Paving the way for low impact fisheries Archives

Oceana urges EU leaders to support low impact fishers

Cyprus concludes EU Council Presidency with high-level event on islands and coastal communities Ahead of the high-level conference on islands and coastal communities, organised by the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, Oceana urges the EU to use the upcoming Ocean Act to ensure low-impact fishers get preferential access to coastal waters over industrial fishing fleets. This would support local economies and strengthen the resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate … 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

5 Threatened ocean species, habitats and their main threats.

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

Policy Briefing: Fisheries and the European Green Deal

The increasing urgency of the climate crisis necessitates comprehensive action across all sectors, including fisheries, a critical component of both European cultural heritage and regional economies. Although the fisheries sector represents a relatively small portion of the European Union (EU)’s overall economy, its economic impact is disproportionately significant in certain coastal and rural areas, where … Read more

Policy Briefing: Enhancing transparency in fisheries

Governments play a crucial role in managing fisheries, a shared public resource, by balancing the pursuit of economic and social benefits from fishing with the responsibility to conserve marine biodiversity. Effective fisheries management is essential for supporting livelihoods, providing food security, and safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations. Achieving sustainable fisheries management requires participatory processes, … Read more

Commission Must Deliver EU Fisheries Energy Transition Roadmap Before Year End – NGOs, Artisanal Fishers & Scientists say

The European Commission must stick to its commitment to deliver a roadmap for the energy transition of the EU fisheries sector before the end of the year, said scientists, a former Member of the European Parliament, NGOs and artisanal fishers today, during a Brussels Ocean Week event Driving the energy transition and climate resilience in … Read more

Artisanal fishers and Oceana call for fairer fishing access in capital of Europe

MEP Isabella Lövin, Alexandra Cousteau and fisher representative to open photo exhibition on small-scale fisheries this evening Photo and video download here In a photographic exhibition launched today, artisanal fishers from Denmark, Ireland and Spain are joining Oceana in calling on national governments, newly-elected Members of the European Parliament, and the European Commission for a fairer … Read more

Briefing: How Spain allocates fishing opportunities to its fishers

Spain has one of the largest fishing fleets in Europe, and its fisheries sustain many communities, especially in coastal areas, by providing income, employment, and food. However, biased and opaque allocation of fishing opportunities can lead to inequality in fishing activities, conflicts over access to fish resources, economic hardship for fishers, and negative impacts on … Read more

Briefing: How France allocates fishing opportunities to its fishers

France has one of the largest fishing vessels in the European Union, and its fisheries sustain many communities, especially in coastal areas, by providing income, employment, and food. However, biased and opaque allocation of fishing opportunities can lead to inequality in fishing activities, conflicts over access to fisheries, economic hardship for fishers, and negative impacts … Read more

France and Spain sideline jobs and the environment when distributing fishing opportunities

Research by Oceana finds that the two largest EU fishing nations assign fishing opportunities based on historic catch data, thus favouring large-scale fleets over artisanal vessels France and Spain prioritise large-scale fleets over artisanal ones when allocating fishing opportunities, findings by Oceana unveiled today. Oceana is calling on EU Member States to be more transparent … Read more