Common Fisheries Policy – Public consultation
- Common Fisheries Policy
Summary
This 12-week online public consultation aims to collect the views of EU and non-EU stakeholders on the EU’s fisheries policy over the decade 2014–2024. The consultation is linked to the evaluation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPA). This is an opportunity for non-EU stakeholders in countries that have fishery agreements and fish trade relations with the EU to provide feedback until 21 April 2025.
European Commission invites input into review of EU Common Fisheries Policy
Common Fisheries Policy: Public consultation
Update
This 12-week online public consultation aims to collect the views of EU and non-EU stakeholders on the EU’s fisheries policy over the decade 2014–2024. The consultation is linked to the evaluation of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements (SFPA). This is an opportunity for non-EU stakeholders in countries that have fishery agreements and fish trade relations with the EU to provide feedback until 21 April 2025.
What is changing?
The changing geopolitical context is reshaping the dynamics of fishing relations within the EU and globally, with implications for the external dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) – see EU external fisheries policy explained.
This 12-week online public consultation is an opportunity for non-EU operators in the fisheries sector and competent authorities to give their views on whether the EU’s fisheries policy has delivered real benefits in non-EU partner countries. Stakeholders are invited to comment on any or all topics addressed in the survey, or raise issues considered relevant to their local fishing industries.
This includes providing your views on the extent to which the EU fisheries policy has:
- recognised the needs of developing countries
- contributed to sustainable and fair trade
- supported the protection of diversity
- promoted international ocean governance
- respected international agreements such as the UN Agreement on Marine Biodiversity, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Any additional comments or concerns can be added at the end of the survey form.
Timeline
Feedback can be provided until 21 April 2025.
What are the major implications for exporting countries?
SFPAs are intended to support the development of the local fisheries sector in partner countries. They create employment and trade opportunities between EU and non-EU countries, and supply the EU fish and seafood processing industry and its markets (Caillart et al. 2018).
The evaluation is evidence-based. It is therefore important that non-EU stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors provide evidence on whether the CFP Regulation meets these objectives in its current form.
Recommended Actions
Stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, particularly in countries that have Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements with the EU, are invited to respond to the public consultation. To respond to the consultation by 21 April 2025 you first need to create an EU Login, a quick process that is described here.
Background
The public consultation follows a call for evidence in 2024 to which 87 European stakeholders provided their feedback. Despite this and previous calls for evidence, stakeholders in AGRINFO partner countries seldom provide their input and views on EU fisheries policy proposals and agreements that might have impacts on them.
The evaluation aims to ensure that EU policies deliver benefits to citizens and businesses across the EU and in non-EU partner countries. The European Commission uses a set of principles to assess the quality and impact of its policies and regulations (see Better Regulation). This evaluation will look back at a decade (2014–2024) of implementing Regulation 1380/2013 (the CFP Regulation). It will cover developments in fisheries, aquaculture, environment, trade, enlargement, health, and research policies affecting many stakeholders. The evaluation will assess whether the CFP Regulation:
- fulfils expectations and meets objectives
- is cost-effective
- is relevant to current and emerging needs
- is coherent with other EU interventions and with international agreements.
The evaluation of the CFP Regulation is linked to past and ongoing evaluations of the:
- EU Maritime and Fisheries Fund
- EU Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund
- EU’s sustainable fisheries partnership agreements.
Sustainable fisheries partnership agreements (SFPAs) are bilateral agreements presented by the EU as win–win agreements between EU and partner countries. However, civil society has expressed concerns over the visibility and transparency of certain agreements signed, and about EU fleets and local fishers competing in partner countries’ waters for the same stocks (e.g., EU and Cabo Verde Fisheries Partnership Agreement). See Sustainable fisheries partnership agreements explained.
Resources
Caillart, B., Defaux, V. and Macfadyen, G. (2018) Ex ante evaluation study of a sustainable fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Republic of The Gambia – Final report. European Commission, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
Regulation No 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy
Online resources from the European Commission:
Sources
Common Fisheries Policy: Public consultation
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.
European Commission invites input into review of EU Common Fisheries Policy
Common Fisheries Policy: Public consultation
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) is evaluating its Common Fisheries Policy in response to the changing geopolitical context. These changes have implications for the EU’s fisheries policy, and for fishers, processors, and traders in non-EU countries that supply the EU market.
This evaluation provides an opportunity to give your views on the impact of EU fisheries policy over the past decade, for example in relation to:
- the needs of developing countries
- sustainable and fair trade
- the protection of biodiversity
- international ocean governance
- respect of international agreements such as the UN Agreement on Marine Biodiversity, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Actions
Stakeholders in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, particularly in countries that have Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreements with the EU, are invited to respond to the public consultation. To respond to the consultation by 21 April 2025 you first need to create an EU Login, a quick process that is described here.
Timeline
Feedback can be provided until 21 April 2025.
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.