The Vision emphasizes the European Commission’s commitment to addressing challenges of the Common Fisheries Policy through better implementation and makes no reference to reforming the regulation. The strategy also commits to backing low-impact fishers through the upcoming Ocean Act, addressing transparency of ownership of high-risk fishing vessels, and enhancing consumer information on seafood.

Oceana welcomes the European Commission’s Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture 2040 as an important step in defining the future of Europe’s fisheries, aquaculture and seafood sector for the next 15 years. The Vision emphasizes improving implementation of the existing legal framework, supporting small-scale fisheries, enhancing consumer information and supply chain transparency for all seafood products, and tackling EU ownership of foreign-flagged vessels.

Oceana particularly welcomes the recognition that fisheries’ long-term viability depends on healthy marine ecosystems and well-managed fish stocks. Indeed, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) already gives the EU the tools needed to ensure sustainable, legal, and accountable fishing activities while supporting a fairer future for fishing communities.

Executive Director and Vice President at Oceana in Europe, Vera Coelho, said: “A sustainable future for Europe’s fisheries and seafood system depends on three things working together: healthy fish populations, support for low-impact fishers through the future Ocean Act, and a transparent fisheries sector. The next step is to turn this Vision into results that people can see and that fishers can rely on.”

Regarding action outside EU waters, Oceana applauds the Vision’s commitment to improve transparency over who ultimately owns and profits from fishing vessels, addressing a major gap in the fight against illegal fishing. This lack of transparency often allows EU nationals and companies to use so-called ‘flags of convenience’. These flags can allow fishing operators to exploit weak controls, obscure ownership structures, and evade effective oversight. Oceana therefore calls for mandatory collection of this information and a publicly accessible EU-wide register.

Oceana supports a level playing field for European producers and a more robust information system for European consumers where all seafood products abide by strong transparency requirements regarding their composition and origin. Oceana therefore supports the Vision’s commitment to consider extending mandatory consumer information to prepared and preserved products and believes this is a crucial step toward promoting sustainable fishing and a level playing field. Oceana also welcomes the commitment to ensure traceability for all seafood products, including prepared and preserved products, by 2029, and to apply the same transparency standards to EU products and imports.

Within Europe’s waters, however, Oceana regrets that the Vision does not explicitly reinforce the EU’s commitment to protect 30% of EU seas by 2030, including 10% under strict protection, nor does it further the commitment of the Commission’s 2023 Marine Action Plan to phase out bottom trawling in EU MPAs. However, Oceana welcomes that the Vision calls for the expansion and effective management of MPAs and restoration areas to be fully embedded in maritime spatial planning processes, ensuring effective protection, including measures that address damaging fishing activities in marine protected areas, can help restore ecosystems and fish populations, creating the conditions for more resilient, low-impact fisheries.

Oceana also welcomes the Commission’s intention to support small-scale fishers through the upcoming Ocean Act. The Act should require Member States to include Preferential Access Areas (PAAs) for small-scale fishers in their maritime spatial plans, prioritising those who use low-impact practices and contribute to local employment, sustainable food production, and thriving coastal communities. Concretely, Oceana calls for reserving the EU coastal zone within 12 nautical miles for these fisheries and excluding large-scale, destructive practices such as bottom trawling.

“2040 may seem a long way off, but the decisions that will determine its success are being made now. The CFP already provides the tools to manage fisheries sustainably. The priority now is to make them work: follow scientific advice, rebuild fish populations, and ensure that fishers who operate sustainably have a fair chance to compete. This is what will determine the future of Europe’s fishing industry and the coastal communities that depend on it,” added Coelho.