A European Commission report published on 16 July 2026 finds that EU Member States improved implementation of the fisheries control system between 2020 and 2024, but significant shortcomings persist in weighing and catch registration, affecting all Member States and commercial operators. The report, required under Article 118 of Council Regulation (EC) 1224/2009, covers the period 2020-2024 and notes that total valid fishing licences fell 6% from 72,562 in 2020 to 68,085 in 2024, while fishing authorisations dropped 8% from 35,128 to 32,474. Vessel monitoring system (VMS) coverage for vessels over 15 metres declined from 98% in 2020 to 96% in 2024, while for 12-15 metre vessels it rose from 36% to 48%. Electronic logbook use exceeded 95% for vessels over 12 metres by 2024, and for 10-12 metre vessels it increased from 49% in 2020 to 66% in 2024. Over 230,000 inspections were carried out under joint deployment plans from 2020 to 2024, with suspected infringements averaging 8%, of which misreporting accounted for over 40% in most sea basins. Serious infringements rose from approximately 1,445 in 2020 to 1,979 in 2024, and about one in eight suspected infringements resulted in a confirmed infringement. Infringement procedures against five Member States for failing to enforce the landing obligation were closed in 2024.
The report highlights that despite progress in digitalisation and monitoring, long-standing weaknesses in catch registration and weighing remain. The revised Control Regulation, adopted in 2023 and applying mainly from January 2026, is expected to address these issues, with remote electronic monitoring (REM) becoming mandatory for high-risk vessels of 18 metres and over by 10 January 2028. The report will inform the European Parliament and the Council as they oversee the implementation of the common fisheries policy.