Brussels, July 8, 2025 (Lusa) - The Council of the European Union (EU)  approved the fisheries agreement with Canada on Tuesday that doubles Portugal’s cod quota in a NAFO division to 495 tonnes, reopening in 2024 after 32 years.

Authorities protected the division, 2J3KL, by keeping it closed to fishing for 32 years after the collapse of cod stocks in Canadian and Newfoundland waters.

This year, the total allowable catch (TAC) more than doubled compared to 2024, and officials set it at 40,000 tonnes, corresponding to a quota for Portugal of 495 tonnes for the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.

Last year, the authorities set a TAC of 18,947 tonnes, corresponding to a quota for Portugal of 234 tonnes.

Authorities reopened the area last year, following the issuance of the relevant scientific opinion by Canada and the subsequent setting of fishing opportunities by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), with the TAC and respective quotas in force between 1 July of each year and 30 June of the following year.

The Portuguese distant water trawl fleet operates in the NAFO Regulatory Area with a limited number of vessels, targeting demersal species such as cod, Greenland halibut (palmeta) and redfish, among others.

The EU and Canada will include the cod TAC negotiated between them in the fisheries negotiations package for 1 December 2026.

IG/ADB // ADB.

Lusa