On 6 August 2026, the European Commission adopted a delegated regulation extending, until 31 December 2027, the existing technical measures for red seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) in ICES subareas 6 to 8, affecting both commercial and recreational fisheries in those waters. The measures, which apply from 1 January 2027, include a minimum conservation reference size of 36 cm for commercial fisheries, a closure for French-flagged vessels from 1 January to 30 June, and seasonal closures for commercial fisheries plus an all-year closure for recreational fisheries in specific areas of ICES subarea 8. No new restrictions have been introduced; the regulation simply prolongs the existing regime unchanged for another year.
The delegated regulation, issued under Articles 2(2) and 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2019/1241, is based on a joint recommendation submitted on 3 July 2026 by the South Western Waters and North Western Waters Member States Regional Groups, which include Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Ireland. The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) concluded that the measures can help reduce catches, and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has issued zero-catch advice for 2027. The Commission notes that the measures are more stringent than the pre-2022 baselines, reflecting the continued poor state of the stock.
The extension maintains the status quo for red seabream management, balancing the need for continued conservation with the economic interests of the fishing sector. For commercial fishers, the measures impose ongoing restrictions, particularly for French vessels facing a six-month closure, while recreational fishers in subarea 8 face a full-year closure. These constraints are designed to protect the stock, but they come at a cost to fishing opportunities and associated livelihoods. The regulation enters into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, and it will now be scrutinised by the European Parliament and the Council, which have the right to object within the standard two-month period. The extension is a routine but important step in the EU's effort to rebuild red seabream stocks, and it will be closely watched by the fishing industry and environmental groups alike.