European Commission extends Slovenia ‘volantina’ trawler derogation to 2029
Slovenian trawlers keep near-shore access only under vessel and plan controls
Change
The European Commission extended the Slovenian ‘volantina’ trawler derogation from 28 March 2026 until 27 March 2029, allowing qualifying vessels to fish between 1.5 and 3 nautical miles from the coast irrespective of sea depth.
Why it matters
The regulation keeps a narrow exemption from Mediterranean minimum-distance and minimum-depth fishing limits in Slovenia’s territorial waters. Access is limited to vessels listed in Slovenia’s management plan, with more than five years’ track record, no increase in fishing effort, a fishing authorisation, and operation under the management plan. Slovenia must submit a monitoring-plan report to the Commission within one year of the Regulation entering into force.
Implications
- — Slovenian ‘volantina’ trawler operators fishing between 1.5 and 3 nautical miles from the coast must meet the registration, track-record, authorisation and management-plan conditions — vessels outside those conditions cannot rely on the derogation.
- — Slovenia’s fisheries authority must maintain management-plan controls and submit the monitoring report to the Commission within one year of entry into force — the derogation depends on continued implementation evidence.
- — Fisheries inspection teams monitoring Slovenia’s territorial waters must apply the exemption only to qualifying ‘volantina’ vessels — the general minimum-distance and depth limits continue to apply outside the specified scope.
Who is affected
- — Slovenian ‘volantina’ trawler operators
- — Slovenia’s fisheries authority
- — Fisheries inspection teams monitoring Slovenia’s territorial waters
What to watch
- — 28 March 2026: derogation applies from this date.
- — 12 May 2027: Slovenia’s monitoring-plan report is due to the Commission.
- — 27 March 2029: derogation expires unless extended again.