Significant progress in achieving sustainable fisheries in the EU
ifish.info Information portal for the European fishing industry
EU Parliament vote on multi-annual plan for demersal fish stocks in the North Sea poses concerns to industry
Commissioner Vella committed to supporting EU long distance fishing fleet
Lack of implementation of EU funds hampers efforts to achieve CFP objectives
Success story for European fisheries and policies
Press Releases
Commission marginalises fisheries in new 2028–2034 EU budget plan
Today, the European Commission has unveiled its proposal for the EU budget covering the period 2028 to 2034. As part of this plan, the Commission aims to consolidate various funding instruments under national and regional partnerships to support investment and reform. One of the key pillars— the European Economic, Territorial, Social, Rural and Maritime Sustainable Prosperity and Security Fund—would merge the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) with several other programmes, including those related to agriculture, cohesion and regional development. According to Europêche, such a decision disregards the strategic importance of fisheries, as one of the few truly common EU policies, shockingly omitted even from the new fund’s title. This clearly sends a disheartening signal to the European fishing sector and the coastal communities that depend on it.
New digital hub becomes focal point for EU Social Dialogue in fisheries
The EU Social Partners in the fisheries sector have launched a new digital hub, a one-stop platform to boost visibility, share resources, and drive forward joint action in the sector. The platform brings together the social partners’ collaborative work on safety, working conditions, fair recruitment, training and social sustainability, offering a fresh, accessible way to engage with ongoing developments in EU-level social fisheries policy and practice.
Europeche calls on the European Commission to address escalating marine spatial squeeze
Europeche, the voice of Europe’s fishing industry, welcomes the Implementation Dialogue on the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive, chaired by European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis. This important Dialogue forms part of the European Commission’s commitment to engage stakeholders and align maritime policies with on-the-ground realities ahead of the MSP implementation report due in March 2026. Europeche warned about the loss of traditional fishing grounds to an array of competing spatial pressures, of which offshore wind and marine protected areas top the list.
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
The Catching the Potential Project was officially kicked off on the 28th of May with the project consortium from seven EU Member States. In the course of the next three years, we will work together on the project's goal to develop an European, perhaps international, standard in the field of sustainability training for fishers.
Catching the potential’s ultimate goal is to develop a European standard for sustainable fisheries training. Learn more about the steps of the project.
The project as a whole, consists in partially implementing the work programme of the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Sea Fishing in order to significantly make progress in various key areas of interest for Social Partners. The main issues covered by the project are mainly dealing with how to improve health, working conditions and safety at sea of our fishermen.
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.