About the NEAFC Scheme

Within the NEAFC regulatory area fishing vessels must abide by both the current management measures and the NEAFC Scheme of Control and Enforcement. Vessels which fail to do so may be considered to be participating in illegal, unregulated or unreported (IUU) fishing.

NEAFC normally makes changes to these rule annually but they can happen throughout the year if there is consensus between the Contracting Parties.

Changes to the previous version of the NEAFC Scheme were made at the 2022 Annual Meeting. The objection period for these changes ended on 31 January 2023, at which time the decisions became binding on Contracting Parties. During 2023 these changes are listed with all other measures currently in force on this page Current Measures.