Brussels, 29, October 2026: Environmental NGOs welcome the European Commission’s decision not to open the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in its Vision 2040 for Fisheries and Aquaculture, and call on the Commission to maintain this course and prioritise full implementation and enforcement of the existing policy to rebuild fish populations, protect marine ecosystems, and secure a sustainable future for coastal communities. 

The group of NGOs, comprising BirdLife, BLOOM, Coalition Clean Baltic, ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, Oceana, and Seas at Risk note that:

The Commission has rightly chosen to follow the findings of its own CFP evaluation and to focus on holding Member States accountable for implementing the law. Reopening a policy that has not yet reached its full potential would waste valuable time and delay the meaningful action that European fishers and marine ecosystems urgently need. A competitive and resilient fisheries sector can only be built on healthy fish populations and a fleet that receives the right support to reduce its dependence on subsidised fossil fuels, contributing to reducing greenhouse emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate crisis. 

National fisheries ministers must stop giving undue weight to lobbyists who defend the status quo of overfishing and harmful fishing techniques at the expense of the long-term interests of fishing communities, fish populations and the general public who benefit from healthy oceans. 

It is time to remove obstacles to progress and deliver on the Common Fisheries Policy – the EU’s strongest tool available for preservation of ocean health, food security and the wellbeing of European coastal communities.

The Common Fisheries Policy outlines pathways for supporting stable jobs, resilient coastal communities, and a reliable seafood supply for consumers. The policy takes a precautionary approach, centering fisheries management on scientific advice and ecosystem protection, minimizing the impact of fishing on the marine environment while providing sustainably sourced food for people throughout Europe. 

To make the CFP work as intended, the EU Commission and Member States must prioritise the following actions: 

  • Set fishing opportunities in line with the best available scientific advice that is based on ecosystem indicators and clear recovery objectives, allowing overfished stocks to recover, and ensure that other non-EU countries also strictly adhere to these recommendations during bilateral and multilateral negotiations; 
  • Keep fishing capacity in balance with fishing opportunities and ensure that the energy transition does not increase capacity ceilings;
  • Implement and ensure strong, consistent control and compliance in every Member State, ensuring adequate catch reporting and monitoring of fishing activities; 
  • Give fair access to resources and waters to low-impact, small-scale fishers, including preferential access to coastal waters through the upcoming European Ocean Act;
  • Restore marine ecosystems and effectively manage marine protected areas by excluding destructive activities within them;
  • Increase transparency over the ownership and beneficial ownership of fishing vessels to improve accountability, address risks of excessive concentration of fishing opportunities and help combat illegal fishing, building on the commitments in Vision 2040;
  • Direct public money, including under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), towards fisheries control, data collection, transitioning towards low-impact fishing, coastal communities and conservation & restoration efforts to ensure the future of the sector

 

The undersigned organisations stand ready to work constructively with the EU Commission and Member States to better the strategies for implementation of the CFP, and build a resilient fishing sector that works for people and nature alike:

BirdLife, BLOOM, Coalition Clean Baltic, ClientEarth, Environmental Justice Foundation, FishSec, Oceana, Seas At Risk

Posted on: 30 October 2026