Report | August 12, 2024
Joint NGO feedback to the European Commission on the “Sustainable fishing in the EU: State of play and orientations for 2025” consultation
On behalf of BirdLife Europe & Central Asia, Blue Marine Foundation, ClientEarth, Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Deutsche Stiftung Meeresschuts, Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V., Ecologistas en Acción, North Sea Foundation, Oceana, The Fisheries Secretariat, Sciaena and Seas At Risk, we present our response to the 2024 European Commission’s public consultation on the progress towards achieving more sustainable fisheries, the state of fish stocks and the setting of fishing opportunities.1 This policy briefing provides analysis and recommendations to ensure the adoption of sustainable fishing opportunities that prioritise long-term ocean health through rebuilding fish populations, safeguarding and boosting ecosystem resilience in the face of mounting pressures like climate change, and fostering transparent and accountable fisheries management. All references to “fishing opportunities” relate to both TAC-setting in the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea, as well as fishing effort restrictions in the Western Mediterranean.
Last year, the European Commission published its report on the functioning of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).2,3 A decade into the implementation of the current CFP, the Commission recognizes tangible progress towards more sustainable fishing, but it also states that “full and forceful implementation of the CFP is needed”. The CFP is currently being evaluated, and it is worth noting that most of the flaws in the current framework stem from poor implementation by Member States (not shortcomings in the CFP basic regulation itself, but a lack of political will to fulfil its obligations4 ), which should be tackled before considering any potential reform of this policy. Other aspects that are not sufficiently developed or absent in the current policy, such as how to better deliver on social objectives, or climate adaptation and resilience can be addressed within the existing framework or through other legal instruments without necessitating a reform of the CFP.
