Date: 2025-07-24Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/856 of 5 May 2025 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 on the implementation of the Union’s international obligations, as referred to in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Executive Summary:
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/856 amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 to implement Union international obligations under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). This amendment incorporates Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/8, specifically addressing turbot fishing in the Black Sea. The regulation prohibits retaining, transhipping, landing, storing, selling, or displaying undersized turbot and entered into force on the day following its publication, remaining applicable until December 31, 2026.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Amendment Scope:** Amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 regarding international obligations under the GFCM.
* **GFCM Recommendation:** Incorporates Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/8 from the 47th GFCM annual meeting.
* **Definition:** Defines "Black Sea" as waters in GFCM geographical subarea 29, as defined in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124.
Turbot Fishing Restrictions:
* **Species and Area:** Applies to turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in the Black Sea.
* **Prohibition:** Prohibits targeting, retaining on board, transhipping, transferring, landing, transporting, storing, displaying, or offering for sale turbot below 45 cm.
* **Derogation:** This prohibition acts as a derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (the landing obligation).
Entry Into Force and Application:
* **Effective Date:** Entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
* **Applicability:** Applies until December 31, 2026.
Impact Analysis:
European Union Fishing Vessels:
* Impact: Must comply with the new restrictions on turbot fishing in the Black Sea, specifically the prohibition on retaining, transhipping, landing, storing, selling, or displaying undersized turbot (below 45 cm).
* Action Required: Adapt fishing practices to avoid catching undersized turbot in the Black Sea, and ensure compliance with the prohibition if turbot is caught.
Member States:
* Impact: Responsible for enforcing the regulation within their jurisdiction and ensuring that Union fishing vessels comply with the new rules.
* Action Required: Implement necessary control and inspection measures to monitor turbot catches in the Black Sea and enforce the prohibition on undersized turbot.
European Commission:
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing the implementation of the regulation and ensuring its consistent application across Member States.
* Action Required: Monitor the effectiveness of the regulation in achieving its objectives and address any issues that may arise during its implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
European Parliament: The parliamentary body of the European Union.
Council of the European Union: A component of the legislative branch, it is where national ministers from each EU country meet to adopt laws and coordinate policies.
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM): A regional fisheries management organization.
Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Fisheries Policy.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910: Commission Delegated Regulation on the implementation of the Unions international obligations under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean.
Black Sea: A sea located between Europe and Asia. The regulation defines it as the waters in GFCM geographical subarea 29.
Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus): A species of flatfish, specifically addressed in the regulation concerning fishing restrictions in the Black Sea.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/856 24.7.2025
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION(EU) 2025/856
of 5 May 2025
amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 on the implementation of the Union’s international
obligations, as referred to in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European
Parliament and of the Council, under the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on
the Common Fisheries Policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1954/2003 and (EC) No 1224/2009 and repealing
Council Regulations (EC) No 2371/2002 and (EC) No 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC(1), and in particular
Article 15(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 provides for the landing of all catches of species which are subject to catch limits (‘the
landing obligation’). Article 15 of that Regulation covers fishing activities in Union waters or by Union fishing vessels
outside Union waters not falling under third countries’ sovereignty or jurisdiction.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910(2) implements the Union’s international obligations in the
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) Agreement area of application in accordance with
Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 by providing a series of derogations to the obligation to land fish, in
compliance with Recommendations adopted during the annual meetings of the GFCM.
(3) At the 47th General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean annual meeting held from 4 to 8 November 2024,
the GFCM Contracting Parties adopted Recommendation GFCM/47/2024/8. Paragraph 2 of that Recommendation
prohibits the retaining on board, transhipping, transferring, landing, storing, selling and displaying of turbot in the
Black Sea of a size less than 45 cm, measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin.
(4) In order to ensure consistency between that Recommendation and Union law, the landing obligation in Article 15(1)
of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 should not apply to Union vessels participating in the fisheries covered by that
recommendation.
(5) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 should therefore be amended to take account of the decision taken in GFCM.
(6) Since this prohibition currently applies in the GFCM Agreement area of application, in order to ensure legal
continuity this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 is amended as follows:
(1) in Article 2 the following point (6) is added:
‘(6) “Black Sea” means the waters in GFCM geographical subarea 29, as defined in Annex I to Regulation
(EU) 2023/2124.’;
(1) OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1380/oj.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2910 of 28 May 2024 on the implementation of the Union’s international obligations,
as referred to in Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, under the General
Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (OJ L, 2024/2910, 26.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2024/2910/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/856/oj 1/2EN
OJ L, 24.7.2025
(2) the following Article 4a is inserted between Article 4 and Article 5:
‘Article 4a
Turbot
1. This Article shall apply to turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) in the Black Sea.
2. By way of derogation from Article 15(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013, it shall be prohibited to target,
retain on board, tranship, transfer, land, transport, store, display or offer for sale turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
below the minimum conservation reference size set at 45 cm measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the
tail fin (total length).’
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply until 31 December 2026.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 5 May 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/856/oj