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, 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.

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.