El nuevo sistema de certificación digital de capturas de la UE, CATCH, se volvió obligatorio el 10 de enero de 2026, reemplazando los certificados de captura en papel. Diseñado para combatir la pesca INDNR, CATCH introduce la presentación y verificación digital de la documentación de captura para las importaciones de la UE. Los grupos de la industria han rechazado los plazos de implementación. Los procesos de documentación de Holt Seafood están diseñados para apoyar los requisitos de los controles de importación en evolución de la UE.
The European Union’s new digital fisheries control system, CATCH, officially became compulsory for EU operators and authorities for imports of fishery products on 10 January 2026, replacing the paper-based catch certificate process that had been the standard for import documentation since 2010. The system is designed to be the EU’s definitive tool against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a problem estimated to account for 13 to 31 percent of global fish production.
Nota: Bajo la regulación CATCH, ciertos certificados en papel anteriores al 10 de enero de 2026 pueden continuar siendo aceptados durante un período de transición hasta el 10 de enero de 2028, dependiendo de circunstancias específicas y fechas de emisión.
Under the previous paper-based system, catch certificates were vulnerable to fraud. The same document could be used to clear multiple shipments at different EU entry points, with no centralised database to cross-check between member states. The CATCH system introduces digital, real-time submission and verification of catch documentation for import certificates, closing these gaps and bringing EU standards in line with the digital traceability expectations of major global markets.
European seafood industry groups, including Europeche and Seafood Europe, have urged the Commission to revise parts of the CATCH framework. They argue that certain obligations, including recording zero-kilogram catches and strict tolerance margins, are unworkable in practice and risk disrupting legal supply chains. Industry bodies are calling for a phased implementation approach, with full compliance pushed to January 2027.
Holt Seafood’s documentation and quality control processes are designed to support the documentation and traceability information required by evolving EU import controls. The company works exclusively with partner facilities that maintain strict quality controls and can provide full provenance documentation from catch to delivery.
Holt Seafood’s Barcelona hub provides direct support for European customers navigating documentation requirements, helping ensure compliance at every stage of the import process.
Action for EU buyers: Ensure your supplier can provide digital catch documentation and has systems in place to support CATCH requirements. Holt Seafood’s team can guide you through the process.
Nuestro enfoque empresarial es ofrecer a nuestros clientes una cadena de suministro clara y fiable, permitiéndoles centrarse en la venta de su producto. Hemos establecido sólidas alianzas con fábricas en China, Tailandia, Indonesia, África y Sudamérica, lo que nos permite centrarnos en el desarrollo de productos y en servicios de valor añadido para nuestros clientes.
Holt Seafood Company es un negocio familiar multigeneracional establecido en 1989 por Beverley y Neil Holt. Con sede en Sídney, Australia, con operaciones europeas ahora basadas en Barcelona, España, seguimos siendo orgullosamente independientes y gestionados por la familia a lo largo de generaciones.
Más de 35 años en la industria nos han enseñado lo que los compradores realmente necesitan: consistency, reliability, and a supplier who doesn't disappear when things get difficult. We maintain direct relationships with our factories, manage quality at the source, and ensure full traceability from catch to delivery.