The committee is inviting comments on the multiannual fisheries plans

The European Commission is invitingcomments on the Multi-Annual Management Plans (MAMPs) for fisheries in the EU’s marine basins. The consultation period will run for four weeks on the Commission’s “Have Your Say” portal.

The Commission is asking EU countries, the fishing industry, scientific institutions, non-governmental organisations, regional authorities and coastal communities to share their views and submit scientific, ecosystem and economic data on the Fisheries Action Plans (FAPs).

Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) are the main tool used by the EU to manage its most important fish stocks in EU marine basins. However, several of their provisions have proved difficult to implement. The Commission is therefore particularly interested in gathering specific evidence:

• For the western Mediterranean, the Commission aims to receive feedback on the application and impact of the ‘most vulnerable stock’ in determining fishing opportunities, as well as on options for a more balanced approach to mixed fisheries.
• For the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Western Waters. The Commission is seeking comments on the ‘5% rule’, on how to establish recovery pathways for fishermen who depend on depleted stocks, so as to reduce year-on-year fluctuations and help them achieve more stable incomes.

In line with the Commission’s communication on simpler, clearer and more enforceable EU regulations, the aim is to facilitate the implementation of the plans and improve legal clarity, without undermining the key milestones of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including the objective of achieving and maintaining the MSY (maximum sustainable yield) exploitation rate.

Background

In the western Mediterranean, the definition of the ‘most vulnerable stock’ has hampered the balanced management of mixed fisheries. This concept stipulates that a single species with the smallest population in a shared area can determine the fishing limits for all other species. As different fish are caught together in the same nets, fishing for abundant stocks is restricted or halted to avoid by-catch of the most vulnerable stock. This requirement forces managers to rely on a single ecological criterion, preventing them from adjusting fishing opportunities to ensure the economic stability of fishing fleets.

In the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and western waters, the so-called ‘5 % rule’ can lead to abrupt, annual cuts in fishing opportunities, as well as overlapping with other measures, creating legal uncertainty. The 5 % rule is a legal safeguard designed to prevent the collapse of fish stocks. It stipulates that annual fishing quotas must be set in such a way that there is less than a 5 % probability of a fish stock falling below its safe biological limit. If scientists determine that the risk is higher, quota cuts are required to ensure the natural reproduction of the species.

In addition to the experience gained in implementing the Fisheries Action Plans (FAPs), various stakeholders have called for amendments to these plans. In December 2025, 15 EU countries submitted a joint statement to the AGRIFISH Council calling on the Commission to act swiftly; the Advisory Councils have also requested changes, and the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries has expressed a willingness to work on a proposal. 

More information: European Commission.