European ministers set 2026 fishing quotas
Ministers at the European Fisheries Council in Brussels have reached an agreement on the quotas for European fishers in 2026. Flemish fishers will be allowed to catch more sole, turbot, ray, whiting and sea bass in the North Sea, but there will be less cod, plaice and lemon sole.
In the western waters, an important area between France, Ireland and Great Britain, there has been a decline in sole and plaice. Fishing opportunities for sole are very important for the Flemish fishing sector and account for almost half of its revenue.
The European Fisheries Council sets the annual quotas after negotiations with the UK and Norway on shared fish stocks. According to Flemish Fisheries minister Hilde Crevits, these were “particularly difficult negotiations”.
However, she considers it positive that more fishing is allowed in the North Sea up to Norwegian waters, “which gives our fishers more opportunities”.
"2026 will be a challenging year for our fishers"
For the first time in 40 years, the Council has not agreed to apply the Hague preferences. These allow Ireland to obtain more quotas for certain fish species. As a result, Belgium will retain 137 tonnes of fishing opportunities in 2026. France, the Netherlands, Poland, Germany and Belgium blocked the application of the Hague preferences.
“2026 will be a challenging year for our fishers,” said Crevits. “In addition to reductions in some quotas, they will have to deal with a lot of new European regulations and measures next year. I have argued that they should be given sufficient time to make adjustments to their nets, for example.”
She also calls for major fluctuations in scientific advice to be addressed, saying they threaten the economic stability of the region’s fishing sector.
#FlandersNewsService | Crew on the French trawler Nicolas-Jeremy © PHOTO FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI / AFP
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