The EU’s Landing Obligation (LO) is intended to reduce waste, encourage selective fishing and improve the catch information used to manage populations. For catches within the LO scope, fishers must retain, record and land catches, including bycatch, and count them against quota where applicable, subject to defined exemptions. More than a decade after the obligation was phased in, and seven years after it became fully applicable, these objectives have not been achieved.

This briefing from EJF and Oceana provides a roadmap for ensuring the EU Landing Obligation’s full implementation.