New measures on marine recreational fishing start to apply in 2026 based on the last reform of the Fisheries Control Regulation. 22 coastal EU countries will be required to collect catch data for certain species and fish populations caught in recreational fishing at sea. To support coastal countries in implementing new requirements, the EU has developed and made available a common digital system.

On 9 January, the EU Commission launched a digital solution called RecFishing in collaboration with EU countries to simplify and streamline data collection on recreational fishing catches across all EU marine areas.

This is the first time that marine recreational fishing data is being collected at large scale across the EU. Coastal EU countries will gradually make the mobile app available to recreational fishers for registration and catch reporting, according to their operational readiness and national timelines.

Recreational fishers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the system as it is rolled out. The mobile app to record catches will become available progressively as each EU country completes its national rollout. Recreational fishers will need to register their catches once the mobile app is available in their country.

More information can be found here.