Practical information
- Composition of the study group
- Administrator / Assistant in charge: Arturo INIGUEZ YUSTE / Tiina ALANKO
- Contact
Background
In addition to climate change due to anthropogenic pressures, the fisheries sector has been dealing with a series of major challenges, from Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and, most recently, the repercussions of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. These shocks have triggered massive market disruptions, shortages of essential raw materials, a sharp rise of fuel and fish feed prices, in addition to the obvious danger posed by military operations and free-floating naval mines adrift in the Black Sea.
There is an urgent need to step-up action at EU level to make fisheries management more sustainable and modern, in order to protect and restore marine ecosystems and achieve their good environmental status, as well as inspire the world to follow suit.
The Commission calls on Member States to, among other things,
- adopt national measures or submit joint recommendations to minimise by-catch (or reduce it to the level that enables the full recovery of the populations),
- phase out mobile bottom fishing in all marine protected areas by 2030 at the latest (discards are particularly concerning at a time when the EU is seeking to reduce food waste),
- encourage and support fishing communities in the transition set out in this action plan (the shift from fuel-intensive bottom trawling to less energy-intensive fishing methods can generate major savings).