To enforce common-fisheries-policy rules, there is a control system, designed to:

• ensure that only the allowed quantities of fish are caught
• collect the necessary data for managing fishing opportunities
• clarify the roles of EU countries and the Commission
• ensure the rules are applied to all fishers in the same way, with harmonised sanctions across the EU
• ensure that fisheries products can be traced back and checked throughout the supply chain, from net to plate.

The system is laid down in the Control Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009 which entered into force on 1 January 2010 and which thoroughly modernised the EU's approach to fisheries control. In particular, it brought the system into line with the strong measures which the EU had adopted in 2008 to combat illegal fishing.
Implementing rules have been laid down for establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy.