditions used to identify and sanction countries that allow non-sustainable fishing practices on fish stocks of common interest.
Revised EU tools to address unsustainable fishing by non-EU countries
Regulation (EU) 2025/2077 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 October 2025 amending Regulation (EU) No 1026/2012 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing.
Update
The European Union (EU) has amended Regulation 1026/2012 to clarify the conditions used to identify and sanction countries that allow non-sustainable fishing practices on fish stocks of common interest.
Impacted Products
Fishery products (capture)
What is changing?
Under Regulation 1026/2012, the EU can take measures against exporting countries that do not take adequate action to conserve fish stocks. This includes quantitative restrictions on fish imports from countries that are not sustainably conserving fish stocks.
The EU has clarified how it identifies countries that allow unsustainable fishing on fish stocks of common interest. A ‘stock of common interest’ means a stock that is fished by both the EU and certain non-EU countries. The management of these stocks requires bilateral or multilateral cooperation between those countries and the EU.
A non-EU country that does not implement fishery management and control measures, necessary to ensure the effective conservation and management of stocks of common interest, may be considered as allowing non-sustainable fishing if:
- it fails to cooperate in the management of a stock of common interest in full compliance with international agreements or rule of international law such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA)
- it fails to adopt necessary fishery management measures
- it fails to engage in meaningful consultations, in good faith, in which both (or all) parties make substantial efforts to reach agreement on the adoption of necessary fishery management measures.
The EU notifies a country in advance if it intends to identify it as allowing non-sustainable fishing. This Regulation (2025/2077) specifies a 90-day period within which the country can respond to the notification and remedy the situation. It also introduces a definition of ‘failure to cooperate’, and provides examples.
Why?
These clearer guidelines aim to ensure that non-EU countries are aware of the specific conditions under which their fishing practices may lead to EU restrictive measures and sanctions, which can include import bans.
Timeline
The Regulation applies from 3 November 2025.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
The EU can impose restrictions on imports containing fish and fishery products from a country that allows non-sustainable fishing. This also applies to any part of a stock of common interest caught under the control of that country (Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 2024).
Background
Regulation 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, Part VI (External Policy), provides for the EU to conduct its external fisheries in accordance with its international obligations and to base its fishing activities on regional fisheries cooperation.
Regulation 1026/2012 allows the European Commission to adopt restrictive measures against non-EU countries allowing non-sustainable fishing that jeopardises the long-term conservation of fish stocks of common interest to the European Union and non-EU countries.
Resources
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (2024) Commission proposes a revision of EU tools to address unsustainable fishing practices by non-EU countries on fish stocks of common interest, News Announcement, 13 September.
Sources
Regulation (EU) 2025/2077 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.
Revised EU tools to address unsustainable fishing by non-EU countries
Regulation (EU) 2025/2077 on certain measures for the purpose of the conservation of fish stocks in relation to countries allowing non-sustainable fishing.
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) can take measures against exporting countries that do not take adequate action to conserve fish stocks (under Regulation 1026/2012). This includes quantitative restrictions on fish imports from countries that are not sustainably conserving fish stocks.
Under this new Regulation 2025/2077, the EU has clarified how it determines if countries are not fishing sustainably. The focus is on fish stocks of common interest (these are stocks fished by both the EU and certain non-EU countries). The management of these stocks requires cooperation between those countries and the EU.
A non-EU country that does not have sufficient fishery management and control measures in place for effective conservation and management of stocks of common interest allows non-sustainable fishing if, in the EU’s view:
- it fails to cooperate in the management of these stocks as required by international agreements or rules such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA)
- it fails to adopt necessary fishery management measures
- it fails to make sincere efforts to reach agreement between both (or all) parties on the adoption of necessary fishery management measures.
The EU notifies a country in advance if it may be identified as allowing non-sustainable fishing. This Regulation (2025/2077) allows the country 90 days to respond to the notification and remedy the situation. It also defines what is meant by ‘failure to cooperate’, and provides examples.
Timeline
The Regulation applies from 3 November 2025.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.