EUROPEAN COMMISSION Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

 

06 February 2025   Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Newsletter

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In this issue Foreword   News   OCEAN by Euronews   Stories of the month   Map of the month   Events   Have your say   Funding opportunities

Foreword

Dear readers, As we kick off the new year, with new initiatives, and a new college, all colleagues in the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries had the pleasure and opportunity to exchange directly with Commissioner Kadis when he visited our offices.  I had the pleasure to attend the Arctic Frontiers in Tromsø, Norway. Days filled with inspiring and fruitful discussions. I truly believe that the EU is a frontrunner when it comes to promoting sustainable multi-use of maritime space and when it comes to protecting our land and water, eyeing the 30x30 target to designate 30% of Earth’s land and ocean as protected areas by 2030.   This month, even more than usual, we seek your expertise for two strategic deliverables. The public consultation on the common fisheries policy is open until 21 April, as well as the call for evidence to help shape the European Ocean Pact until 17 February. Please have a look and let us know your thoughts and ideas. In addition, I look forward to lots of ideas and exchanges during the upcoming European Ocean Days in March.     Don't miss our latest episode of the OCEAN TV series which presents two groundbreaking European projects that are offering a cutting-edge technological solution to make gears smarter and more selective (DOLPHINFREE and Marine Beacon).  Warm regards,  Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General  Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries @vitcheva_eu

News

Commission opens public consultation on the common fisheries policy regulation The European Commission has opened a public consultation to gather evidence, insights, concerns, ideas, and feedback on the effectiveness of the common fisheries policy (CFP) regulation from a range of stakeholders, including individuals, the fisheries and maritime sectors, scientists,   more     Shaping the European Oceans Pact: Commission launches a call for evidence The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to shape the European Oceans Pact, a political initiative that aims to promote sustainable ocean management and ensure the health, resilience, and productivity of the oceans and thus the prosperity of the EU’s coastal communities.   more     Member States introduce more measures to protect coastal and marine environments The rules are essential to ensure that water-based ecosystems are defended against the negative impacts of human activity.   more     Meet the 10 new coordinators supporting the Energy Transition Partnership for EU fisheries and aquaculture The Energy Transition Partnership for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture is pleased to announce the appointment of 10 support group coordinators to help drive progress towards a more sustainable and low-carbon fishing and aquaculture sector.    more     European Maritime Transport Environmental Report 2025 highlights progress made in sustainable maritime transport but challenges still persist The second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental Report has been released, providing a comprehensive overview of the environmental impact of Europe's maritime sector within the EU, as well as an assessment of practices to make it more sustainable.   more     Marine litter on the EU coastline down by almost one-third The newly-published EU Coastline Macro Litter Trend report found that the amount of marine macro litter (items bigger than 2.5 cm) in the EU coastline has dropped by 29 % between the baseline period (2015-2016) and the assessment period (2020-2021).   more     EU publishes annual statistics of catches and days at sea for the first time For the first time, the EU publishes statistics of total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing days at sea or fishing effort. TACs and fishing days are the two main management measures the EU uses under the common fisheries policy to achieve sustainable fisheries.   more     An EU Compass to regain competitiveness and secure sustainable prosperity The EU Competitiveness Compass is out! Key highlights for our sectors: Ports as hubs for clean energy & efficiency, the Ocean Pact to boost blue innovation & fishing, Circular Economy Act for better recycling & materials.   more

OCEAN by Euronews

Euronews OCEAN Season 7, Episode 1 – Safety nets: Can smarter fishing gear protect marine life and keep fishers afloat?   In the Bay of Biscay, thousands of dolphins die every year, trapped in fishing nets. The problem is so severe that French authorities have to close fisheries for an entire month for the second winter in a row.   more

Stories of the month

Dealing with the invasive round goby species in the Baltic Sea region: if you can’t beat them, eat them Discover how an invasive species of fish can become delicious food in the Baltic Sea region.   more     A sound solution to prevent accidental dolphin catches in the Mediterranean Dolphins are highly intelligent and playful creatures but can also be troublemakers when netted fish is in their reach. Fishers in Terracina, Italy, have frequent run-ins with dolphins which interfere with their catch, resulting in accidental captures, harm to the dolphins, and damaged nets.   more     Agriloops: Sustainable shrimp and vegetables thanks to BlueInvest Shrimps are in great demand in kitchens worldwide, but their production often contributes to the destruction of delicate ecosystems such as mangrove forests. With the help of BlueInvest, the French start-up Agriloops has risen to the challenge by proposing pioneering innovative and sustainable solutions that redefine shrimp production and vegetable farming thanks to cutting-edge saltwater aquaponics technology.   more     DecarbonyT - Decarbonising the fishing fleet in the Mediterranean and Black Sea The EU fisheries sector is still highly dependent on fossil fuels. To reach carbon neutrality in the EU by 2050, it is important to find solutions for fishing fleets, to reduce such dependency and move to renewable and low-carbon energy sources as quickly as possible.   more

Map of the month

Fisheries Local Action Groups (LAGs) This month's map shows Fisheries Local Action Groups (LAGs) across Europe, backed by the European Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). EMFAF focuses on community-led local development by supporting local partnerships involving fisheries representatives and stakeholders in the blue economy. Over 300 LAGs in Europe receive EMFAF support.   more

Events

European Ocean Days 2025 date 03/03/2025 - 07/03/2025   more   European Maritime Day 2025 date 21/05/2025 - 23/05/2025   more

Have your say

Common fisheries policy – evaluation Deadline 21/04/2025   more   The European Oceans Pact Deadline 17/02/2025   more

Funding opportunities

Maritime regional cooperation fostering Smart Specialisation and Innovation in the Sustainable Blue Economy (Topic 1) Deadline 18/02/2025   more   Demonstrating feasibility and environmental benefits of regenerative ocean farming and boosting algae innovation (Topic 2) Deadline 18/02/2025   more   Improving scientific knowledge to strengthen the science-basis of management decisions under the CFP Deadline 20/02/2025   more   Development of a Digital Platform for Ocean Observation Deadline 03/03/2025   more

This newsletter is published by the European Commission's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Visit our website: Oceans and Fisheries