ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OF FISHING ENTERPRISES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Press Releases

Europêche spotlights fisheries Blue Tech as key to Oceans Pact

Yesterday, EPP MEP Isabelle Le Callennec, with Europêche’s collaboration, successfully hosted Competitive Blue Tech for Sustainable High Seas Fisheries at the European Parliament. Mr. Polyvios Eliofotou, member of the cabinet of Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, also introduced the event. Le Callennec was positive that thanks to this event, fisheries and their stakeholders were able to demonstrate their involvement in blue technological and industrial innovation at a critical moment: the EU Clean Industrial Deal is still to be shaped and the European Oceans Pact will be key in the discussions in Nice, at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (9-13 June 2025).

Europêche welcomes Commissioner Kadis commitment to supporting the EU fishing sector

Europêche, the leading representative body for the fishing industry in Europe, held a first meeting yesterday with Commissioner Kadis to address the future of the EU fisheries sector under the legislative term 2024-2029. The dialogue focused on securing workable and balanced EU policies that support the sector, ensure access to traditional fishing grounds, strengthen EU seafood sovereignty, and promote fair market competition—all while fostering socio-economic growth for coastal communities.

EU tuna purse seine fleet reaffirms the importance of science-based decisions in RFMOs

The Europêche Tuna Group organised on January 21st in Bermeo its third meeting between industry and science stakeholders at European Level entitled: “Stock assessments in tuna RFMOs”. Scientists from the French Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), the Instituto Español de Oceanografia (IEO) and AZTI, a research institution in Spain and meeting host, brainstormed about how better bridge science with fishers’ reality and align fisheries management with scientific evaluation, including consideration of socio-economic indicators in the decision-making process. Ensuring that management measures are well aligned with scientific evaluations is also a common concern of both scientists and fishers.

News

iFish, We Fish

The commercial fisheries of the EU stretch for thousands of square miles, from the inhospitable seas of the Arctic North, to the warmer and more favourable climes of the Southern Mediterranean. These communal waters harbour a plethora of commercial species of fish and shellfish, the landings of which form an integral part of the economies of 23 member countries, accounting for a colossal 4.9 million tonne catch, from a fleet of 87,500 vessels, a statistic that indicates a world ranking of 5th largest in terms of total output.

European Projects

Home by the Sea -Can fisheries and wind farms co-exist?

Sustainable fishing activities require space as does the development and operation of offshore wind farms. In order to safeguard the future of our seas and oceans, the EU adopted back in 2014 a Directive for maritime and coastal spatial planning urging Member States to ensure that human activities at sea take place in an efficient, safe and sustainable way and reduce users’ conflicts. At the same time, to tackle climate change, EU governments are determined to answer to the EU’s Paris Agreement nationally determined contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990. For this purpose, some countries are pushing to increase offshore wind power 40-fold by 2030 in Europe.

Needless to say, the European wind industry has an ambitious plan, hereby claiming a vast amount of space. Therefore, the question 'Can fisheries and wind farms co-exist?’ is a relevant but complex question which will become more pressing in the near future.

Home by the Sea by Hiske Ridder. www.conpuls.nl

On behalf of and many thanks to: Job Schot, Dirk Kraak and Cor Vonk,  www.vissersvoorvrijezee.nl. Julien Theore, Silvain Gallaisl and Olivier Becquet, https://pecheursartisans.com. Bertrand Wendling, https://sathoan.fr. Pim Visser, VisNed.nl. Rosalie Tukker, http://europeche.chil.me.