Sustainable Fisheries Archives

Enforcing EU fisheries rules will strengthen competitiveness, resilience and food security, says Oceana

Since the 2013 reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, EU fisheries have made progress towards sustainability, but gaps in implementation hinder success Brussels – The European Commission has published today its evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and of the Common Market Organisation (CMO) for seafood products, assessing the performance of the EU´s fisheries framework since its 2013 … Read more

Informal meeting of Directors-General and Attachés for fisheries

Dear Director Argyrou, As you convene over the next three days in Cyprus with your counterparts from across the EU Member States to discuss and shape the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), we, the undersigned leading environmental organisations across Europe, wish to express our deep concerns regarding the recent call by some Member States, under the … Read more

Joint letter to keep the EU on track to meet its sustainable fisheries management objectives

Dear President Von der Leyen, On behalf of Europe’s leading environmental organisations BirdLife, BLOOM, ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, Pew, Seas At Risk, The Nature Conservancy and WWF, we are writing to express our serious concern about the growing push to use the EU’s simplification agenda to reopen core fisheries legislation through a so-called “Fisheries … Read more

Mediterranean Fishing Vessels Required to Obtain Permanent Identification Numbers to Increase Transparency

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean agreed to new transparency measures for all fishing vessels measuring 20 meters (~65 feet) or more in length, following campaigning by Oceana and our allies. Specifically, vessels will be required to have International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers. An IMO number is a permanent and unique identifier that stays with a vessel throughout its lifespan, even if its name, … Read more

Tampering with EU Fisheries Policy would ‘open Pandora’s Box’, NGOs warn

Brussels, 30 March 2026.- Today, Fisheries Ministers from EU Member States meet with the European Commission for the AGRIFISH Council. On this occasion, Oceana, BLOOM, ClientEarth, Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB), Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Seas At Risk and WWF EU handed a symbolic ”Pandora’s Box” to the EU Commissioner Costas Kadis, sending a clear message … Read more

Oceana sets out roadmap for a resilient and competitive seafood sector by 2040

The contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the Vision 2040 provides strategic input to develop the EU Ocean Pact Brussels – Oceana has submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s consultation on the Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, highlighting key risks and proposing practical solutions to ensure the EU seafood sector is sustainable, competitive, and resilient by 2040. This strategy is part of the European Ocean Pact, … Read more

9 in 10 Cypriot fishers say Government action is insufficient to ensure sector’s survival

New survey reveals overwhelming concern over weak implementation, declining stocks and the future of the sector as Cyprus holds the EU Council Presidency A new survey reveals overwhelming concern among Cypriot fishers over weak enforcement of fisheries rules, declining fish stocks and the future viability of their profession. Seven out of ten fishers interviewed by Oceana … Read more

Mediterranean small-scale, low-impact fishers “barely breathing” as EU law designed to restore fish stocks is ignored

With the European Ocean Days approaching, small-scale fishers warn that the Mediterranean — one of the EUs most overfished seas — is reaching a breaking point, putting the future of their sector at risk. As the Commission considers reopening crucial fisheries rules, ClientEarth, Oceana, Seas At Risk, and the Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE) … Read more

What is the CFP and why is it important?

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the European Union’s framework for managing fisheries. It sets out as a shared set of rules to ensure that fishing activities across Europe are environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially fair. By regulating how, where and how much fishing takes place, the CFP aims to protect fish stocks while supporting fishing communities and ensuring a stable supply for seafood consumers. The … Read more

Environmental organisations urge the Commission to oppose rollover of Mediterranean fishing limits for 2026

Environmental organisations ClientEarth, MedReact, and Oceana are urging the Commission to legally oppose the Council Regulation published today – which rolls over last year’s fishing limits in the Western Mediterranean for 2026. The Regulation is based on the political compromise reached by fisheries ministers last December and significantly deviates from the European Commission’s proposal, which was grounded in scientific advice and designed to keep fish stock recovery on track under the multiannual plan for demersal stocks … Read more