Synthesis of the landing obligation measures and discard rates

Article 15 of the reformed European Union (EU) Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) came into force on 1 January 2015. It introduced a phased implementation of a discard ban: a prohibition on discarding catch, generally described as the Landing Obligation (LO). The introduction of the LO was essentially a change from a 'landing' to a 'catch quota' system. In January 2019, the phased implementation was completed and the LO was fully implemented, covering all quota stocks in EU waters and those with Minimum Sizes in the Mediterranean. However, the transition towards a fully implemented catch quota regime has proved very challenging for some fisheries. The ultimate objective of the landing obligation is to reduce the wasteful practice of discarding, to create incentive to fish more selectively and avoid unwanted catches.