The reports from the 2025 RCGs Annual Meetings are now available online. They offer a detailed insight of the latest work carried out across the Regional Coordination Groups and their intersessional subgroups.
RCG NANSEA & RCG Baltic
- The RCG NANSEA & RCG Baltic met back-to-back in Lysekil (Sweden) in June 2025 (virtual day on 3 June, physical meeting 10–13 June). Topics included aligning data collection with end-user needs, RDBES implementation, assessing the impact of new legislation, and preparing the 2028–2030 Regional Work Plans. Discussions also covered data confidentiality, optimisation tools, métier codes, small-scale fisheries, and governance. Part II of the report compiles decisions and recommendations, while Part III collects the detailed reports from all ISSGs (2024-2025).
RCG LP
- The RCG Large Pelagics met in Larnaca (Cyprus) from 2–4 June 2025. The key topics were the update of the Regional Work Plan, preparation for the 2028–2030 cycle, testing RDBES for ICCAT reporting, and restructuring tropical tuna activities to improve observer coordination and bycatch data. Progress was also reported on electronic monitoring, bluefin tuna sampling initiatives, and bait boat and pole-and-line fisheries, together with Commission updates on the Control Regulation.
- The ISSG Tropical Tuna met in Tenerife (Spain) 16-17 June 2025, focusing on observer coverage, tagging projects, electronic monitoring development and harmonisation of quality indicators. A shared FAD materials image library was proposed to support observers, and a new bycatch estimation model was presented Participants highlighted the use of harmonised quality indicators and a closer collaboration with RFMOs.
RCG LDF
- The RCG Long Distance Fisheries met in Tallinn (Estonia) from 8–11 July 2025, with hybrid sessions to facilitate the participation of RFMOs and several DG MARE units. The group reviewed 2024 data in CECAF, SPRFMO and NAFO, and recommended improvements to coding and reporting. Other topics included data challenges in French outermost regions, revision of the Rules of Procedure, alignment of threshold rules for the 2028–2030 RWP, and clarifications on sampling responsibilities. Coordination in CECAF and NPFC was suspended due to observer issues and the lack of fisheries activity in the area.
RCG ECON
- The RCG ECON met in Vigo (Spain) from 12–15 May 2025. Some of the topics discussed included feedback from STECF EWGs on economic and social data calls, development of the RDBFIS II module for socio-economic data in Mediterranean and Black Sea countries, methodological issues on capital valuation, energy transition of fisheries, vessel activity (DaS / VUR) and data collection of social variables.
- The ISSG Methodological Issues met in Kavala (Greece) in April 2025. The group addressed the valuation of capital (tangible and intangible) using national case studies, also evaluated methods to monitor the energy transition in fisheries and aquaculture, distinguishing between low-active and active vessels via days-at-sea and utilization rates, feedback from ISSG chairs on the future Regional Work Plans, and the collection of social data. The meeting produced recommendations to regularly update assumptions in capital valuation, standardize energy/fuel data collection, refine vessel activity indicators, integrate social indicators across MS, and tailor methodological guidance toward the 2028–2030 cycle.
- The Workshop on harmonising AER and FDI (2023) focused on aligning definitions, methodologies and reporting frameworks of Annual Economic Reports (AER) and Fishery Dependent Information (FDI). Some of the topics discussed include differences and overlaps in variable definitions, the need to ensure consistency across reports, improvement of data comparability among countries, methodological guidance to reduce reporting burdens, and approaches to integrate economic and biological information.