Technical measures include specifications for fishing gears and mesh sizes, closed areas and seasons, and measures to minimize the impact of fishing on the marine ecosystem and environment.

As required by the regulation, the Commission will prepare a report to assess the extent to which technical measures, both at regional and Union level, are contributing to achieving the objectives and reaching the targets set out in the regulation.

The report will be prepared with information provided by the Member States, relevant advisory councils and scientific bodies (STECF, ICES). Given the overall importance of the regulation for all stakeholders, the European Commission has also launched an online stakeholder consultation on technical measures regulation (fisheries) on 10 December 2020.

All stakeholders, including the fishing industry, non-governmental organizations, academic, scientific, social and economic partners and interested citizens are invited to take part and express their views on the implementation of the technical measures regulation by 15 February 2021.