Artikelen bij COM(2025)435 - European fisheries and aquaculture statistics

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dossier COM(2025)435 - European fisheries and aquaculture statistics.
document COM(2025)435 EN
datum 30 juli 2025

Inhoudsopgave

Article 1 - Subject matter and scope

1. This Regulation sets up an integrated framework for European statistics related to the extraction of marine biological resources by fishing activities and their placing on the market, and to the Union catching fleet, aquaculture production and aquaculture establishments.

2. The statistics related to fisheries and aquaculture shall cover the following domains and topics:

(1) fisheries statistics:

(a)catches;

(b)landings;

(c)catching fleet;

(2) Aquaculture statistics:

(a)aquaculture production excluding hatcheries and nurseries;

(b)flows in aquaculture;

(c)aquaculture establishments.

Article 2 - Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) ‘Union waters’, ‘marine biological resources’, ‘fishing vessel’, ‘Union fishing vessel’, ‘discards’, ‘aquaculture’, ‘fishing activity’, ‘fishery products’ and ‘aquaculture products’, shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Article 4(1), points (1), (2), (4), (5), (10), (25), (28), (29) and (34)  respectively of Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council 52 ;

(2) ‘Union fishing fleet’ shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definition set out in Article 2(c) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218;

(3) ‘sensitive species’ shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Article 6, point (8) of Regulation (EU) No 2019/1241 53 ;

(4) ‘catches’ and ‘landings’, shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Article 2, points (15) and (16) of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1639/2001 54 ;

(5) ‘fishing licence’, ‘recreational fisheries’ and ‘catching vessel’ shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Article 4, points (9), (28) and (33) of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(6) ‘organic production’ shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Article 3, point (1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 55 ;

(7) ‘placing on the market’ shall have the meaning that it has under the corresponding definitions set out in Article 5, point (f) of Regulation (EU) 1379/2013 56 .

(8) ‘species’ means taxa of organisms identified by the international 3-alpha code 57 , as established by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (‘FAO’) (Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Information System list of species for fishery statistics purposes), or – where this is absent – by the 3-alpha code for aggregates of taxa;

(9) ‘FAO fishing areas’ means the geographical fishing areas identified using the international numerical code, as established by the FAO 58 for statistical purposes;

(10) ‘commercial fishing’ means commercial exploitation of marine biological resources performed by a catching vessel with a valid fishing licence, or, by a natural or legal person holding a licence or registered in an alternative system to fish without a vessel;

(11) ‘commercial catches’ means catches obtained by commercial fishing excluding discards;

(12) ‘recreational catches’ means catches of species under conditions provided for in Article 55 of Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 taking place on Union territory and in Union waters;

(13) ‘first sale of landed marine biological resources’ means the initial financial transaction where landed fishery products are placed on the market for the first time;

(14) ‘aquaculture establishment’ means any administratively delimited or identified premises where aquaculture takes place, with the exception of aquarium and ornamental species production. The same aquaculture establishment may have several production lines;

(15) ‘capture-based aquaculture’ means the practice of collecting ‘seed’ materials - from early life stages to adults - from the wild and their subsequent on-growing in captivity to marketable size, using aquaculture techniques;

(16) ‘first sale’ in aquaculture means the initial financial transaction where aquaculture products are placed on the market for the first time;

(17) ‘hatcheries and nurseries’ means places for the artificial breeding, hatching and rearing through the early life stages of aquatic organisms. For statistical purposes, hatcheries are limited to the production of fertilised eggs. The first juvenile stages of aquatic animals are produced in nurseries;

(18) ‘aquaculture production’ means the output from aquaculture, including production from hatcheries and nurseries, offered for sale;

(19) ‘released to the wild’ means the intentional release of aquatic organisms for the restocking – other than for aquaculture purposes – of rivers, lakes and other waters;

(20) ‘observation unit’ means an identifiable entity about which data can be obtained;

(21) ‘domain’ means one or several datasets that cover particular topics;

(22) ‘topic’ means the content of the information to be compiled about the observation units, where each topic covers one or more detailed topics;

(23) ‘detailed topic’ means the detailed content of the information to be compiled about the observation units related to a topic; each detailed topic covers one or more variables;

(24) ‘dataset’ means one or several aggregated variables organised in a structured form;

(25) ‘variable’ means a characteristic of an observation unit that may have more than one set of values;

(26) ‘ad hoc data’ means data that are of particular interest for users at a specific point in time but that are not included in the regular datasets;

(27) ‘administrative data’ means data generated by a non-statistical source and usually held by public or private bodies, the main aim of which is not to provide statistics;

(28) ‘metadata’ means information that is needed to use and interpret statistics and which describes data in a structured way.

Article 3 - Observation units

For the purpose of this Regulation, data shall be obtained for the following observation units:

(a)the Union fishing fleet;

(b)other non-Union fishing fleets landing fisheries products in the Union;

(c)natural or legal persons holding a licence or registered in an alternative system to fish without a vessel;

(d)shipowners, wholesalers, registered buyers, registered auctions and producer organisations authorised by Member States;

(e)natural persons engaged in recreational fisheries in the Union;

(f)Union aquaculture establishments.

Article 4 - Data requirements

1. The detailed topics, transmission frequencies, reference periods and the dimensions related to sensitive species, organic production and regional breakdown on fisheries and aquaculture statistics referred to in Article 1, shall be as set out in the Annex.

2. Marine regional data shall be transmitted at the level of the most detailed statistical fishing regions used in the FAO fishing areas. Inland regional data shall be transmitted at the NUTS 2 level, as defined in Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003.

3. In order to limit the administrative and financial burden, a Member State may be exempted from submitting data on a certain variable to the Commission (Eurostat) if:

(a)the variable has zero or low prevalence in that Member State; or

(b)the variable accounts for a small proportion of the aquaculture production at national or regional level (the FAO area or NUTS 2 level).

4. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 15 for the purposes of amending the Annex, by adding, deleting or changing detailed topics, including their descriptions, and by changing the transmission frequencies, reference periods and applicable dimensions of detailed topics as set out in the Annex.

5. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to specify the following technical items, and where applicable, of the individual datasets to be transmitted to the Commission (Eurostat):

(a)the list of variables;

(b)the descriptions of the variables;

(c)the measurement units;

(d)the variables for sensitive species;

(e)the variables for organic production;

(f)the variables at regional level;

(g)the thresholds for the identification of exempted variables;

(h)the precision requirements;

(i)the methodological rules;

(j)the deadlines for transmitting the data.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted under the examination procedure referred to in Article 16(2) at least nine months before the beginning of the relevant reference year.

6. Member States shall transmit data and related metadata using a technical format specified by the Commission (Eurostat) for each dataset. The single-entry point services shall be used to transmit the data to the Commission (Eurostat).

Article 5 - Ad hoc data collection

1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 15, supplementing this Regulation by specifying the data to be transmitted by Member States on an ad hoc basis, where, within the scope of this Regulation, the collection of additional information is deemed necessary for the purpose of addressing additional statistical needs. Those delegated acts shall specify:

(a)the topics and detailed topics related to the domains specified in Article 1 to be included in the ad hoc data collection and the reasons for such additional statistical needs;

(b)the reference periods.

2. The Commission is empowered to adopt the delegated acts referred to in paragraph 1 starting from the reference year [two years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation]. There shall be at least a two-year interval between the deadlines for transmitting consecutive ad hoc data collections.

3. For the purpose of the ad hoc data collections referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts specifying the following technical elements of the data to be transmitted, where appropriate:

(a)the list of variables;

(b)the descriptions of the variables;

(c)the measurement units;

(d)the variables for sensitive species;

(e)the variables for organic production;

(f)the variables at regional level;

(g)the thresholds for the identification of exempted variables;

(h)the precision requirements;

(i)the methodological rules;

(j)the deadlines for transmitting the data;

(k)the observation units.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted under the examination procedure referred to in Article 16(2) at least nine months before the beginning of the relevant reference year.

Article 6 - Coverage

1. The statistics shall be representative of the statistical population that they describe.

2. In order to reduce the administrative burden and the burden on statistical respondents, the data on fisheries and aquaculture referred to in Article 1(2) shall cover in each Member State at least:

95% of the weight of commercial catches;

90% of the Union catching fleet, for the weight of discards;

90% of the natural persons engaged in recreational fisheries;

95% of the weight of landings;

95% of the Union catching fleet;

95% of the aquaculture production.

Article 7 - Production of European statistics on fisheries and aquaculture

1. For the production of European statistics on catches and Union catching fleet, the Commission (Eurostat) shall reuse the relevant data from the databases or registers set up by Union law, as referred to in Article 8(2), that are either maintained by the Commission or set up at national level and to which the Commission has access. Before disseminating those statistics, the Commission (Eurostat) shall consult the relevant national statistical authorities to ensure that statistical confidentiality requirements are met. If a Member State objects to the reuse of their national data by the Commission (Eurostat), it shall transmit to the Commission (Eurostat) data on catches and catching fleet in the form of aggregated datasets. Such an objection shall be duly substantiated and notified by the Member State concerned to the Commission (Eurostat) no later than 12 months before the start of the reference year.

2. For the production of European statistics on landings and aquaculture, Member States shall transmit to the Commission (Eurostat) statistics on landings and aquaculture in the form of aggregated datasets.

3. If relevant data on landings or on aquaculture from any other databases or registers set up by Union law become available, the Commission (Eurostat) shall reuse those data to produce statistics following the same procedures as laid down in paragraph 1, provided that such data meet the quality requirements laid down in Article 11.

Article 8 - Data sources and methods

1. Member States shall use one or more of the following data sources and methods, provided that they enable statistics to be produced that meet the quality requirements referred to in Article 11:

(a)administrative data sources specified in paragraph 2;

(b)administrative data sources based on national law;

(c)statistical surveys;

(d)innovative methods and sources, such as digital tools and remote sensors.

2. As regards paragraph 1, point (a), of this Article, Member States may use the data from the following sources:

(a)electronic databases set up under Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009;

(b)computerised databases set up under Regulation (EU) 2017/1004;

(c)Union fishing fleet register set up under Commission implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/218;

(d)registers set up under Regulation (EU) 2018/848;

(e)any other relevant administrative data sources set up under Union law.

Article 9 - Data-sharing with international organisations

The Commission (Eurostat) may transmit the aggregated data covered by this Regulation to international, intergovernmental and regional fisheries management organisations, subject to the establishment of an arrangement between the Commission (Eurostat) and the concerned organisation to ensure the data are used strictly for statistical or scientific purposes. This arrangement shall also implement appropriate measures: (i) to protect the data, in particular, to ensure the physical and logical protection of confidential data; and (ii) to monitor and prevent the risk of unlawful disclosure or any use beyond the purposes for which the data were transmitted. The transmission of confidential data in this context shall be in agreement with the Member State concerned.

Article 10 - Reference period

The first reference period shall begin in the calendar year [insert the year starting on 1 January following 18 months after adoption].

Article 11 - Quality requirements and quality reporting

1. For the purpose of this Regulation, the quality criteria set out in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 shall apply.

2. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the quality of the data and metadata transmitted to the Commission.

3. The Commission (Eurostat) shall assess the quality of the data and metadata transmitted to it or obtained from Union-level administrative sources.

4. For the purpose of paragraph 3, each Member State shall transmit to the Commission (Eurostat), for the first time by [to be filled appropriately], and every three years thereafter, a quality report describing the statistical processes for the data transmitted during the period, including in particular:

(a)metadata describing the methodology used and how the technical specifications laid down by this Regulation were achieved;

(b)information on the quality of the data obtained from the sources set out in Article 8(1) and used to produce statistics under this Regulation;

(c)information on compliance with the coverage requirements set out in Article 6.

5. The Commission (Eurostat) shall publish every three years a quality report on statistics on fisheries and aquaculture compiled according to the procedures mentioned in Article 7.

6. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts setting out the practical arrangements for the quality reports and their contents. Those implementing acts shall be adopted under the examination procedure referred to in Article 16(2).

7. Member States shall, where necessary, inform the Commission (Eurostat) about any relevant information or changes regarding the implementation of this Regulation that could influence the quality of the data transmitted.

8. Following a duly substantiated request from the Commission (Eurostat), Member States shall provide any necessary additional information that is required to evaluate the quality of the data and metadata transmitted.

Article 12 - Transitional regime for data on catches of sensitive species and of recreational fisheries

By way of derogation from Article 7, Member States shall be exempted from transmitting data related to catches of sensitive species and of recreational fisheries until the data become available as required by Articles 14 and 55 of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009.

Article 13 - Union contribution

1. For the implementation of this Regulation, a financial contribution may be provided from the general budget of the Union to the national statistical institutes and other national authorities included in the list referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 to cover the costs of the following activities:

(a)ad hoc data collections referred to in Article 5 of this Regulation;

(b)the use of innovative methods and approaches, such as digital tools and remote sensors, referred to in Article 8(1)(d) of this Regulation.

2. The Union financial contribution under this Article shall not exceed 90% of the eligible costs.

3. The amount of the Union financial contribution under this Article shall be set under the rules of the relevant funding programme, subject to the availability of funding.

Article 14 - Derogations

1. Where the application of this Regulation, or of the implementing and delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Regulation, necessitates major adaptations in a Member State’s statistical system, the Commission may adopt implementing acts that grant derogations to that Member State for a maximum duration of two years. The relevant Member State shall submit a duly reasoned request for such a derogation to the Commission within three months of the date of the entry into force of the act concerned.

The impact of such derogations on the comparability of Member States’ data or on the calculation of the required timely and representative European aggregates shall be kept to a minimum. The burden on respondents shall be taken into account when granting the derogation.

2. The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph shall be adopted under the examination procedure referred to in Article 16(2).

Article 15 - Exercise of delegation

1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 4(4) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time following the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

3. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 5(1) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [two years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

4. The delegation of power referred to in Articles 4(4) and 5(1) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke a delegation of power shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. The decision shall take effect on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

5. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making.

6. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

7. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 4(4) or  5(1) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of the notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 16 - Committee procedure

1. The Commission shall be assisted by the ESSC, which was set up by Regulation (EC) No 223/2009. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Article 17 - Repeals

1. Regulations (EC) No 1921/2006, (EC) No 762/2008, (EC) No 216/2009, (EC) No 217/2009, and (EC) No 218/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council shall be repealed with effect from 1 January [of the year following 18 months after adoption] without prejudice to the obligations set out in those legal acts on the transmission of data and metadata, including quality reports, for reference periods that fall, in whole or in part, before that date.

2. References to the repealed acts shall be construed as references to this Regulation.

Article 18 - Entry into force

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January [of the year following 18 months after adoption]

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.