Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector – Sustainability and Resilience

Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector – Sustainability and Resilience

On the 21st of February 2023, the European Commission presented a package of measures intended to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The package includes four elements: A  Communication on the Energy Transition of the EU Fisheries and Aquaculture sector; an Action Plan to protect and restore marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries; a Communication on the common fisheries policy today and tomorrow and a Report on the Common Market Organisation for fishery and aquaculture products.

The proposed measures, which will be carried out gradually in order to help the sector adapt, aim to promote the use of cleaner energy sources and reduce dependency on fossil fuels as well as reduce the sector’s impact on marine ecosystems and to make the sector an attractive job place for the younger generations. 

One of the key actions is an Energy Transition Partnership for EU Fisheries and Aquaculture, which will bring together all stakeholders, including in fisheries, aquaculture, shipbuilding, ports, energy, NGOs, national and regional authorities, to collectively address the challenges of the sector’s energy transition.

The Common Market Organisation (CMO) regulation aims to ensure a level playing field for all fishery and aquaculture products marketed in the EU and it contributes to achieving sustainability in the exploitation of living marine resources. The CMO important not only for the sector (fishers, aquaculture producers, fishmongers, distributors, processors), but also for the consumers who benefit from accurate labelling on the fish or seafood they buy and from the freshness and quality of products guaranteed by marketing standards. 

More information available at: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_828