Today, the European Commission took a significant step forward towards simplifying fishing catch reporting for the unsorted pelagic fisheries sector. By publishing a first list of landing ports, the Commission is allowing fisheries operators in these ports to benefit from a margin of tolerance derogation, considering that robust fisheries control conditions in these ports are met.
The margin of tolerance is the maximum allowed difference between catch estimations by captains of fishing vessels and the actual weight of the fish caught. The derogation allows operators to benefit from a more flexible approach to catch reporting in logbooks when landing in listed ports.
This decision will bring tangible benefits to the fisheries sector, including reduced administrative burden. The measure responds to long-standing demands from fishing operators, as agreed when revising the Fisheries Control Regulation.
The listed ports have strict control guarantees in place, including adequate port facilities and control processes. This ensures the accurate reporting of catches and strong fisheries control.
To be listed, ports must demonstrate that they comply with the rigorous control and monitoring criteria for the benefit of the margin of tolerance derogation, ensuring reliable catch registration and weighting, whether ports are located within the EU or in third countries. The list of eligible ports can be revised and expanded by the Commission according to requests by Member States, based on evidence showing that Member States ensure weighing accuracy in those ports. The Commission has also the possibility to delist ports that fail to maintain the required standards.
Background
Under Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1474 (Fisheries Control Regulation), the margin of tolerance derogation allows specific ports to apply a more flexible approach to catch reporting in logbooks, provided strict control guarantees are present in those ports.
This derogation applies to landings of unsorted small pelagic and unsorted tropical tuna species. It is intended to address challenges with unsorted landings that were highlighted during the negotiation of the revised Fisheries Control Regulation.
More information
Commission Implementing Regulation as regards derogation from the margin of tolerance
