EU asks for comment on fishing technical measures through Nov. 27

The European Commission wants a public read on the rules that set how, where, and when fishing happens in EU waters. A Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries announcement dated Oct. 2, 2026, opens a consultation on implementation of the Technical Measures Regulation. Comments are due Nov. 27, 2026, through EUSurvey.

The regulation, in force since 2019, covers mesh sizes, closed areas, and gear techniques across European sea basins, with regional differences. The consultation asks how far those measures, at regional and EU level, have contributed to more sustainable fishing. The Commission is asking the fishing industry, non-governmental organisations, academic and scientific bodies, social and economic partners, and other citizens.

Results go into the Commission’s third implementation report, due in 2027 under Article 31, which requires a report to the European Parliament and the Council every three years. Earlier reports came out in 2021 and 2024. The 2027 report will also use advice from the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, gear advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and feedback from member states and advisory councils. The announcement ties the rules to the common fisheries policy and to an April 2026 evaluation of that policy, which said the ecosystem-based approach had been carried largely through technical measures, marine protected areas, and international cooperation.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: European Commission — Commission seeks views on the implementation of the Technical Measures Regulation (Oct. 2, 2026).