Date: 2026-01-21Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/145 of 14 January 2026 establishing a fisheries closure for blue ling in area 6 and 7; United Kingdom and international waters of 5 for vessels flying the flag of Spain
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
**Executive Summary**
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/145, dated 14 January 2026, establishes a fisheries closure for blue ling in area 6 and 7, and the United Kingdom and international waters of 5, for vessels flying the flag of Spain. This regulation is due to quota exhaustion and enters into force the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The closing date for this regulation is 8 December 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Quota Exhaustion:** The fishing quota allocated to Spain for blue ling in area 6 and 7; United Kingdom and international waters of 5 for 2025 is deemed exhausted.
* **Prohibitions:**
* Fishing for blue ling by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Spain is prohibited from the date set out in the Annex (8 December 2025). This includes searching, shooting, setting or hauling fishing gear for the purpose of fishing that stock.
* Transhipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening, and landing of fish and fishery products from that stock caught by the specified vessels are authorized for catches taken prior to the closure date.
* Unintended catches of species from that stock by those vessels must be brought and retained on board, recorded, landed, and counted against quotas.
* **Entry into Force:** This Regulation enters into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Spanish Vessels Fishing for Blue Ling in Area 6 and 7 and United Kingdom and international waters of 5.**
**Impact:** They are prohibited from fishing for blue ling in the specified areas due to quota exhaustion, starting from 8 December 2025.
**Action Required:** Cease fishing activities for blue ling in the designated areas. Ensure compliance with the requirements for retaining, recording, landing, and counting unintended catches.
**Stakeholder: Control Authorities**
**Impact:** Ensuring compliance with the regulation to ensure fair fishing practices.
**Action Required:** Must ensure vessels comply with the fishing restrictions, transshipment regulations, and other provisions outlined in the document. This includes monitoring fishing activity, conducting inspections, and enforcing penalties for violations.
Key Entities Referenced
Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202: Regulation that lays down fishing opportunities for 2025 and 2026 and is referenced in the justification for the fisheries closure.
Spain: The member state whose vessels are subject to the fisheries closure under this regulation.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/145: The regulation establishing a fisheries closure for blue ling in certain areas.
Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009: Regulation establishing a Union control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy.
Area 6 and 7; United Kingdom and international waters of 5: Geographic area where the blue ling fishing closure applies.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2026/145 21.1.2026
COMMISSION REGULATION(EU) 2026/145
of 14 January 2026
establishing a fisheries closure for blue ling in area 6 and 7; United Kingdom and international waters
of 5 for vessels flying the flag of Spain
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Union control system for
ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy, amending Regulations (EC) No 847/96, (EC)
No 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No 768/2005, (EC) No 2115/2005, (EC) No 2166/2005, (EC) No 388/2006, (EC)
No 509/2007, (EC) No 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No 1342/2008 and repealing
Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93, (EC) No 1627/94 and (EC) No 1966/2006(1), and in particular Article 36(2) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202(2)lays down fishing opportunities for 2025.
(2) According to the information received by the Commission, catches of the stock of blue ling in area 6 and 7; United
Kingdom and international waters of 5 by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Spain have exhausted the quota
allocated for 2025.
(3) It is therefore necessary to prohibit certain fishing activities for that stock.
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Quota exhaustion
The fishing quota allocated to Spain for the stock of blue ling in area 6 and 7; United Kingdom and international waters of 5
for 2025 referred to in the Annex shall be deemed to be exhausted from the date set out in that Annex.
Article 2
Prohibitions
1. Fishing for the stock referred to in Article 1 by vessels flying the flag of or registered in Spain shall be prohibited from
the date set out in the Annex. In particular it shall be prohibited to search for fish, shoot, set or haul a fishing gear for the
purpose of fishing that stock.
2. Transshipping, retaining on board, processing on board, transferring, caging, fattening and landing of fish and fishery
products from that stock caught by those vessels shall remain authorised for catches taken prior to that date.
3. Unintended catches of species from that stock by those vessels shall be brought and retained on board the fishing
vessels, recorded, landed and counted against quotas in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of
the European Parliament and of the Council(3).
(1) OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1224/oj.
(2) Council Regulation (EU) 2025/202 of 30 January 2025 fixing for 2025 and 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks,
applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2024/257 as
regards fishing opportunities for 2025 (OJ L, 2025/202, 31.1.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/202/oj).
(3) 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 (OJ L 354, 28.12.2013, p. 22, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/
eli/reg/2013/1380/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/145/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 21.1.2026
Article 3
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 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, 14 January 2026.
For the Commission,
On behalf of the President,
Costas KADIS
Member of the Commission
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/145/ojEN
OJ L, 21.1.2026
ANNEX
No 18/TQ202
Member State Spain
Stock BLI/5B67-
Species Blue ling (Molva dypterygia)
Zone 6 and 7; United Kingdom and international waters of 5
Closing Date 8.12.2025
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/145/oj 3/3