In advice submitted to the European Commission following the Commission’s own independent study on the performance of the Landing Obligation in June 2025, the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the North Sea Advisory Council have presented detailed recommendations in the context of the upcoming revision of the Common Fisheries Policy.
A number of key messages begin with the need for a comprehensive reform of the Landing Obligation, moving towards an adaptive, evidence-based management system focused on avoiding and minimising unwanted catches.
The two ACs also want to see greater integration of economic and social considerations, while recognising the significant efforts already made by the fishing industry to improve selectivity, and more consistent use of quota flexibilities, clearer and more workable exemptions, and continued tools to prevent premature fishery closures in mixed fisheries.
A shift from a purely enforcement-driven approach towards a holistic, participatory and results-oriented implementation, supporting innovation, improved data collection and alignment with technical measures and multiannual plans, is seen as a vital factor of reform, as are continued pilot projects, adequate financial support for innovation and decarbonisation, and stronger coherence between the Landing Obligation and other EU regulations.
Given persistent implementation challenges and choke risks – particularly in mixed fisheries of the North Western Waters and North Sea – the NWWAC and NSAC stress that long-term solutions depend on healthy stocks, practical solutions, and close cooperation with the fishing sector.
Both NWWAC and NSAC have contributed to considerations on the implementation of the LO since it was first introduced and also regularly to Joint Recommendations proposing de minimis and high-survivability exemptions.
The Advisory Councils’ ongoing work on the LO is also reflected in other advice, such as the NWWAC Advice on the Evaluation of the CFP Regulation, the NSAC/EAPO Advice on Innovative Fishing, the Joint NWWAC/PelAC/NSAC Advice on the Implementation of the Control Regulation, and the NWWAC Advice on Fishing Opportunities for 2026.
The ACs regret to note that the Commission’s study appears to have omitted some of the most important contributions on the functioning of the LO by selectively analysing advice up until only 2017, even though the cut-off date of the study was 2024.
In 2023, the NSAC organised a stakeholder workshop on the functioning of the LO exploring the state of play, experiences and challenges posed by the LO and a possible way forward. The workshop resulted in Advice on the functioning of the LO, which the study fails to capture in its report.
The Advisory Councils state that they would be grateful if the Commission would thoroughly consider these later contributions when designing new and improving old policies.
NWWAC and NSAC have joined forces to prepare a Joint Advice, representing their members operating in the North Western Waters and North Sea regions. The advice is structured in two sections, firstly strategic recommendations presenting the general comments of the NWWAC and NSAC on the study, along with their recommendations regarding the future implementation of the landing obligation, and secondly NWWAC/NSAC comments and inputs on the Landing Obligation Study’s recommendations.
