In a report adopted on Thursday by the Committee on Fisheries, by 21 votes in favour and 1 against, with 2 abstentions, MEPs state that socio-economic factors should have the same weight as environmental sustainability criteria in the implementation of the common fisheries policy (CFP). They therefore appeal to EU countries to use objective environmental, social and economic criteria when allocating fisheries opportunities, also taking into account differences in fleet make-up, including small-scale.
Import controls and enforcement mechanisms
Affirming the importance of a greater harmonisation in the application of customs rules, including on sanctions and customs controls, MEPs call on EU capitals to reinforce import controls to ensure that all fishery and aquaculture products placed on the European market are legal. They also want the Commission to report on the state of play and effectiveness of the CATCH IT implementation system, designed to tackle illegal fishing, with particular attention to its impact in outermost regions. This system should also be promoted in non-EU countries, to encourage them to adopt similar control systems.
In addition, MEPs ask the Commission, together with the European Fisheries Control Agency, to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) products as well as those resulting from forced labour, from entering the EU market. MEPs support the zero-tolerance approach to IUU fishing and to open dialogue with third countries, using the IUU carding system and the leverage of the EU market.
Equal conditions for non-EU countries
A level playing field for EU fishing and aquaculture would easier to achieve if the Commission were to address the loop holes in sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs) and EU trade agreements, say MEPs. The report also refers to the reciprocity of standards, including mirror measures in trade agreements. Given the importance of the arrangements with third countries in promoting common fisheries policy principles, MEPs defend strengthened traceability systems implemented in a targeted, risk-based and proportionate manner.
Aquaculture: harmonised rules for granting licences, and new production sites
Noting that the EU aquaculture sector has the potential to grow, MEPs highlight the need to improve access to water usage rights and call on EU countries to restructure the process for granting production licences and to harmonise rules and administrative procedures for site installation.
A safe working environment and improved training
As fisheries are among the highest risk professional sectors, the MEPs stress the importance of ensuring labour rights, decent working conditions, fair wages, and a safe working environment, including on fishing vessels. The also highlight the need to tackle social dumping. The goal should be to attract younger generations to fisheries and aquaculture, to ensure equality and generational renewal. In addition, training and certification of fishing vessels staff should be improved, along with training on aquaculture and the blue economy.
Simplified access to EU fund in the new long-term budget
The MEPs point to the need to simplify the administrative procedures for accessing EU funds in the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034 and to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that hinder effective use of those funds, particularly by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. In the report, the MEPs renew their call to the Commission and EU countries to make funding for fisheries more easily accessible and clearly ring-fenced.
Background
Fisheries and aquaculture are an important part of the food supply. The EU is the world’s second-largest market for fisheries and aquaculture products, and in this context, the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors are crucial to guarantee low-carbon and sustainable aquatic food. Nonetheless, the EU imports 70 % of the seafood it consumes.
Consumer trends in 2024 indicated a decrease in overall consumption, with price emerging as the most significant factor (55%) influencing purchasing decisions for aquatic food, surpassing product appearance at 52%. Aquaculture products represent 10% of total consumption.