Sustainable catch limits in 2018 for two-thirds of fish

Agriculture ministers agreed to increase the number of fish subject to maximum sustainable yield (MSY) by nine to 54, bringing the EU closer to its 2020 goal of 100% sustainable fishing. However, environmentalists saw the deal as a recipe for continued overfishing, and criticised the EU Council for ignoring the advice of scientists.

The EU Council agreement, which included an emergency three-month ban on eel fishing during the migratory season next autumn, was agreed by 27 member states, with one country abstaining, Estonian environment minister Siim Kiisler announced after "difficult" all-night talks.