Date: 2026-01-15Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/117 of 3 November 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Area of Competence, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EC) No 1984/2003 and (EC) No 520/2007
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
**Executive Summary**
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/117, dated 3 November 2025, amends Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 concerning the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Area of Competence. The amendment incorporates IOTC Resolutions 22/02 and 25/05 on transhipment by large-scale fishing vessels into Union law. This regulation enters into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment:**
* Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 is amended to implement IOTC Resolutions 22/02 and 25/05.
* Annex 7 to Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 is replaced, which concerns IOTC transshipment declaration.
* **Transhipment Requirements:**
* Declaration of the IMO number of both the carrier vessel and the fishing vessel is required.
* UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) must be used to indicate the time and date of transhipment.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The regulation enters into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Impact Analysis**
**EU Member States**
* **Impact**: EU Member States must ensure that the measures outlined in IOTC Resolutions 22/02 and 25/05 are implemented into their national laws. The regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
* **Action Required**: Member States must adhere to the updated regulation, specifically in relation to transhipment declarations, and enforce the declaration of IMO numbers and the use of UTC.
**Large-Scale Fishing Vessels operating in the IOTC Area**
* **Impact**: Large-scale fishing vessels operating in the IOTC Area are directly affected by the requirement to declare IMO numbers for both the carrier and fishing vessels.
* **Action Required**: These vessels need to ensure their transhipment declarations include the IMO numbers of all vessels involved and that the time and date of transhipment are indicated in UTC.
Key Entities Referenced
Regulation (EU) 2022/2343: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Area of Competence.
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC): International organization responsible for the management of tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Ocean.
Resolution 22/02: IOTC Resolution on establishing a programme for transhipment by large-scale fishing vessels adopted at the annual meeting in 2022.
Resolution 25/05: IOTC Resolution on establishing a programme for transhipment by large-scale fishing vessels adopted at the annual meeting in 2025.
Council Decision 95/399/EC: Council Decision on the accession of the Community to the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/117 15.1.2026
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION(EU) 2026/117
of 3 November 2025
amending Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down
management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
(IOTC) Area of Competence, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EC) No 1984/2003
and (EC) No 520/2007
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 laying
down management, conservation and control measures applicable in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) Area of
Competence, amending Council Regulations (EC) No 1936/2001, (EC) No 1984/2003 and (EC) No 520/2007(1), and in
particular Article 54(1)(i) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) The Union is a contracting party to the Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
(IOTC), as approved by Council Decision 95/399/EC(2).
(2) The European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 in order to implement into Union law
IOTC Conservation and Management Measures, which are binding on the Union.
(3) At its annual meeting in 2022, the IOTC adopted Resolution 22/02 on establishing a programme for transhipment
by large-scale fishing vessels. Moreover, at its annual meeting in 2025, the IOTC adopted Resolution 25/05 on
establishing a programme for transhipment by large-scale fishing vessels. Resolution 22/02 and Resolution 25/05
introduced the requirement to declare the IMO number of the carrier vessel and the fishing vessel, as well as the
need to use UTC to indicate the time of the transhipment.
(4) These measures should be implemented into Union law. Therefore, Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 should be amended
accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex 7 to Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 is replaced in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
(1) OJ L 311, 2.12.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2343/oj.
(2) Council Decision 95/399/EC of 18 September 1995 on the accession of the Community to the Agreement for the establishment of the
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (OJ L 236, 5.10.1995, p. 24, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/1995/399/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2026/117/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 15.1.2026
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 3 November 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2026/117/ojANNEX
Annex 7 to Regulation (EU) 2022/2343 is replaced by the following:
‘ANNEX 7
IOTC Transhipment Declaration
Carrier Vessel Fishing Vessel
Name of the Vessel and Radio Call Sign: Name of the Vessel and Radio Call Sign:
Flag: Flag:
IMO number: IMO number:
Flag State licence number: Flag State licence number:
National Register Number, if available: National Register Number, if available:
IOTC Register Number, if available: IOTC Register Number, if available:
Day(1) Month Hour Year Agent’s name: Master’s name of LSTV: Master’s name of Carrier:
Departure from
Return to Signature: Signature: Signature:
Transhipment
(1) For the purpose of completing this Transshipment Declaration, UTC should be used to indicate the time and date of the transshipment.
Indicate the weight in kilograms or the unit used (e.g. box, basket) and the landed weight in kilograms of this unit: ________kilograms
LOCATION OF TRANSHIPMENT
Species Port Sea Type of product
Whole Gutted Headed Filleted
If transhipment effected at sea, IOTC Observer Name and Signature:’
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2026/117/oj
3/3
OJ
L,
15.1.2026
EN