A new report and video testimonial from small-scale fishers in Cyprus, France and Spain highlight a crucial message: many of the pressures facing Mediterranean low-impact fisheries are not rooted in the design of the Common Fisheries Policy, but in its incomplete and inconsistent implementation and enforcement.
From declining fish populations and increasing fishing effort, to difficulties accessing fishing opportunities and the lack of effective protection in Marine Protected Areas, fishers describe the daily realities on the ground.
The EU Common Fisheries Policy already includes the tools needed to restore fish stocks, ensure fairer access to resources and strengthen coastal communities. As the policy undergoes evaluation, these lived experiences provide grounded, evidence-based insights into what must work better in practice. NGOs urge the European Commission and Member States to properly implement and enforce the Common Fisheries Policy.
Posted on: 26 February 2026
