Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/274 of 12 February 2025 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 55 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 on the control of recreational fisheries

• CELEX: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/274
• Articles: 8

Article 1 Definition

For the purposes of this Regulation, ‘passive gear’ means gear used in recreational fisheries that is not handheld, as provided for in the third, fourth and fifth rows of Annex I.

Article 2 Submission of catch data collected under Article 55(2) of the Control Regulation

1.   By 31 of May of each year and starting from 31 May 2027, each coastal Member State shall, submit by electronic means to the Commission, through the EU RecFishing central server  ( 5 ) , the aggregated data collected under Article 55(2) of the Control Regulation for:

(a)

the quantities of each species with the FAO alpha-3 code, if applicable by stock or group of stocks, caught and retained in the preceding calendar year, in tonnes live-weight equivalent and, if relevant the number of individuals,

—

per geographical area,

—

per category of fishing mode,

—

per type of fishing gear, and

—

per length if relevant;

(b)

the number of individuals of each species with the FAO alpha-3 code, if applicable by stock or group of stocks, caught and released in the preceding calendar year, and when possible the estimated quantities in tonnes live-weight equivalent,

—

per geographical area,

—

per category of fishing mode,

—

per type of fishing gear, and

—

per length if relevant.

For the purpose of this submission, the fishing gear shall be identified according to the types listed in Annex I and the fishing mode according to the categories listed in Annex II.

For the purpose of this submission, the relevant geographical area in which the species were caught shall correspond to the territory of the coastal Member State and the waters under its sovereignty or jurisdiction, at least per ICES division and subdivisions as specified in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 6 ) or, if applicable, the GFCM geographical subareas set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/2124 of the European Parliament and of the Council  ( 7 ) . Where these ICES and GFCM geographical areas do not apply, the FAO fishing areas system shall be used at the most detailed level available.

2.   Coastal Member States shall check the accuracy of the collected data submitted to the Commission. If a coastal Member State detects inconsistencies in the information already submitted to the Commission, it shall correct the data as soon as possible and at the latest on the 31 December of the year of submission.

Article 3 Submission of catch data collected under Article 55(3) of the Control Regulation

1.   By 15 th of each month and starting from 15 March 2026, each coastal Member State shall submit by electronic means to the Commission, through the EU RecFishing central server, the aggregated data collected under Article 55(3) for:

(a)

the quantities of each species with the FAO alpha-3 code, if applicable by stock or group of stocks, caught and retained in the preceding month, in tonnes live-weight equivalent and if relevant the number of individuals,

—

per geographical area,

—

per category of fishing mode,

—

per type of fishing gear, and

—

per length if relevant;

(b)

the number of individuals of each species with the FAO alpha-3 code, if applicable by stock or group of stocks, caught and released in the preceding month, and when possible the estimated quantities in tonnes live-weight equivalent,

—

per geographical area,

—

per category of fishing mode,

—

per type of fishing gear, and

—

per length if relevant.

For the purpose of this submission, the fishing gear shall be identified according to the types listed in Annex I and the fishing mode according to the categories listed in Annex II.

For the purpose of this submission, the relevant geographical area in which the species were caught shall correspond to the territory of the coastal Member State and the waters under its sovereignty or jurisdiction, at least by ICES statistical rectangle, or if applicable the equivalent GFCM geographical unit. Where these ICES and GFCM geographical areas do not apply, the FAO fishing areas system shall be used at the most detailed level available.

2.   Coastal Member States shall check the accuracy of the collected data submitted to the Commission. If a coastal Member State detects inconsistencies in the information already submitted to the Commission, it shall correct the data as soon as possible and at the latest 6 months after the date of submission.

Article 4 Marking of passive gear used by recreational fisheries

1.   Passive gear used for recreational fisheries shall be clearly marked in a way that the fishing gear can be identified and linked with the recreational fisher using the fishing gear or the owner of the fishing gear, by displaying that marking in the following ways:

(a)

for nets, on labels attached to the upper first row and for buoy(s) at the end(s) of the net on labels or directly marked on the buoy(s);

(b)

for longlines, on labels attached to the line and at the point of contact with the mooring buoy(s) or directly marked on the mooring buoy(s);

(c)

for traps, pots, creels and fyke nets, on labels attached to the gear and for buoy(s) on labels or directly marked on the buoy(s).

The marking of passive gear used for recreational fisheries shall be securely fixed, not removable and made of durable materials.

2.   Passive gear used for recreational fisheries shall also be marked adequately to indicate the presence of the fishing gear at the surface of the water or ice.

Article 5 Amendment to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011

Articles 64 and 65 of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 are deleted.

Article 6 Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

It shall apply from 10 January 2026.

Schedules & Appendices

ANNEX I TYPES OF FISHING GEAR USED FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

ANNEX I

TYPES OF FISHING GEAR USED FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

Types of fishing gear

1

Rods and lines (including handlines, poles and lines and trolls)

2

Spear guns and harpoons

3

Nets (including gillnets, entangling nets, trammel nets and other static nets, and drift nets)

4

Longlines

5

Traps, pots, creels, and fyke nets

6

Hand gathering and hand-held tools other than those belonging to other categories

7

Towed gear (including trawls, seines, surrounding nets and dredges)

8

Cast nets

ANNEX II CATEGORIES OF FISHING MODE FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

ANNEX II

CATEGORIES OF FISHING MODE FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

1

From the shore

2

From a vessel

3

Under the water

4

From ice