#TECM2610263AFrance updates rules for allocating fishing quota history
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This order updates how France reviews requests for fishing “antecedents,” the historical catch rights used to allocate future fishing quotas. It sets eligibility conditions, including limits tied to overfished stocks, quota consumption, vessel fishing plans, serious infringement points, and whether the operator has already received national reserve allocations. The practical impact is mainly on fishing companies and vessel owners seeking quota history from the national reserve, especially young fishers under 40 starting their first business. Applicants will need to document their professional background, vessel, fishing plan, requested stocks, authorizations, and company structure, while authorities will rank requests using a points-based system.
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Key Changes
- Sets eligibility conditions for fishing quota history requests from the national reserve.
- Creates a points-based ranking system that gives priority to young fishers under 40 and first-time entrants.
- Allows a limited 2026 top-up for operators that received less than the minimum allocation in 2025, if they meet the criteria and apply.
Obligations
What this law requires
Fishing operators requesting allocation of fishing antecedents must ensure the vessel fishing plan does not concern a fleet segment identified as being in imbalance under the French capacity report.
Fishing operators requesting fishing antecedents must not request stocks that are overexploited at the time of the application, based on scientific advice and national consumption of the relevant French quotas exceeding 90% of the final quota in year n-1.
Fishing operators requesting fishing antecedents must have no more than 3 points on the points-based fishing permit for a serious first-category infringement under Article R. 946-5 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code.
Fishing operators may not obtain fishing antecedents from the national reserve for the same objective and the same vessel if they have already received such an allocation, except in 2026 where they may request a supplement if their 2025 allocation was below the floor value and they satisfy the allocation criteria.
Applicants relying on the young fisher installation criterion must be under 40 years old, must be either a natural person or hold at least 51% of the shares of a company, and the application must concern a first installation.