About this Briefing Series This Briefing Series, supported by the 29 undersigned organisations, is designed to assist the responsible decision makers in the European Union (the European Commission, the Council of the EU and the Member States) and the United Kingdom (the UK Government and devolved administrations) in managing fishing opportunities in a way that: … Read more
Introduction: On behalf of the undersigned organisations, we welcome the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s consultation on the state of play and orientations for sustainable fishing in 2026. To underpin our answers, we have produced a joint Briefing Series outlining our key recommendations on fishing opportunities, signed by nearly 30 organisations (including environmental … Read more
Marine animals and habitats in European waters face several threats driven by a combination of human activities, including climate change, and destructive fishing practices such as bottom trawling and overfishing. These threats not only endanger marine biodiversity but also undermine the health and resilience of the ocean. Below are five threatened ocean species and habitats, … Read more
In May 2025, Oceana, with the support of the NGO Sea Shepherd, conducted undercover visits to ports, fish markets, and restaurants along the Western Mediterranean coasts of Italy and Spain to investigate the sale and consumption of undersized hake. The results of this investigation are presented here, in collaboration with consumer organisations OCU (in Spain) … Read more
Evidence points towards illicit trade Italian consumers support stronger enforcement of rules, survey reveals Once considered a staple of light Italian cuisine, hake is now in deep trouble in the Mediterranean. A new report out today by Oceana, Sea Shepherd, and consumer organisations Altroconsumo and OCU, reveals extensive sales of juvenile hake in Italian ports, … Read more
European Commission report shows overfishing in the Northeast Atlantic has dropped from 72% to 22%, proof that the CFP works when applied Brussels.- Oceana celebrates the record number of fish stocks now being fished at sustainable levels in European waters, as evidenced in the European Commission’s latest report on Sustainable fishing in the EU. In … Read more
Today, the European Commission has taken strong action against Finland, deducting over 3,000 salmon from its 2025 fishing quota. The decision follows unauthorised salmon fishing in the Baltic Sea last year, which was presented as scientific research but was a commercial operation in disguise. Environmental NGOs WWF European Policy Office, Seas At Risk, and Oceana … Read more
Rather than losing precious time on a reform, better implementation of the current CFP by EU countries would support jobs, food security, and climate resilience The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is fit for purpose, says marine NGO Oceana in its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the evaluation of the policy. The CFP … Read more
In the Western Mediterranean, overfishing remains a major issue, Oceana estimates that 60% of fish populations under the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan (West Med MAP) are subject to overfishing. France, Italy, and Spain are failing to sustainably manage valuable species such as hake, red mullet, and Norway lobster, threatening fish populations and putting the fishing … Read more
At Oceana, our expeditions are about more than just exploration, they’re about filling crucial data gaps to drive meaningful change for our oceans. From remote underwater habitats to threatened coastal regions, Oceana’s at-sea expeditions have fuelled significant campaign victories around the world. But what’s it like on an Oceana expedition? We sat down with Ricardo … Read more
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