Key data
| Regulation | Council Decision (EU) 2026/1544 of 17 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Publication | 5 August 2026 |
| Entry into force | 17 November 2025 |
| Period of application | 2025-2032 |
| Affected parties | European and Spanish fishing companies with fleets in the South Pacific |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Official reference | OJ:L_202601544 |
European fishing companies with tuna vessels in the South Pacific have guaranteed access to Cook Islands waters for the next seven years. The EU Council formally approved on 17 November 2025 the implementation protocol of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Cook Islands for the period 2025-2032, published in the EU Official Journal on 5 August 2026 under the reference Decision (EU) 2026/1544.
For the Spanish fishing sector, which operates significant fleets in the Pacific, this agreement means continuity in access to strategic fishing grounds. But that continuity comes at a price: strict compliance with the sustainability and traceability requirements that the protocol imposes as a condition for maintaining fishing licenses.
What does this regulation establish?
The protocol sets the conditions under which EU fishing vessels—mainly tuna vessels—can fish in the sovereign waters of the Cook Islands. The central elements of the agreement are:
| Element | Content |
|---|---|
| Type of access | Operation of European fishing vessels (mainly tuna vessels) in Cook Islands waters |
| Compensation | Financial compensation from the EU to the Cook Islands Government |
| Quotas | Catch quotas established in the protocol |
| Control | Obligations to control fishing activity |
| Sustainability | Commitments to sustainable fishing as a condition of access |
| Traceability | Traceability requirements to maintain fishing licenses in the area |
| Duration | 2025 to 2032 (7 years) |
The agreement is part of the EU's external fishing policy, which combines access to third-country fishing grounds with commitments to responsible fishing. The financial compensation provided by the EU to the Cook Islands partly finances the development of the local fishing sector and surveillance of its waters.
Economic and operational impact
For Spanish fishing companies, this protocol has direct consequences in three areas:
- Operational continuity: Access to South Pacific fishing grounds is guaranteed until 2032, allowing companies to plan fishing campaigns and amortize fleet investments over a seven-year horizon.
- Compliance costs: Companies must bear the costs associated with compliance with the sustainability and traceability requirements imposed by the protocol. This includes tracking systems, catch documentation, and possible audits.
- Risk of license loss: Non-compliance with the technical and financial access conditions, catch quotas, or control obligations may result in the withdrawal of the fishing license in the area, with the consequent impact on the company's operations and income.
The protocol establishes technical and financial access conditions that companies must know and comply with before each fishing campaign. The catch quotas set in the agreement determine the maximum fishing volume allowed, which directly affects production planning and supply contracts.
Who does it affect?
- Spanish shipowners and fishing companies with tuna vessels operating or planning to operate in the South Pacific.
- Fishing companies from other EU Member States with fleets in Cook Islands waters.
- Processing and canning industries that depend on the supply of tuna caught in the South Pacific.
- Legal and compliance advisors who manage fishing licenses and sustainability documentation for fishing fleets.
- Fishing industry associations that represent shipowners with activity in the Pacific.
Practical example
A Spanish shipping company with two tuna vessels that regularly fish in the South Pacific and that until now operated under the previous protocol must, as of the entry into force of this agreement (17 November 2025), renew its fishing licenses under the new technical and financial conditions established in the 2025-2032 protocol.
To maintain access to Cook Islands fishing grounds, the company must demonstrate compliance with the sustainability and traceability requirements: catch tracking systems, updated documentation, and respect for assigned catch quotas. If any of its vessels does not meet these requirements when applying for a license, it will not be able to operate in those waters, which would force the company to redirect the fleet to other areas or temporarily suspend that vessel's activity.
What should companies do now?
- Review the 2025-2032 protocol and compare it with the previous one to identify changes in the technical and financial access conditions that affect your operations.
- Verify the status of current fishing licenses in Cook Islands waters and check whether they need to be renewed or adapted to the new protocol conditions.
- Audit the traceability and sustainability systems of the fleet to ensure they comply with the requirements imposed by the new agreement before the next fishing campaign.
- Monitor the catch quotas assigned under the new protocol and integrate them into production planning and supply contracts for the 2025-2032 period.
- Consult with a legal advisor specialized in international fishing regulations to ensure compliance with all control obligations established in the protocol.
Frequently asked questions
When did the new Cook Islands fishing protocol come into force?
The protocol came into force on 17 November 2025, the date of the EU Council Decision. Its publication in the EU Official Journal took place on 5 August 2026, under the reference Decision (EU) 2026/1544.
Until when does the EU-Cook Islands fishing agreement cover?
The implementation protocol covers the period 2025-2032, that is, seven years of guaranteed access for European fishing vessels to Cook Islands waters, subject to compliance with the technical, financial and sustainability conditions established.
What type of vessels can operate in Cook Islands waters under this agreement?
The agreement is mainly aimed at European tuna vessels. The technical and financial access conditions, as well as catch quotas and control obligations, apply to these vessels to operate in the sovereign waters of the Cook Islands.
What requirements must fishing companies meet to maintain their licenses?
Companies must comply with the sustainability and traceability requirements imposed by the protocol, respect the established catch quotas, and meet the control obligations for fishing activity. Non-compliance with any of these conditions may result in the loss of the fishing license in the area.
What does the financial compensation that the EU pays to the Cook Islands entail?
The EU pays financial compensation to the Cook Islands Government in return for access by European vessels to its waters. This payment is part of the financial conditions of the protocol and is independent of any fees or charges that shipowners may pay directly for their individual licenses.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601544