Sustainable Fisheries Archives

Cypriot Presidency takes helm of EU Council at crucial moment for EU ocean policy

Oceana urges the incoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council to secure decades of progress on rebuilding fisheries and to pursue ocean health as a strategic pillar for EU security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods Brussels.- As Cyprus begins its presidency of the Council of the EU, Oceana calls on the Mediterranean island nation to steer the Union towards an unequivocal strategic direction: a restored ocean that strengthens Europe’s security by providing food, employment, and resilience against the climate crisis. The … Read more

EU ministers stick to status quo in the Western Mediterranean and fail to end overfishing

EU ministers have reached a political agreement on fishing opportunities for 2026 which provides apparent stability to the Western Mediterranean fishing fleet, but fails to fully address the underlying reason for the economic woes of the sector: fish populations that remain under significant pressure after decades of overfishing. In the Western Mediterranean, 55% of the … Read more

Progress in the Mediterranean must be strengthened, not reversed

(Excerpt of the original article in Spanish, written by Javier López 20minutos). In the coming days, the EU Fisheries Ministers will decide on fishing opportunities for 2026 in the Mediterranean. This is not a minor discussion, as the Mediterranean sea is the most overexploited sea on the planet, where many stocks continue to experience fishing mortality levels far above what is sustainable. In … Read more

Most western Mediterranean trawlers are barely profitable due to overfishing, new report reveals

Oceana calls on France, Spain and Italy to reduce overcapacity, rebuild fish populations, and redirect funding towards a more selective fleet Brussels – A report published today reveals that too many fishing boats are chasing already overfished populations in the western Mediterranean, leaving many kinds of bottom trawlers unprofitable or only marginally viable, despite continued … Read more

The economic impact of the Western Mediterranean multiannual plan

The Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan (West Med MAP), adopted in 2019, was designed to ensure the sustainable exploitation of demersal fish stocks in the western Mediterranean Sea by progressively achieving fishing mortality levels consistent with maximum sustainable yield (MSY) by 2025. Encompassing the Mediterranean waters of France, Italy, and Spain, the plan addresses six key … Read more

Fisheries Ministers Risk Breaking EU Law, Jeopardising Baltic Sea Recovery

EU Council decision on 2026 fishing limits fails to implement legally required safeguards, jeopardising the fragile marine ecosystem Luxembourg – 28th of October 2026 – Environmental organisations across Europe (Baltic Salmon Fund, Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Coalition Clean Baltic, Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, FishSec, Oceana, Östersjölaxälvar i samverkan, Pasaules dabas fonds, Seas At … Read more

Don’t Sink the Common Fisheries Policy- Fulfil its potential

As the European Commission prepares its evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), environmental NGOs across Europe and beyond urge EU and national policymakers to help build a sustainable and resilient fishing sector by upholding regulatory stability and prioritising the effective implementation of existing law. Efforts should focus on developing and integrating impactful solutions within … Read more

How poor control and enforcement is undermining the EU discards ban

The EU’s ban on discards was meant to end one of the most wasteful practices in fishing: throwing unwanted catch back into the sea. Yet, years after it was introduced under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), countries are failing to enforce it. Discarding happens when fishers return part of their catch to the ocean, often … Read more

86% of French citizens support more quotas for small-scale fishers, poll reveals

Expanding France’s new pilot scheme for quota allocation would better align with its obligations under EU law A vast majority of French citizens (86%) supports more quotas going to small-scale fishers and those using environmentally-friendly practices – an approach that would be in accordance with the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. According to a new poll … Read more

BRIEFING SERIES: Recommendations to the EU and the UK on the setting of fishing opportunities

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