Each year, the EU sets TACs (Total Allowable Catches), i.e. the maximum allowable catch for the most important fish stocks. The TACs are then shared out among the Member States according to an established system with national quotas. The system means that each Member State receives a set percentage of the fishing opportunities. The shares have primarily been set based on each Member State's past catch record.

The decision on the total allowable catches is taken by the Council of Ministers (which in this case consists of EU fisheries ministers) but is preceded by a long process involving many countries and organisations.

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which is responsible for providing biological advice on managing fish stocks, submits initial recommendations to the EU Commission on how much fish is to be caught.

The Commission then consults its own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and subsequently presents a proposal for TACs and quotas for the coming year.

After negotiations with EU Member States in working groups and Coreper, the Council of Ministers takes the final decision by qualified majority. Several of the TACs and quotas are also negotiated with third countries and in international organisations.

The positive aspect of this year’s negotiations is that the cod situation in the Baltic Sea has improved, which has led the Commission to propose a 15 per cent increase in the quota. It is also important to reduce fish discards, that is, throwing fish overboard because they are too small or because the catch is too big.

One of the priorities of the Swedish Presidency is long-term sustainable fishing and an important part of this involves improving fishing gear selectivity to more effectively avoid catches of immature fish.